The release of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark has brought the topic of gateway horror back into the spotlight. The adaptation of the popular children books by Alvin Schwartz, with nightmarish illustrations by Stephen Gammell, centered around young teens, so it’s not surprising. It prompts the question: what is the best way to introduce our favorite genre to a young, budding fan?
If Scary Stories left your kids salivating for more horror, or you want to get a jump start on your Halloween watch lists with the burgeoning horror fan in your life, we made it easy.
These great gateway horror movies are currently available to stream!
Netflix
Gremlins
Sure, it might be a little early to break out the Christmas horror, but it is a classic for a reason. Directed by Joe Dante, the plot sees Billy Peltzer immediately break all the conditions that comes with his new pet, a Mogwai named Gizmo. As a result, their town is inundated with mischievous little green monsters with a penchant for destruction. There are moments of suspense and horror, but it’s balanced with heart, humor, and one cute little furball with a personality.
Goosebumps
Like Scary Stories, Goosebumps is based on a popular kids’ book series and forgoes an anthology format in favor of a new story centered around original teen protagonists. After setting free a horde of monsters from author R.L. Stine’s magic book, a teen teams up with the author’s daughter to right their mistake before it’s too late. This plays like Goosebumps greatest hits, featuring all sorts of monsters big and small. Even better? The sequel, Goosebumps 2, is also available to stream on Netflix.
Little Monsters
The ideal movie for those afraid of potential monsters lurking beneath their beds, this ‘80s comedy sees its protagonist discovering a whole world of monsters under his. Fred Savage’s Brian finds himself striking up a close friendship with one of them; Maurice (Howie Mandel). From pranking his school bullies to playing baseball with a team of monsters, Little Monsters favors fun above all else. But it does dip its toe into horror during the climax, with a more-intense-than-expected climax courtesy of creepy villains.
Eight Legged Freaks
This PG-13 horror-comedy is best for the older kid, as it does feature some sexual content and a ton of spider violence and character deaths. All within the bounds of its rating, of course. And then there are the spiders themselves, which might be a lot for the arachnophobe. However, the emphasis is on the comedy. This playful horror-comedy is an ode to the radioactive horror of the ‘50s as it sees venomous spiders grow to behemoth size after being exposed to a chemical. They wreak havoc on the town, which includes residents played by notable actors David Arquette and Scarlett Johansson.
The Sixth Sense
High on atmosphere, loaded up on jump scares, and heavy on tragic themes of life and death, this one is 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, they’ll gravitate toward 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.
Tubi
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 schoolroom 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.
Invaders from Mars
Written by Dan O’Bannon (Alien) and directed by Tobe Hooper, this is a sci-fi special effects bonanza. The plot tasks young David Gardner as the hero to save the world from alien invasion. His team up with the school nurse (horror vet Karen Black) and the military to save the world gives a bigger scope to kids’ horror than usual. In true Tobe Hooper style, he didn’t shy away from creating an eerie, ambiguous ending either. This is a great introduction to creatures, and particularly imaginative monster design.
The Toxic Crusaders Movie
If you’re a huge fan of Toxie and Troma’s output, this is the gentlest way to ease a budding fan into this particular brand of horror. This movie stitched together numerous eps of the 1991 cartoon to tell of Toxie’s battle against the evil Dr. Killemoff and his henchmen. He’s got to prevent radioactive waste from taking over the world. Bonus: If your kids love this cartoon, Tubi also has all episodes of Tales from the Cryptkeeper available to stream.
Amazon Prime Video
Teen Wolf
I can’t help it; I’m a sucker for werewolves. So, while Teen Wolf isn’t a horror at all, it is a fun way to ease someone into movies with werewolves. Plus, it stars Michael J. Fox as the teen dealing with more than just puberty- he finds himself coping with lycanthropy as well. Hijinks ensue! Aside from being in no way threatening, the introduction of Fox to a beginner means they can be upgraded to The Frighteners later.
The Monster Squad
A horror movie featuring a group of pre-teens taking on the classic Universal movie monsters is a must for any budding horror fan. Full of memorable quotes, the best set production, amazing 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.
The Gate
What happens when kids are left at home alone for the weekend while parents travel out of town? If you’re teenager Al, you throw a party. If you’re her twelve-year-old brother Glen (a young Stephen Dorff), you invite your best friend Terry over and accidentally unleash a group 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.
