In the 80s and 90s, there was a wealth of creepy comedy-horror movies that were made specifically to scare kids. These days, however, the subgenre has largely fallen by the wayside.
Sure, we have 2009’s The Hole and 2015’s Goosebumps, which were both close to making *this* final list, but it’s fair to say that getting your mitts on horror movies aimed at a young adult demographic is tough and difficult. It’s getting harder. With that in mind, here’s our pick for Top 10 best horror movies for 13 year olds, Let’s join in, shall we?
10. Witches (1990)
Image Source: Warner Bros.
Yes, we know there’s a new The Witches movie out in 2020, and it’s actually pretty cool. That said, if we had the choice, we would always choose the original Nicolas Roeg-directed classic every now and then.
Based on the famous children’s novel by Roald Dahl, The Witches tells the horrifying story of a global society of child-hating witches who prey on innocent children. Anjelica Huston’s mentally ill turn as Cowen’s High Witch is a highlight, while Jim Henson Productions’ disturbingly practical implications are still worth watching.
Burned forever in my memory, however, are the poor children whose souls are forever trapped in the pictures. *shudder*
9. The Woman in Black (2012)
Image Source: Motion Pictures
Speaking of films based on books, The Woman in Black is another top adaptation of literary source material. However, it is inspired by Susan Hill’s 1983 novel.
Furthermore, another parallel with Roald Dahl’s The Witches is the fact that it is one of two film interpretations of the famous gothic horror story. Sure, the 1989 presentation is excellent too, but we’d opt for James Watkins’ modern take, thanks to Daniel Radcliffe’s surprisingly nuanced performance and the picture’s spine-tingling atmosphere.
Interestingly, due to the production being slightly mixed in slightly warm water very It’s scary here in the UK for its age rating, so maybe keep that in mind. Still, if your whippersnapper is made of the tough stuff, this is one seriously spooky supernatural chiller that will reach pillows in no time.
8. Jerks (1990)
Image Source: Universal Pictures
Instead of the straight-up horror fare we’ve discussed so far, Tremors is undoubtedly more of a comedy-horror cocktail that will likely make you smile as much as it jolts you in fear.
In fact, Ron Underwood’s sci-fi creature-feature centers on a small town in the middle of Nevada, which is being hunted by giant killer extraterrestrial slugs that travel through the ground and trap their prey via vibrations. Can only “see”, hence the title of the movie.
With a charming ensemble cast including award-winning Kevin Bacon, Escape From Alcatraz’s Fred Ward, and Family Ties’ Michael Gross, Tremors has become a cult classic, spawning an entire B-movie franchise. Still, we’d probably recommend the first one if we’re being honest as the series takes a dramatic slowdown with its many non-fiction sequels.
7. Beetlejuice (1988)
Image Source: Warner Bros.
Speaking of comedy-horrors, the Batshit genuine and deliciously charming Beetlejuice wants to come and introduce itself.
Starring Batman’s Michael Keaton as a mischievous soul with a penchant for chaos in a career-defining turn, alongside a fresh-faced Winona Ryder in one of his first film roles, Beetlejuice is a Tim Burton classic. One that abandons the traditional horror blueprint to deliver one of the most diabolically unique photographs relating to life after death across the ages.
In short, a must see for Tim Burton and Michael Keaton fans! Just make sure not to say his name three times, okay?
6. The Monster Squad (1987)
Image Source: Tristar Pictures
Fred Decker’s tween-horror is brimming with schlocky practical effects and iconic monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein, and an odd-looking fish-man like… What really helps is to create the zing of this phantom picture.
Similar to Stephen King’s more kid-friendly version of It, Titanic Monster Squad shares some of its DNA with Losers Club and even The Goonies.
While its ’80s origins may show its age through a more modern lens, it’s still a super fun photo that will totally satiate that scary itch.
5. Gremlins (1984)
Image Source: Warner Bros.
You might be trying to find a movie that’s equal parts cute with horror, but Gremlins definitely takes the idea and runs with it.
Centering on a boy named Billy (portrayed by Zach Galligan) who is gifted a lovable critter named Mogwai as a Christmas present, Gremlins is a wonderfully entertaining black comedy that ultimately pits an assortment of strange animals against an unknown town. does.
The twist is that the Mogwai comes with three special rules: don’t let it come in contact with light, don’t let it come in contact with water, and most importantly, don’t feed it after midnight. Of course, these rules are inadvertently broken which is the spark that ignites the impending catastrophe.
It’s worth noting that the sequel is actually a great one to watch if you enjoy the first one. Also, a third film is reportedly in the works.
4. Ghostbusters (1984)
Image Source: Columbia Pictures
If you’ve been living under a rock over the years, you might be one of only three people in the entire world who’ve never seen Ivan Reitman’s ghost-battling action-comedy. Hey, that’s probably a good thing, because it means you get to see the hilarious hijinks of Ghostbusters in all its glory with fresh eyes. Honestly, we envy you.
With excellent turns from Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Sigourney Weaver, along with some terrifyingly practical special effects, Ghostbusters pits man versus other souls in a no-holds-barred battle over New York City. Oh, and it also has an iconic theme tune and even spawned a multimillion-dollar franchise. A must see!
3. Poltergeist (1982)
Image Source : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Amblin Productions
Arguably one of the most culturally influential horror films on this list, thanks to its impressive Academy Award nominations, combined with the fact it helped usher in an entirely new audience for the horror genre (it One of the only PG-rated horror films to be both a critical and commercial success).
Interestingly, the general scuttlebutt surrounding Poltergeist is that it was largely directed by a single Steven Spielberg. You see, the King of Entertainment had a clause in his contract for ET the Extra-Terrestrial that barred him from directing another film while shooting a sci-fi family picture.
As a result, Spielberg came on board as a producer for Poltergeist, but apparently spent most of his time overseeing the project in a directing capacity.
One of the most disturbing scenes in the entire genre that will stay with you forever (I’m looking at you rip-off bathroom scene), Poltergeist is an iconic tale of supernatural horror that will get under your skin.
2. Horror Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
Image Source: Lionsgate
Sometimes, you just want to put on a horror movie to scare the living crap out of yourself and horror stories to tell in the dark fit the bill well.
Another YA-focused mix of the children’s genre supernatural horror of Goosebumps, combined with adult-focused horror from Stephen King’s It, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, is a spooky anthology of short, chilling tales that’ll probably be your favorite. Will make tweens hide behind the safety of their couch.
Since this is a particularly terrifying experience, especially for young people, we recommend caution with it. In other words, if you’re in the mood for a bloodbath experience (heck, who isn’t?), this movie is for you.
1. Arachnophobia (1990)
Image Source : Hollywood Pictures and Ambling Entertainment
If eight-legged critters give you the heebie-jeebies, this is definitely going to be the perfect nightmare for you. Yes, the Frank Marshall directorial debut, which centers on a deadly spider infestation within a small North American town, is an absolute doozy.
With a memorable opening sequence set in the isolated mountains of Venezuela, an elaborate orchestral score from The Dark Crystal’s Trevor Jones, amazing twists from John Goodman as a cocky insect exterminator, and a lovably friendly spider-hating doctor As Jeff Daniels notes, arachnophobia is the gold standard for horror tween horror pictures. Oh, and I’m sorry if I didn’t mention that there’s a mod remake in the pipeline as well. Just be sure to bring some bug spray, just in case.
So, that concludes our list for today. We hope this helped you to find out Top 10 best horror movies for 13 year olds, But tell us, how did you like ours? Did we miss something? Tell us in the usual place below.
Source
