Creepy 80s 'kids' movies

MidnightRambler · 03-19-2009, 12:05 PM

Recently I caught on morning TV two Canadian fantasy movies called 'The Peanut Butter Solution' and 'Bye Bye, Red Riding Hood'. While these were obviously made for children I remember they creeped me out when I was little but didn't know their names til now. They didn't scare me now of course, but I still found they had a nightmarish atmosphere, bizzare plot and some effective surreal images, plus the low-key dubbing and music really added to the dreamy feeling. They're kinda similar to Paperhouse, although Paperhouse is a more serious work and a masterpiece IMO. Anyone remember these or any other similar oddities?

rhett · 03-20-2009, 10:46 PM

Those two, and many others, came from the French Canadian production house "Les Productions La Fête". Really bizarre kids stuff there, for sure. Their first film isn't as crazy, but it has some pretty devastating moments that would bring any kid to tears (it certainly did me back in the day). It's called La Guerre des tuques (The Dog Who Stopped the War). They actually used my review on the DVD cover, see here. I haven't been able to track down many of the others, but every one of theirs I've seen has been notably unique and mostly madcap. I'd love to see more of them. Here's the listing of their "Tales for All" series, which includes all the titles already mentioned.

The Tommy Tricker movies are pretty crazy too, also from Les Productions La Fête and the "Tales for All" series.

The granddaddy of all these French Canadian flicks, and certainly the most insane, is The Christmas Martian (1971). It predates E.T. by over 10 years, and basically covers the same plot, right down to the martian liking M&M's. Just imagine E.T. being played by a Roberto Benigni-esque Frenchman dressed entirely in fishnets. Lots of weird crazy time-lapse and color cards throughout, too. It's definitely one of a kind, a true Canadian heirloom!

othervoice1 · 03-20-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Though not an overall good movie, Children of the Corn (1984) has a lot of very creepy scenes, with some very strange killer kids.

While that movie had kids in it, it wouldnt really qualify in this thread as a movie geared towards kids since Children of the Corn was rated R.

fceurich39 · 03-20-2009, 11:30 PM

my favorite is still is The children 1980 horror film if possible avoid the troma dvd and look for the rhino vhs version way better picture quality vhs than the troma dvd me being a fan i have both

KR~! · 03-20-2009, 11:39 PM

Some people here do not read carefully, this thread isn't about horror movies about kids but rather movies made for Children, G-Rated films that are creepy.

Slackjaw83 · 03-20-2009, 11:39 PM

I'll go with the live action "Alice in Wonderland", as it had more than a handful of nightmarish scenes

maybrick · 03-20-2009, 11:47 PM

WATCHER IN THE WOODS stuck with me for about 20 years until I saw the AB release and found the lead actress highly annoying. And of course there's that other Disney film from the same period: SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES. That one has held up a lot better.

03-20-2009, 11:51 PM

Interesting thread.

I'm a large Francophile and I really dig Canada, being one of the types of Americans that I know that there is an entire world beyond my boarders (for whatever reason I have at least three close Canadian friends that I keep in contact with via e-mail and YouTube that are from the greater Toronto area; go figure), and Quebec is a part of our eccentric North American continant that has always interested me, and being the Cinephile I am, I'll ask a good friend of mine on YouTube, who's an amateur film maker and who lives close in the GTA about the history of those Quebec films.

Don't know why, but like I always said, the area just facinates me.

In a tachnical sense, I feel as a kiddie film that I love, rather we all like it or not, The Monster Squad (1987) should qualify on that list, since the classic Universal Monster's esque villians are treated as a real palpable threat.

Damn glad we finally got that fine Lionsgate DVD two years ago, now. Love the hell out of that movie so much I rushed out and bought three copies of it. Don't ask me why.

While really a fantasy film and not steeped with genre sensabilities and a Jim Henson film, I feel 1986's Labyrinth still has a lot of trippy squences for ultimately being a unique and well made muppet show, in the end. I know as a young lad it freaked me out a bit, but then again, I was quite impressionable. I also believe it's rated G or PG.

Just got a nice two-disc edition of it not long ago.

Hmmm I still gotta see the live acton Alice in Wonderland.

Slackjaw83 · 03-20-2009, 11:56 PM

If anyone needs a taste of the frightening masterpiece that is the 1985 live action 'Alice in Wonderland', simply click the link :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7dxhbHAGRE

Shlockjock81 · 03-21-2009, 12:13 AM

Wow I'm glad a thread like this has been made because now I can add Gremlins to the list.

For a kid about age 4 or 5, Gremlins is a TERRIFYING film (the original, not the sequel). For starters, the gremlins themselves (post transformation) are pretty scary looking. And that entire sequence with Billy's mother going through the house knocking them off one by one had MANY parents dragging their screaming children out of theatres in 1984. This film along with Temple of Doom are the two films that forced the MPAA to create the PG-13 rating, and it's no wonder why.

