Growing up in the late ’80s and early ’90s, I can honestly say that the boundaries for what was deemed suitable for kids were much more relaxed back then. Well, at least in my household and among my friends. I didn’t think twice about watching a flick featuring a slasher who invades children’s dreams. But now, as a parent of three little ones all under ten, I can’t fathom letting my kids see most of the scary movies I watched. They’d be up all night, haunted by nightmares, which is the last thing I need, given how little sleep we already get.
Here are a few examples of those spine-chilling films:
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It
Everyone’s buzzing about the latest adaptation of Stephen King’s classic, but let’s not forget the original miniseries featuring Tim Curry, which aired on ABC. I was just 8 when I watched this three-hour horror about a demonic clown luring kids into the sewer. We thought it was harmless since it was on TV. Spoiler alert: it was not. I developed a brief but intense fear of clowns and couldn’t even enjoy a Happy Meal for weeks. As a parent, I’ve decided to keep my kids away from murderous clowns. -
Tremors
This was my first horror film experience, enjoyed as a family on VHS because, hey, it was rated PG-13—what could go wrong? In case you don’t remember, it’s about giant, man-eating worms that can sense vibrations and snack on unsuspecting folks. The night after watching it, I curled up in bed, afraid to step on the floor, convinced the Tremors would come for me. Let’s just say I had a little accident, and I definitely don’t need that kind of stress in my house. -
A Nightmare on Elm Street
This supernatural slasher film was released when I was just two years old, but it was on TV constantly in edited form. Although the blood was cut out, the image of the burned maniac with knives tormenting teens in their dreams was still terrifying. I remember watching it while carving pumpkins with my siblings, and even though my kids might be oversensitized, they get spooked by the mere thought of Scooby-Doo. I’ll be saving this one for when they are older. -
Poltergeist
Directed by Tobe Hooper, who also brought us The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, this 1982 horror was initially rated R but somehow got downgraded to PG (what?!). The plot involves a young girl getting sucked into a hellish portal in her closet. My kids are already frightened of closet monsters, so why would I want to amplify that fear? After watching, I spent a week in my parents’ bed! -
Friday the 13th
I’m pretty sure every child from the ’80s and early ’90s has seen this slasher classic about a boy who drowns at summer camp, only to return seeking revenge. Like A Nightmare on Elm Street, it was on every channel during October, and while the gruesome bits were edited, it still left kids terrified of the outdoors. I’m not a big fan of camping, and I don’t need my kids thinking there’s a half-dead serial killer lurking in the shadows.
While I won’t say you should completely avoid these films with your children, I do think it’s essential to choose wisely. My fondest memories are of watching scary movies with family around Halloween, but the last thing any parent wants is a bed full of terrified children after a scary movie marathon. Although we all turned out okay, I’d rather stick to lighter fare like Hotel Transylvania for now.
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In summary, while the scary movies of my childhood were thrilling at the time, I now see them in a different light. It’s better for my kids to wait a few more years before diving into horror classics.
Keyphrase: scary movies for kids
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