Halloween has arrived, and with it comes the perfect opportunity to dim the lights, cozy up on the couch, and dive into some spooky films. It’s even more enjoyable when you can share the thrills with your entire family because let’s face it, almost everyone loves a good scary movie from time to time, even the youngest members of the clan. However, the challenge is finding a movie that won’t leave the kids (and consequently, you) wide awake all night.
Your search ends here! Here’s a curated selection of the finest family-friendly Halloween movies for kids to enjoy in 2023, offering just the right amount of spooky fun for young minds:
Coco (2017)
Coco follows Miguel as he embarks on a quest to become a musician—a quest that lands him in the colorful and fantastical Land of the Dead. There, he learns the meaning and importance of culture and family.
Frankenweenie (2012)
Frankenweenie tells the story of Victor, who experiences elation when he successfully revives his beloved pet dog, Sparky. However, when his schoolmates attempt their own experiments in resurrection, the situation takes a chilling turn.
Hotel Transylvania (2012)
One of the best kids Halloween movies out there! Even though Count Dracula is raising his daughter, Mavis, in the lovely “five-stake” monsters-only hotel he’s built in Transylvania, he allows her to explore the human world on her 118th birthday. And for fans, there are sequels to enjoy: Hotel Transylvania 2, Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, and Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.
Goosebumps (2015)
Goosebumps draws inspiration from the popular ’90s horror book series by R.L. Stine. In this 2015 film, the author, portrayed by Jack Black, and his family must rescue their hometown from impending doom as all the monsters from his stories come to life.
Monster House (2006)
In Monster House, a seemingly ordinary house reveals itself as a malevolent, living creature. When three young friends uncover this unsettling truth, they embark on a daring mission to save the town’s children from the house’s sinister grip.
Paranorman (2012)
To say Norman Babcock isn’t your average 11-year-old boy is quite an understatement—considering he can communicate with ghosts! Now he must use his powers to save his small town from an ancient curse.
Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
A modern sequel to the 1993 film, Hocus Pocus 2 tells the story of three young girls who accidentally bring the Sanderson sisters to current-day Salem.
The Addams Family (2019)
The first animated comedy about the famously creepy and kooky Addams Family offers tons of kid-friendly frights and fun. This is a great alternative for kids who are interested in the new hit show Wednesday but still a little too young to watch.
The House With A Clock In Its Walls (2018)
The movie follows a 10-year-old kid who, after he’s sent to be watched over by an eccentric uncle (Jack Black) and and his friendly neighbor (Cate Blanchett), is pulled into an ancient rivalry between witches and warlocks.
Haunted Mansion (2023)
A woman and her son enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters.
The Goonies (1985)
This beloved adventure follows a motley crew of misfits known as The Goonies on an action-packed treasure hunt to save their homes.
The Boxtrolls (2014)
While the rest of the world fears and despises them, a young human boy named Eggs considers the Boxtrolls his family. In The Boxtrolls, Eggs must confront an evil exterminator determined to eradicate his beloved clan.
A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting (2020)
Kelly Ferguson accepts a babysitting gig on Halloween night — only to have her charge captured by the Boogeyman. Luckily, she learns of a secret society of child guardians who can help her learn to fight monsters.
Gnome Alone (2018)
When Chloe moves into a new home with her mother, she finds something unexpected: a group of garden gnomes who say the neighborhood is under attack by underground beasts. It’s up to Chloe to help the gnomes save the world.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is designed for teens (PG-13) who have outgrown the most family-friendly horror films but aren’t quite ready for the likes of Nightmare on Elm Street. This film, inspired by the spine-tingling book series from our childhoods, centers on a group of young investigators who must confront local legends that begin to materialize and pose real threats.
(Note: This movie is darker and more mature than many others on this list, intended for older viewers.)
With Halloween just around the corner, it’s time to indulge in activities such as carving pumpkins, decorating the house, buying a spook-tastic costume, applying ghoulish make-up and either heading out trick-or-treating, or enjoying the spooky day with friends and family.
But what does this day hold for those who have outgrown trick-or-treating? A Movie of course!
Nothing compares to watching a scary movie on this spooky day, for an altogether more bizarre indulgence. COVID-19 may have dominated us throughout most of 2020, but old traditions die hard, and there’s no better way than watching a movie to distract your mind from the stresses relating to the pandemic, and transport you to a world where the horrifying stuff isn’t actually real.
We at Motivate Val Morgan have got your spooky movie night covered with a roundup of some ‘all-time favorite’ monstrous, scary, truly freaky and the not so creepy magical kids flicks to get you in the spirit of Halloween this year.
The Witches:
An adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches is dark fantasy comedy film directed by Robert Zemeckis, featuring Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer and Stanley Tucci. Set in 1960s Alabama, the film follows an orphaned young boy stumbles across a conference of witches, while staying with his grandmother at a hotel, and gets transformed into a mouse by the Grand High Witch.
The Witches releases in cinemas across the middle East on 29 October 2020.
In addition to The Witches, here are 13 categories of scary movies to watch on-demand, some of which will trigger self-induced nightmares.
1. Monster Movies
One of the oldest forms of horror cinema, monster movies and their dreaded villains come in all shapes. Whether they’re aliens, ghouls or demons, monsters can represent a manifestation of our own fears. Such movies are often portrayed in a way wherein humans interfere with nature, ultimately leading to a monster attack.
A Quite Place
Bird Box
2. Deformed Humans
These are the kind of films where the antagonist is a deformed human, often seen wearing a mask following a horrifying accident.
Nightmare on Elm Street
Friday the 13th
3. Inanimate Objects
This horror category has a long history of haunted/ possessed inanimate objects that inspire guffaws instead of screams. Some of them are the work of a ghost, while some are just plain inexplicable. Yet they all have one thing in common: they’re kind of baffling.
Annabelle
Poltergeist
4. Vampire
Vampires exist in the folklore of almost every society on earth. Therefore, it’s only natural that it’d be a story expressed in nearly every language and thus, films around the world.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Van Helsing
5. Found Footage
These are horror films which capture events on screen and are typically seen through the camera of the characters involved in real-time. Also usually involves an investigation after a video or audio footage that is found to discover instances of what actually happened.
Paranormal Activity
The Cloverfield Paradox
6. Schlock
Widely known as ‘Gore’ or ‘Splatter’ films, these films are light on character and plot and heavy on fake blood and guts. Mostly low on story and high on shock value.
Evil Dead
Saw
7. Supernatural
The widely popular horror category of all times, supernatural occurrences often include ghosts, spirits and demons. Many supernatural horror films have elements of religion relating to themes such as afterlife, the Devil, and demonic possession.
The Conjuring
The Exorcist
8. Curse
Films of this type are often cautionary tales, where a character unleashes a curse unknowingly or by failing to listen to a warning. While non-believers would think these as coincidences or publicity stunts in a movie setup, some of these are just too freaky to ignore.
The Curse
The Grudge
9. Serial Killer
A booming horror category! Serial killer movies are classic horror movies with plenty of incredible, terrifying and mind-boggling murders.
Silence of The Lambs
Malevolence 2
10. Zombie
Who doesn’t enjoy the living dead, the ones that are driven by hunger of human flesh, and are nearly impossible to put down permanently?
World War Z
Train to Busan
11. Comedy
Light hearted films with a mix of elements – they are both funny and scary, catering to a wide audience. No wonder these films have long been one of the most popular genres.
Scary Movie
Shaun of the Dead
12. Apocalypse
End of the world movies combine a rush of adrenaline with dread – for the ones that fancy pulse-quickening suspense.
Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Legion
13. Animated
Lastly, if you are bored of the same old horror movies making the rounds every Halloween, animated movies offer something different for everyone to look forward to.
SCOOB!
The Addams Family
Team Motivate Val Morgan WITCHES you a SPINE-TINGLING Halloween!
Sources: Collider, Wikipedia, Premium Beat and ScriptFirm
The second edition of the MENA Cinema Forum – largest conference and exhibition dedicated to cinema in the MENA region, organized by Great Minds Events took place at Conrad Dubai from 22nd to 24th October 2019.
From conferences, workshops, corporate meetings, film slates, screenings, post-event receptions, an expo and awards ceremony, and much more, this year’s forum was on a much larger in scale – richer in content and designed to enhance the industry evolution through updates on regional projects and policies, technological and technical advancements in cinemas and best practices in next generation of customer experience and engagement, through a mixture of various content and mediums.
2019 witnessed over 60 speakers, 200+ C-Level Executives, 800+ attendees, 115+ sponsors and exhibitors from 50+ countries.
Day 1 kicked off with an Opening Keynote by the Strategic Partner of the MENA Cinema Conference: Cameron Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas and Majid Al Futtaim Leisure & Entertainment.
The panel discussion on MENA Cinema Upcoming Project Updates included:
The panel also indulged in a live debate chaired by Jan Runge, MENA Cinema Chairman & Advisor, answering questions from the delegates and attendees at the forum.
