Children.
Can you think of anything scarier?
Yet, believe it or not, I was once one of these beings and even then I was a huge fan
of everything strange and macabre.
Horror love was not born in one day you know?.
But now that I'm no longer a child I feel like I have an obligation, a sense of duty.
Whenever I (and you, for that matter if you are watching this) meet that next gen of possible
horror lovers we have a task.
Scare them to death.
But where do we start?
Maybe we all know a couple of movies that are great to start children in Horror, but
I want to go a bit deeper.
What makes a horror movie well suited for children?
That's what we are going to find out right now..
But before we start, remember that we upload weekly videos on appreciating and creating
Horror in all of its shapes, for creatives, enthusiasts and fans.
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Now.
Let's keep something clear.
It is not enough that the movie is PG rated, how much sexuality, violence or profanity
is in it, doesn't measure how good a horror movie is for children (scooby doo, I'm looking
at you), and besides, we are not talking about horror-themed children movies here, those
are fine to keep the theme going on but no, what we are talking is a gate into true horror.
Now, instead of talking about what needs to be removed (like sex-scenes or whatever) like
most do, we will first talk about what needs to be placed in which is way more important.
One.
No holding back.
First of all.
A horror film needs to be creepy and strange, vague and unsettling.
And yes, it needs to make you feel powerless, even if it's not that obvious all the time
in a movie suited for children.
A horror movie needs to be a horror movie, shocking isn't it?
This doesn't mean gore or blood in any way, but it doesn't mean also we should avoid
them, let's keep it real, without having to resort to shock for our scares in any way.
Instead let's use other alternatives such as atmosphere, music and even the uncanny
valley.
No need to tone it down.
The stranger the better.
But…
Two.
It needs to be straightforward.
We may enjoy as adults to unravel a story that works on many different layers, but horror
for children has to be on as few layers as possible or at least the main plot has to
be.
Not because children are idiots.
They are usually no more than anyone else, regardless of age.
But because the movie has to be entertaining.
Not fun.
Horror should never be fun (unless it's a horror-comedy / parody, but that's another
video) but entertaining.
And a lot of movies that deal with several layers do so in a way that is more head-scratching
than not.
You have to pause it and maybe even watch them a couple of times before (!) making sense
of them.
If you can make sense of them.
And that's a no-no for children, specially now a days with so many distracting
... Eh.
Sorry.
Three.
Relatable, to a degree.
The movie has to be somewhat scary on a personal level, this is a must for any horror flick,
but in the case for children is specially true.
The child must be terrified or at least slightly scared about the things that happen in the
movie, and this is one of the reasons why most movies in this category use children
as part of their cast, they don't have to be front and center, but they do have to be
involved somehow.
Now I'm not saying this is the only way to be relatable.
You can use adults or other..
Things instead of children, but using children is a great way because it forces the characters
to act like… children, and as such to not over-complicate the story, at least in most
parts, helping also with the second point.
Other way to do this is to just be straightforward with the threat, no abstract menaces here.
Only the real threat the monster or situation brings to us.
And Four.
I believe one of the most important parts of a horror movie for children (if not, the
most important part) is that it needs a hint of magic.
This doesn't have to be actual magic but it does have to have a magical attitude of
sorts.
The idea of receiving the monsters with wonder.
For instance.
Or even some ACTUAL "magical" happening.
As children we need to see things as possibilities, to really appreciate them, and not as restraints.
Funny enough, the most usual way to do this is through well defined rules on the paranormal.
The children need to fight back or escape in a way that is natural for them, so they
need to know the rules.
This doesn't mean that we need to sacrifice vagueness, but rather to give them a tool
to hold it at bay.
Now, I do want to talk about what needs to be left out in a horror movie suited for children
and it won't take long, so don't go yet.
Violence, sex and cursing are fine, as long as the intent is not the wrong one.
just keep in mind the child's age, 5 years is not the same as 11, as well as your own
willingness to sit with the child and explain what was going, but in this time and age,
having a sex talk should or a that person is not really sleeping, should not be a biggie.
Now.
With violence.
Don't show cruelty.
SPECIALLY towards animals or other children.
On sex.
Don't be overly kinky.
Suggested or implied sex scenes in the background are okay, trust me, unlike most adults I do
remember what it is to be a child, and back when I was a child, we all kind of knew what
sex was already by 8, we may have been confused by the details, but not scared nor overly
interested either, so don't make a big deal of it.
And as for cursing.
Just don't expose them to overly vulgar stuff, they will do it themselves later on
just like any other kid, just like the new IT movie showed us . But starting them early
will be more annoying than anything else.
Trust me on this.
And so there you have it.
The perfect way to start the next gen of psychotic horror fanatics.
Now, let me know in the comments if you would like me to do a list of sorts of horror movies,
maybe by age-range?
Or something.
for the young ones.
Until then, see you the next time and dark dreams.
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