1. Garfield’s Halloween Adventure. This fun for all ages, half
hour scare fest shows Garfield
and Odie’s rollicking adventures while trick or treating complete with an
encounter with a ghost ship! Not to be without educating the kiddies, Garfield also waxes poetic about the Druid origins of the
spooky holiday. The Halloween special won a Primetime Emmy in 1986 for
Outstanding Animated Program.
2. Monster House. This
2006 Oscar nominated animated film is definitely scary. The story centers around
three children who have discovered that a neighborhood house is actually a living
monster! The children become embroiled in a high stakes adventure to destroy
the monster and in the process learn a little about themselves and the grumpy
old man who inhabits the home. Save this film for older children (ages 12 &
up) as the film features quite scary scenes and a more dark premise.
3. It’s the Great Pumpkin,
Charlie Brown. Charlie
Brown specials are timeless and always great for family watching. This three-time
Emmy nominated special, explores the fictional legend of the Great Pumpkin as
Charlie and the gang prepare for another Halloween.
4. The Nightmare Before
Christmas. This
Halloween—and Christmas—stop motion classic sprung from the kooky mind of Tim
Burton centers on Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween town, and his
desire to bring Christmas cheer to a town shrouded in Halloween creepiness.
Children of all ages will delight in the glimpse into the monsters of Halloween
and the brilliant music created by Danny Elfman. The film is suitable for
children 6 & up.
5. Beetlejuice. Another Tim
Burton-helmed film, this time as director, this fun flick featuring Geena
Davis, Alec Baldwin and Winona Ryder centers on one couple’s outrageous time in
the afterlife. While the main characters are in fact ghosts, the creepiest
addition to this eerie flick is Beetlejuice, a goofy and disruptive underworld
denizen. The film is suitable for children 9 & up.
6. The Witches. Based
on the novel of the same name by British writer Roald Dahl, (Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory; The Fantastic Mr. Fox), this film centers on a young orphan
who stumbles upon a witches gathering. Featuring Jim Henson puppetry and the
acting talents of Anjelica Huston as a terrifying witch, this film is a frightening,
fun flick for young children. Suitable for children 9 & up.
7. Wallace and
Gromit and the Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Mildly
scary but raucously funny, this British claymation brings Wallace and Gromit to
the big screen for the first time. The oddball inventor and his silent but brilliant
dog come to the rescue of a town plagued by a carrot destroying were-rabbit.
This Oscar and BAFTA award winner is sure to be a hit with children of all
ages.
8. Bedknobs
and Broomsticks. Using live
action and animation, this Disney classic melds the magic of witchcraft and
WWII. The film centers on a witch forced to take in three children evacuated
from the London Blitz bombings. Although taking place during wartime, the film
manages to treat the subject lightly by gentle explanations. Though battle
scenes are shown, no blood is shed and no one is injured. At over two hours,
this film may be too long for younger children.
9. Edward
Scissorhands. One
of Johnny Depp’s finest films, this twist on the ugly duckling tale focuses on the
Edward, a humanoid left forever unfinished after his maker suffers a fatal heart
attack. The movie follows Edward’s introduction to the real world by a kindly Avon
lady and her family. Tim Burton directs this heart wrenching tale about
acceptance that older children and teens will love.
10. Coraline. The
director of “The Nightmare before Christmas” brings Neil Gaiman’s book of the
same name to the big screen. Audiences follow the adventurous Coraline through
a magical world found through a small door in her new home. Just as our young
protagonist ponders a permanent stay on the other side, things turn sinister as
the new family Coraline meets is found to have shocking plans for her stay.
This is a definitely creepy tale that may be a little too frightening for young
children but a hit with tweens and older.
11. Young
Frankenstein. This 1974 spoof of the classic
horror film is one of the greatest comedic films of all time. Share this
classic laughfest with older children as younger ones will probably not
appreciate Mel Brooks’ comedy.
12. Ghostbusters. A paranormal classic! Follow three
parapsychologists (and one skeptical everyman) on a paranormal chase throughout
New York City.
From investigating a haunting in upscale hotels to stopping a Sumerian demigod
from unleashing a world of horror onto Manhattan,
the four heroes manage to save the day while eliciting laughs. Plus, check out the sequel for even more NYC-themed spookiness. Suitable for
children 10 & up.
13. Hocus Pocus. This fun filled Halloween
Disney film featuring Bette Midler, Sara Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy is
uproariously hilarious.The tale focuses on Max, a newcomer to Salem, Massachusetts and his accidental release of three witches put to
death for terrorizing Salem
hundreds of years ago. The film features a helpful talking cat, a vengeful
zombie and the heartwarming love of a brother and sister.
