Halloween is one of the most anticipated and loved holidays in the world. The night when the ghosts walk among the living has created generations of movies that people watch to this day in preparation for October 31. The holiday is designed for all the family, with a focus on kids and trick-or-treating on the night of Hallows Eve. It is therefore not surprising that several stories set during this period (and generally scary stories reminiscent of this night) are aimed at children and their experiences.
Kid-friendly horror stories are popular, from Nightmare before Christmas to countless Christmas themed Halloween specials. Even theme parks aimed at children have special events to commemorate the night the monsters that walk on the shadows come to hunt. One of the greatest kid-friendly Halloween movies is: Hocus Pocuswhich was followed up after almost 30 years.
Hocus Pocus takes place during Halloween night in Salem. After a curse is accidentally broken, three witches, the Sanderson sisters, come back to life to terrorize and complete their ultimate goal: stay young. A brother and a sister, with the help of unusual friends, will have to do everything they can to stop them. Here’s a little more about what makes a good kid-friendly horror story and why Hocus Pocus is so loved.
Kid Friendly Horror
Horror is a genre that can have an impact on all ages. One of the great things about kids is how imaginative they are, which leads to great minds and ideas for stories. So when they read or watch a story about a monster, their minds are instantly hooked – something that needs a little more persuasion when the intended audience is adults. Some of the best-selling children’s and youth books are horror series, such as: Goosebumpswhich has undergone some adjustments over the years.
There are many factors to consider when creating a kid-friendly horror story. Some lines cannot be crossed, such as sexual and gore elements. Profanity and a high degree of disturbing things cannot happen in these kinds of stories. Also, any age group can enjoy a good family-friendly horror movie or TV show as the story is entertaining to watch at its core, and some may even terrify an older audience by how well developed the characters and monsters are.
There are even variations of horror that are suitable for different ages. One example is the upcoming Netflix young adult series from one of today’s most prominent horror filmmakers, Mike Flanagan, The Midnight Club. It is important to emphasize that the age range of the films and series must be followed, and respect how each child reacts to scary images. But there’s no shortage of content for those who like to see the monsters lurking in the dark, even if they’re still quite young.
Hocus Pocus
Hocus Pocus is one of the most beloved live-action Disney movies of the early 90s. However, when it was released, it was considered a blockbuster. When it was re-released on television and DVD, the Halloween movie found its audience. The story and make-up are dark enough to make it horror, but the lighthearted characters and the creepy but silly visuals became a pop culture phenomenon. The film stirs a lot of nostalgia for those who grew up watching these stories on television, and now with Hocus pocus 2is a great opportunity to scare a younger generation with the Sanderson sisters.
One of the best features of the film is that it knows its audience so well that it doesn’t deter them from making bold choices. There is a talking cat with a really sad story, ghosts and a corpse whose mouth has been stitched up because it cheated on one of the witches. The plot isn’t perfect, there’s more than one plot hole in the story, but the movie remains a go-to watch when the spooky season kicks off. There hasn’t been a single movie or TV show like Hocus Pocusmainly because of the bold choices and sweet characters, which only reinforces why so many people like it so much.
Yet the core of the story is one that many children can relate to: siblings. The main characters are siblings who sometimes don’t get along, but need each other to defeat the witches; even the witches are siblings! The heartwarming moral of the story blends very well with the silly horror factors of the film, creating a feel-good story that any age can enjoy.
Other horror stories for children
Horror stories for children have been made for a long time. One of the classics of the 80s, Ghostbusters, can be enjoyed by the whole family. There are some animated movies, such as: Monster housewhich are a bit darker and perhaps for a slightly older crowd. The Spiderwick Chronicles is a fantastic adventure that gets scary at times but continues the lighthearted and sweet overall feel.
A good example of a more horror-oriented plot would be: Scary stories to tell in the dark, which is also based on a series of children’s books. These are just a few examples of movies that, after watching, Hocus pocus 2can be viewed and enjoyed by the whole family.