Spooky Kid’s Movies
In the summer spooky stories around a campfire are almost a must. Unfortunately, not everyone can do that but the next best thing is to curl up with some popcorn, maybe make a chair tent and put on a spooky movie. So we have come up with a list for a variety of ages to enjoy and get a few chills.
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
An animated adaptation of “The Wind in the Willows” followed by an adaptation of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”.
The adaptation of The Wind in the Willows isn’t particularly blood-curdling but the animated adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is very cool. I still watch it frequently because the Horseman is animated so well and the entire chase scene is pretty enthralling. Even for adults
Goosebumps
A series of horror anthology stories based on the children’s books by R.L. Stine.
Besides being a well-known book series, the Goosebumps series is also spooky fun for younger kids. Not too graphic and mildly entertaining. The acting is a bit below par but it’s good cheesy fun.
Scooby Doo and the Witch’s Ghost
Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Gang visit Oakhaven, Massachusetts to seek strange goings on involving a famous horror novelist and his ancestor who is rumored be a witch.
You had to know Scooby was going to be appearing somewhere on this list. This is my favorite movie out of all of them. With the awesome Tim Curry voicing the Stephen King-like author Ben Ravencroft how can you go wrong?
Coraline
An adventurous girl finds another world that is a strangely idealized version of her frustrating home, but it has sinister secrets.
I honestly have never seen all of it but I do remember the Other Mother. Vividly. It comes highly recommended by the various small people we know.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home cause confusion.
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a great movie with some great music. And it works for two different seasons.
Corpse Bride
When a shy groom practices his wedding vows in the inadvertent presence of a deceased young woman, she rises from the grave assuming he has married her.
Even though it’s a bit more grim (and slightly more morbid) than The Nightmare Before Christmas it’s still a great movie with a very sweet, romantic story.
The Watcher in the Woods
When a family moves to a country home, the young girls experience strange happenings that have a link to an occult event years past.
The Watcher in the Woods makes a nice segue into movies geared for older kids. It’s a creepy movie that seems like one thing at first but then takes an entirely unexpected direction.
Hocus Pocus
After three centuries, three witch sisters are resurrected in Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween night, and it is up to two teenagers, a young girl, and an immortal cat to put an end to their reign of terror once and for all.
Hocus Pocus is a fun movie with witches, a zombie and a talking cat.
Sarah Landon and the Paranormal Hour
A 17-year-old girl has mysterious encounters with paranormal activity in the small town of Pine Valley.
This movie has an unfairly low rating on IMDB. It’s not great cinema, maybe, but it’s a good story with a few creepy moments here and there. The acting is a little underwhelming but at least Rissa Walters (who plays the character of Sarah) looks like an average teenage girl.
The Hole
A pair of brothers stumble upon a mysterious hole in their basement that leads to the darkest corridors of their fears and nightmares.
This one might be a bit intense for younger viewers but it has a great story to it with a great, inspiring ending.
I have no kids but I’m taking notes anyway (and the few I’ve watched from the list I’ve really enjoyed. Thanks!)
Thank you! I’m glad you like them! To be totally truthful, I had most of them (especially my Scooby Doo collection) before I even had kids, lol.