Halloween is one of the most anticipated and loved holidays in the world. The night where the spirits walk among the living has created generations of movies that, to this day, people watch in preparation for October 31st. The holiday is intended for the whole family, with a focus on children and going trick-or-treating on the night of Hallows Eve. Therefore, it is not a surprise that various stories set during this period (and overall scary stories that are reminiscent of this night) are focused on children and their experiences.

Kid-friendly horror stories are popular, from Nightmare Before Christmas to countless holiday-themed Halloween specials. Even theme parks aimed toward children have special events to commemorate the night the monsters that walk on the shadows come out to hunt. One of the biggest kid-friendly Halloween movies is Hocus Pocus, which received a sequel after almost 30 years.

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Hocus Pocus is set during the night of Halloween in Salem. After a curse is broken by mistake, three witches, the Sanderson sisters, come back to life to terrorize and complete their ultimate goal: staying young. A brother and a sister, with the help of unusual friends, will have to do everything they can to stop them. Here is a bit more on what makes a good kid-friendly horror story, and why Hocus Pocus is so loved.

Kid Friendly Horror

     Netflix

Horror is a genre that can be impactful for all ages. One of the great things about children is how imaginative they are, which leads to great minds and ideas for stories. So, when reading or watching a story about a monster, their minds are immediately hooked — which is something that needs a bit more convincing when the targeted audience is adults. Some of the best-selling children’s and young adult books are horror series, such as Goosebumps, which has gained a few adaptations over the years.

There are a lot of factors that need to be taken into consideration when creating a kid-friendly horror story. Some lines can’t be crossed, such as sexual and gore elements. Profanity and a high degree of disturbing things can’t happen in these types of stories. Also, a good family-friendly horror movie or television show can be enjoyed by any age range because the story at its core is entertaining to watch, and some are even able to terrify older audiences by how well the characters and monsters are developed.

There are even variations of horror that are friendly for different ages. An example is the upcoming young adult Netflix series by one of the most prominent horror filmmakers today, Mike Flanagan, The Midnight Club. It is important to highlight that the age range of the movies and series should be followed, as well as respect how each child reacts to scary imagery. But there is no lack of content available for those who love to see the monsters that lurk in the dark, even when they are quite young.

Hocus Pocus

     Buena Vista Pictures

Hocus Pocus is one of the most loved live-action Disney movies from the early 90s. However, when it was released it was considered a box-office failure. When it was re-released on television and DVD, that was when the Halloween movie found its crowd. The story and make-up is dark enough to make it horror, but the lighthearted characters and the creepy but silly imagery became a pop culture phenomenon. The movie sparks a lot of nostalgia for those who grew up watching these stories on television, and now with Hocus Pocus 2, is a great chance to scare a younger generation with the Sanderson sisters.

One of the best qualities of the movie is that it knows its audience so well that it doesn’t scare them away from making bold choices. There is a talking cat with a truly sad story, spirits, and a corpse that has its mouth stitched because it cheated on one of the witches. The plot is not perfect, there is more than one plot hole that can be found in the narrative, but the movie continues to be a go-to watch when the spooky season starts. There hasn’t been any movie or television show quite like Hocus Pocus, especially because of its bold choices and lovable characters, which only enhances why so many people like it so much.

Nevertheless, the core of the story is one that many children can relate to: siblings. The main characters are siblings that sometimes don’t get along, but who need one another to defeat the witches; even the witches are siblings! The heartwarming moral of the story combines really well with the silly horror factors of the movie, creating a feel-good type of story that can be enjoyed by every age.

Other Horror Stories for Kids

     Lionsgate

Horror stories for kids have been made for a very long time now. One of the classics from the 80s, Ghostbusters, can be enjoyed by the whole family. There are some animation movies, such as Monster House, that are a bit darker and maybe for an audience that is a tad older. The Spiderwick Chronicles is a fantastical adventure that turns scary in various moments but continues its lighthearted and sweet overall feeling.

A great example of a more horror-orientated plot would be Scary Stories To Tell in The Dark, which is also based on a series of young adult books. These are only a few examples of movies that, after watching Hocus Pocus 2, can be watched by the whole family and be enjoyed.