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Gateway to Horror: 10 Movies to Watch With Your Kids This Halloween

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Halloween is fast approaching, which means now is the perfect time to start building your Halloween watch lists. It’s also the time of year in which everyone binges on horror, even those who don’t pay much attention to the genre the rest of the year. This includes kids, who get specialized programming every year in the form of 13 Nights of Halloween on Freeform (formerly ABC Family). Except the programming is typically very similar every year, with few changes. Movies like The Addams Family, ParaNorman, and a variety of Tim Burton selections can be found year after year. As great as they are, by now your kids (and you, parents) might be ready to expand the selection. Whether you’re looking for something different or something scarier for your budding horror fan, here are new picks to add to your Halloween watch list this year:


The Monster Squad (PG-13)

The Monster Squad

A Goonies-esque horror movie featuring a group of pre-teens taking on the classic Universal movie monsters is a must for any budding horror fan. Memorable quotes, the best set production, memorable make-up effects, and nods to the genre that the grown-ups will appreciate, The Monster Squad is one for the ages. Phoebe’s friendship will Frankenstein’s monster will leave both kids and adults in tears, and lines like “Wolfman’s got nards!” will forever stick in your memory.


Something Wicked This Way Comes (PG)

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Based on Ray Bradbury’s novel, this is the essential Halloween film on the list. Set in late October, two young boys visit a traveling carnival, led by the mysterious and ominous Mr. Dark. This may be a Disney production, but by Disney’s standards, it’s rather dark and creepy. For one, it’s very Faustian with its theme; this carnival will offer whatever your heart desires in exchange for your soul. A haunting carousel, a blind witch, and more, there’s enough Halloween tricks and treats here to creep out the kids, but with the requisite feel-good Disney ending that keeps this from becoming too intense.


Invaders from Mars (PG)

Invaders From Mars

Written by Dan O’Bannon (Alien) and directed by the late Tobe Hooper, this pick is a timely one. Light on gore but heavy on fantastic alien and creature effects, this kids-aimed sci-fi horror sees young David Gardner as the hero to save the world from invasion. His team up with the school nurse (horror vet Karen Black) and the military to save the world gives a bigger scope to this kids horror than usual. In true Tobe Hooper style, he didn’t shy away from creating a haunting ambiguous ending either. Save for a few alien scenes and a creepy frog-eating teacher, there’s not much here to offend; just a well-done sci-fi flick with a young hero.


Arachnophobia (PG-13)

Arachnophobia

While Arachnophobia marks the lone holdout on this list to not feature a kid as its lead, it is a very family friendly horror film heavy on humor. It also managed to make spiders scary on film. It may instill a previously undeveloped case of arachnophobia, thanks to intense sequences of creepy crawling spiders. It also features deaths of likable characters, though with minimal gore thanks to hard to spot spider bites. Look for Hitchcock influences, a scene-stealing John Goodman as the hysterical exterminator, and a lot of heart. That it came from Steven Spielberg’s production company should explain all you need to know; it’s the perfect Halloween family movie.


Lady in White (PG-13)

Lady in White

Based on a legend of The Lady in White, in which a ghost searches for her daughter in Rochester, New York, the film begins on Halloween in 1962, where 9-year old Frankie (Lukas Haas) gets locked in the school room closet by bullies and witnesses the ghost of a young girl getting murdered. This event sets off a murder mystery full of ghosts that are spooky and entertaining enough for kids, yet layered with complex social themes for grown-ups. Paralleling Frankie’s journey, it’s the type of film that will teach budding horror fans that perhaps ghosts aren’t so scary after all.


The Gate (PG-13)

The Gate

What happens when kids are left at home alone for the weekend while parents travel out of town? If you’re teenaged older sister Al, you throw a party. If you’re twelve-year-old brother Glen (a young Stephen Dorff), you invite your best friend Terry over and accidentally unleash a horde of pint-sized demons from a gaping hole in your backyard. Death metal and a Dark Book that demands human sacrifice unleashes a lot of demonic trouble for Glen and Terry. Intense sequences and some light gore, including a character getting stabbed in the eye and hand, makes for a worthy horror introduction. Yet Glen’s bond with his sister, Al, keeps things from getting too scary and offers a nice counterbalance to the underlying satanic themes. As the title indicates, this one is a perfect gateway into horror.


The Willies (PG-13)

The Willies

Written and directed by Brian Peck (Scuz from The Return of the Living Dead), this 1990 horror comedy is the perfect introduction to horror anthologies. Two brothers and their cousin gather around a backyard campfire and tell each other scary stories in the wraparound, each trying to outdo the other in telling the grossest story imaginable. Which is why this kids-geared horror flick has a bit more bite than the usual movies of its ilk. Exploding dogs in microwaves, monsters that lurk in the boys’ bathroom, and rats in fried chicken, The Willies doesn’t shy away from scaring its demographic. The gross-out humor may be geared toward kids, but adults will find themselves chuckling along too.


The Hole (PG-13)

The Hole

This 2009 fantasy horror film has flown under the radar, but makes a great primer for horror master Joe Dante’s body of work. While this kid horror movie also happens to feature a mysterious hole that torments the lead characters, this hole happens to really hone in on the deepest, personal fears of its victims. For 10-year old Lucas, that means a fear of clowns. For older brother Dane and his love interest, Julie, that means a more profound fear stemming from their guilt-ridden past. This movie wins for taking on some deeper themes while delivering on jump scares and one very creepy clown doll. Also, look for Trick ‘r Treat’s Quinn Lord as a female ghost.


Critters (PG-13)

Critters

Surprisingly light on gore, this creature feature is a great pick to watch with the kids. When dangerous pint-sized Krites escape from their prison and crash land on Earth, it’s a pair of shape-shifting aliens and pre-teen Earthling Brad that must save the day. The practical effects combined with the humor makes this one so much fun. Look for a young Lin Shaye as local sheriff department dispatch, Billy Zane as an unfortunate Krite victim, and Dee Wallace as the charming, doting mom to Brad. For a pack of vicious fur balls with very pointy teeth, there’s minimal gore, save for a mutilated cow and a gruesome bounty hunter transformation. The worst offense, perhaps, is the profanity- even the Krites curse in their native language, though it’s humorously subtitled.


The Sixth Sense (PG-13)

The Sixth Sense

High on atmosphere, loaded up on jump scares, and heavy on tragic themes of life and death, this may only be PG-13, but it’s one of the riskier selections on this list. From a MPAA standpoint, this movie was marked PG-13 for intense thematic material and violent images, meaning this might be a little too intense for kids who scare easily. For those who don’t, though, will really feel for Haley Joel Osment’s sad yet brave Cole, the poor kid struggling with his ability to see ghosts. M. Night Shyamalan’s breakout hit may have induced chills, but it also brought on a ton of feels as Cole navigated bullying, his strained relationship with a single working mother, and the harsh lessons of life. As sweet as it is scary, The Sixth Sense also makes for a great lesson on a beloved cinematic trope; the twist ending.

Horror journalist, RT Top Critic, and Critics Choice Association member. Co-Host of the Bloody Disgusting Podcast. Has appeared on PBS series' Monstrum, served on the SXSW Midnighter shorts jury, and moderated horror panels for WonderCon and SeriesFest.

Editorials

The 10 Scariest Moments in the ‘Ghostbusters’ Movie Franchise

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scariest Ghostbusters

WARNING: The following contains mild spoilers for the Ghostbusters franchise. 

Yes, Ghostbusters is a horror movie – gateway horror to be exact. Setting aside the fact that the title literally contains the word “ghost,” a foundational element of the scariest genre, the franchise follows a group of paranormal researchers who battle entities attacking from beyond the grave. After countless rewatches, the classic films and newer sequels may not scare us much anymore, but how many times have we as genre fans asserted that a film does not have to be “scary” to be considered horror?

Genre classification is nebulous and any film that centers on ghosts has a place in the sprawling house of horror. Yes, it’s true that most viewers over the age of thirteen will find more to laugh about than scream while watching a Ghostbusters film, but each entry contains a handful of terrifying moments. With Gil Kenan’s Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire uniting three generations of the parascientific warriors, perhaps it’s time to highlight the most frightening moments from each phase of this legendary franchise. 


Ghostbusters (1984)

A Haunted Library

scariest Ghostbusters movie

Ivan Reitman’s original film begins with a campfire tale come to life. We follow an unsuspecting librarian as she ventures deep into the stacks to reshelve a book. With her hair blowing from a spectral breeze, we watch a hardcover float across the aisle to the opposite shelf. A second book follows, but the librarian remains unaware. She finally notices the disturbance when card catalog drawers open on their own spewing cards into the air like literary geysers. She flees through the maze of narrow stacks only to come face to face with a mysterious force who blows her back with a powerful roar. We won’t see the Library Ghost (Ruth Oliver) until a later scene, but this introduction firmly positions the film that follows in the world of horror. On first watch, we can only speculate as to the ghost’s malevolence and whether or not the librarian has survived the encounter. It’s the perfect introduction to a world in which ghosts are not only real, they will pounce on unsuspecting humans at the drop of a … book. 

Shaky Ground

The original finale may not be the film’s most terrifying moment, but it has become the franchise’s most iconic image. When faced with choosing a form for Gozer (Slavitza Jovan), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) inadvertently conjures up an image from his childhood. Moments later, a set of once-cheery eyes peer through the skyscrapers. The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man towers over the city, stomping and destroying everything in its path. While there’s definitely something terrifying about a jovial mascot turned deadly killer, what happens moments before is arguably scarier. 

The Ghostbusters arrive at the luxury apartment building to throngs of adoring fans. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) plays into this hero-worship and promises an easy solution to a supernatural problem. But before they can enter the building, lightning strikes the upper floors sending massive chunks of brick and cement raining down on the barricaded street. The ground begins to shake and a giant fissure swallows the entire team. It’s a destabilizing moment made all the more terrifying by its shocking reality. Speculation about the existence of ghosts may vary from person to person, but there’s no doubt that sinkholes are very real. It’s entirely possible that the ground we’re standing on right now could spontaneously begin to crumble, sucking us down into a seemingly bottomless void beneath the earth. 


Ghostbusters II (1989)

Runaway Baby

Ivan Reitman’s sequel begins with a sly update on the life of a beloved character as Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) pushes a baby carriage containing her infant son Oscar (Henry and William Deutschendorf). When last we saw the attractive cellist, she was kissing Venkman in the wreckage of Gozer’s demise and the thought of this loveable lady’s man becoming a father may be more nerve-wracking than anything contained in the first film. We never learn much about Oscar’s real father, but we do discover that fate has a sinister plan for the adorable child. While Dana chats with her landlord, Oscar’s carriage rolls a few feet away. Dana reaches for the handle, but the buggy begins speeding down the sidewalk careening through the busy crowds. As if guided by unseen hands, the carriage twists and turns, then abruptly swerves into oncoming traffic. Cars honk and veer out of the way, but the racing carriage marks a collision course with an approaching bus. The wheels screech to a halt moments before what would surely be a deadly crash and Dana rushes to embrace her vulnerable child. This harrowing scene is likely to terrorize any parent who’s experienced the fear of trying to protect a baby in an unpredictable world.  

Sewer Screams

scariest Ghostbusters scene

While investigating the second film’s primary villain, Vigo the Carpathian (Wilhelm von Homburg), three of the Ghostbusters venture into the sewers hoping to find a growing river of slime. Ray, Winston (Ernie Hudson), and Egon (Harold Ramis) trek down an abandoned subway line while speculating about the hordes of cockroaches and rats they hear scurrying behind the walls. These vermin may be scary, but there are more malevolent monsters lurking in the dark. Ray and Egon both amuse themselves with the tunnel’s echo but Winston’s “hello” goes unanswered. Moments later, a demonic voice bellows his name from the dark end of the corridor. Waiting behind him is a severed head floating in the empty tunnel. As he tries to retreat, the team finds themselves surrounded by dozens of ghoulish heads that disappear faster than they materialized. Moments later, a ghostly train hurtles towards them, swallowing Winston in its spectral glow. Egon theorizes that something is trying to keep them from reaching their destination with effective scares designed to frighten the Ghostbusters and audience alike.  


Ghostbusters (2016)

Haunted Basement

Like its predecessor, Paul Feig’s remake opens with a spooky vignette. Garrett (Zach Woods) gives a tour of the Aldridge Mansion, a 19th century manor preserved in the middle of the busy city, and walks visitors through a troubling history of excess and cruelty. Hoping to inject a bit of excitement, he pauses near the basement door and tells the horrifying story of Gertrude Aldridge (Bess Rous), a wealthy heiress who murdered the house’s many servants. Hoping to avoid a public scandal, her family locked her in the basement and her restless spirit can still be heard trying to escape. Garrett triggers a trick candlestick to fly off the shelf, hinting at the spirit’s presence, but a late night incident shows that the deceased murderess may actually be lurking in her ancestral home. While closing up for the night, Garrett hears ominous noises from behind the barricaded door and watches the knob rattle against the heavy locks. An unseen attacker hurls him through the house and eventually drives him down the basement stairs to a sea of green slime pooling on the floor. The stairs crumble leaving the tour guide hanging on to the door frame for dear life as a spectral figure glides toward him with menacing hands outstretched. Once again, we won’t see the fully revealed ghost of Gertrude Aldridge until later in the film, but this terrifying opening sets the stage for a dangerous showdown with an army of the dead.

