One of my favorite holidays is just around the corner, and I could not be more excited. As someone who loves the creative process, Halloween offers the opportunity to show off our super scary creative skills. Whether it is decorating your front porch with witches and ghouls, or designing the perfect costume for the year’s most sugary soirees, Halloween allows all of us to make the most of our imagination.
One way I love celebrating the creative spirit of Halloween is by watching some of my favorite fun and frightening films with my family. You won’t find Carrie or The Exorcist on this list, but that’s okay. These age-appropriate classics display all the gasps – but none of the gore – you and your kids could ever want. Happy Halloween!
1. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
If you are a kid, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is pretty much a childhood rite of passage. One of the best things about watching this classic with your kids is seeing them react to Charlie Brown and his gang with the same joy you felt the first time you saw it. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a must-see movie this Halloween, so it’s definitely #1 on my list.
2. Corpse Bride (2005)
Tim Burton is one of the best at producing cinematic gasps and screams intended for younger viewers. His 2005 hit Corpse Bride is no exception. The shy Victor (Johnny Depp) accidentally marries a corpse (Helena Bonham Carter). This unique gothic love story is a fascinating Halloween tale that fully embraces its Victorian setting.
3. James and the Giant Peach (1996)
James and the Giant Peach tells the story of a brave young orphan boy who travels to New York City inside a massive peach just to get away from his mean and frightful aunt. This classic is the rare Halloween film that features themes of friendship, courage, and the fight to make one’s dreams come true. In other words, it’s the perfect movie for your entire family.
4. Coraline (2009)
If you’re looking for the most creative and unique movie on this list, you found it. Coraline is an incredibly captivating piece of animated cinema. In addition to boasting some of film’s most impactful visuals, Coraline also teaches a very important lesson for family members of all ages: the things in life that appear too good to be true very often are.
5. Frankenweenie (2012)
Children of all ages will relate to young Victor Frankenstein, the main character in Frankenweenie who takes extreme measures to bring his beloved dog back to life. This darkly humorous film by Tim Burton is the rare Halloween favorite that manages to be both creepy and sweet.
I hope you and your entire family will enjoy watching these scary – and oftentimes sweet – movies. What are some of your Halloween favorites? Feel free to comment with some suggestions.
The Music Mom: Eileen Carey 