Day 1 also featured a presentation focusing on ‘Cinema Strategies and Statistic Updates’ delivered by Rajkumar Akella, Managing Director, Comscore India (Movies)
His discussion included the following:
Ashish Shukla, the Chief Executive Officer of Cinépolis Gulf addressed the audience with project updates from the fastest growing international exhibitor in the region – Cinépolis. He also unveiled a new special and exclusive project and partnership in the UAE.
The event was held across 2 levels at the Conrad Dubai; one to host conference sessions and the other for exhibitors to showcase their products and technologies.
The Trade Show on Day 1 featured technical seminars on:
Day 2 included a mix of presentations and panel discussions that focused on:
Technical Seminars on Day 2 of the forum included:
Day 3 focused on regional content production, best practices in this field and regional and international collaborations. A series of 6 masterclasses addressed pertinent topics such as film financing, script writing, production and acting, catered to professionals and newcomers alike.
New to 2019 were workshops and masterclasses on key topics for a more interactive and hands-on learning experiences – delivered by global leaders to help enhance learning and growth opportunities at the forum.
The workshops held on day 3 covered range of topics and themes:
MENA Cinema Forum also hosted an Expo – The largest exhibition of its kind in the region, and amongst one the largest cinema expos globally, for the second time round, following the success of last year’s round.
The exhibition introduced interesting and interactive attractions including but not limited to floor talks, product demos, themed entertainment, mini-screenings, an Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality zones, rest and refreshment parlors.
The Awards ceremony – presented by Comscore and co-presented by Dubai Studio City, are globally recognized and are a fixture of the big global conventions, and now in MENA. These awards are based on quantitative data measuring performance of all sectors and markets across the globe with identical metrics.
Here’s a list of this year’s winners:
Expanding its scope as an event for the cinema industry – with the aim to engage, wow and inspire, this year included several international and regional content screenings at VOX Cinemas – Mall of the Emirates and Reel Cinemas – Dubai Mall: International films such as The Addams Family, Terminator: Dark Fate, Leonardo – The Works and Zombieland: Double Tap. Other screenings included: local and regional content such as Son-Mother.
Pass holders were given the opportunity to interact with cast and crew of some of these feature films.
At the end of each day of the forum, post-event reception – in a themed setting, offered refreshment and entertainment in a fun and relaxed atmosphere for attendees to mingle and further nourish their friendships and business relationships.
Here’s a video with highlights from MENA Cinema Forum 2019:
The next forum will be held in October 2020.
For more information on the MENA Cinema Forum visit www.menacinema.com
Sources: Zawya and MENA Cinema Forum
Related Article:
Highlights from MENA Cinema Forum 2018
BOO to you from our CREW!
Halloween will soon be upon us, and while this day is celebrated around the world with costume parties and trick-or-treating, it is also a day that has long inspired some of the scariest films over the years.
Whether you’re in the mood for a good scare or prefer to celebrate the day with a bit of humor, there’s a Halloween movie for every taste.
New movie releases over the weekend of Halloween include:
Terminator: Dark Fate
Director – Tim Miller
Starring – Mackenzie Davis, Linda Hamilton, and Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Addams Family
Directors – Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon
Voiced by -Oscar Isac, charlize Theron and Chloë Grace Moretz
In addition to the above, there are also older movie releases you can watch in the comfort of your home to get into the spirit of Halloween. From childhood classics, psychological thrillers and cult favorites, we guarantee you’ll find something to ‘tickle your fancy’ from our list of 30 spooky movies to watch this Halloween:
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Halloween movies need not be dark, bloody, and nightmare-inducing. For many, the Halloween season doesn’t begin until they’ve viewed this classic starring Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Raise your hand if you’ve ever worn a Beetlejuice-inspired costume for Halloween or, more important, dressed up as Winona Ryder’s Lydia (aka the goth girl) from the movie. The movie also stars Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis and Michael Keaton.
Hereditary (2018)
Who agrees that Toni Collette should have been nominated for all the awards for this Ari Aster movie? And how about that terrifying lucking sound her daughter makes in the movie… creepy!
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Tim Burton’s unlikely love story is just eerie enough to include in your Halloween must watch line-up. The movie stars Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder.
Halloween (1978)
For those who get a thrill from horror movies, John Carpenter’s Halloween is a must watch. Get ready to witness for the first time, or all over again, murderer Michael Myers escapes a psychiatric hospital on the night before Halloween then returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois to terrorize scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis. Jamie Lee Curtis reprised her role as Laurie Strode in the 2018 continuation of the time-tested franchise.
Practical Magic (1998)
Looking for enjoyable escapism? Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman play supernatural sisters earnestly attempting to end a family curse that keeps them from finding true love.
The Nun (2018)
The trailers alone were terrifying enough! The movie – about a mysterious Romanian abbey, is sure to give you full-blown nightmares.
Trick ‘r Treat (2007)
Not your average scary movie, Trick ‘r Treat follows five interwoven stories over the course of one fateful Halloween.
Get Out (2017)
Fans were captivated by this horror/thriller by Jordan Peel – starring Allison Williams and Daniel Kaluuya. The twists and turns will keep you guessing until the very end.
Zombieland (2009)
The world has gone all zombie… with only a few humans left to fight them off – which Woody Harrelson has no problems doing! The sequel Zombieland: Double Tap released in cinemas on 17 October 2019. Might as well watch them both this Halloween!
The Sixth Sense (1999)
“I see dead people” is one of the most famous movie quotes in history, and it all started in The Sixth Sense, starring Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment. This is a definite must watch/re-watch this Halloween.
The Ring (2002)
The good thing about watching this movie in 2019 is that videotapes pretty much don’t exist anymore. The bad thing is that the movie is still rather. We bet you’ll think twice about answering any phone calls while watching the movie. The film also has a sequel – The Ring 2, which released in 2005. Think you can handle watching both movies back-to-back?
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
This underrated vampire Western from director Ana Lily Amirpour is a satisfying black-and-white film for anyone who loves cats, hates men who disrespects women, and has an ear for good music.
The Conjuring (2013)
This horror film by director James Wan provides typical haunting tricks that seems fresh and terrifying once again, and guaranteed to haunt you long after you turn the lights back on. Also check out its sequel – The Conjuring 2, which released in 2016.
Saw (2004)
Watching a serial killer torture strangers for almost 2 hours is another way to get into the Halloween spirit… right? A fan of such? Then do watch its sequel from 2005 – Saw II.
Scream (1996)
You can’t let Halloween pass by without watching this one and its sequels: Screen 2 (1997), Scream 3 (2000) and Scream 4 (2011).
The Others (2001)
It’s hard to look away from Nicole Kidman’s powerhouse performance as Grace, a loving and religious mother who tries to protect her children from a photosensitivity disease that keeps them indoors.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
The original Freddy Krueger film still gives a fright – decades later. If you really want a serious spook, have a marathon with all the sequels, including the 2010 remake.
A Quiet Place (2018)
In this gripping and clever monster movie, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt put their marriage to the test by starring side by side in this super-scary release where an entire family must live in silence.
Us (2019)
Jordan Peele’s most recent thriller stars Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, and Elisabeth Moss.
The Witches (1990)
This tale of a young boy who stumbles upon a gaggle of witches is still so popular that it’s getting a remake in 2020 which will star Anne Hathaway and Octavia Spencer.
IT (2017)
Whether you opt for the 1990 original or this movie, you’ll likely need to sleep with the lights on after a viewing of this terrorizing tale. And if this movie leaves you wanting more… the sequel – IT Chapter 2, hit cinemas in September and should probably be still screening at select cinemas across the region.
Family Halloween Flicks:
Coraline (2009)
Based on the popular book, Coraline follows a young girl who accidentally finds herself in an eerie version of her own world.
Goosebumps (2015)
Jack Black stars in the thrilling live-action version of R.L. Stine’s popular books. Kids and adults will love seeing their favorite Goosebumps monsters terrorize and trick a charming small town. Yikes! And while you are at it, also watch its 2018 sequel Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween.
Scooby -Doo (2002)
Who said Halloween movies can’t be light, fun and mysterious? Scooby-Doo – starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr, Linda Cardellini and Matthew Lillard combines comedy, a few thrills.
Ghostbusters (1984)
This legendary movie features three kooky college professors who lose their university jobs. Naturally, they opt for careers in the ghost-busting business, and they team up to de-haunt houses and save people from the supernatural. We dare you to watch this classic without singing “who ya gonna call!” The 2016 Ghostbusters stars an all-female cast which includes Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wig and Kate McKinnon – down right hilarious! Summer 2020 will also witness the release of yet another Ghostbusters movie… we can’t wait!
The Adams Family (1991)
Did anyone else wish they were part of the Addams family after watching this classic? Talk about one freakishly cool family!
Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Monsters need vacations too, which is this premise behind this animated feature starring the voices of Adam Sandler as Count Dracula and Selena Gomez as his daughter, Mavis. While you are at it, also watch its sequels: Hotel Transylvania 2 and Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation.
Monster House (2006)
The scariest house on the street has a mind of its own in this spirited adventure story.
The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Eddie Murphy and his family take on the spooky residents of a neglected mansion in this Disney favorite that’s suitable for the whole family.
We ‘witch’ you a Happy Halloween!
Sources: Cosmopolitan, Country Living and Glamour
