Brad Miska's Must-See Family Horror Films!
Happy Halloween!
Bloody-Disgusting.com Picks from Brad Miska
As much as it appears that Halloween is just for children, many adults refuse to grow up and relish in the opportunity to play “dress up” on that one special day of the year. But what I find interesting is that while children are the mass behind Halloween, horror movies are made mostly for late-teen/adults. And while Halloween can be for every person under the full moon, not every horror movie is made for the majority. My goal this Halloween was to find a handful of horror movies that both parents and their children could watch – together. So go put on your costume, grab your pumpkin filled with candy and pop on one of the following movies.
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)
The first Tim Burton film on this list wasn’t a huge success when it hit theaters Halloween weekend of 1993. In fact, it wasn’t until years later that the film gained cult status among the horror community. Now, 15 years after its release, the children who grew up watching the movie on VHS, then DVD and now Blu-ray are all grown up and having kids of their own. Filled with colorful characters (Jack Skellington, Zero, Dr. Finkelstein and more), catchy music by the legendary Danny Elfman, beautiful stop-motion animation and a plot that combines two of the year’s best holidays (Halloween and Christmas), this is a guaranteed hit for the entire family to enjoy – from October all the way through the New Year.
The first film in this list from the great Robert Zemeckis is MONSTER HOUSE, a first of its kind, motion-capture extravaganza that combines new animation techniques with revolutionary 3-D technology in HD. In theaters, this film was one of the most visually stunning films ever created. And while we’re still waiting for true 3-D release for Blu-ray, MONSTER HOUSE is still a fantastic family movie that’s fun, scary and bold. While the film makes its aim towards children, the dialogue is daring enough to involve adults as well.
Another film from Robert Zemeckis that’s often forgotten is the hilariously delightful DETAH BECOMES HER. The film is a quasi-zombie movie that follows two women desperately seeking to become young again. After killing each other, they become beautiful zombies fighting over one man. And how can you go wrong with a cast featuring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn and Bruce Willis at the pinnacle of their careers? While this might be one of the most edgy of the films, children will still enjoy it because of the colorful scenery and over-the-top antics of Streep and Hawn.
One of the Tim Burton’s most popular movies is the Michael Keaton starrer BEETLEJUICE, which, alongside EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, clearly defined the works of the artistic director. Keaton as Beetlejuice is like having a cartoon come to life, and any pre-teen could find themselves obsessing over the fun he brings to the screen. Even though Beetlejuice is a fun dude, he’s still pretty scary. So is the plot, and that’s where the adults will find entertainment. As the second Harry Belafonte song “Day-O” (The Banana Boat Song) blasts out, and the dinner table scene ensues, everyone in the family will be immersed in the bizarre world created by Burton.
Joe Dante, who also directed the incredible family film THE BURBS (starring Tom Hanks), takes what could have been a pure horror film and turns it into a Christmas tale filled with laughs, thrills and plenty of scares. All based around the cute and fluffy Gizmo, the movie takes a dark turn when the rules are broken leaving a trio of Gremlins running amok around town.
This Robert Zemeckis film was directed by new filmmaker Peter Jackson, who would go on to win an Academy Award for directing the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. Starring Michael J. Fox near the end of his prime, the film follows a man who can talk to ghosts and unravels a ghostly conspiracy only he can fight. The movie has comedic ghosts, loads of thrills and some incredibly creepy atmospheric locations. FRIGHTENERS is a simple good time that’s perfect for all ages.
A no-brainer for this list is this feature film based on the ‘60s horror-comedy TV show, which brings Morticia, Gomez, Uncle Fester, Thing, Lurch, Pugsley and Wednesday to the big screen for the first time ever. While the movie is bleak and features a disturbing plot, the only real reason to watch this movie is the characters brought to life by such great performers as Angelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci and more.
In one of Johnny Depp’s break-out film roles, Depp returns to the horror genre after Freddy Krueger took him out in the 1994 classic, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. Directed by Tim Burton (only the first of many collaborations), this Christmas tale is perfect for all ages. Children will find solace in the colorful town that Edward is brought to, while also enjoying Edward’s styling techniques (trees, bushes and hair!). Teens and adults will enjoy the darker side of the film such as the castle where Edward was created. Horror enthusiasts also shouldn’t miss what was Vincent Price’s last physical role in a film before passing away in 1993.
GHOST BUSTERS (or GHOSTBUSTERS) is the definitive family horror film that has set the bar so high that it’s bound to never be beaten. Featuring legendary comedians, Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd, alongside the massive cast of Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Rock Moranis, Ernie Hudson and more, the film is a wet dream for nearly anyone walking on this planet. Children might be a tad frightened by the opening “library ghost,” but after shielding their eyes will be delighted when they see “Slimer” and the “Stay Puft Marshmallow Man” hit the screen. In addition, kids will love the Ecto-1 car, abandoned fire station location and proton packs used to catch the ghosts. There is a little bit of something for every different type of person in the film. From start to finish this one is filled with laughs, scares, chills and awe-striking visuals that will have you rewinding to a favorite scene immediately following the credits.
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