Mannequin On the Move

The scariest moment of the 2016 remake is arguably the vicious online hatred sparked well before the film’s release. In response to brutal comments posted to the first official trailer, the cast returned to film an additional scene in which they react to dehumanizing negativity. But another sequence may cut closer to the heart of this upsetting experience. The Ghostbusters respond to a call at a concert venue and split up to cover more ground. Patty (Leslie Jones) enters what she calls a “room full of nightmares” and immediately reverses course to avoid a multitude of mannequins stacked haphazardly in the dark. As she walks out the door, one of the faceless creatures turns its head her way. Walking on its own, this sentient prop follows her down the hall, pausing the moment she turns around. Eventually breaking cover, the mannequin chases Patty down the hall to the rest of the team. They unleash their proton packs and make quick work of the gargoyle-like ghost. Though this connection is surely unintentional, it’s a terrifying parallel to a faceless monster sneaking up to attack a woman simply trying to do her job. 


Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

Smoke and Monsters

While Ghostbusters: Afterlife is nowhere near as scary as the horror films playing in the local summer school science class, Jason Reitman’s legacyquel does contain its share of frights. The film opens with a harrowing scene as we join Egon (Oliver Cooper) in the last moments of his life. Racing away from a sinister mountain, Egon’s truck collides with an unseen force and flips upside down in a field of corn. The elderly scientist races back to his crumbling farmhouse with a trap in hand, intent on ensnaring this invisible being. Unfortunately, the power fails and Egon has no choice but to hide the trap under the floorboards and wait. He sits in a comfortable old chair as a horrifying cloud of smoke drifts in behind him, momentarily forming the shape of a fanged beast. Demonic hands grab him from within the chair, likely causing the heart attack that will be listed on his death certificate. But his abandoned PKE meter below the chair activates, reminding us that Egon may be deceased, but he is far from gone.  

The Terror Returns

scariest Ghostbusters moments

Ghostbusters: Afterlife turns out to be a touching tribute to Harold Ramis as his friends and family unite to complete the beloved scientist’s heroic mission. In addition to a tearjerker ending, Reitman also includes a bevy of callbacks to the original film. Not only do the Spenglers square off against the team’s first enemy, Gozer (Emma Portner), the nonbinary entity brings back the Terror Dogs that once possessed Dana Barret and Louis Tully (Rick Moranis). These demonic beasts first rear their ugly heads while Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd) stops by Walmart to buy a midnight snack. While the horde of mini marshmallow men are eerie in their gleeful self-destruction, the ghostly canine that chases him through the store is the stuff of nightmares. Early iterations of this fearsome creature are hindered by ’80s-era special effects, but Reitman’s version feels frighteningly real. While Gary frantically tries to find his keys, this Terror Dog snarls at him from atop his car dashboard, leaving the endearing science teacher with no way to escape. 


Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

Frozen Dinner 

After a film set in a small mountain town, the opening of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire takes us back to New York circa 1904. We see the fire station in its early years as a horse-drawn carriage responds to a call. Arriving at the scene, a fireman tests the door for heat and watches in horror as his hand instantly freezes. Inside, they find jagged shards of ice surrounding and piercing a frozen dinner party. Guests are posed in various states of ice-covered surprise while an eerie record skips in the corner. A figure covered in brass armor we will come to know as a Fire Master is crouched in the corner clutching a mysterious orb. When the fireman touches this rippling sphere, the frozen diners’ heads begin to explode, an ominous precursor to the chilling threat awaiting the newest Ghostbusting team. 

Lights Out

If Ghostbusters: Afterlife featured the lo-fi gear of the 80s, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire hurls us into the future. Wealthy financier Winston Zeddemore has been surreptitiously building a new containment unit to relieve pressure on the original model along with a secret lab designed to study ghosts and haunted objects. In addition to fancy new gadgets and gear, this facility contains several captured spirits like a fanged Wraith and a speedy Possessor. Lab techs assure the astonished Spengler team that they are perfectly safe, but it seems they’ve overestimated the facility’s security. Lucky (Celeste O’Connor) and Lars (James Acaster) are studying the aforementioned orb when the power goes out, leaving them stranded in the dark with a cache of haunted objects. Not only does the ancient sphere hold a deadly spirit, the proton fields containing the captured ghosts have just been disabled. These terrifying creatures begin to drift through the walls toward the defenseless lab techs, perhaps at the bidding of an evil commander. Thankfully the generator kicks on in the nick of time, drawing the ghosts back into their cells. It’s a tense moment reminding us that no matter how charming the Ghostbusters may be, they still spend their days with evil spirits just waiting for an opportunity to wreak havoc.  


The Ghostbusters franchise excels at mixing humor and fear, practically setting the blueprint for the modern horror comedy. Moments from the original two films terrified a generation of gen-xers and elder millennials and newer iterations are currently scaring their kids. The fifth franchise installment effectively passes the proton pack torch to a new generation of Ghostbusters and we can only hope additional films will continue to induct future generations of Ghostbusters fans into the horror family as well. 

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is now playing in theaters. Read our review.

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