Family-Friendly Horror Starter Pack
Assorted Flavors features listicles and other movie-related goodies.
By Cesar Caballero
If you’re a horror aficionado and want to share your love of this amazing genre with your little ones without Michael Myers, Jason Vorhees, or Ghostface getting involved, here are some family-friendly frights you can try introducing them to.
Casper
What it’s about
Christina Ricci meets the friendly ghost and together they deal with tween social anxiety, angst and a slight side of horror while exploring the meaning of loss.
What to expect
A couple of intense scenes, including one where the main character loses her father, will make this movie particularly scary for the younger ones. But the movie perfectly balances the scary elements with a heartfelt message, a hilarious script, and a flawlessly executed third act that pretty much feels like a kind of PG haunted house attraction.
The Witches (1990)
What it’s about
The marvelous and hauntingly scary Anjelica Huston plays the boss of all witches in this gem of a movie based on a book by Roald Dahl, who wrote children’s tales that felt perfectly horrific.
What to expect
From kids being turned into mice by hideous witches to one of the main characters being attacked by the witches in a long nightmarish chase sequence, this movie will have children thinking that any woman wearing a hat or gloves could be an actual witch.
The Haunted Mansion (2003)
What it’s about
Eddie Murphy goes family friendly in this underappreciated blast of a movie, which, like its Disneyland inspiration, is quite the rollercoaster ride.
What to expect
If the zany ghosts don’t scare the little ones, maybe the spiders or a certain butler will. The good thing is that even though there’s plenty of scary elements, there is also a positive message that families can overcome anything together, even vengeful ghosts.
Hocus Pocus
What it’s about
A trio of Salem-era witches face off against some modern kids. (Ignore the dreadful sequel and just stick to this classic.)
What to expect
The movie doesn’t pull any punches and makes its witches quite terrifying yet hilarious, from the creative opening scene where they actually kill a child (in a very PG way of course) to several other scenes where they make it clear that they have no problem (mildly) torturing virgin teens.
Spirit Halloween: The Movie
What it’s about
This recent and unfairly maligned movie based on the seasonal store pretty much feels like the Halloween version of Night at the Museum. Not as funny or scary as it could have been, but it’s the perfect compromise for the younger demographic.
What to expect
Plenty of twists and a couple of scary scenes, especially when it comes to the backstory of the main plot, this movie has everything for a perfect Halloween family night, just with the right amount of friendship debauchery.
Addams Family Values
What it’s about
Anjelica Huston shines once again and has electrifying chemistry with the late Raul Julia in a laugh-out-loud movie where family is everything.
What to expect
Though more of a Thanksgiving movie, it still features plenty of spookiness to make it a solid Halloween pick for tweens and above. Plus, everything involving that nanny from hell and that one Thanksgiving scene at camp make this movie scarily memorable for everyone.
Haunted Mansion (2023)
What it’s about
The most recent movie on this list, this second reimagining of the Disney ride had no business being so dark, hilarious, or heartfelt.
What to expect
From the demonic ghost who wants to imprison more souls in the titular mansion to the fear of losing those we love and a beautiful multilayered message about the meaning of grief, this movie will spark some interesting conversations at family movie night.
Beetlejuice
What it’s about
A recently deceased couple summon the titular character, a “bio-exorcist” and loveable creep played by Michael Keaton, in this funny and frightening fantasy romp.
What to expect
A fun yet terrifying calypso dancing scene, plus hints about suicide and a very disturbing but very colorful beyond. A great introduction for budding horror aficionados to this wonderful genre.