October 21, 2025 • 44 mins
It's October, and you're trying to find Halloween movies that won't bore you to tears or traumatize your kids. Every family has different thresholds for "too scary," and you're looking for that sweet spot between cozy and creepy. We've done the work for you—breaking down Halloween movies by age group, sharing our childhood scares (E.T.’s fingers, anyone?), and giving you permission to skip the ones that don't work for your family.
Stop scrolling through streaming services hoping to find age-appropriate Halloween content—hit subscribe and get our curated movie list organized by age, plus hot takes on classics you might have missed.
Stay connected: Subscribe to our newsletter!
—
Who Should Listen
This episode is for parents trying to navigate Halloween movie season without causing nightmares, and anyone looking for nostalgic movie recommendations that hold up (or hilariously don't).
—
What You Get In This Episode
- Why Common Sense Media ratings are guidelines, not rules—you know your kid best
- Safe, sweet picks for toddlers and littles (Curious George, Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Pooh's Heffalump)
- Late elementary and middle school classics (Labyrinth, Beetlejuice, Coraline, Corpse Bride)
- Actually scary picks for brave preteens (Monster House, The Witches, Goosebumps)
- Nostalgic Universal Monster Movies and 80s/90s cult favorites
- Must-watch classics for preteens and beyond (Ghostbusters, Hocus Pocus, The Addams Family)
- TV show recommendations (Super Monsters, Halloween Wars, Wednesday, Stranger Things)
- Bonus movies that aren't technically Halloween but belong on the list (Batman Returns, E.T., The Craft)
- How to build simple Halloween movie traditions without the pressure
—
Bios
Caitlin brings her signature blend of humor and practical advice to help overwhelmed moms navigate the challenges of adulting and parenting—including finding Halloween movies that won't cause therapy bills. With Ariella Monti (ariellamonti.com), novelist and author of Roots in Ink, who brings her love of fantasy, creepy aesthetics, and The Crow to the conversation.
—
Sources & Mentions
- 35+ Halloween movies for kids, by age | By Edward Shepard and Diva Anwari for Motherly
- Freeform's "31 Nights of Halloween" Schedule 2025
- Common Sense Media ratings referenced throughout
- The Threads fam for chiming in!
Use promo code CKANDGK for 20% off Roots in Ink at ariellamonti.com
Coming up next week: The history of Spirit Halloween and how one guy accidentally invented the seasonal pop-up business model. Subscribe so you don't miss it!
The best support is a rating and a share.
Love,
CK & GK
View our website at ckandgkpodcast.com. Find us on social media @ckandgkpodcast on
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Thanks, y'all!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Caitlin Kindred (00:00):
Uh hi, everybody.
We're so glad you're here.
Welcome to How to Be a GrownUp.
This is the how-to show formoms who are absolutely thrilled
that it is spooky season, likemyself.
Spooky season.
I love it.
Uh I'm Caitlin, and with metoday is Ari Lamonty, novelist,
and she's a snake plant with aside hustle.
(00:21):
She's sharp, unkillable, andalways fresh.
I don't know if I was a recordone.
Uh okay.
So um we're in the thick ofspooky season now.
We're 10 days out fromHalloween.
So, and I'm by saying that, ofcourse, now I've just messed up
dates or whatever.
But anyway, when we'rerecording this, when this is
being released, it'll be 10 daysout from Halloween.
(00:43):
So I am breaking down Halloweenmovies by age group.
I'm gonna share my personalfavorites, a few hot takes about
movies, uh, maybe somecontroversial opinions, you
know, because that's what we'rehere for.
I don't know.
I just made that up.
Anyway, before we do thatthough, I want to make sure
you're subscribed to this show.
Hit follow, hit subscribe, orwhatever word your favorite
(01:06):
podcast app has to make sure youdon't miss episodes.
Before we begin, good job.
You did it.
Congratulations.
Okay, so I have a few sources.
There's thank you to theThreads fam for chipping in on
some of these.
They had some good ideas.
And um, 35 plus Halloweenmovies for kids by age by Edward
(01:29):
Shepherd and Diva Anwarie forMotherly, which is one of my
favorite online magazines.
And of course, Free Forms 31Nights of Halloween and the
schedule for 2025, which Iassume barely changes year over
year, but this is the 2025schedule.
Okay, so it's October.
(01:50):
You need to figure out how tokeep the spirit going without
incessantly discussing costumesand the change of costume that
happens three or four times inthe month of October.
So we're watching Halloweenmovies.
You've got 31 nights ofHalloween on freeform, which is
always an option for you.
(02:10):
However, they're not alwaysappropriate for all children.
So, and I mean, also, there'sone movie a night there.
You but that might not beenough for you.
I'm more of a play that messall day long if I can.
That's what we're doing.
Also, you might have differentthresholds for what's too scary
in your home.
You are trying to find a sweetspot between boring for you and
(02:35):
traumatizing for your kids.
Yes.
Um always.
For example, you might still berecovering from a scary movie
or a movie that just scared youas a kid.
I'll tell you what mine was,but I want to know if you have
one.
The movie that scared theever-loving Shadoobi out of me
when I was a kid was E.T.
I cannot like I can't, thosefingers reaching for those.
(03:02):
Oh my god.
Freaked me out.
I still don't like it.
With the music?
Ariella Monti (03:07):
Uh no.
No.
Still freaks me out.
No, I I could see that.
I could totally see that.
Um, mine was Candyman.
Yeah, that's the one.
I think there's another one.
Yeah.
I think there's a newer onenow, but like the original
Candyman.
Caitlin Kindred (03:24):
Yeah, ooh, with the honey and the bees and the
nope.
Nope.
Nope.
Nope.
Ariella Monti (03:29):
Yeah, I was so I remember watching it at my best
friend's house, and I'm prettysure when she picked when my mom
picked me up, I asked my mom, Iasked my mom not to go back to
work.
Like I was old enough to behome by myself.
Like, and but I was like, don'tdon't go back to work.
(03:50):
She's like, I have to go towork.
I I gotta go to work.
Sorry, but I will try to Ithink she came home a little
early, or maybe came home forlunch, but I was afraid to be in
the house by myself.
That's how bad that one was.
Yeah, that one terrified me.
Caitlin Kindred (04:03):
Do you have one that scared you that you love?
Because in our house, commonbetween my husband and myself,
it's the Princess Bride.
He was scared of the hag, andfor whatever reason, that movie
like just made me reallyuncomfortable when I was a kid.
I love it now, and I can watchit like over and over again now,
but something about it freakedme out when I was younger.
Ariella Monti (04:21):
I'm sure there is.
I can't think of one.
I can't think of it now.
Caitlin Kindred (04:29):
But if you do during the episode, just shout
it out because I'm curious.
Yeah.
If you are listening to thisepisode and you are following us
on social, send us a message.
Like just add us, replysomething so that we can we want
to know what the movie iseither one, the one that scared
you when you were a kid, or theone that traumatized you and you
now love it.
Either one.
(04:49):
Want to hear.
Okay.
So I'm gonna preface this.
This is our um what's itcalled?
Our disclosures right here.
Here's the challenges of me,us, Ariella and I, picking kids'
Halloween movies for you as thelistener.
One, every family is different,right?
You might have differentthresholds for what's
(05:10):
appropriate for your kid.
Understood.
Also, what one seven-year-oldfinds hilarious, another one
finds absolutely terrifying.
So you know your kid best.
These are guidelines, notrules.
For most of these, I includecommon sense media ratings, and
otherwise, just use your bestjudgment, mom.
You understand.
Okay.
Um, okay, starting with theyoungers, the babies, toddlers
(05:33):
to early elementary.
Super safe movies.
One, it's the great pumpkinCharlie Brown.
But I mean, I'm obsessed withthe Peanuts Gang and Snoopy, so
obviously that's a classicmust-watch every season that's
rated G.
Do it.
Uh Pooh's Heffalump Halloweenmovie, also rated G, Sweet and
(05:53):
Silly for toddlers.
And Curious George, a Halloweenboo fest.
Okay.
No, I have to.
If our dear friend Brennan islistening, she will be like,
ooh, careful with that one.
Because there's a character inCurious George Halloween Boo
Fest named No-Noggin, and noNoggin freaked out her older
(06:17):
son.
Like, he was scared ofNo-Naggin for a while.
No noggin is a scarecrow, boysand girls.
It's fine.
Like, it's not a thing.
It's a scarecrow without ahead.
Uh, and you learn why itdoesn't have a head.
But just putting it out there,again, these are super safe, and
yet her little one wastraumatized, which is why I put
that disclosure, that you know,asterisk at the bottom of this
(06:40):
episode.
So another one, Mickey's Houseof Villains, also rated G,
Disney villains, make it kidfriendly.
So I personally, if I'm gonna,if I'm gonna be a Disney person,
I live for Maleficent, allright?
Maleficent is the best, she'sthe most badass of all of the
Disney villains.
So anytime I see anothercharacter dress as her, I like
(07:01):
absolutely die for it.
Daisy is perfect.
Also, Stitch from Lilo andStitch often will be found in a
Maleficent costume, and I die.
I love it.
So anytime I can see Disneyvillains dressed as each other,
just so good.
So that's amazing.
Adorable.
Other ones, slightly spooky,still safe, all rated G.
Okay.
(07:22):
Um, Monsters Inc., not aHalloween movie, however.
Talking about monsters andscaring and all that stuff.
Um, The Legend of SleepyHollow, that's a classic.
That's the one with like thebig they do the big nose, like
Ichabod Crane sort of.
I feel like all of us uh likeElder Millennials, Gen Xers saw
(07:43):
that movie when we were kids.
Like on the free Disney week orwhatever, they would always do
a free Disney week and that waswhen I would watch it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Uh Wallace and Gromit, TheCurse of the Were Rabbit.
Wallace and Gromit.
I mean.
I don't I never saw that one.
Or maybe I did.
I'm it's Wallace and Gromit areso classic, like everybody has
seen something of them, but thisone is when they save the giant
(08:06):
vegetable competition from theWare Rabbit.
It's a it's cute.
Bed knobs and broomsticks.
Also rated G.
However, I'm gonna put this outthere.
This is World War II kids whoescape with a witch's help.
Just be prepared to explain thecontext if you have kids who
ask questions.
So just putting that out there.
But again, World War IIchildren.
So take that as you will.
(08:27):
Um, these are also still forlittles, so toddlers through,
you know, pre-K, but these mightbe a little bit more intense
for you.
These are primarily rated PG.
One, Po Tel Transylvania.
Ariella Monti (08:41):
I've never seen it, but anything with Adam
Sandler.
Caitlin Kindred (08:44):
Yeah, it's Adam Sandler's voice work.
I've heard kids love it, butyour tolerance for Adam Sandler
may vary.
Who knows?
It's I mean, I think it's himbeing like a Dracula, so it's
well, you know, whatever.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Nightmare Before Christmas.
Uh this one, Oogie Boogie canbe a little scary.
So just putting and like so,like it's Tim Burton.
(09:05):
Like it's creepy, right?
So like it could be kind offreaky, but um, some kids really
love it.
So, and if you're like amusical person, you know, that
could it' works well too.
Right.
Yeah.
Coco.
I love the movie.
Not necessarily Halloween, butthe context is Day of the Dead.
So there you go.
I love it.
(09:25):
I think it fits here.
I love this pick for thecultural significance.
This movie, the first time Iwatched it, I was watching it
with sixth graders, and I waslike basically telling the boys
to shut up.
I'm like, I wanna watch it!Shh.
I was supposed to be likeworking while they were watching
a movie, and I pulled up achair and like sat in the middle
of the crew, and I was like,shut up.
(09:45):
So um, I love this tearjerker,beloved by all ages, such a good
one, and it's beautiful.
It's a beautifully done movie.
It's so gorgeous.
Ariella Monti (09:57):
Yeah, yeah.
It is just visually stunning.
Caitlin Kindred (10:01):
Yeah, and funny.
Like, give me some Mama Imeldaand how crazy she oh, I just I
love her.
She's a nutbag for sure.
Um, another Tim Burton one,Frank and Weenie.
Uh, boy brings his dog back tolife.
Again, you may have someexplaining to do, could be a
little intense, you know, zombiedoggy, whatever.
(10:21):
But, you know, any Tim Burtonstop motion, Coraline, you know,
yeah, any of that's probablygonna be a good thing.
Ariella Monti (10:29):
Anything with Tim Burton is like proceed with
caution, right?
Caitlin Kindred (10:35):
Yeah, but also probably Halloween appropriate.
Have you ever seen Big Fish?
Oh yeah.
Big Fish is like probably alsoHalloween appropriate.
It is like what?
So, yes, no sweeney Todd forkids, okay?
Like, but yes, Tim Burtonprobably qualifies on this list,
okay.
Yeah, for ages like nine andup, late elementary, middle
(11:00):
school.
So this is there's some weirdones, there's some classics,
gonna put these on here.
PG movies, labyrinth.
Sorry, you know, gotta watchit.
Ariella Monti (11:11):
I've never seen it.
Caitlin Kindred (11:13):
Which is blasphemy as an elder millennial
dead answer.
Ariella Monti (11:18):
As an elder millennial Muppet devotee.
Oh my god, I thought you werecalling yourself a muppet.
Caitlin Kindred (11:25):
You're calling like you're a Muppet?
What?
Okay, got it.
No, you have to see it.
Ariella Monti (11:29):
I know.
I um I might have seen it whenI was much, much younger, but I
like I don't remember watchingit.
So yeah, it's it's one that Ihave to I do have to I do have
to watch.
Caitlin Kindred (11:42):
I have to Yeah, you might watch it on your own
first if you haven't seen it sothat you know like what's good
for your kids.
But like just it's just it's aclassic.
We have to watch Labyrinth.
It is a classic, yeah, yeah,yeah.
Beetlejuice.
Betelgeuse is PG.
Love it.
Common Sense Media says 13 andup, so technically should be PG
(12:03):
13.
However, um my son has seenparts of it at age nine and been
fine.
So just it's mostly like campyand silly, so I would think
yeah, it's probably fine.
I actually have never seen allof Beetlejuice in one sitting,
I've only seen like chunks.
So I'm sure there's parts of itthat I've missed, and I don't
(12:24):
know how that's possible that Ihaven't seen all of it, but I've
been watching it more thisseason because it's been on free
floor.
Ariella Monti (12:31):
So yeah it's been fun though.
Love it.
I watched the TV show likereligiously before I saw the
movie, I think.
Yeah.
So when I was watching themovie, I was like, what is
happening here?
Like, because what I wasfamiliar with was the TV show.
Caitlin Kindred (12:49):
But stay away from edibles before watching
Beetlejuice.
Or do it, but do it byyourself.
I'm just saying.
Young Frankenstein is anotheroption here.
I've never been into YoungFrankenstein, however, it has
been recommended.
Several people on threadsrecommended it, and um, so did
(13:09):
the author who wrote the articlethat I was interested in.
So it's worth it's worthwatching.
It might not be your jam, butcould be fun.
You know, just see whathappens.
Um, again, creepy stop motion.
Already a couple of mentionsI've done here.
Paranorman is one.
Um, good for like fourth andfifth grade and up.
There's some genuine scares init, so just putting that out
(13:32):
there.
Coraline, creepy, beautiful,Tim Burton-esque.
The Corpse Bride, again,creepy, beautiful.
Um, it's not a classic, but alot of people really like it.
So just thought I'd throw itout there.
Yeah.
I think it's got a cultfollowing.
For sure.
Absolutely.
I would agree with that.
Yeah.
Ariella Monti (13:51):
Um, like a sub, like you've got your Tim Burton
cultural.
And then within there, it'slike yeah, yeah, yeah.
Caitlin Kindred (13:59):
It's more of like a it's almost like a deep
cut, but it's not really likeyou know, anyway.
Um also James and the GiantPeach, the rolled doll
adaptation done by Tim Burton,it is creepy.
It it really is.
So, um, and there's it's likelive action and then it turns
into Tim Burton stop motion.
(14:20):
Um so you know, but it's it'sgood.
We actually watched it uhearlier this year because Sam's
third grade class did like abook study on James and the
Giant Peach, and he was reallyinto it.
So but but definitely enoughcreepiness to kind of do the job
for Halloween.
Okay, some actually scary ones.
(14:40):
I'm gonna preface this firstone by saying I haven't seen it,
but it's called Monster House.
The neighbor's house is amonster, it's got some creepy
scenes, never seen it, but I'veheard good things about it.
Um The Witches, dude.
Okay.
Angelica Houston as as like thehead witch is absolutely
(15:02):
Angelica Houston is thedefinition of creepy Halloween
lady, right?
She's amazing.
Right.
Um however, this movie, this isone of the ones that freaked
out my husband when he was akid.
And I read the book, I've neveractually seen the full movie
again because it like it creepedme out, right?
So the book though, it iscreepy, it will freak you out,
(15:24):
it will freak out your kid ifthey're not prepared for it.
Um but if your kid likes that,this could be a great option.
I I will tell you if youhaven't read the book, read the
book like before you anyway.
Um another actually scary one,Goosebumps, the movie.
(15:45):
Uh, I believe it stars JackBlack, actually, is what is the
one who just, yeah.
Um, but it's based on it's alike a uh kind of think like a
good version of the Mario moviewhere they take all the stories
and kind of mishmash themtogether, which is what they did
with the Mario movie, wherethey take all the games and
mishmash them together.
But there's this is like thisis an option.
(16:07):
Um, if you liked thoseGoosebumps book as a kid, it's a
it's you'll recognize some ofthe stuff.
You'll be like, oh yeah, Iremember when that happened in
that one book.
So it's a good option.
Um, my son watched it last yearactually and loved it.
So uh totally worth uh checkingout if you haven't already.
Um The Spider Wick Chronicles,again, one I haven't seen
(16:30):
before, but uh MagicalCreatures, Dark Mysteries.
It got recommended to me by acouple of parents um on threads,
so worth looking at.
And The Haunted Mansion.
I mean, this is Eddie Murphy,like he he ruled our childhood
and teenage early teenage years,right?
(16:50):
So I'm yeah, I've definitelyseen it.
It's based on the the themepark ride at Disney.
So um totally worth a watch.
It's a good one.
If your child is again oldenough, remember this is late
middle, um, late elementary,early middle.
There's some classics thatmaybe your parents watched or
had you watched when you wereyounger that might be worth
(17:12):
watching.
Dracula with the KronosQuartet.
So this is Bella Lugossiversion.
So could be really good.
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
And like the Universal Studiosmonster movies.
So Dracula, Frankenstein, theWolfman, the creature from the
Black Lagoon.
Uh, those are on like everywatch list for Halloween.
(17:35):
I don't know if they're not,then they should be.
Um, you could do a retro movienight, and the kids might be
like, it's been boring, but Ithink they'll probably enjoy at
least one of them.
So yeah.
Um, especially like they'll belike, oh my god, it's so it's so
cringy.
Look at this, this, theanimation or what the
technology, like, yeah, but itwas like 60 years ago, so maybe
(17:55):
don't be a jerk about it.
Like just a thought.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, so there's some there'ssome good ones there.
For preteens and beyond.
So we're talking middle school,like seventh grade, and beyond
for these.
We've got some must-watchclassics.
I'm gonna put these on thelist, and if you haven't seen
them, you are going to go watchthem right now.
(18:17):
You are excused from listeningto this episode.
I got my listen.
We're good.
Here we go.
One Ghostbusters.
Yes.
Ariella Monti (18:26):
That's one that I love now that scared me a
little bit.
I don't know which one it waswith the um with the the
painting.
Oh.
The I don't know.
I don't remember which one itwas either, but I know what
you're talking about.
Yes.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
The painting terrified me.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That was another one that Iprefer I I watched the cartoon
religiously.
(18:46):
Me too.
Probably before I saw I saw theclassics.
Caitlin Kindred (18:50):
Yeah.
And there's like, there's what,three Ghostbusters movies, and
then there was the um remakethat they did recently that was
the all-women cast with like Ineed to watch that.
I need to watch that one too,but I I'm here for any of the
Ghostbusters content.
Like any of it.
So good.
Marshmallow Man could be funny,could be scary, depends on your
(19:11):
kid.
Just keep that in mind.
Other classic movies on thelist.
Hocus pocus.
Ariella Monti (19:16):
Yep.
Caitlin Kindred (19:17):
I'm sorry.
Common sense media says PG 10.
Sam's watched it, not aproblem.
We have to watch it in ourhouse.
There is no ifs, ands, or buts.
It must be watched.
I am obsessed with that movie.
I love Bette Midler so much inthat movie.
I cannot get enough.
So we watch it every year.
And I will say, when they didthe remake, or not the sequel to
(19:40):
it, it's good.
It's a good sequel.
Oh, that's right.
I think my husband likes thatone more than the original one.
Ariella Monti (19:48):
Yeah.
Caitlin Kindred (19:48):
It's so good.
And watching them walk throughlike a Walgreens or a CVS or
whatever and look at makeup ishilarious.
You have you, it's so good.
You have to see it.
The Adams Family.
Oh, yeah.
I'm gonna go the ChristinaRicci version with Is it
Angelica Houston again asMorticia Adams?
Yes.
Yes.
Perfect.
(20:08):
I personally think this is agreat one for modeling true
romance and healthy masculinity.
If you know you know GomezAdams.
The standard by which all menshould be held to.
Ariella Monti (20:23):
I almost feel like Wednesday, the Netflix
series might be okay for this.
It's on here.
It's on here.
I gotcha.
Okay.
I gotcha.
Got it.
For sure.
I have been loving that.
Caitlin Kindred (20:36):
I haven't seen the new season yet.
We're I'm we'll get to it.
We'll get to it.
Ariella Monti (20:40):
Yeah.
Okay.
Caitlin Kindred (20:41):
Casper.
Ariella Monti (20:42):
Oh, Casper, of course.
Caitlin Kindred (20:43):
Friendly ghosts, heartfelt fun.
Great way to swoon over DevinSawa all over again.
Can I keep you?
Oh, precious little baby13-year-old Devin Sawa.
And Christina Ricci.
Like and what?
Bill Pullman is in it.
And a bunch of other, like,pretty classic voices and
actors.
Like, I want to say that guywho played uh Ramon Ray Ramon's
(21:09):
brother on Everybody LovesRaymond.
He's in it.
And then a couple of likeSimpsons voices.
Like it's it's a classic.
There's a lot of really famouspeople in that movie, so totally
worth watching.
Yep.
Uh Scooby-Doo, the live actionScooby-Doo.
They've also with uh MattLillard playing Shaggy, which is
like he's perfect.
(21:29):
He's so perfect.
Um, but there's also they'veredone Scooby-Doo cartoons and
released them, and I believeit's either like all American
rejects or some 41 that is readthat redid the Scooby-Doo theme
song.
So like I'm listening, I my sonis like binge watching
Scooby-Doo in the morning, andI'm listening and I'm going, why
(21:50):
do I know this band?
Like, why?
And I'm like, it's not blink.
It's not, but it's it's gotthat Sum 41, All-American Rejex
sort of sound to it.
Uh and I I want to say it's allAmerican Rejects.
Anyway, but they redid it andit was it's pretty awesome.
Ariella Monti (22:06):
So there is also a supernatural episode.
Ooh.
Scooby, Scooby-Doo supernaturalcrossover episode in some of
the later, in one of the laterseasons.
It's a ridiculous episode andit is glorious as a ridiculous
episode.
Caitlin Kindred (22:23):
Oh, that's amazing.
I mean, hang on.
I'm not so now I'm looking atit's called What's New
Scooby-Doo.
Simple Plan.
It's simple plan.
That's used to be.
Oh, yeah.
But like they all sounded thesame.
Some 401 Almond Green.
Yeah, like they all sound thesame.
Like Simple Plan.
They do.
But you'll if you listen tothat kind of music as a younger
(22:43):
version of yourself, you'll belike, I know this voice.
It's not quite like where areyou?
Sounding, but it is a little,it is a little close to that.
You're welcome for me justbusting out some blank right
there.
Um, okay.
Darker 80s and 90s movies thatshould be on your list.
This is one that I've forgottenthat I should mention.
Gremlins.
That scared the mess out of mewhen I was a kid.
(23:04):
Gremlins 2 is like wild in kindof a good way, but Gremlins
freaked me out, but it's worthit's worth watch.
Kind of fun for kids who kindof like that sort of vibe.
Something wicked This Waycomes.
Haven't seen all that.
I don't really do scary moviesvery well, so most of these ones
I haven't like done a deep diveinto, but but it's an evil
(23:25):
circus in that movie, and I hateclowns, so there's no way I'm
watching that one.
Yeah.
Sorry.
Yeah.
Poltergeist.
Somehow this is rated PG, butthis should be rated PG 13.
This movie scared the it's Sout of me.
Ariella Monti (23:39):
PG in like the 80s version of PG.
Caitlin Kindred (23:43):
In the time when parents like just let you
just be by yourself as alatchkey kid when you were six
years old.
Like it is not.
This is not a movie that isthis is definitely for high
school kids, in my opinion.
Um practical magic didn't makeit onto any of the lists, but
practical magic must be on thislist.
However, this is like rom-comspooky.
(24:06):
So I that's why I put it inthese darker, in the darker
category.
I love that movie.
Ariella Monti (24:11):
So what's funny about this?
So I've never seen practicalmagic, which apparently that
makes me a bad bisexual, butI've never seen it.
Yes, it does.
So, but on my threads today, Iam seeing I'm seeing
conversation and debate aboutpractical magic because I guess
(24:31):
uh people were say it's a arom-com, but then other people
are like, no, wait, no, it's nota rom, it's really dark.
It is, and then other peopleare like, wait, no, it's uh it's
not a rom-com.
And so now I'm sitting herelike, oh, I thought this was
like a a you know, John Cusack,Meg Ryan type of rom com.
Caitlin Kindred (24:54):
Nope, nope, okay.
Ariella Monti (24:56):
That's that's good.
It's so funny that becausethat's what that's what's on my
threads feed today is practicalmagic.
Caitlin Kindred (25:04):
Deals with um manipulation, like emotional
manipulation.
Um, also deal like full-onwitchcraft, like getting an
assault circle, possession, uhlike a creature being possessed,
um, deals with um domesticviolence and a domestic abuse
situation.
Like this is not a like it'sit's a for some reason it's
(25:26):
feel-good because it's SandraBullock.
Like she gives this thefeel-good vibe, but it is a dark
movie.
So got it, got it.
Okay.
I love it though, and it'sthere's there's comedy value in
it.
There is rom-com value.
It's kind of like um die hardwhere there is a debate about is
it a Christmas movie, is it amovie that takes place at
(25:47):
Christmas?
Okay.
It's like it's a rom-com, butit's dark.
So just it I I would air moreon the comedy?
Yeah, I would air more darkcomedy, less rom-com.
There is there is a romanticelement, but it's not and it's
sort of the premise of themovie, but it it's the romance
is what what makes the rest ofthe movie happen, but it's not
(26:11):
the like main character of themovie, if that makes sense.
Got it.
Oh, got it.
So you have to watch it though.
It doesn't like it doesn'tmatter.
No, it doesn't.
Bad bisexual, go watch it.
You just got your hand slapped.
Like, you need to go watch it.
It's so good.
And if you've been a very earlylistener of this show, we have
made references to that movie avery unhealthy amount of times.
(26:35):
Like a very unhealthy, likeStalker Channing, like Midnight
Margaritas.
We've made all the references.
So um, props to you if you'relike, wait, but they always talk
about that movie.
It's because we actually alwaysdid talk about that movie.
So so good.
Love that.
There's my there's my hot takesfor you.
More on this list of darker80s, 90s movies, The Monster
(26:56):
Squad.
It's got like adult themes andlanguage in it.
I wouldn't say it's scary.
It's kind of like Goonies,right?
Like it's one of those yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Um, another one, this one is atthis point, everybody knows the
the the spoiler, but it's thesixth sense.
Um that movie did scare me.
(27:16):
Like my mom was watching itwith me, and I remember being in
like high school and beinglike, Can you just turn this off
for a minute?
I mean it's not.
I mean, there's some jumpscares in it.
You know what I've learned overtime?
It's the music that really getsto me.
Like I have auditory issues,and so when the music starts to
get creepy, I really getuncomfortable.
(27:36):
Um, yeah.
That's how I feel about NoCountry for Old Men, which is a
different, it doesn't belong onthis list.
It's just a thriller.
But the music or like lack ofmusic in that, the sound really
got to me.
So that was part of what.
But yeah, so those are my thoseare my uh 80s, 90s dark movies.
Gremlin's Something Wicked ThisWay Comes, Poltergeist
Practical Magic, Monster Squad,and The Sixth Sense.
(27:58):
Alright.
Bonus mentions, TV shows.
These are TV shows my familyloved, still loves, watches all
the time.
Super monsters on Netflix.
If you have a toddler and youhaven't watched super monsters,
it is really cute.
It isn't into it, but it iscute.
Oh my gosh, and it's got likelittle monsters learn about
(28:21):
navigating social situationswith authenticity and oh there's
fireworks behind me and grace,and like I there's one where
they are they say really nastythings about a particular
creature, and then they learnthat that the person they were
saying those things aboutactually was one of those
creatures and how they apologizeand deal with it.
(28:41):
It's like it's so precious.
Oh, and it's just oh my god,it's so cute.
I love that.
I wish I remember being like,oh man, he doesn't like super
monsters anymore.
But my Netflix, yeah, myNetflix character is still Spike
from Super Monsters because Ilove that little dragon.
Halloween Wars on Food Networkis literally impossible to not
(29:05):
get into the Halloween spiritwhen you're watching these
people make creepy cakes thatbleed and eat eyeballs for their
tasting element.
Awesome.
Same thing with HalloweenBaking Championship, Outrageous
Pumpkins, Killer Cakes, any ofthose baking shows where they
have to make Halloween stuff, gofor it.
Ariella Monti (29:19):
Is it cake has a new season that is Halloween
based and it just came out likelast week or something?
Caitlin Kindred (29:26):
Cool.
All right, well, if you canhandle Mikey Day that much, then
go for it with that one.
Lots of Mikey Day.
Um lots of Mikey Day, lots ofMikey Day.
Yeah, awesome.
Stranger Things, notnecessarily Halloween, but
creepy, so why not?
You can use it to get into it.
Ariella Monti (29:43):
Yeah, and you know, you could take the time to
watch it for whenever they putout the new season, and then
you'll you'll be caught upbecause it's like five years in
between.
Caitlin Kindred (29:55):
But also like five years of stuff like we
watched Millie Bobby Brown gofrom being a child.
In that to now she's married.
Right.
Like did she really?
Yeah, she's married to John BonJovi's uh son.
Get out! Yeah, seriously?
That's wild.
Isn't that a cool one?
That's a cool, that's a coolrelationship.
I like that one.
Yeah.
Are you afraid of the dark andgoosebumps the TV shows?
(30:16):
Yeah.
I mean, are you afraid of thedark?
Yes.
Had to.
And you mentioned Wednesday.
We just so I've seen all thefirst season.
I haven't watched any of thesecond season yet, uh, which it
it just came out fairlyrecently, I believe.
But my husband had seen likeepisodes one through six of the
first or one through five of thefirst season, and so he put on
(30:37):
six, and my son is into it.
Now, here's the problem, and Ijust read this at an ADHD thread
the other day that, or thismorning actually, that was like
kids with ADHD or people withADHD will predict the end of the
movie.
Sorry, they're gonna do it.
They pick up on patterns fasterthan anyone else, and my son
already knows.
Like, he just watched episodesix, yeah, and then he watched
uh halfway through episodeseven, he's like, Okay, I know
(30:58):
what's going on.
And I'm like, shut up.
And he'd be like, Can you justtell me if I'm right?
And I'm like, No, I'm nottelling you.
And then he learned that he wasright, and he was like, I told
you, so meanwhile, Bryce islike, Wait, what?
What happened?
So it's pretty good.
But if you have a kid with ADHDand they've never seen it,
they'll spoil it, just puttingit out there.
However, it is totally fun towatch Wednesday, you know, dark
(31:21):
and creepy, but also GeneralOrtega is amazing, so awesome.
Yeah.
Oh yeah, yeah.
Okay, other ones that are nottechnically Halloween, however,
I think that they belong on thislist.
Batman Returns.
Listen, this is set inwintertime.
However, creepy Danny DeVito asPenguin feels like Halloween to
me.
Just saying.
Ariella Monti (31:41):
Danny DeVito as Penguin biting into a fish
continues to haunt me to thisday.
Yeah.
In my 40s.
Creepy.
I mean, was Batman Returns alsothe one with with um Michelle
Pfeiffer?
Caitlin Kindred (31:59):
I thought it was.
Yeah, it is.
It's the one with MichellePfeiffer.
Ariella Monti (32:02):
Okay, yeah.
That I I should have known Iwas bi when that when I watched
that movie because of MichellePfeiffer.
Yeah.
But it would take me like 30some odd years to reflect on
that and be like, uh Yeah, no.
Caitlin Kindred (32:17):
Okay.
But also it's MichellePfeiffer.
Like she was gorgeous then,she's gorgeous now.
Like right.
I mean, come on.
So yeah.
Yeah.
Ariella Monti (32:28):
But the the Danny DeVito and the fish.
Yeah.
Yeah.
A hundred percent creepy.
Caitlin Kindred (32:34):
Right.
Um, another one that againworks, not technically
Halloween, but well, no, thiskind of is Halloween.
Yeah.
It's not a Halloween movie,takes place during Halloween.
It's E.T.
Yeah.
Right?
Like that's how they get awaywith so much, is that it's set
at Halloween time.
Yep.
Um, this one will make you cryas an adult, just putting it out
there now.
It just the fingers will stillcreep me out, so I probably
(32:56):
still can't watch that scene.
Um, my I remember my mom, mypoor mom.
I was like five.
So this movie came outin '88, '89, somewhere in that
time frame.
We were little.
Ariella Monti (33:09):
Yeah, I think it was even earlier than that.
We were little, but it mighthave been early.
Caitlin Kindred (33:12):
Maybe, you know, maybe like 87.
Some I I don't remember.
Um, and it was supposed to belike this feel-good like family
movie.
And my mom puts it on, and Iwas freaked out.
Could not watch it, could nothandle it.
Ariella Monti (33:28):
It was so upsetting.
Yeah, it wasn't like I rememberbeing, I remember like just
being a kid and just being soupset by it.
I mean, now I guess likeknowing we've got ADHD and the
the whole like feeling yourfeelings really strongly.
But yeah, no, I remember beingreally not afraid of it, but
(33:50):
definitely upset by it.
Caitlin Kindred (33:52):
82.
I was very wrong about that.
So before we were born, uh, butstill I was trying to watch it
as a before you were born.
Okay.
You're not wait, you're end of82.
Well, no, I'm 80.
I'm I thought you were 80.
Okay.
Yeah.
Like, no.
I'm end of 82.
You're end of 82.
I'm I'm early.
Depending on when it came out.
80.
Yeah.
No, it probably was before youwere born.
(34:13):
It didn't come out likeChristmas.
So, anyway.
Um, and the last one, this oneneeds to be in your high school
later group, The Craft.
Listen, I remember there was acertain subset of girls in high
school who were obsessed withthe craft.
For a reason, you know, legit.
Um, but also spooky, dark, uhdeals with very adult themes.
(34:41):
Yeah.
But it it should be on thelist, is my thought here.
Okay, yeah so I've just givenyou, let me, I'm gonna try and
go back through the list.
One, two, three, four, five,six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
eleven, twelve, thirteen,fourteen, fifteen, sixteen,
seventeen, wait, eighteen,nineteen, twenty, twenty one,
twenty-two, two, three, twofour, twenty five, two, six,
two, seven, twenty eight,twenty-nine.
More than thirty.
(35:01):
No, I lied.
No, yeah, more than thirty.
This is like a list of 40different things that you could
be watching with your kids.
And between now and Halloween,you don't have that much time.
You could watch four of these aday and be like all about it.
Like binge, go hard on theHalloween in your house.
So, once again, though, I dohave to say one more time common
(35:24):
sense matters here.
You know your kids' thresholdbetter than any sort of rating
system.
Um, so don't just say, Oh, it'sPG, and then just walk away.
What scared you as a kid mightnot scare them, and vice versa.
Some kids love being a littlefreaked out, others will have
nightmares.
So just keep that in mind.
And with that, it is okay toturn something off if it's too
(35:46):
much.
And they might say, like, turnit off, turn it off, I'm scared.
You might want to watch therest of it, be a parent and turn
it off for them and watch itlater when you want to.
Okay.
It's also okay, and Ariella canattest to this with Is It Cake,
it's okay to let them watchsomething over and over and over
and over and over again, evenif you're sick of it.
Yeah, it'll just become whitenoise for you anyway, so you
(36:07):
might as well just let it be.
Yep.
Mikey Day is very white noise.
Yes, which is good because ithis voice doesn't start out that
way.
Um, I don't mean to hate onMikey Day.
I'm just saying there's only somuch is it's cake watching him
stab a couch that is actuallymade of cake.
Whatever.
But here's the thing (36:27):
I use Halloween movies to build
traditions, right?
Halloween movie watching canbecome part of your family
tradition.
You could build your Halloweentraditions around watching
Freeform's 31 Nights ofHalloween.
You can do uh a Beetlejuicemarathon, like how they play
what's that Christmas moviewhere they play it all day long
(36:48):
uh on TV.
Ariella Monti (36:49):
Oh, Christmas story?
Caitlin Kindred (36:50):
Thank you.
Yes, you could do that.
There might be a Beetlejuicemarathon.
Just do it, it's fun.
Even ones that you watch whenor that were too scary for you
will become a funny story lateron.
So unless you know your kidsare traumatized, then don't turn
it into a funny story, right?
Make it fun.
Have popcorn, do cozy blankets,do all the things that are good
(37:11):
for movie nights.
Just use it to bring yourfamily closer together if
Halloween is part of yourcelebration throughout the year.
What I'd love to know from ourlisteners is if they have
Halloween movie traditions, didI did I hit it?
Did I get one?
Or any of these movies you wishyou'd known about sooner,
Practical Magic.
(37:31):
I'd love to know your hottakes.
So tell me all about them.
Next week for our Halloween,like our actual Halloween
episode, I'm giving you ahistory lesson all about
everyone's favorite pop-up,Spirit Halloween.
Ariella Monti (37:45):
Yeah.
Caitlin Kindred (37:46):
It's gonna be so good.
Subscribe now if you don't missit.
We'll be right back.
Okay, y'all.
POV.
You find a diary exposingforbidden magic, and the hot
museum caretaker's life dependson you burning it.
Roots and Inc., the debut novelby Ariela Monti, is the fantasy
romance for rebels.
(38:07):
Use promo code CK and GK to get20% off your copy at
ariellamonty.com.
Again, that's all caps at C K AN D G K for 20% off on
Arielemonte.com.
Get your copy for 20% offtoday.
So we've talked about like someof our creepy uh movies that
(38:36):
freaked us out.
What do you guys have aHalloween tradition that you
haven't shared with me before orthat you haven't shared with
our listeners?
Ariella Monti (38:44):
We don't.
I I am the one who's like bigon tradition, but my child and
my husband are not really big onit.
Interesting.
So we don't really haveanything, much to my chagrin.
Yeah, I don't think so.
(39:04):
Do you do something foryourself?
Uh you know what I think I'mgonna start doing this weekend.
I was working on a craftproject while I watched The
Crow, like the original TheCrow, which is not a movie for
children.
Caitlin Kindred (39:22):
It does not belong on this list.
Ariella Monti (39:23):
I mean, granted, no, like granted I watched it
when I was 12.
But 80s and 90s would be adifferent time.
Right.
Right.
And it was like my personality.
And like watching it now, I'mkind of like, oh, I kind of get
why I am the way I am now.
But I feel like I'm gonna watchthat.
I feel like I have to watchthat movie once a year.
(39:45):
Because that is a Halloweenmovie in that it does happen.
Yeah.
It you know, it happens like ittakes place over the course of
like Devil's Night and stuff.
But yeah, I don't know.
I might I might do that.
Mine is maybe throw in someother movies too.
Caitlin Kindred (40:00):
Well, no, I think you have to like I'm gonna
force practical magic down yourthroat.
Like you have to watch it.
No, I do need to watch it.
So good.
Yeah.
Um and we again, we it's notHalloween here until we watch
Hocus Pocus.
Like it's just, it's just not.
Like we so every every year onthe first, we put out our
Halloween inflatables.
We have Punkney and Skelly.
(40:20):
They're a big hit in theneighborhood.
When we when when we introduceourselves to people in the
neighborhood later on in theyear, it'll be like May.
And they're like, where do youlive?
And we're like, oh, we're thewe're the we're the dragon
house, we're the dinosaur houseon the street.
And they're like, Oh, yeah, Ilove that.
It's so fun.
My kids like to take picturesin front of it.
And we're like, Yeah, I knowyou're taking pictures in front
of my house.
It's creepy and weird.
Um, but but have fun.
(40:41):
Um so we put that out and putout the Halloween stuff outside,
and then I have to watch HocusPocus in order for it to be
Halloween.
So um, but I love it.
I have like all my Halloweengear.
I gotta, I gotta watch the onlything I haven't watched yet
this year that I need to watchis it's the Great Pumpkin,
Charlie Brown.
Uh I love that one.
It's it's it's kind of likefriends when you see crazy
(41:04):
Monica, right?
Because Monica is like thenormal, like put together one.
So when you see Unhinged Linuslike completely losing his mind
as the voice of reason and notgetting it, you have to watch
it.
It's just so entertaining.
So that's that's my those aremy Halloween things.
I have to do gotta put out theinflatables, gotta watch Hocus
Pocus, gotta watch GreatPumpkin.
Um, and then it's then it'sofficially Halloween at our
(41:26):
house.
Ariella Monti (41:26):
So I would say maybe the one post-Halloween
tradition we have, because wewill go and get pumpkins at some
point, and I guess this is myissue with living in the south
during the fall, is that itdoesn't feel like fall.
Right.
Like when you're from New York,like it doesn't feel like fall,
right?
Um, but we will go and getpumpkins, and then after
(41:48):
Halloween, when the pumpkins arestarting to like rot, we will
take them and we will throw theminto the air and watch them
crash to the ground, or we'lltake like a hammer to them and
just do like a smashing pumpkinsthing, and then we have
chickens, so we like you knowthat's cool though.
Caitlin Kindred (42:10):
Yeah, we don't always carve pumpkins because
it's so hot that they likeimmediately just start to bl
everywhere.
Yeah, and whenever we've donethat, sometimes teenagers come
through and like smash them,which is kind of a bummer.
Um, but we want to this year,so Halloween's on a Friday this
year, which is so great.
So, like, why not just do allthe things anyway?
(42:31):
So um we hope you enjoyed thisepisode.
Hope you are getting into thefestivities if Halloween is your
jam.
If it's not, you know, thanksfor listening anyway.
And there are movies on herethat are not for Halloween that
are just Halloween esque, so youcan watch those.
Right.
All right.
Yeah.
In the meantime, as Jenny wouldsay, make good choices.
Love you mean it.
(42:51):
Have a great day.
Bye! Bye.
Uh hi, everybody.
We're so glad you're here.
Welcome to How to Be a GrownUp.
This is the how-to show formoms who are absolutely thrilled
that it is spooky season, likemyself.
Spooky season.
I love it.
Uh I'm Caitlin, and with metoday is Ari Lamonty, novelist,
and she's a snake plant with aside hustle.
(00:21):
She's sharp, unkillable, andalways fresh.
I don't know if I was a recordone.
Uh okay.
So um we're in the thick ofspooky season now.
We're 10 days out fromHalloween.
So, and I'm by saying that, ofcourse, now I've just messed up
dates or whatever.
But anyway, when we'rerecording this, when this is
being released, it'll be 10 daysout from Halloween.
(00:43):
So I am breaking down Halloweenmovies by age group.
I'm gonna share my personalfavorites, a few hot takes about
movies, uh, maybe somecontroversial opinions, you
know, because that's what we'rehere for.
I don't know.
I just made that up.
Anyway, before we do thatthough, I want to make sure
you're subscribed to this show.
Hit follow, hit subscribe, orwhatever word your favorite
(01:06):
podcast app has to make sure youdon't miss episodes.
Before we begin, good job.
You did it.
Congratulations.
Okay, so I have a few sources.
There's thank you to theThreads fam for chipping in on
some of these.
They had some good ideas.
And um, 35 plus Halloweenmovies for kids by age by Edward
(01:29):
Shepherd and Diva Anwarie forMotherly, which is one of my
favorite online magazines.
And of course, Free Forms 31Nights of Halloween and the
schedule for 2025, which Iassume barely changes year over
year, but this is the 2025schedule.
Okay, so it's October.
(01:50):
You need to figure out how tokeep the spirit going without
incessantly discussing costumesand the change of costume that
happens three or four times inthe month of October.
So we're watching Halloweenmovies.
You've got 31 nights ofHalloween on freeform, which is
always an option for you.
(02:10):
However, they're not alwaysappropriate for all children.
So, and I mean, also, there'sone movie a night there.
You but that might not beenough for you.
I'm more of a play that messall day long if I can.
That's what we're doing.
Also, you might have differentthresholds for what's too scary
in your home.
You are trying to find a sweetspot between boring for you and
(02:35):
traumatizing for your kids.
Yes.
Um always.
For example, you might still berecovering from a scary movie
or a movie that just scared youas a kid.
I'll tell you what mine was,but I want to know if you have
one.
The movie that scared theever-loving Shadoobi out of me
when I was a kid was E.T.
I cannot like I can't, thosefingers reaching for those.
(03:02):
Oh my god.
Freaked me out.
I still don't like it.
With the music?
Ariella Monti (03:07):
Uh no.
No.
Still freaks me out.
No, I I could see that.
I could totally see that.
Um, mine was Candyman.
Yeah, that's the one.
I think there's another one.
Yeah.
I think there's a newer onenow, but like the original
Candyman.
Caitlin Kindred (03:24):
Yeah, ooh, with the honey and the bees and the
nope.
Nope.
Nope.
Nope.
Ariella Monti (03:29):
Yeah, I was so I remember watching it at my best
friend's house, and I'm prettysure when she picked when my mom
picked me up, I asked my mom, Iasked my mom not to go back to
work.
Like I was old enough to behome by myself.
Like, and but I was like, don'tdon't go back to work.
(03:50):
She's like, I have to go towork.
I I gotta go to work.
Sorry, but I will try to Ithink she came home a little
early, or maybe came home forlunch, but I was afraid to be in
the house by myself.
That's how bad that one was.
Yeah, that one terrified me.
Caitlin Kindred (04:03):
Do you have one that scared you that you love?
Because in our house, commonbetween my husband and myself,
it's the Princess Bride.
He was scared of the hag, andfor whatever reason, that movie
like just made me reallyuncomfortable when I was a kid.
I love it now, and I can watchit like over and over again now,
but something about it freakedme out when I was younger.
Ariella Monti (04:21):
I'm sure there is.
I can't think of one.
I can't think of it now.
Caitlin Kindred (04:29):
But if you do during the episode, just shout
it out because I'm curious.
Yeah.
If you are listening to thisepisode and you are following us
on social, send us a message.
Like just add us, replysomething so that we can we want
to know what the movie iseither one, the one that scared
you when you were a kid, or theone that traumatized you and you
now love it.
Either one.
(04:49):
Want to hear.
Okay.
So I'm gonna preface this.
This is our um what's itcalled?
Our disclosures right here.
Here's the challenges of me,us, Ariella and I, picking kids'
Halloween movies for you as thelistener.
One, every family is different,right?
You might have differentthresholds for what's
(05:10):
appropriate for your kid.
Understood.
Also, what one seven-year-oldfinds hilarious, another one
finds absolutely terrifying.
So you know your kid best.
These are guidelines, notrules.
For most of these, I includecommon sense media ratings, and
otherwise, just use your bestjudgment, mom.
You understand.
Okay.
Um, okay, starting with theyoungers, the babies, toddlers
(05:33):
to early elementary.
Super safe movies.
One, it's the great pumpkinCharlie Brown.
But I mean, I'm obsessed withthe Peanuts Gang and Snoopy, so
obviously that's a classicmust-watch every season that's
rated G.
Do it.
Uh Pooh's Heffalump Halloweenmovie, also rated G, Sweet and
(05:53):
Silly for toddlers.
And Curious George, a Halloweenboo fest.
Okay.
No, I have to.
If our dear friend Brennan islistening, she will be like,
ooh, careful with that one.
Because there's a character inCurious George Halloween Boo
Fest named No-Noggin, and noNoggin freaked out her older
(06:17):
son.
Like, he was scared ofNo-Naggin for a while.
No noggin is a scarecrow, boysand girls.
It's fine.
Like, it's not a thing.
It's a scarecrow without ahead.
Uh, and you learn why itdoesn't have a head.
But just putting it out there,again, these are super safe, and
yet her little one wastraumatized, which is why I put
that disclosure, that you know,asterisk at the bottom of this
(06:40):
episode.
So another one, Mickey's Houseof Villains, also rated G,
Disney villains, make it kidfriendly.
So I personally, if I'm gonna,if I'm gonna be a Disney person,
I live for Maleficent, allright?
Maleficent is the best, she'sthe most badass of all of the
Disney villains.
So anytime I see anothercharacter dress as her, I like
(07:01):
absolutely die for it.
Daisy is perfect.
Also, Stitch from Lilo andStitch often will be found in a
Maleficent costume, and I die.
I love it.
So anytime I can see Disneyvillains dressed as each other,
just so good.
So that's amazing.
Adorable.
Other ones, slightly spooky,still safe, all rated G.
Okay.
(07:22):
Um, Monsters Inc., not aHalloween movie, however.
Talking about monsters andscaring and all that stuff.
Um, The Legend of SleepyHollow, that's a classic.
That's the one with like thebig they do the big nose, like
Ichabod Crane sort of.
I feel like all of us uh likeElder Millennials, Gen Xers saw
(07:43):
that movie when we were kids.
Like on the free Disney week orwhatever, they would always do
a free Disney week and that waswhen I would watch it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Uh Wallace and Gromit, TheCurse of the Were Rabbit.
Wallace and Gromit.
I mean.
I don't I never saw that one.
Or maybe I did.
I'm it's Wallace and Gromit areso classic, like everybody has
seen something of them, but thisone is when they save the giant
(08:06):
vegetable competition from theWare Rabbit.
It's a it's cute.
Bed knobs and broomsticks.
Also rated G.
However, I'm gonna put this outthere.
This is World War II kids whoescape with a witch's help.
Just be prepared to explain thecontext if you have kids who
ask questions.
So just putting that out there.
But again, World War IIchildren.
So take that as you will.
(08:27):
Um, these are also still forlittles, so toddlers through,
you know, pre-K, but these mightbe a little bit more intense
for you.
These are primarily rated PG.
One, Po Tel Transylvania.
Ariella Monti (08:41):
I've never seen it, but anything with Adam
Sandler.
Caitlin Kindred (08:44):
Yeah, it's Adam Sandler's voice work.
I've heard kids love it, butyour tolerance for Adam Sandler
may vary.
Who knows?
It's I mean, I think it's himbeing like a Dracula, so it's
well, you know, whatever.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Nightmare Before Christmas.
Uh this one, Oogie Boogie canbe a little scary.
So just putting and like so,like it's Tim Burton.
(09:05):
Like it's creepy, right?
So like it could be kind offreaky, but um, some kids really
love it.
So, and if you're like amusical person, you know, that
could it' works well too.
Right.
Yeah.
Coco.
I love the movie.
Not necessarily Halloween, butthe context is Day of the Dead.
So there you go.
I love it.
(09:25):
I think it fits here.
I love this pick for thecultural significance.
This movie, the first time Iwatched it, I was watching it
with sixth graders, and I waslike basically telling the boys
to shut up.
I'm like, I wanna watch it!Shh.
I was supposed to be likeworking while they were watching
a movie, and I pulled up achair and like sat in the middle
of the crew, and I was like,shut up.
(09:45):
So um, I love this tearjerker,beloved by all ages, such a good
one, and it's beautiful.
It's a beautifully done movie.
It's so gorgeous.
Ariella Monti (09:57):
Yeah, yeah.
It is just visually stunning.
Caitlin Kindred (10:01):
Yeah, and funny.
Like, give me some Mama Imeldaand how crazy she oh, I just I
love her.
She's a nutbag for sure.
Um, another Tim Burton one,Frank and Weenie.
Uh, boy brings his dog back tolife.
Again, you may have someexplaining to do, could be a
little intense, you know, zombiedoggy, whatever.
(10:21):
But, you know, any Tim Burtonstop motion, Coraline, you know,
yeah, any of that's probablygonna be a good thing.
Ariella Monti (10:29):
Anything with Tim Burton is like proceed with
caution, right?
Caitlin Kindred (10:35):
Yeah, but also probably Halloween appropriate.
Have you ever seen Big Fish?
Oh yeah.
Big Fish is like probably alsoHalloween appropriate.
It is like what?
So, yes, no sweeney Todd forkids, okay?
Like, but yes, Tim Burtonprobably qualifies on this list,
okay.
Yeah, for ages like nine andup, late elementary, middle
(11:00):
school.
So this is there's some weirdones, there's some classics,
gonna put these on here.
PG movies, labyrinth.
Sorry, you know, gotta watchit.
Ariella Monti (11:11):
I've never seen it.
Caitlin Kindred (11:13):
Which is blasphemy as an elder millennial
dead answer.
Ariella Monti (11:18):
As an elder millennial Muppet devotee.
Oh my god, I thought you werecalling yourself a muppet.
Caitlin Kindred (11:25):
You're calling like you're a Muppet?
What?
Okay, got it.
No, you have to see it.
Ariella Monti (11:29):
I know.
I um I might have seen it whenI was much, much younger, but I
like I don't remember watchingit.
So yeah, it's it's one that Ihave to I do have to I do have
to watch.
Caitlin Kindred (11:42):
I have to Yeah, you might watch it on your own
first if you haven't seen it sothat you know like what's good
for your kids.
But like just it's just it's aclassic.
We have to watch Labyrinth.
It is a classic, yeah, yeah,yeah.
Beetlejuice.
Betelgeuse is PG.
Love it.
Common Sense Media says 13 andup, so technically should be PG
(12:03):
13.
However, um my son has seenparts of it at age nine and been
fine.
So just it's mostly like campyand silly, so I would think
yeah, it's probably fine.
I actually have never seen allof Beetlejuice in one sitting,
I've only seen like chunks.
So I'm sure there's parts of itthat I've missed, and I don't
(12:24):
know how that's possible that Ihaven't seen all of it, but I've
been watching it more thisseason because it's been on free
floor.
Ariella Monti (12:31):
So yeah it's been fun though.
Love it.
I watched the TV show likereligiously before I saw the
movie, I think.
Yeah.
So when I was watching themovie, I was like, what is
happening here?
Like, because what I wasfamiliar with was the TV show.
Caitlin Kindred (12:49):
But stay away from edibles before watching
Beetlejuice.
Or do it, but do it byyourself.
I'm just saying.
Young Frankenstein is anotheroption here.
I've never been into YoungFrankenstein, however, it has
been recommended.
Several people on threadsrecommended it, and um, so did
(13:09):
the author who wrote the articlethat I was interested in.
So it's worth it's worthwatching.
It might not be your jam, butcould be fun.
You know, just see whathappens.
Um, again, creepy stop motion.
Already a couple of mentionsI've done here.
Paranorman is one.
Um, good for like fourth andfifth grade and up.
There's some genuine scares init, so just putting that out
(13:32):
there.
Coraline, creepy, beautiful,Tim Burton-esque.
The Corpse Bride, again,creepy, beautiful.
Um, it's not a classic, but alot of people really like it.
So just thought I'd throw itout there.
Yeah.
I think it's got a cultfollowing.
For sure.
Absolutely.
I would agree with that.
Yeah.
Ariella Monti (13:51):
Um, like a sub, like you've got your Tim Burton
cultural.
And then within there, it'slike yeah, yeah, yeah.
Caitlin Kindred (13:59):
It's more of like a it's almost like a deep
cut, but it's not really likeyou know, anyway.
Um also James and the GiantPeach, the rolled doll
adaptation done by Tim Burton,it is creepy.
It it really is.
So, um, and there's it's likelive action and then it turns
into Tim Burton stop motion.
(14:20):
Um so you know, but it's it'sgood.
We actually watched it uhearlier this year because Sam's
third grade class did like abook study on James and the
Giant Peach, and he was reallyinto it.
So but but definitely enoughcreepiness to kind of do the job
for Halloween.
Okay, some actually scary ones.
(14:40):
I'm gonna preface this firstone by saying I haven't seen it,
but it's called Monster House.
The neighbor's house is amonster, it's got some creepy
scenes, never seen it, but I'veheard good things about it.
Um The Witches, dude.
Okay.
Angelica Houston as as like thehead witch is absolutely
(15:02):
Angelica Houston is thedefinition of creepy Halloween
lady, right?
She's amazing.
Right.
Um however, this movie, this isone of the ones that freaked
out my husband when he was akid.
And I read the book, I've neveractually seen the full movie
again because it like it creepedme out, right?
So the book though, it iscreepy, it will freak you out,
(15:24):
it will freak out your kid ifthey're not prepared for it.
Um but if your kid likes that,this could be a great option.
I I will tell you if youhaven't read the book, read the
book like before you anyway.
Um another actually scary one,Goosebumps, the movie.
(15:45):
Uh, I believe it stars JackBlack, actually, is what is the
one who just, yeah.
Um, but it's based on it's alike a uh kind of think like a
good version of the Mario moviewhere they take all the stories
and kind of mishmash themtogether, which is what they did
with the Mario movie, wherethey take all the games and
mishmash them together.
But there's this is like thisis an option.
(16:07):
Um, if you liked thoseGoosebumps book as a kid, it's a
it's you'll recognize some ofthe stuff.
You'll be like, oh yeah, Iremember when that happened in
that one book.
So it's a good option.
Um, my son watched it last yearactually and loved it.
So uh totally worth uh checkingout if you haven't already.
Um The Spider Wick Chronicles,again, one I haven't seen
(16:30):
before, but uh MagicalCreatures, Dark Mysteries.
It got recommended to me by acouple of parents um on threads,
so worth looking at.
And The Haunted Mansion.
I mean, this is Eddie Murphy,like he he ruled our childhood
and teenage early teenage years,right?
(16:50):
So I'm yeah, I've definitelyseen it.
It's based on the the themepark ride at Disney.
So um totally worth a watch.
It's a good one.
If your child is again oldenough, remember this is late
middle, um, late elementary,early middle.
There's some classics thatmaybe your parents watched or
had you watched when you wereyounger that might be worth
(17:12):
watching.
Dracula with the KronosQuartet.
So this is Bella Lugossiversion.
So could be really good.
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
And like the Universal Studiosmonster movies.
So Dracula, Frankenstein, theWolfman, the creature from the
Black Lagoon.
Uh, those are on like everywatch list for Halloween.
(17:35):
I don't know if they're not,then they should be.
Um, you could do a retro movienight, and the kids might be
like, it's been boring, but Ithink they'll probably enjoy at
least one of them.
So yeah.
Um, especially like they'll belike, oh my god, it's so it's so
cringy.
Look at this, this, theanimation or what the
technology, like, yeah, but itwas like 60 years ago, so maybe
(17:55):
don't be a jerk about it.
Like just a thought.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, so there's some there'ssome good ones there.
For preteens and beyond.
So we're talking middle school,like seventh grade, and beyond
for these.
We've got some must-watchclassics.
I'm gonna put these on thelist, and if you haven't seen
them, you are going to go watchthem right now.
(18:17):
You are excused from listeningto this episode.
I got my listen.
We're good.
Here we go.
One Ghostbusters.
Yes.
Ariella Monti (18:26):
That's one that I love now that scared me a
little bit.
I don't know which one it waswith the um with the the
painting.
Oh.
The I don't know.
I don't remember which one itwas either, but I know what
you're talking about.
Yes.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
The painting terrified me.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That was another one that Iprefer I I watched the cartoon
religiously.
(18:46):
Me too.
Probably before I saw I saw theclassics.
Caitlin Kindred (18:50):
Yeah.
And there's like, there's what,three Ghostbusters movies, and
then there was the um remakethat they did recently that was
the all-women cast with like Ineed to watch that.
I need to watch that one too,but I I'm here for any of the
Ghostbusters content.
Like any of it.
So good.
Marshmallow Man could be funny,could be scary, depends on your
(19:11):
kid.
Just keep that in mind.
Other classic movies on thelist.
Hocus pocus.
Ariella Monti (19:16):
Yep.
Caitlin Kindred (19:17):
I'm sorry.
Common sense media says PG 10.
Sam's watched it, not aproblem.
We have to watch it in ourhouse.
There is no ifs, ands, or buts.
It must be watched.
I am obsessed with that movie.
I love Bette Midler so much inthat movie.
I cannot get enough.
So we watch it every year.
And I will say, when they didthe remake, or not the sequel to
(19:40):
it, it's good.
It's a good sequel.
Oh, that's right.
I think my husband likes thatone more than the original one.
Ariella Monti (19:48):
Yeah.
Caitlin Kindred (19:48):
It's so good.
And watching them walk throughlike a Walgreens or a CVS or
whatever and look at makeup ishilarious.
You have you, it's so good.
You have to see it.
The Adams Family.
Oh, yeah.
I'm gonna go the ChristinaRicci version with Is it
Angelica Houston again asMorticia Adams?
Yes.
Yes.
Perfect.
(20:08):
I personally think this is agreat one for modeling true
romance and healthy masculinity.
If you know you know GomezAdams.
The standard by which all menshould be held to.
Ariella Monti (20:23):
I almost feel like Wednesday, the Netflix
series might be okay for this.
It's on here.
It's on here.
I gotcha.
Okay.
I gotcha.
Got it.
For sure.
I have been loving that.
Caitlin Kindred (20:36):
I haven't seen the new season yet.
We're I'm we'll get to it.
We'll get to it.
Ariella Monti (20:40):
Yeah.
Okay.
Caitlin Kindred (20:41):
Casper.
Ariella Monti (20:42):
Oh, Casper, of course.
Caitlin Kindred (20:43):
Friendly ghosts, heartfelt fun.
Great way to swoon over DevinSawa all over again.
Can I keep you?
Oh, precious little baby13-year-old Devin Sawa.
And Christina Ricci.
Like and what?
Bill Pullman is in it.
And a bunch of other, like,pretty classic voices and
actors.
Like, I want to say that guywho played uh Ramon Ray Ramon's
(21:09):
brother on Everybody LovesRaymond.
He's in it.
And then a couple of likeSimpsons voices.
Like it's it's a classic.
There's a lot of really famouspeople in that movie, so totally
worth watching.
Yep.
Uh Scooby-Doo, the live actionScooby-Doo.
They've also with uh MattLillard playing Shaggy, which is
like he's perfect.
(21:29):
He's so perfect.
Um, but there's also they'veredone Scooby-Doo cartoons and
released them, and I believeit's either like all American
rejects or some 41 that is readthat redid the Scooby-Doo theme
song.
So like I'm listening, I my sonis like binge watching
Scooby-Doo in the morning, andI'm listening and I'm going, why
(21:50):
do I know this band?
Like, why?
And I'm like, it's not blink.
It's not, but it's it's gotthat Sum 41, All-American Rejex
sort of sound to it.
Uh and I I want to say it's allAmerican Rejects.
Anyway, but they redid it andit was it's pretty awesome.
Ariella Monti (22:06):
So there is also a supernatural episode.
Ooh.
Scooby, Scooby-Doo supernaturalcrossover episode in some of
the later, in one of the laterseasons.
It's a ridiculous episode andit is glorious as a ridiculous
episode.
Caitlin Kindred (22:23):
Oh, that's amazing.
I mean, hang on.
I'm not so now I'm looking atit's called What's New
Scooby-Doo.
Simple Plan.
It's simple plan.
That's used to be.
Oh, yeah.
But like they all sounded thesame.
Some 401 Almond Green.
Yeah, like they all sound thesame.
Like Simple Plan.
They do.
But you'll if you listen tothat kind of music as a younger
(22:43):
version of yourself, you'll belike, I know this voice.
It's not quite like where areyou?
Sounding, but it is a little,it is a little close to that.
You're welcome for me justbusting out some blank right
there.
Um, okay.
Darker 80s and 90s movies thatshould be on your list.
This is one that I've forgottenthat I should mention.
Gremlins.
That scared the mess out of mewhen I was a kid.
(23:04):
Gremlins 2 is like wild in kindof a good way, but Gremlins
freaked me out, but it's worthit's worth watch.
Kind of fun for kids who kindof like that sort of vibe.
Something wicked This Waycomes.
Haven't seen all that.
I don't really do scary moviesvery well, so most of these ones
I haven't like done a deep diveinto, but but it's an evil
(23:25):
circus in that movie, and I hateclowns, so there's no way I'm
watching that one.
Yeah.
Sorry.
Yeah.
Poltergeist.
Somehow this is rated PG, butthis should be rated PG 13.
This movie scared the it's Sout of me.
Ariella Monti (23:39):
PG in like the 80s version of PG.
Caitlin Kindred (23:43):
In the time when parents like just let you
just be by yourself as alatchkey kid when you were six
years old.
Like it is not.
This is not a movie that isthis is definitely for high
school kids, in my opinion.
Um practical magic didn't makeit onto any of the lists, but
practical magic must be on thislist.
However, this is like rom-comspooky.
(24:06):
So I that's why I put it inthese darker, in the darker
category.
I love that movie.
Ariella Monti (24:11):
So what's funny about this?
So I've never seen practicalmagic, which apparently that
makes me a bad bisexual, butI've never seen it.
Yes, it does.
So, but on my threads today, Iam seeing I'm seeing
conversation and debate aboutpractical magic because I guess
(24:31):
uh people were say it's a arom-com, but then other people
are like, no, wait, no, it's nota rom, it's really dark.
It is, and then other peopleare like, wait, no, it's uh it's
not a rom-com.
And so now I'm sitting herelike, oh, I thought this was
like a a you know, John Cusack,Meg Ryan type of rom com.
Caitlin Kindred (24:54):
Nope, nope, okay.
Ariella Monti (24:56):
That's that's good.
It's so funny that becausethat's what that's what's on my
threads feed today is practicalmagic.
Caitlin Kindred (25:04):
Deals with um manipulation, like emotional
manipulation.
Um, also deal like full-onwitchcraft, like getting an
assault circle, possession, uhlike a creature being possessed,
um, deals with um domesticviolence and a domestic abuse
situation.
Like this is not a like it'sit's a for some reason it's
(25:26):
feel-good because it's SandraBullock.
Like she gives this thefeel-good vibe, but it is a dark
movie.
So got it, got it.
Okay.
I love it though, and it'sthere's there's comedy value in
it.
There is rom-com value.
It's kind of like um die hardwhere there is a debate about is
it a Christmas movie, is it amovie that takes place at
(25:47):
Christmas?
Okay.
It's like it's a rom-com, butit's dark.
So just it I I would air moreon the comedy?
Yeah, I would air more darkcomedy, less rom-com.
There is there is a romanticelement, but it's not and it's
sort of the premise of themovie, but it it's the romance
is what what makes the rest ofthe movie happen, but it's not
(26:11):
the like main character of themovie, if that makes sense.
Got it.
Oh, got it.
So you have to watch it though.
It doesn't like it doesn'tmatter.
No, it doesn't.
Bad bisexual, go watch it.
You just got your hand slapped.
Like, you need to go watch it.
It's so good.
And if you've been a very earlylistener of this show, we have
made references to that movie avery unhealthy amount of times.
(26:35):
Like a very unhealthy, likeStalker Channing, like Midnight
Margaritas.
We've made all the references.
So um, props to you if you'relike, wait, but they always talk
about that movie.
It's because we actually alwaysdid talk about that movie.
So so good.
Love that.
There's my there's my hot takesfor you.
More on this list of darker80s, 90s movies, The Monster
(26:56):
Squad.
It's got like adult themes andlanguage in it.
I wouldn't say it's scary.
It's kind of like Goonies,right?
Like it's one of those yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Um, another one, this one is atthis point, everybody knows the
the the spoiler, but it's thesixth sense.
Um that movie did scare me.
(27:16):
Like my mom was watching itwith me, and I remember being in
like high school and beinglike, Can you just turn this off
for a minute?
I mean it's not.
I mean, there's some jumpscares in it.
You know what I've learned overtime?
It's the music that really getsto me.
Like I have auditory issues,and so when the music starts to
get creepy, I really getuncomfortable.
(27:36):
Um, yeah.
That's how I feel about NoCountry for Old Men, which is a
different, it doesn't belong onthis list.
It's just a thriller.
But the music or like lack ofmusic in that, the sound really
got to me.
So that was part of what.
But yeah, so those are my thoseare my uh 80s, 90s dark movies.
Gremlin's Something Wicked ThisWay Comes, Poltergeist
Practical Magic, Monster Squad,and The Sixth Sense.
(27:58):
Alright.
Bonus mentions, TV shows.
These are TV shows my familyloved, still loves, watches all
the time.
Super monsters on Netflix.
If you have a toddler and youhaven't watched super monsters,
it is really cute.
It isn't into it, but it iscute.
Oh my gosh, and it's got likelittle monsters learn about
(28:21):
navigating social situationswith authenticity and oh there's
fireworks behind me and grace,and like I there's one where
they are they say really nastythings about a particular
creature, and then they learnthat that the person they were
saying those things aboutactually was one of those
creatures and how they apologizeand deal with it.
(28:41):
It's like it's so precious.
Oh, and it's just oh my god,it's so cute.
I love that.
I wish I remember being like,oh man, he doesn't like super
monsters anymore.
But my Netflix, yeah, myNetflix character is still Spike
from Super Monsters because Ilove that little dragon.
Halloween Wars on Food Networkis literally impossible to not
(29:05):
get into the Halloween spiritwhen you're watching these
people make creepy cakes thatbleed and eat eyeballs for their
tasting element.
Awesome.
Same thing with HalloweenBaking Championship, Outrageous
Pumpkins, Killer Cakes, any ofthose baking shows where they
have to make Halloween stuff, gofor it.
Ariella Monti (29:19):
Is it cake has a new season that is Halloween
based and it just came out likelast week or something?
Caitlin Kindred (29:26):
Cool.
All right, well, if you canhandle Mikey Day that much, then
go for it with that one.
Lots of Mikey Day.
Um lots of Mikey Day, lots ofMikey Day.
Yeah, awesome.
Stranger Things, notnecessarily Halloween, but
creepy, so why not?
You can use it to get into it.
Ariella Monti (29:43):
Yeah, and you know, you could take the time to
watch it for whenever they putout the new season, and then
you'll you'll be caught upbecause it's like five years in
between.
Caitlin Kindred (29:55):
But also like five years of stuff like we
watched Millie Bobby Brown gofrom being a child.
In that to now she's married.
Right.
Like did she really?
Yeah, she's married to John BonJovi's uh son.
Get out! Yeah, seriously?
That's wild.
Isn't that a cool one?
That's a cool, that's a coolrelationship.
I like that one.
Yeah.
Are you afraid of the dark andgoosebumps the TV shows?
(30:16):
Yeah.
I mean, are you afraid of thedark?
Yes.
Had to.
And you mentioned Wednesday.
We just so I've seen all thefirst season.
I haven't watched any of thesecond season yet, uh, which it
it just came out fairlyrecently, I believe.
But my husband had seen likeepisodes one through six of the
first or one through five of thefirst season, and so he put on
(30:37):
six, and my son is into it.
Now, here's the problem, and Ijust read this at an ADHD thread
the other day that, or thismorning actually, that was like
kids with ADHD or people withADHD will predict the end of the
movie.
Sorry, they're gonna do it.
They pick up on patterns fasterthan anyone else, and my son
already knows.
Like, he just watched episodesix, yeah, and then he watched
uh halfway through episodeseven, he's like, Okay, I know
(30:58):
what's going on.
And I'm like, shut up.
And he'd be like, Can you justtell me if I'm right?
And I'm like, No, I'm nottelling you.
And then he learned that he wasright, and he was like, I told
you, so meanwhile, Bryce islike, Wait, what?
What happened?
So it's pretty good.
But if you have a kid with ADHDand they've never seen it,
they'll spoil it, just puttingit out there.
However, it is totally fun towatch Wednesday, you know, dark
(31:21):
and creepy, but also GeneralOrtega is amazing, so awesome.
Yeah.
Oh yeah, yeah.
Okay, other ones that are nottechnically Halloween, however,
I think that they belong on thislist.
Batman Returns.
Listen, this is set inwintertime.
However, creepy Danny DeVito asPenguin feels like Halloween to
me.
Just saying.
Ariella Monti (31:41):
Danny DeVito as Penguin biting into a fish
continues to haunt me to thisday.
Yeah.
In my 40s.
Creepy.
I mean, was Batman Returns alsothe one with with um Michelle
Pfeiffer?
Caitlin Kindred (31:59):
I thought it was.
