Are you a kid trying to figure out if you like horror? Or a parent wanting to explore the genre with your little one? Here are our recommendations below.
Zakia’s Picks:
Stranger Things (2016-Present)
“I think Stranger Things is a great starter show for anyone because it has special effects, not as intense as other shows. I like that in the plot there’s always something coming for them.”
The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)
“I personally like this show because it involves younger kids of age. It’s more of an experience when you watch it… psychological. The bonfire scene at 4AM with all the adults was such a beautiful moment.”
American Horror Story - Freak Show (2015)
“I like this one because it’s more of the gore side. The plot was very interesting because of the clown at the picnic. In that scene, I felt it was very intense. There’s a lot of blood, so that’s why it’s intense.”
Small Spaces (2018)
“I read this book in fifth grade. It’s a bunch of kids going on a field trip and there’s no blood or jump scares that are involved… it’s more of a feeling and the detail that was added into the book and plot.”
Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (2021)
“Oh my gosh, okay. What I liked about it is that I live in LA, so I felt connected with the story. The mental illness drew me into the story of how her disappearance happened. The moral is… don’t travel alone. Especially outside of the country that you live in.”
Zachary’s Picks:
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish (2014)
“I like that book because it’s like a kids comic about a zombie becoming a fish and the kid doesn’t want the parents to know that his fish is a zombie.”
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
“That one is a good movie because it’s not based on humans. The main character is a skeleton with a ghost dog. It’s basically a normal family.”
Goosebumps (2015)
“It’s literally like Halloween horror themed and it’s for kids. It’s fictional monsters which is really cool. There’s kids trying to save the world from Slappy.”
Attack on Titan (2013-Present)
“AOT is about humans and titans and the titans are trying to eat all of the humans. The humans build a wall to survive and stuff, and there’s more titans to go against. They kind of have a military. The main character can turn into a titan, but he uses that as an advantage to kill the titans. When he gets older he becomes bad and tries to kill everyone and stuff. He can create titans.”
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events
“When the evil guy has people with him, one of the guys had the baby all the way up on top of the roof and like a bucket. He said he was gonna cut it unless something happened. That was scary, I thought the baby was gonna splat.”
All of Us Are Dead (2022-Present)
“I like it because it’s an original. They made their own words for half human and half zombie called ‘hambie.’ The show is about high school students fighting zombies.”
Xanthe’s Picks:
Gretel & Hansel (2020)
“A female-driven spin on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, this film is a storybook brought to life. It carries the whole package in sight and sound for any age to fall deep under its spell. Haunting, beautiful and one to leave you with an unforgettable feeling.”
Let The Right One In (2008)
“One of the greatest romances told through the terrors of growing up. Hailing from Sweden, this received an American remake with ‘Let Me In’ and shows delicate portrait of friendship with deliberate pacing and an icy environment. The tale of this vampire and a human boy should not be overlooked.”
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
“If you feel resistance towards black and white films, give this one a chance. It’s the zombie film that paved the way for others. While this was made in the 60’s, it still resonates deeply with the politics and issues of today. It still has imagery that feels provocative for modern viewers.”
Beetlejuice (1988)
“Watching this as a kid left me feeling like I just visited an amusement park. Tim Burton has always been the king of creating fantastic worlds to inspire one’s imagination. We’ve all wondered what it’d be like to be a ghost… and this makes the journey so much fun with the right amount of creepy.”
The Good Son (1993)
“There’s nothing more terrifying than the cruelty of children, and this one takes the cake. Starring a young Macaulay Culkin and Elijah Wood, I watched this one when I was their age and it never left my memory. Wonderful acting and suspense that begs for repeat viewings.”
Death Note (2007)
“This is also a perfect gateway into anime or even the manga itself. It is about a high schooler who becomes a serial killer… but not in the way you’d expect. What if you could kill someone simply by writing their name in a book? Get ready to binge. It was not intended for kids, so if you’re on the younger side, definitely take care of yourself and discuss these themes with a trusted adult.”
