[Editorial] 5 Feel Good Horrors: Easter Terrors For The Whole Family!

It’s Easter weekend which means there’s nothing better to do than spend some quality time with your family, indulge in far too many chocolate eggs and cosy up with some feel good films. But most of us horror fans will moan that we’re not able to actually watch a horror film, especially with teens or little ones around… But that’s not entirely true!

Although there isn’t an abundance of horror films made for kids, there are a few that are PG-13 and still fun to watch as an adult - I’d argue that you don’t even need kids to enjoy these! So grab that overpriced, half-melted egg, snuggle up on the sofa and enjoy some family friendly frights...

Beetlejuice (1988)

We should probably start by recognising that Tim Burton is one of the masters when it comes to creating creepy, unsettling films that are still suitable for younger audiences. There’s a plethora of films from his filmography but we’re going for one of his classic films, which is none other than Beetlejuice. 

What’s not to love about this film? It’s kooky, it’s weird, it’s a little uncomfortable in places AND you can sing along to it as well. It is most definitely a bizarre film but one that every horror fan holds dearly because it’s just so much fun. There are some bits in here that might be a little too spooky for super young kids (bodies cut in half and distorted monsters), but this one truly gets the whole family laughing at the absurdity. 

Monster House (2006)

This animated comedy horror film was designed especially for kids, but as a full-grown adult with no children, there is no shame in absolutely loving this film. Monster House follows a group of young teenagers as they discover that the spooky house in their neighbourhood is actually haunted and wants to kill all the kids on the block. 

The film has been compared to Burton’s work, which is probably one of the reasons that it’s considered so highly and is so entertaining to watch. Hilarious in places, but also genuinely frightening at times, something that is often hard to bring to life within animated films. It plays into the childhood fears that we all have about that one creepy house that must be full of monsters.

Attack The Block (2011)

Probably better suited for slightly older audiences, with a 15 rating but it’s definitely one that the teenagers will love to watch! Set on an estate in South London, a group of teenagers led by Moses, played by John Boyega who also plays Finn in Star Wars (bonus points with the teens on that, right?!), have to battle against an invasion of furry but deadly creatures. 

This film is an absolute belter, and really just embodies everything that makes a film fun. There’s enough diversity in characters, laced with stereotypical traits which makes them all hilarious in their own way. Plus, there’s some pretty good kill scenes and the creatures are unique too. 

Coraline (2009)

When making this film, it seems like they weren’t really making it for kids because this one is absolutely frightening as hell. The dark fantasy film Coraline tells the tale of a young girl who finds a mysterious door in her house which leads to another reality where her parents are the same but different. At first they seem like the idyll version of her parents, but soon Coraline finds out that their intentions are anything but sweet. 

There really is something so sinister about this film, and even as an adult this one felt like it played on my mind for a long time afterwards. It’s a kids film so you can technically show it to little ones, but it also seems like a sure way to give them nightmares? A fun one to show to anyone that doesn’t really like horror but you want to find a way to frighten them - Happy Easter!

Jaws (1975)

Steven Spielberg’s classic monster movie Jaws is an absolute must watch for the whole family - and if anyone argues that it’s going to be too scary, you can basically pass this off as a documentary about what happens when you don’t feed sharks. This is one of those staple films that everyone needs to see, and even so many years later it’s still terrifying in places. 

When I first showed this to my younger brother, it turned out to be me who screamed and hid behind the pillow when Bruce made his boat appearance… So this could be a fun one to see who in the family is really the bravest watcher of all. 

Bonus: The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror

Not a film in any respects, but perhaps one of the funniest ways you can enjoy a bit of horror and get no push back from the rest of the family: The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror! These episodes often have The Simpsons family re-enacting a famous classic horror film like The Shining or a creepy sci-fi movie like 2001: A Space Odyssey so it's almost like you’re watching some of your favourite movies at the same time. There’s something for everyone in these episodes, and they are always perfectly executed. 

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