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Get ready for fright night
We’ve got plenty of Halloween movie suggestions for younger kids. But for families with older kids, or younger kids who are true horror fans, we present this all-new list of 10 spine-tingling titles to watch with your tweens and teens.
Be sure to check out Common Sense Media for details on exactly what these movies show so you can decide for yourself if any title is too much for your not-so-little one. Scroll through the arrows above for our list of scary, very scary and extra scary movies for Halloween night.
Getting spooky (ages 12–14)
Okay, “The Mummy” (1999) is technically about the classic Egyptian monster, but it’s basically a really fun, Raiders-of-the-Lost-Ark-style action movie. Your kids will love Brendan Fraser at his superstar peak.
“The Village” (2004) is not the best M. Night Shyamalan flick, but it’s certainly the most Halloween-y with its Salem-esque setting. If you remember the ending, be sure to watch your kids’ faces for the big reveal. I recently watched my youngest’s first exposure to Darth Vader proclaiming “I am your father!” The kaleidoscope of emotions on her face was priceless.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark was a popular book series in the ’80s. The movie, “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” (2019) is a pastiche of these classic stories, so this one might pack some fun nostalgia for you.
Nice and scary movies (ages 14–16)
I loved “The Lost Boys” (1987) when I was this age. Even then I could see the movie for the campy ’80s cheese that it was. Your kids will start off mocking the clothes and the music before getting sucked into this story about a small town’s vampire infestation.
Similar fun comes in “The Frighteners” 1996), a supernatural comedy horror that plays like a dark version of Ghostbusters. It was directed by Peter Jackson and has Michael J. Fox heading a stellar cast. This one’s a forgotten gem. Note: Common Sense Media rates this as for ages 18+, though parents say it’s okay for 13+. This is a much bigger gap than you’ll typically find on the site. Be sure to read the reviews before you view.
“A Quiet Place” (2018) is a great atmospheric monster movie that plays tension like a virtuoso. But I can’t believe it’s PG-13 and am making my 13-year-old wait another year before he can watch it. With me, of course, because it’s so good. And check out the sequel, “A Quiet Place Part II” for even more monsters and jump scares.
Do not watch with the lights off (ages 17+)
Some of the best scary movies start with young adults hanging out in the woods. So it begins with “The Cabin in the Woods” (2011), until something completely unexpected happens. This one’s gory, bloody, violent and does have breast nudity… but my oh my, it has such magnificent monster mayhem! Plus it’s got Thor in it, and he’s awesome even when he’s not being Thor.
Okay, this next flick is definitely not for the younger set, but it is hands down my favorite creepy movie. “Sinister” (2012) is about a writer investigating a supernatural force in his own house. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you’re looking for something to watch with your high school senior or college-age kid, and you’re up for some legit chills, this one fits the bill.
“Host” (2020) falls into that found footage/reality genre of horror movie that took off with “The Blair Witch Project” back in 1999. It’s very timely, set during Covid-19 lockdown, and all the action unfolds over Zoom. If your kids have already seen it, they can have fun watching you get scared out of your wits.
I wanted to end on my top suggestion, chosen because it will allow you to have an important conversation with your kids when it’s over. There’s a good chance your teen has already seen the fantastic thriller “Get Out” (2017). But the movie also happens to be an amazing commentary on systemic racism and white privilege, the kind of film that Trojan Horses some deeper thinking into your kids’ heads. It’s worth checking out and then discussing these issues.
Happy Halloween!