Zakia’s Picks:
Stranger Things (2016-Present)
“I think Stranger Things is a great starter show for anyone because it has special effects, not as intense as other shows. I like that in the plot there’s always something coming for them.”
The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)
“I personally like this show because it involves younger kids of age. It’s more of an experience when you watch it… psychological. The bonfire scene at 4AM with all the adults was such a beautiful moment.”
American Horror Story - Freak Show (2015)
“I like this one because it’s more of the gore side. The plot was very interesting because of the clown at the picnic. In that scene, I felt it was very intense. There’s a lot of blood, so that’s why it’s intense.”
Small Spaces (2018)
“I read this book in fifth grade. It’s a bunch of kids going on a field trip and there’s no blood or jump scares that are involved… it’s more of a feeling and the detail that was added into the book and plot.”
Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (2021)
“Oh my gosh, okay. What I liked about it is that I live in LA, so I felt connected with the story. The mental illness drew me into the story of how her disappearance happened. The moral is… don’t travel alone. Especially outside of the country that you live in.”
Zachary’s Picks:
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish (2014)
“I like that book because it’s like a kids comic about a zombie becoming a fish and the kid doesn’t want the parents to know that his fish is a zombie.”
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
“That one is a good movie because it’s not based on humans. The main character is a skeleton with a ghost dog. It’s basically a normal family.”
Goosebumps (2015)
“It’s literally like Halloween horror themed and it’s for kids. It’s fictional monsters which is really cool. There’s kids trying to save the world from Slappy.”
Attack on Titan (2013-Present)
“AOT is about humans and titans and the titans are trying to eat all of the humans. The humans build a wall to survive and stuff, and there’s more titans to go against. They kind of have a military. The main character can turn into a titan, but he uses that as an advantage to kill the titans. When he gets older he becomes bad and tries to kill everyone and stuff. He can create titans.”
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events
“When the evil guy has people with him, one of the guys had the baby all the way up on top of the roof and like a bucket. He said he was gonna cut it unless something happened. That was scary, I thought the baby was gonna splat.”
All of Us Are Dead (2022-Present)
“I like it because it’s an original. They made their own words for half human and half zombie called ‘hambie.’ The show is about high school students fighting zombies.”
Xanthe’s Picks:
Gretel & Hansel (2020)
“A female-driven spin on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, this film is a storybook brought to life. It carries the whole package in sight and sound for any age to fall deep under its spell. Haunting, beautiful and one to leave you with an unforgettable feeling.”
Let The Right One In (2008)
“One of the greatest romances told through the terrors of growing up. Hailing from Sweden, this received an American remake with ‘Let Me In’ and shows delicate portrait of friendship with deliberate pacing and an icy environment. The tale of this vampire and a human boy should not be overlooked.”
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
“If you feel resistance towards black and white films, give this one a chance. It’s the zombie film that paved the way for others. While this was made in the 60’s, it still resonates deeply with the politics and issues of today. It still has imagery that feels provocative for modern viewers.”
Beetlejuice (1988)
“Watching this as a kid left me feeling like I just visited an amusement park. Tim Burton has always been the king of creating fantastic worlds to inspire one’s imagination. We’ve all wondered what it’d be like to be a ghost… and this makes the journey so much fun with the right amount of creepy.”
The Good Son (1993)
“There’s nothing more terrifying than the cruelty of children, and this one takes the cake. Starring a young Macaulay Culkin and Elijah Wood, I watched this one when I was their age and it never left my memory. Wonderful acting and suspense that begs for repeat viewings.”
Death Note (2007)
“This is also a perfect gateway into anime or even the manga itself. It is about a high schooler who becomes a serial killer… but not in the way you’d expect. What if you could kill someone simply by writing their name in a book? Get ready to binge. It was not intended for kids, so if you’re on the younger side, definitely take care of yourself and discuss these themes with a trusted adult.”
