What happened to the kid’s horror film? Film Stories – Film Stories

As we look forward to the cinema release of family-friendly fare likeDC League Of Super-Pets,we ask what happened to making horror films for kids?.

Minions: The Rise Of Gru, The Railway Children Return,andDC League Of Super-Petsare the biggest cinema releases this month for families with younger children. If youre looking for a lighthearted, entertaining film to sit through with the family theyre surely all good choices. Its been a while, though, since weve had anything on the scarier end of the spectrum made for a younger audience.

If you search for suggestions for scary kids films, youll inevitably see the usual Halloween-themed favourites pop up from Hocus Pocus,toCasper,toHotel Transylvania.But these arent scary films at all, they just happen to be tales of witches, ghosts and vampires. Casper is, after all, known for being a friendly ghost.

OUR BEST EVER SUBSCRIPTION OFFER!

Try three issues of Film Stories magazine for just 1!: right here!

In fact, most of those above, and others like DisneysHaunted Mansion,and more widely considered to be comedic than genuinely frightening.

Even those films with a few jumpy or creepy moments namely the animated work of directors like Tim Burton quickly normalise their horror elements and make us feel comfortable around typically scary character types. 2005sCorpse Bride is an excellent example of this. When the title character emerges from the grave and pursues our protagonist Victor and introduces his to the underworld, its a scene that could be at home in any zombie movie. Its probably also what earned the film its PG rating. Well, that and the various times eyeballs pop out of their sockets.

But as soon as we get to know Burtons corpse characters we realise theyre just ordinary people albeit dead ones. The Bride, Emily, has a tragic past that makes her immediately sympathetic. Its also revealed through song, and who doesnt like a good musical number? Some really great voice work from Helena Bonham-Carter just makes her even more likeable, and the moments that would otherwise be creepy (the aforementioned eyeball) are portrayed as just a bit of morbid fun.

Even more recently than that, weve had films that tried to provide some child-friendly horror, but ended up more in the realm of fantasy or science fiction. The Sam Raimi-produced Netflix film Nightbooksis one of those. Directed by David Yarovesky and adapted from the novel of the same name by J.A. White, it was a movie aimed at being a gateway to horror for younger viewers. It focuses on young horror fan Alex (Winslow Fegley) as hes lured into a witchs magical apartment and made to tell a new horror story to her every night.

It may pay homage to writers of the genre, like Stephen King, and 80s classics like teen vampire flick The Lost Boys,but Krysten Ritters witch Natacha is far too fashionable to be frightening. Its also more on the whimsical side in terms of production design, featuring strange creatures and an impossibly large library full of wonders. Not to mention the fact that the final act culminates in a traditional battle between good and evil. Its not hard to guess which side wins.

Nightbooks

So, when was the last time a proper kids horror film was made, and what makes a great one?

The two most recent and successful attempts that spring to mind are Henry SelicksCoralineandMonster House.The feature directorial debut of Gil Kenan (whos since worked on the 2015 remake ofPoltergeistand theScreamTV series, as well as co-writing Ghostbusters: Afterlife), Monster House is a film I remember as being truly terrifying. Released in 2006, I distinctly remember going to the cinema to watch it. I wouldve been about eight years old, and Im slightly embarrassed to admit that I couldnt sit through the whole thing. We left about halfway through.

Admittedly, I was a bit of a wimpy child, but I did eventually watch the rest of it. I think it says a lot about the power of kids horror, though, that you can watch those movies as a child and still remember years later. It might be because it scared you shitless, or because it sparked a lifelong interest in the genre (in my case, both). Either way its a good thing to have a memorable cinematic experience during your formative years.

What madeMonster Houseso creepy? Well for one, it starts with an old man, Mr Nebbercracker (voiced by Steve Buscemi), presumably dying from a heart attack. Thats certainly one way to let your audience know what theyre in for. It also deals with some pretty dark stuff thematically, especially where Nebbercracker is concerned. His rumoured cannibalism, for instance. And if thePolar Express-style animation wasnt scary enough, theres some striking imagery found inside the house, too. The sight of Nebbercrackers wife, Constance, being encased in concrete and kept in the basement is chilling.

SelicksCoralineis similar in many ways, dealing with themes of abandonment through both the main character of Coraline and her friend Wybie. When she enters a parallel world where her other family has buttons for eyes, it gradually shifts from a fantasy land to a dangerous trap. Really, is the concept of Coraline having buttons sewn into her eyes not a childrens introduction to body horror?

The creepiest of kids horror doesnt shy away from dark themes or frightening imagery. Just take 1985sReturn To Oz,where Fairuza Balks Dorothy is taken to a mental hospital to receive shock treatment. For gruesome makeup, look no further than the true form of Anjelica Hustons Grand High Witch in the 1990 version ofThe Witches.Those tales are nowadays adapted to be more fantastical than horrific. 2020sThe Witchescast Anne Hathaway in the same role as Huston, but considerably toned down her hideous appearance. Id recommend sticking to the original.

WithCoralinereleased in 2009 andMonster Housein 2006, its been quite some time since a proper kids horror film has been made. In a time of comedic franchise blockbusters and lighthearted legacy sequels, itd certainly be good to see more of them around.

Thank you for visiting!If youd like to support our attempts to make a non-clickbaity movie website:

Follow Film Stories on Twitterhere, and on Facebookhere.

Buy our Film Stories and Film Stories Junior print magazineshere.

Become a Patron here.

Read more from the original source:
What happened to the kid's horror film? Film Stories - Film Stories

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero