10 Horror Movies That Hit Differently After Becoming A Parent

The qualifiers for what makes a good horror film will obviously vary from person to person, but a fairly common one is a fearsome premise and the anxiety-inducing potential for harm to the characters. The thrill of watching characters defying death and seeing a film that explores a personal fear drives many horror fans to the theaters and their preferred streaming services. Some horror movie monsters are actually nightmare fuel, and the experience of feeling terrified of their appearance on behalf of the protagonists is naturally appealing to a horror buff.

At the risk of sounding like a cliché, becoming a parent changes everything, and that includes interpretations of and attitudes toward horror cinema. There are animated horror movies perfect for watching with family, but many favorite live-action horror films, especially for fans of violent horror movies, hit much differently as a parent. Some of the most noteworthy horror movies with incredible ensemble casts focus on children’s experiences, and the prospect of a child in danger is the most horrifying for a parent. So, the same fear that felt thrilling, can even feel overwhelming and not entertaining as a parent.

You are watching: 10 Horror Movies That Hit Differently After Becoming A Parent

10

Halloween (1978)

Directed by John Carpenter

Halloween

R

Horror

Thriller

8.6/10

Release Date

October 27, 1978

Halloween is a horror film released in 1978 that centers on the fictional town of Haddonfield, Illinois, as a masked serial killer terrorizes it. Over a decade after the brutal murder of Judith Myers by her brother, Michael, Michael escapes from the local Sanitarium to continue his silent killing spree- with teenage Laurie Strode being his new potential victim.

Cast

Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tony Moran, Nancy Kyes, P.J. Soles, Kyle Richards, Charles Cyphers

Runtime

91 Minutes

Director

John Carpenter

Writers

John Carpenter, Debra Hill

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

A horror movie that will always be a classic, John Carpenter’s Halloween is one of the most influential slashers of all time, which laid the blueprint for other films in the genre to follow. Laurie Strode is an iconic final girl, played by Jamie Lee Curtis in her acting debut. The film mostly follows a group of high school seniors trying to survive attacks by the murderous Michael Myers, also a horror movie icon.

Related

Halloween TV Show Can Finally Solve A 46-Year-Old Michael Myers Mystery

The upcoming Halloween TV show is the best chance to solve a decades-long mystery about Michael Myers’ family and expand on two forgotten characters.

Posts

Now, that itself is a fearsome prospect for a parent, that 16- and 17-year-olds are being viciously murdered for having sexual encounters. However, it’s the opening scene that hits the hardest after becoming a parent. A young Michael Myers, just six years old, murders his elder sister in cold blood, and then climbs down the stairs with the murder weapon to greet his parents. The images of a six-year-old stabbing his sister and then nonchalantly smiling at his parents are particularly scarring to watch as parents.

9

The Babadook (2014)

Directed by Jennifer Kent

The Babadook

R

Horror

Drama

8/10

6/10

Release Date

November 28, 2014

The Babadook, directed by Jennifer Kent, explores the struggles of a single mother grieving her husband’s death while confronting her son’s fear of a lurking monster. As they contend with this unseen entity, the sinister presence grows increasingly pervasive in their lives.

Cast

Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Hayley McElhinney, Daniel Henshall, Barbara West, Ben Winspear, Cathy Adamek, Craig Behenna, Hachi, Tim Purcell, Chloe Hurn, Jacquy Phillips, Bridget Walters, Adam Morgan, Pippa Wanganeen, Peta Shannon, Michelle Nightingale, Tony Mack, Carmel Johnson, Michael Gilmour, Craig McArdle, Terence Crawford, Tiffany Lyndall-Knight, Lucy Hong, Sophie Riggs, John Maurice, Stephen Sheehan, Alicia Zorkovic, Lotte Crawford, Chris Roberts, Annie Batten

Runtime

94 Minutes

Director

Jennifer Kent

Writers

Jennifer Kent

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

The Babadook is a beautiful story of a mother and her son who come out victorious against a spirit that haunts them. The son initially claims their house is haunted, but she sees no proof and struggles to help him with his social anxiety until she’s confronted by the spirit one day. Things start unraveling quickly after that, as her attempts to flee the spirit keep failing, and it seems to get more powerful.

The Babadook has an impressive 98% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, with 248 reviews.

Up until this point, the source of anxiety was a parent not being able to do her best for her child. However, what follows is too nerve-wracking at times. The mother begins getting visions of killing their dog, and her child, under the spirit’s possession. To make matters worse, it even succeeds to make her almost kill her son towards the end of the film, before she manages to overpower him. Yes, the ending is happy, but as a parent, the mother, albeit possessed, choking her child is an image that’s impossible to shake.

8

It (2017)

Directed by Andy Muschietti

It

R

Horror

7/10

30

8.8/10

Release Date

September 8, 2017

It Chapter One is a supernatural horror film based on the book by Stephen King where several children, including the younger brother of one of the film’s protagonists, have gone missing. A group of kids called “The Loser’s Club” decide to investigate the cause and hopefully save the others. However, they realize they may be in over their head when they discover their foe is an evil clown known as Pennywise, a being that preys on fear and has been the rumored cause of murders in the town of Derry for centuries. 

Cast

Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Martell, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff

Runtime

135 Minutes

Director

Andy Muschietti

Writers

Chase Palmer, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Gary Dauberman, Stephen King

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Stephen King wrote the novel It in 1986, and Pennywise the clown became a horror hall of fame character because of his fearsome presence and his impact on children. However, no other rendition of the character is perhaps as scary as Bill Skarsgård’s version from the 2017 film. His mannerisms as Pennywise, which make the character more unhinged and menacing rather than simply scary and manipulative, earned him a reputation as a name in horror to look out for. His latest movie, Locked, has a great Rotten Tomatoes score, too.

The story of It is unsettling enough to stomach as a parent. It’s about a group of children who are influenced by a dangerous being that looks like a clown, so he can lure them and kill them. The 2017 film, however, shows one of his most brutal kills in great detail, as the kid Georgie is attacked by Pennywise and his limbs torn apart. Moreover, the film explores abusive parenthood and depicts a couple of children having to kill their parents to protect themselves. It is a fantastic horror film, but will possibly terrify parents more than any other demographic.

7

Child’s Play (1988)

Directed by Tom Holland

Child’s Play

R

Horror

Thriller

7/10

Release Date

See more : Why Did Castle and Beckett Break Up in Season 8? All You Need to Know!

November 9, 1988

Child’s Play is a horror-slasher film by director Tom Holland and marked the beginning of the Chucky character from writer Don Mancini, a modern horror icon. When serial killer Charles Lee Ray is slain after a detective catches him, he transfers his soul before he dies into a Good Guy doll, which ends up in the hands of six-year-old Andy Barclay. Naming himself Chucky, the doll begins a killing spree, which leads those around Alex to suspect him as the killer – and his mother is the only one who believes him.

Cast

Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, Brad Dourif, Alex Vincent, Dinah Manoff, Tommy Swerdlow, Jack Colvin, Raymond Oliver

Runtime

87 Minutes

Director

Tom Holland

Writers

Don Mancini, John Lafia, Tom Holland

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Don Mancini conceived of another horror movie icon, the devious little doll known as Chucky. Possessed by the soul of a serial killer, this doll goes on a murderous rampage, as one would expect of a serial killer. Unlike the adults, who suspect someone else is responsible for the killings, the child who owns the doll is initially suspicious of, and later knows, that his doll is doing that. Yet, he’s not believed.

The distress of the helpless child almost forced to befriend a serial killer and consistently not believed by adults will make any parent’s heart cry out in pain. This is not a devious child – he’s a well-intentioned and well-behaved boy who is doing his due diligence. The whimsical and over-the-top darkness in Chucky’s commentary feels funny when one watches the movie, but as a parent, it’s impossible to look beyond little Alex’s distress over Chucky’s actions.

6

Poltergeist (1982)

Directed by Tobe Hooper

Poltergeist

PG-13

Supernatural

Horror

4/10

9.3/10

Release Date

June 4, 1982

A remake of the 1982 horror film of the same name, Poltergeist revolves around the Bowen family, whose home has been invaded by evil, supernatural forces.

Cast

Jane Adams, Rosemarie DeWitt, Jared Harris, Sam Rockwell, Nicholas Braun

Director

Tobe Hooper

Writers

Steven Spielberg, Michael Grais, Mark Victor

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Tobe Hooper, one of horror’s all-time great directors, who is most famous for making The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, made one of the relatively underrated horror classics of the 1980s. Poltergeist follows the Freeling family, whose house is seemingly haunted. The youngest daughter, five-year-old Carol Anne, has a strange interaction with their TV set, before the house starts showing signs of paranormal attacks one day.

Related

10 Horror Movies From The ’80s That Were Well Ahead Of Their Time

The 1980s was a landmark decade for horror, with influential and innovative works being produced by some of the best filmmakers of their generations.

Posts

3

Carol Anne is sucked into a portal when the family’s busy trying to rescue her elder brother from an attack by the tree in their backyard. A beast is apparently holding her captive to appease the ghosts who live in another dimension in their house. While it’s not visceral or gory, the horror movie’s premise of a five-year-old being trapped by paranormal beings is a terrifying prospect for any parent.

5

The Exorcist (1973)

Directed by William Friedkin

The Exorcist

R

Horror

Supernatural

9/10

9.3/10

Release Date

December 26, 1973

The Exorcist is a supernatural horror film based on the novel released in 1971 and was directed by William Friedkin. When a young girl is passed by a powerful demon, two Catholic priests are brought to her home to attempt an exorcism to expunge the demon. 

Cast

Max Von Sydow, Linda Blair, Lee J. Cobb, Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran

Runtime

122 minutes

Director

William Friedkin

Writers

William Peter Blatty

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

William Peter Blatty wrote his own movie adaptation of The Exorcist, based on a real-life case of exorcism. It follows 12-year-old Regan, who becomes possessed by a demon and starts behaving dangerously. Priests are called in to exorcise her of the demon’s presence, and they have to contend with the spirit without harming the innocent child. The demon puts up a brave fight, using Regan’s body to make things difficult for the priests, who are forced to tie her down.

As a parent, it’s a frightful sight to behold the young girl terrorized by the demon.

Now, it’s all make-believe, and the odds of a child getting possessed by such a demon aren’t significant, but horror is effective when preying on irrational fears. As a parent, it’s a frightful sight to behold the young girl terrorized by the demon and made to act out. She becomes a danger to others and to herself, and the film’s cinematography makes it seem intensely believable, which could affect any parents watching it.

4

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Directed by Wes Craven

A Nightmare on Elm Street

R

Horror

8/10

19

9.2/10

Release Date

November 9, 1984

A Nightmare on Elm Street, released in 1984, explores the terror faced by a group of teenagers haunted in their dreams by Fred Krueger, a vengeful spirit. As they confront a series of mysterious deaths, Nancy Thompson uncovers the truth about Krueger’s dark past and seeks to stop him.

Cast

Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon, Ronee Blakley, Amanda Wyss, Jsu Garcia, Johnny Depp, Robert Englund, Charles Fleischer, Joseph Whipp, Lin Shaye, Joe Unger, Mimi Craven, Jack Shea, Ed Call, Sandy Lipton, David Andrews, Jeff Levine, Donna Woodrum, Shashawnee Hall, Carol Pritikin, Brian Reise, Ash Adams, Don Hannah, Leslie Hoffman, Paul Grenier

Runtime

91 minutes

Director

See more : Who are Drew Pearson Parents? Meet Sam Pearson And Minnie Pearson

Wes Craven

Writers

See more : Who are Drew Pearson Parents? Meet Sam Pearson And Minnie Pearson

Wes Craven

Producers

John Burrows, Joseph Wolf, Robert Shaye, Sara Risher

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Between Ghostface and Freddy Krueger, it’s hard to choose which character from Wes Craven’s illustrious career as a horror filmmaker is more iconic. Both their concepts are also intriguing and terrifying – Ghostface calls his victims, talks to them about horror films, then invades their homes and kills them, while Freddy Krueger hunts for victims through their dreams.

Yes, a home invasion is a scary prospect, but the idea of your child being killed brutally because he just fell asleep is significantly more terrifying. Some of the most gruesome deaths from 1980s horror movies occur in A Nightmare on Elm Street, as Freddy’s victims, mostly teenagers, get thrashed around and brutally murdered with his needle gloves. The film explores their parents’ distress over these events as well, and any parent watching the film will identify with them.

3

Antichrist (2009)

Directed by Lars von Trier

Antichrist

NR

Drama

Horror

Thriller

Release Date

May 20, 2009

Runtime

109 Minutes

Director

Lars von Trier

Antichrist is a psychological horror film directed by Lars von Trier, starring Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Following the devastating loss of their child, a grieving couple retreats to their cabin in the woods, where they encounter strange and terrifying events. The film explores themes of grief, trauma, and the human psyche, set against an unsettling forest backdrop.

Cast

Willem Dafoe, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Storm Acheche Sahlstrøm

Writers

Lars von Trier

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Lars von Trier’s films are the definition of distressing, irrespective of who you are. He explores deeply cynical circumstances and puts his characters through Hell. Many of his movies deal with complex trauma and PTSD, explored through the lives of dysfunctional characters, many of whom never get better. One such film that explores psychological trauma is Antichrist, perhaps his most infamous film.

In one of the most shocking horror movie moments that makes people audibly gasp, Antichrist opens with a tragic scene involving a toddler. The two protagonists, who are a married couple, are taking a shower together, when their toddler, left unattended, climbs onto the window sill, and falls through it. Trier edited it to make the couple’s sexual activity and the child’s unfortunate death synchronize. It is a particularly harrowing moment, and the perverse filmmaking just makes it harder to watch as a parent.

2

Carrie (1976)

Directed by Brian de Palma

Carrie

R

Horror

Thriller

8.5/10

Release Date

November 3, 1976

Carrie, a film directed by Brian De Palma, is based on Stephen King’s novel. Released in 1976, it centers on Carrie White, a bullied high school student who discovers her telekinetic abilities, amidst torment from peers and her domineering mother, leading to unpredictable and intense events.

Cast

Piper Laurie, Sissy Spacek, Amy Irving, William Katt, John Travolta, Nancy Allen, Betty Buckley, P.J. Soles, Priscilla Pointer, Sydney Lassick, Stefan Gierasch, Michael Talbott, Doug Cox, Harry Gold, Noelle North, Cindy Daly, Deirdre Berthrong, Anson Downes, Rory Stevens, Edie McClurg, Cameron De Palma, Sharon Benson, Terry Bolo, Jean Glaudé, Katie Irving

Runtime

98 minutes

Director

Brian De Palma

Writers

Lawrence D. Cohen

Producers

Paul Monash

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Stephen King’s horror movie adaptations deal with children quite often, but few are as visceral and tormenting to watch as Carrie. Firstly, de Palma’s weirdly male gaze-y framing choices will make anyone uncomfortable, especially considering that the characters are supposed to be minors. Secondly, the disturbing circumstances of Carrie’s transformation and her manifestation of powers would affect any parent.

Related

10 Horror Movie Sequels That Should Never Have Been Made

Even the perfect horror movie doesn’t automatically need a sequel, and many horror film sequels should never have been made.

Posts

4

Carrie is brutally bullied throughout the film, which begins with her experiencing her first period and getting bullied by her peers. She wants to find solace, but her mother is abusive as well, and nightmarishly reminds her of how she must behave so she isn’t laughed at, reinforcing Carrie’s bullies’ words and their impact on her. Her prom night gets ruined by her bullies and her mother, too, and she finally snaps, unleashing horror on them. Yes, she gets her revenge, but watching her being abused like that is a test of tolerance for parents.

1

Hereditary (2018)

Directed by Ari Aster

Hereditary

R

Horror

Documentary

Mystery

Thriller

7/10

20

7.5/10

Release Date

June 8, 2018

The feature film debut of writer-director Ari Aster, Hereditary tells the story of the unwittingly cursed Graham family. Annie Graham (Toni Collette) lives with her husband Steve (Gabriel Byrne) and their children Peter (Alex Wolff) and Charlie (Milly Shapiro). After the death of Annie’s mother, the family is beset by disaster and stalked by a supernatural entity that dredges up a past that Annie had spent her life trying to overlook.

Cast

Toni Collette, Milly Shapiro, Zachary Arthur, Gabriel Byrne, Mallory Bechtel, Alex Wolff, Ann Dowd

Runtime

2h 7m

Director

Ari Aster

Writers

Ari Aster

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Anyone who has seen Hereditary knows exactly how much worse it will feel to watch it as a parent. One of the scariest supernatural horror movies ever, it follows a family of four whose youngest child, the daughter, tragically dies. The film explores the grieving mother’s attempts to reconnect with her daughter’s soul, and the consequences of her ritual getting interrupted.

It’s hard to watch as it is, stomaching it as a parent might prove impossible.

Since Hereditary focuses on the grieving mother and how she slowly unravels, it will affect parents. Some of her actions may seem extreme to some viewers, maybe even unjustified at points, but any parent will identify with her. Moreover, the opening scene features one of the most disturbing deaths in horror movie history – little Charlie excitedly puts her head outside the car window to feel the breeze on her face and gets decapitated by a stop sign when the car swerves quickly. It’s hard to watch as it is, stomaching it as a parent might prove impossible.

Source: https://truongnguyenbinhkhiem.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment