10 movies that freaked us out the most as kids
Kids are renowned for having vivid imaginations which transport them to another dimension. With that in mind, we asked Babyology readers what movies freaked them out the most as a kid, and here are their top answers – many of which might surprise you!
1. Gremlins
Directed by Steven Spielberg and set in 1984, this comedy-horror film is about a young man who receives an odd creature called a ‘mogwai’ from his Dad as a pet for Christmas. This creature, however, isn’t any ordinary pet. Instead, he spawns and transforms into many small, destructive and evil monsters. Sounds like a great gift to get at Christmas, huh?
2.The Wizard of Oz
Based on the children’s novel by L. Frank Baum, this 1939 musical fantasy film is considered to be one of the greatest films in history. It recounts the story of Dorothy Gale, who runs away from her home in Kansas with her dog Toto to save him from being euthanised. As a tornado breaks, she’s knocked unconscious and wakes to find herself in a whole new land with a bunch of lively characters, and tried to make her way home. The music and technicolour effects definitely give this film the ‘freaky’ element!
3. Return to OZ
It’s 1985 now and Dorothy finds herself back in the land of Oz, again. This time she has to save the people of the Emerald City from the control of an evil King. Here we meet a slew of new characters as Dorothy sets out on her quest to restore Oz to its former glory. Technicolour abounds!
3.Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
In the original 1971 adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book, we are introduced to the ever-quirky Willy Wonka who owns the chocolate factory that golden ticket winner Charlie Bucket gets to visit. During the tour of the factory, we watch as other children, who were also winners of the ticket, meet their fate after failing to listen to Willy. Along with the eerie music that the movie is paired with, let’s not forget that freaky boat ride scene!
4. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
I still remember having nightmares over this movie created in 1982. E.T is about a young boy called Elliot who befriends an extraterrestrial dubbed “E.T” who is stranded on earth. Elliot and his siblings attempt to keep him hidden from the government while helping him return to his home planet.
5.Coraline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO3n67BQvh0
Based on Neil Gaiman’s book about a young girl called Coraline who finds the doorway to a parallel universe in her own home. Except, she’s unaware that this alternative world contains a dark and sinister secret. It’s a 3D stop-motion film, and it’s freaky as!
6. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Set in the early 1900s, this film looks innocent enough and tells the story of young siblings Jeremy and Jemima who are under the care of their eccentric inventor father, Caractacus Potts. The plot thickens and gets a bit twisted when we meet villainous Baron Bomburst and the Child Catchers who kidnap and imprison young children. I’m sorry… whaaaat?
7. Labyrinth
This musical fantasy film set in 1986 stars the effervescent David Bowie and tells the story of 15-year-old Sarah and her quest to reach the centre of another universe to rescue her baby brother, who she wished away to Jareth the Goblin King.
8. The Mask
Here you’ll meet Stanley Ipkiss, an ordinary man who works as a bank clerk, that is until he finds himself in possession of a green mask. When worn, the mask transforms Stanley into some sort of manic superhero. Something about that mask image just sticks in your head!
9.The Witches
Another adaptation of one of Roald Dahl’s amazing books, this dark fantasy horror comedy movie is set in 1983 and stars three women who masquerade as ordinary, but they actually kill children. That is until a young boy and his grandmother find a way to foil and destroy them!
10. The Mummy
Starring Brendan Fraser in his unforgettable role as archaeologist Rick O’Connell, this movie tells the tale of a group of explorers who unleash a curse on the dead High Priest Imhotep. Waking up the Mummy who wreaks havoc, the characters scramble to send him back to where he came from. Let’s not forget that scene with the scarab beetles! Blergh!
Looking back it’s easy to see why many of these films freaked us out as children after all, isn’t it?
