Ten Films For Your Kids This Halloween

Halloween is always one of my favorite times of the year. The atmosphere, the fun factor, the feeling of youth returning and of course the beautiful fall season itself. When I think of Halloween, I always think of these films from my childhood and today, I would like to talk briefly about them to you all in the hopes that you'll want to share these films with your kids and if some of them are on your playlist as well, congrats and I hope to add some more for you. (These are in no real order, just what comes to my head first. Enjoy.)

10). THE WITCHES (PG)

This is my favorite novel to come from Roald Dahl and it tells the tale of a young boy and his grandmother as they visit a seaside resort, only for it to be swarming with witches. It's up to the boy to defeat them before they turn all of the children of the world into tasty snacks. The film is wonderfully directed by Frank Oz and with the makeup/puppet work by the Jim Henson studio the book is brought to life perfectly. I recommend this one for older children due to the darker nature, however both parents and children will enjoy the charm of 'The Witches'.

9). SCOOBY-DOO ON ZOMBIE ISLAND (PG)

This one was a yearly Halloween treat on the Cartoon Network back in the day. It was the first time I EVER enjoyed Scooby-Doo and thankfully it wouldn't be the last but this is the one you want above all other films in the series. The film takes a serious tone with real monsters and feels like an old gothic Hammer film at times and its the biggest risk I think they took at the time. This one is a good film to transition to for kids about 7-8 years old who are looking for something more spooky. It's also fun to note that this film is a better and more mature film than the live-action series that would follow and makes you wonder why animated films have a pattern such as this.

8). ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS MEET THE WOLFMAN (G)

A film I stumbled upon totally by accident while staying at a hotel, I have loved this film ever since and will still pop it in or Netflix it even when its not Halloween. The film pays homage to the Universal Monsters of old, something that's right up my alley however it also has a lot to offer for the young and old who may not be interested in such things. The film has some good clean humor, particularly from the old gypsy woman that Alvin seeks advice from. This one is a good choice for the very young, as nothing too scary really happens but will still have that Halloween feeling with it. It's a good one.

7). PARANORMAN (PG)

A newer flick that I only saw last year, but is not just a great Halloween film, but one of the best animated films in general. This one is more for the pre-teen crowd but some kids may get a kick out it with its colorful visuals and unique animation. The story of 'Paranorman' is one of the heavier on this list, with discussions about death, the afterlife, and even early Salem witch trials but in the right context I think this one could go over fine. It's an excellent film, check it out.

 6.) ERNEST SCARED STUPID (G)

I miss Jim Varney and the character of Ernest, he was a unique talent that was gone all too soon. 'Scared Stupid' is my favorite of the films, with the best jokes, the best storyline, and some of the best from the titular character himself. Kids and parents of all ages will love this one, but be sure to grab some Bulgarian Miak before watching.

5.) HOCUS POCUS (PG)

The most obvious choice on this list, but also the best film to pick for the holiday when it comes to children. This film never gets old for me and even now it has aged very well. It baffles me that when it was released back in 1993, the film was not a box office nor a critical success but thanks to home video and television, children of my generation and beyond were able to see this great film. The humor, the acting (over the top and regular) all still work, and the images that just scream Halloween makes 'Hocus Pocus' a great treat every year.

4.) MONSTER HOUSE (PG)

A children's film that almost didn't become a children's film, this one I give some caution to. The film's darker nature and somewhat stronger violence than one would see in a kids flick almost got the movie slapped with a 'PG-13' rating. Now that I got the warning out of the way, 'Monster House' is like 'Hocus Pocus' a film that just feels like Halloween for me. The old fear of our childhoods that the spooky house across the street may just be haunted comes to be true here and a group of three kids must solve the mystery before they become the Monster House's next meal. This one definitely needs more attention than it has, so check it out and see for yourself.

3.) CORALINE (PG)

'Coraline' is the best animated film in a long time, and I truly mean that. The film does not hold your hand and treats its audience, both young and old with respect. The film is based upon a young adult novel by the renowned Neil Gaiman and his brilliant writing, along with Henry Sellick's direction bring a beautiful and grim world to life and you go with it from the moment it starts. 'Coraline' just sucks me in every time, whether its been playing for five minutes or almost over I truly love this film.

2). SCOOBY-DOO AND THE WITCH'S GHOST (G)

Yes, I said that 'Zombie Island' is the best Scooby-Doo film and I stand by that however 'The Witch's Ghost' is a really close second on my roster. Imagine 'The Blair Witch Project' but for kids and you'd get somewhat of a feeling for this one however it has many references to various Halloween and horror genre tropes. You have the always excellent Tim Curry as a Stephen King-esque author, you have the East Coast fall setting, and you have a rock band of goth chicks. What more could you want from a Halloween film?

1.) THE WORST WITCH (NR)

The HBO classic starring Tim Curry, Faruza Baulk, and Mrs. Garrett herself in a story about a young witch at a prestigious magic academy who can't seem to get things right. She is then thrown into a big adventure to save the school and learn about herself. The film is cheese all around, but it is worth watching, even if only once. Seeing Tim Curry singing in a wizard cape behind a crappy green screen is 80's awesomeness and you also have some great performances throughout as well. Hopefully, this one becomes a little more widely available because its one that needs some love.


HONORABLE MENTIONS:

'DON'T LOOK UNDER THE BED' is the best Disney Channel film bar none, but its almost impossible to find outside of YouTube unfortunately which is why it just missed the list.

 'PHANTOM OF THE MEGAPLEX' is again extremely difficult to locate and while it's my personal favorite Disney Channel flick, it doesn't really fit the 'Halloween' theme I'm going for here. Still though, check it out on YT if possible.

'UNDER WRAPS' is a television movie that I feel is really underrated, possibly due to it being a TV movie. Luckily, this one IS on DVD through Amazon or Disney's website. Check it out.

'SCOOBY-DOO AND THE RELUCTANT WEREWOLF' is a direct to television movie that I always loved, but not as much as the previous two. The film's homage to the various famous monsters of filmland and its 'Wacky Races' themed finale always make this one a joy to sit through.



And that's everything I could think of. Hopefully, you check out some of these or already watched them and shared them with your kids. Halloween isn't always about blood and guts, its about the fun and the energy one feels during the holiday. I hope you all have a great October and remember:

   Anything can happen on Halloween. A dog can turn into a cat.