Yeah, it is.
It's the one with MichellePfeiffer.
Ariella Monti (32:02):
Okay, yeah.
That I I should have known Iwas bi when that when I watched
that movie because of MichellePfeiffer.
Yeah.
But it would take me like 30some odd years to reflect on
that and be like, uh Yeah, no.
Caitlin Kindred (32:17):
Okay.
But also it's MichellePfeiffer.
Like she was gorgeous then,she's gorgeous now.
Like right.
I mean, come on.
So yeah.
Yeah.
Ariella Monti (32:28):
But the the Danny DeVito and the fish.
Yeah.
Yeah.
A hundred percent creepy.
Caitlin Kindred (32:34):
Right.
Um, another one that againworks, not technically
Halloween, but well, no, thiskind of is Halloween.
Yeah.
It's not a Halloween movie,takes place during Halloween.
It's E.T.
Yeah.
Right?
Like that's how they get awaywith so much, is that it's set
at Halloween time.
Yep.
Um, this one will make you cryas an adult, just putting it out
there now.
It just the fingers will stillcreep me out, so I probably
(32:56):
still can't watch that scene.
Um, my I remember my mom, mypoor mom.
I was like five.
So this movie came outin '88, '89, somewhere in that
time frame.
We were little.
Ariella Monti (33:09):
Yeah, I think it was even earlier than that.
We were little, but it mighthave been early.
Caitlin Kindred (33:12):
Maybe, you know, maybe like 87.
Some I I don't remember.
Um, and it was supposed to belike this feel-good like family
movie.
And my mom puts it on, and Iwas freaked out.
Could not watch it, could nothandle it.
Ariella Monti (33:28):
It was so upsetting.
Yeah, it wasn't like I rememberbeing, I remember like just
being a kid and just being soupset by it.
I mean, now I guess likeknowing we've got ADHD and the
the whole like feeling yourfeelings really strongly.
But yeah, no, I remember beingreally not afraid of it, but
(33:50):
definitely upset by it.
Caitlin Kindred (33:52):
82.
I was very wrong about that.
So before we were born, uh, butstill I was trying to watch it
as a before you were born.
Okay.
You're not wait, you're end of82.
Well, no, I'm 80.
I'm I thought you were 80.
Okay.
Yeah.
Like, no.
I'm end of 82.
You're end of 82.
I'm I'm early.
Depending on when it came out.
80.
Yeah.
No, it probably was before youwere born.
(34:13):
It didn't come out likeChristmas.
So, anyway.
Um, and the last one, this oneneeds to be in your high school
later group, The Craft.
Listen, I remember there was acertain subset of girls in high
school who were obsessed withthe craft.
For a reason, you know, legit.
Um, but also spooky, dark, uhdeals with very adult themes.
(34:41):
Yeah.
But it it should be on thelist, is my thought here.
Okay, yeah so I've just givenyou, let me, I'm gonna try and
go back through the list.
One, two, three, four, five,six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
eleven, twelve, thirteen,fourteen, fifteen, sixteen,
seventeen, wait, eighteen,nineteen, twenty, twenty one,
twenty-two, two, three, twofour, twenty five, two, six,
two, seven, twenty eight,twenty-nine.
More than thirty.
(35:01):
No, I lied.
No, yeah, more than thirty.
This is like a list of 40different things that you could
be watching with your kids.
And between now and Halloween,you don't have that much time.
You could watch four of these aday and be like all about it.
Like binge, go hard on theHalloween in your house.
So, once again, though, I dohave to say one more time common
(35:24):
sense matters here.
You know your kids' thresholdbetter than any sort of rating
system.
Um, so don't just say, Oh, it'sPG, and then just walk away.
What scared you as a kid mightnot scare them, and vice versa.
Some kids love being a littlefreaked out, others will have
nightmares.
So just keep that in mind.
And with that, it is okay toturn something off if it's too
(35:46):
much.
And they might say, like, turnit off, turn it off, I'm scared.
You might want to watch therest of it, be a parent and turn
it off for them and watch itlater when you want to.
Okay.
It's also okay, and Ariella canattest to this with Is It Cake,
it's okay to let them watchsomething over and over and over
and over and over again, evenif you're sick of it.
Yeah, it'll just become whitenoise for you anyway, so you
(36:07):
might as well just let it be.
Yep.
Mikey Day is very white noise.
Yes, which is good because ithis voice doesn't start out that
way.
Um, I don't mean to hate onMikey Day.
I'm just saying there's only somuch is it's cake watching him
stab a couch that is actuallymade of cake.
Whatever.
But here's the thing (36:27):
I use Halloween movies to build
traditions, right?
Halloween movie watching canbecome part of your family
tradition.
You could build your Halloweentraditions around watching
Freeform's 31 Nights ofHalloween.
You can do uh a Beetlejuicemarathon, like how they play
what's that Christmas moviewhere they play it all day long
(36:48):
uh on TV.
Ariella Monti (36:49):
Oh, Christmas story?
Caitlin Kindred (36:50):
Thank you.
Yes, you could do that.
There might be a Beetlejuicemarathon.
Just do it, it's fun.
Even ones that you watch whenor that were too scary for you
will become a funny story lateron.
So unless you know your kidsare traumatized, then don't turn
it into a funny story, right?
Make it fun.
Have popcorn, do cozy blankets,do all the things that are good
(37:11):
for movie nights.
Just use it to bring yourfamily closer together if
Halloween is part of yourcelebration throughout the year.
What I'd love to know from ourlisteners is if they have
Halloween movie traditions, didI did I hit it?
Did I get one?
Or any of these movies you wishyou'd known about sooner,
Practical Magic.
(37:31):
I'd love to know your hottakes.
So tell me all about them.
Next week for our Halloween,like our actual Halloween
episode, I'm giving you ahistory lesson all about
everyone's favorite pop-up,Spirit Halloween.
Ariella Monti (37:45):
Yeah.
Caitlin Kindred (37:46):
It's gonna be so good.
Subscribe now if you don't missit.
We'll be right back.
Okay, y'all.
POV.
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Roots and Inc., the debut novelby Ariela Monti, is the fantasy
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(38:07):
Use promo code CK and GK to get20% off your copy at
ariellamonty.com.
Again, that's all caps at C K AN D G K for 20% off on
Arielemonte.com.
Get your copy for 20% offtoday.
So we've talked about like someof our creepy uh movies that
(38:36):
freaked us out.
What do you guys have aHalloween tradition that you
haven't shared with me before orthat you haven't shared with
our listeners?
Ariella Monti (38:44):
We don't.
I I am the one who's like bigon tradition, but my child and
my husband are not really big onit.
Interesting.
So we don't really haveanything, much to my chagrin.
Yeah, I don't think so.
(39:04):
Do you do something foryourself?
Uh you know what I think I'mgonna start doing this weekend.
I was working on a craftproject while I watched The
Crow, like the original TheCrow, which is not a movie for
children.
Caitlin Kindred (39:22):
It does not belong on this list.
Ariella Monti (39:23):
I mean, granted, no, like granted I watched it
when I was 12.
But 80s and 90s would be adifferent time.
Right.
Right.
And it was like my personality.
And like watching it now, I'mkind of like, oh, I kind of get
why I am the way I am now.
But I feel like I'm gonna watchthat.
I feel like I have to watchthat movie once a year.
(39:45):
Because that is a Halloweenmovie in that it does happen.
Yeah.
It you know, it happens like ittakes place over the course of
like Devil's Night and stuff.
But yeah, I don't know.
I might I might do that.
Mine is maybe throw in someother movies too.
Caitlin Kindred (40:00):
Well, no, I think you have to like I'm gonna
force practical magic down yourthroat.
Like you have to watch it.
No, I do need to watch it.
So good.
Yeah.
Um and we again, we it's notHalloween here until we watch
Hocus Pocus.
Like it's just, it's just not.
Like we so every every year onthe first, we put out our
Halloween inflatables.
We have Punkney and Skelly.
(40:20):
They're a big hit in theneighborhood.
When we when when we introduceourselves to people in the
neighborhood later on in theyear, it'll be like May.
And they're like, where do youlive?
And we're like, oh, we're thewe're the we're the dragon
house, we're the dinosaur houseon the street.
And they're like, Oh, yeah, Ilove that.
It's so fun.
My kids like to take picturesin front of it.
And we're like, Yeah, I knowyou're taking pictures in front
of my house.
It's creepy and weird.
Um, but but have fun.
(40:41):
Um so we put that out and putout the Halloween stuff outside,
and then I have to watch HocusPocus in order for it to be
Halloween.
So um, but I love it.
I have like all my Halloweengear.
I gotta, I gotta watch the onlything I haven't watched yet
this year that I need to watchis it's the Great Pumpkin,
Charlie Brown.
Uh I love that one.
It's it's it's kind of likefriends when you see crazy
(41:04):
Monica, right?
Because Monica is like thenormal, like put together one.
So when you see Unhinged Linuslike completely losing his mind
as the voice of reason and notgetting it, you have to watch
it.
It's just so entertaining.
So that's that's my those aremy Halloween things.
I have to do gotta put out theinflatables, gotta watch Hocus
Pocus, gotta watch GreatPumpkin.
Um, and then it's then it'sofficially Halloween at our
(41:26):
house.
Ariella Monti (41:26):
So I would say maybe the one post-Halloween
tradition we have, because wewill go and get pumpkins at some
point, and I guess this is myissue with living in the south
during the fall, is that itdoesn't feel like fall.
Right.
Like when you're from New York,like it doesn't feel like fall,
right?
Um, but we will go and getpumpkins, and then after
(41:48):
Halloween, when the pumpkins arestarting to like rot, we will
take them and we will throw theminto the air and watch them
crash to the ground, or we'lltake like a hammer to them and
just do like a smashing pumpkinsthing, and then we have
chickens, so we like you knowthat's cool though.
Caitlin Kindred (42:10):
Yeah, we don't always carve pumpkins because
it's so hot that they likeimmediately just start to bl
everywhere.
Yeah, and whenever we've donethat, sometimes teenagers come
through and like smash them,which is kind of a bummer.
Um, but we want to this year,so Halloween's on a Friday this
year, which is so great.
So, like, why not just do allthe things anyway?
(42:31):
So um we hope you enjoyed thisepisode.
Hope you are getting into thefestivities if Halloween is your
jam.
If it's not, you know, thanksfor listening anyway.
And there are movies on herethat are not for Halloween that
are just Halloween esque, so youcan watch those.
Right.
All right.
Yeah.
In the meantime, as Jenny wouldsay, make good choices.
Love you mean it.
(42:51):
Have a great day.
Bye! Bye.
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