Needless to say, this film traumatized me to no end as a kid. I can sit and watch some of the most gruesome horror films ever made and not flinch. But Gremlins still has an impact on me. I have a hard time watching it alone and whenever the house-stalking scene comes up, my palms sweat to this day.

Leave it to Spielberg to come up with a film that has horrifying violence but still manage to aim it at kids, and get away with a family friendly rating.

Mazurka Macabre · 03-21-2009, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maybrick

WATCHER IN THE WOODS stuck with me for about 20 years until I saw the AB release and found the lead actress highly annoying.

I tend to praise this movie waaay to much, but it has some really effective scenes: the seance flashback, the hall of mirrors, the heroine's narrow escape from drowning 'assisted' by Bette Davis.

It also taps into some basic childhood fears: the dark, the unknown, the supernatural, the elderly, being deserted by your friends when in peril, the idea that parents (specifically mothers) can't protect their children.

And for all the crappy, clumsy cinematography there's a handful of really well constructed sequences, too.

The other children's material that I found scary were a few renditions of fairy tales: a live-action version of "Rapunzel" that was really atmospheric and an animated version of "The Worn Out Dancing Shoes" that was very dream-like, with a threatening mood. (When the princes turned into monsters I nearly died.)

Matt89 · 03-21-2009, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captain_brandon

I'm a large Francophile and I really dig Canada.

Hahahahaha dude that just made my day.

and LOL @ Children of the Corn. Yeah....I always found that movie to be pretty creepy too. How bout the two girls in The Shining?

But creepy kids movies? I always found some parts of The Neverending Story to be fucking creepy as hell. (Gmork is one scary fucker for a G-rated movie.)

~Matt

03-21-2009, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt89

Hahahahaha dude that just made my day.

and LOL @ Children of the Corn. Yeah....I always found that movie to be pretty creepy too. How bout the two girls in The Shining?

But creepy kids movies? I always found some parts of The Neverending Story to be fucking creepy as hell. (Gmork is one scary fucker for a G-rated movie.)

~Matt

Glad I chould make ya day.

However was just curious why it's so amusing. But that's fine.

Completely useless personal trivia time: I once came very close as a young lad, to seeing the rare sequel in a theater, but I decided not to ask my mom to go see it when we made the journey to the multiplex that night. I'm now struggling to even remember what fuckin' year this was. Anyone? ...*scratches head*

MorallySound · 03-21-2009, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhett

Those two, and many others, came from the French Canadian production house "Les Productions La Fête". Really bizarre kids stuff there, for sure. Their first film isn't as crazy, but it has some pretty devastating moments that would bring any kid to tears (it certainly did me back in the day). It's called La Guerre des tuques (The Dog Who Stopped the War). They actually used my review on the DVD cover, see here. I haven't been able to track down many of the others, but every one of theirs I've seen has been notably unique and mostly madcap. I'd love to see more of them. Here's the listing of their "Tales for All" series, which includes all the titles already mentioned.

The Tommy Tricker movies are pretty crazy too, also from Les Productions La Fête and the "Tales for All" series.

The granddaddy of all these French Canadian flicks, and certainly the most insane, is The Christmas Martian (1971). It predates E.T. by over 10 years, and basically covers the same plot, right down to the martian liking M&M's. Just imagine E.T. being played by a Roberto Benigni-esque Frenchman dressed entirely in fishnets. Lots of weird crazy time-lapse and color cards throughout, too. It's definitely one of a kind, a true Canadian heirloom!

I've seen a couple flicks off that list. The Tommy Tricker flicks were always pretty cool, haven't seen those in a long time, same with The Great Land of Small. I'm pretty sure I saw Vincent and Me as a kid during a kids film fest in my city back in the day.

Erick H. · 03-21-2009, 04:28 AM

While I have some problems with it RETURN TO OZ certainly had some disturbing scenes.

03-19-2009, 12:05 PM	#1
MidnightRambler Screamy Bopper Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 44	Creepy 80s 'kids' movies Recently I caught on morning TV two Canadian fantasy movies called 'The Peanut Butter Solution' and 'Bye Bye, Red Riding Hood'. While these were obviously made for children I remember they creeped me out when I was little but didn't know their names til now. They didn't scare me now of course, but I still found they had a nightmarish atmosphere, bizzare plot and some effective surreal images, plus the low-key dubbing and music really added to the dreamy feeling. They're kinda similar to Paperhouse, although Paperhouse is a more serious work and a masterpiece IMO. Anyone remember these or any other similar oddities?

03-20-2009, 10:46 PM	#2
rhett Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Canada Posts: 8,882	Those two, and many others, came from the French Canadian production house "Les Productions La Fête". Really bizarre kids stuff there, for sure. Their first film isn't as crazy, but it has some pretty devastating moments that would bring any kid to tears (it certainly did me back in the day). It's called La Guerre des tuques (The Dog Who Stopped the War). They actually used my review on the DVD cover, see here. I haven't been able to track down many of the others, but every one of theirs I've seen has been notably unique and mostly madcap. I'd love to see more of them. Here's the listing of their "Tales for All" series, which includes all the titles already mentioned. The Tommy Tricker movies are pretty crazy too, also from Les Productions La Fête and the "Tales for All" series. The granddaddy of all these French Canadian flicks, and certainly the most insane, is The Christmas Martian (1971). It predates E.T. by over 10 years, and basically covers the same plot, right down to the martian liking M&M's. Just imagine E.T. being played by a Roberto Benigni-esque Frenchman dressed entirely in fishnets. Lots of weird crazy time-lapse and color cards throughout, too. It's definitely one of a kind, a true Canadian heirloom! __________________ "It's a good scream...it's a good scream..."

03-20-2009, 11:39 PM	#5
KR~! The Apocalyptic Kid Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: In Hel's Womb Posts: 5,462	Some people here do not read carefully, this thread isn't about horror movies about kids but rather movies made for Children, G-Rated films that are creepy. __________________ We do not have to visit a madhouse to find disordered minds; our planet is the mental institution of the universe. - Johann von Goethe

03-20-2009, 11:39 PM	#6
Slackjaw83 Lonely St. Tattooer Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lock Haven, PA Posts: 808	I'll go with the live action "Alice in Wonderland", as it had more than a handful of nightmarish scenes __________________ ...And so Charlie Noodles says "I don't know what it is, but it's got my pants and won't give'em back!"

03-20-2009, 11:47 PM	#7
maybrick HackMaster Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Keene, NH Posts: 8,709	WATCHER IN THE WOODS stuck with me for about 20 years until I saw the AB release and found the lead actress highly annoying. And of course there's that other Disney film from the same period: SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES. That one has held up a lot better. __________________ "This is where we live, Shelly!"

03-20-2009, 11:30 PM	#4
fceurich39 HackMaster Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ira's Toys store Posts: 7,659	my favorite is still is The children 1980 horror film if possible avoid the troma dvd and look for the rhino vhs version way better picture quality vhs than the troma dvd me being a fan i have both

03-20-2009, 11:51 PM	#8
captain_brandon Guest Posts: n/a	Interesting thread. I'm a large Francophile and I really dig Canada, being one of the types of Americans that I know that there is an entire world beyond my boarders (for whatever reason I have at least three close Canadian friends that I keep in contact with via e-mail and YouTube that are from the greater Toronto area; go figure), and Quebec is a part of our eccentric North American continant that has always interested me, and being the Cinephile I am, I'll ask a good friend of mine on YouTube, who's an amateur film maker and who lives close in the GTA about the history of those Quebec films. Don't know why, but like I always said, the area just facinates me. In a tachnical sense, I feel as a kiddie film that I love, rather we all like it or not, The Monster Squad (1987) should qualify on that list, since the classic Universal Monster's esque villians are treated as a real palpable threat. Damn glad we finally got that fine Lionsgate DVD two years ago, now. Love the hell out of that movie so much I rushed out and bought three copies of it. Don't ask me why. While really a fantasy film and not steeped with genre sensabilities and a Jim Henson film, I feel 1986's Labyrinth still has a lot of trippy squences for ultimately being a unique and well made muppet show, in the end. I know as a young lad it freaked me out a bit, but then again, I was quite impressionable. I also believe it's rated G or PG. Just got a nice two-disc edition of it not long ago. Hmmm I still gotta see the live acton Alice in Wonderland.

03-20-2009, 11:56 PM	#9
Slackjaw83 Lonely St. Tattooer Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lock Haven, PA Posts: 808	If anyone needs a taste of the frightening masterpiece that is the 1985 live action 'Alice in Wonderland', simply click the link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7dxhbHAGRE __________________ ...And so Charlie Noodles says "I don't know what it is, but it's got my pants and won't give'em back!"

03-21-2009, 12:13 AM	#10
Shlockjock81 Maniac Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 969	Wow I'm glad a thread like this has been made because now I can add Gremlins to the list. For a kid about age 4 or 5, Gremlins is a TERRIFYING film (the original, not the sequel). For starters, the gremlins themselves (post transformation) are pretty scary looking. And that entire sequence with Billy's mother going through the house knocking them off one by one had MANY parents dragging their screaming children out of theatres in 1984. This film along with Temple of Doom are the two films that forced the MPAA to create the PG-13 rating, and it's no wonder why. Needless to say, this film traumatized me to no end as a kid. I can sit and watch some of the most gruesome horror films ever made and not flinch. But Gremlins still has an impact on me. I have a hard time watching it alone and whenever the house-stalking scene comes up, my palms sweat to this day. Leave it to Spielberg to come up with a film that has horrifying violence but still manage to aim it at kids, and get away with a family friendly rating. __________________ Sara: "Have you ever heard of the three sisters?" Carlo: "You mean those black singers?" -Dario Argento's Inferno.

03-21-2009, 04:28 AM	#15
Erick H. HackMaster Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 7,480	While I have some problems with it RETURN TO OZ certainly had some disturbing scenes.

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