Halloween Top 10: Family Fear

Bored of the standard Halloween specials and the same selection of horror movies? Well this is the series for you. This is the first in a special series ready for Halloween which will cover a range of spooky media to get you in the mood. In this first article, I’m going to focus on family-friendly Halloween treats, because you don’t have to be old enough to go to an X-rated film to enjoy some Samhain scariness! I’ll be covering new and classic TV and cinema and even the odd book. So prepare your pumpkins and let’s begin.

Frankenstein (1931)

Where better to start than a real classic? Although they’re not often seen as “family” films, the Universal Monster movies from the 30s and 40s now hold U and PG ratings, since back then there was no rating system whatsoever and countless kids thrilled at the sight of today’s favourite movie monsters. “Frankenstein” is relatively child friendly, lacking the darker overtones of, say, “Dracula”, “the Invisible Man” or “the Mummy” and children really warm to Boris Karloff’s unforgettable and vulnerable performance. If your family doesn’t mind black and white movies, this is a great chance to give them a bit of culture, though very young children might be worried by the accidental death of the young Maria so be warned.

A classic clip from the film

If this film proves popular, why not try its utterly brilliant sequel “the Bride of Frankenstein”, or move onto some of the sillier but spookier monster mashes, “House of Frankenstein” and “House of Dracula”?

Corpse Bride (2005)

If your kids prefer things a little more up-to-date, Tim Burton’s stop motion fun might be right up their alley. Full of catchy songs and beautiful animation, it’s a perfect Halloween treat; funny, bizarre and touching, with an almost fairy-tale feel thanks to its basis in European folklore. It follows a young man on the eve of his wedding who accidentally finds himself married to a dead woman. Children and adults alike will love the outlandish and grotesque characters, while the witty script ensures there’s plenty of sight gags and silliness to amuse kids, and a plethora of social commentary and Victoriana to get older audiences chuckling.