Halloween can be tuff for kids and parents alike. For many the Halloween season is heavily
connected to the creepier side of Hollywood,
but it might be difficult for parents to find movies that fit with the spirit
of the season, but that don’t have the gore and blood that comes with it.
So what is one to do when your six year old wants to sit
down and watch Saw 3 on Halloween night?
The following three movies might make better, more family friendly
alternatives.
#3. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
The Movie
Disney’s estranged yet beloved animated double feature may
not be the best thing to ever come out of the company, but it’s surprisingly
unique.
It features two short-ish animated Disney-fied renditions of
classic literature stories, The Wind in the Willows and The Legend of Sleepy
hollow one after the other with little connection between the two. The Wind in the Willows is more of a comic,
surprisingly British, romp. Its twin,
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a less silly, but still quite funny ghost story. The two make an interesting couple to say the
least; they’re both quite entertaining for children and parents alike.
How is it Great for a Family Halloween?
The first segment, The Wind in the Willows, isn’t very
Halloween-ish at all; but the “Sleepy Hollow” is another story all
together. The film concludes in a fun
fall dance, ghost stories and a final, inconclusive, attack by the headless
horseman. “Sleepy Hollow,” is just
creepy enough to get kids in the ghoulish Halloween spirit, but it’s still loony
and toony enough so that only the most skittish kids will have anything but a
good time.
The adults in the meantime can enjoy the brilliant Disney animation,
clever humor and the singing and narrating talents of Bing Crosby. It’s really a scary fun time for the whole
family.
#2. It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
The Movie
It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown is a classic Halloween
special from way back in the day that features the characters from the Charles
Schultz comic, Peanuts, and their adventures on a particularly eventful Halloween
night. The characters go trick or
treating, bobbing for apples and have low risk internal conflicts and philosophical
musings to go along with them.
How is it Great for a Family Halloween?
There is a good reason that these Peanuts specials have
survived all these years in the popular consciousness; They’re incredibly
clever, smart and entertaining. Charles
Schultz sense of humor shines through in the medium. My entire family growing up would watch It’s
the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown every Halloween growing up, and we still quote
it sometimes at family gatherings. The
funny antics of Snoopy and Lucy will get the kids smiling, and the clever
writing and humor will get parents hooked as well. The animation and voice acting might be
pretty lame, but the story itself is a feel-good Halloween romp.
#1. The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Movie
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a detailed gothic
stop-motion animated film infested by the fiendish inhabitants of Halloween Town.
These characters are meant to prepare Halloween for the children of the
world each year, but that changes when one Halloween Town
resident decides that he would rather prepare Christmas instead.
How is it Great for a Family Halloween?
The Nightmare Before Christmas has plenty of dark humor and
creepy characters, but it’s all instilled with a sense of child like innocence
that I think kids really connect to.
Much like our first entry it’s spooky enough to scare, but not
frightening enough to disturb. The music
and silliness all aid the films fun Halloween tone so that it can be palatable
to kids, teens and adults alike. Don’t
let the Hot Topic shirts fool you; This movie isn’t just for moody
teenagers. At heart it’s a family film.
Thanks for reading! If you want to watch Saw with your six year old, or if you just want to know more about movies follow us on social media. Check back this weekend for more movie fun!
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