Brian Kidd
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2000
- Messages
- 2,555
We've all seen movies that were made for a young audience that , for one reason or another, possess a distinctly dark vibe that might actually have the result of creeping out their target viewers. What are your favorites? What are some obscure titles that are still worth a look? I know that I always enjoyed the "Creep Factor" in some children's films.
My favorites include:
WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
This is probably the granddaddy of all creepy kids' films. The Wonkatania scene alone acts as pure nightmare fuel. Also, the Oompa Loompas are distinctly frightening. They never smile. They always seem to show up before one of the kids "gets it". They're dwarves with orange and green hair.
THE 5,000 FINGERS OF DR. T.
This was a Columbia picture from the early 1950's that serves as the only true live-action Dr. Seuss film. He wrote the script and also the lyrics to the many songs. The whole thing takes place in the mind of a small boy who dreams that he and his mother are prisoners of the evil Dr. T. who plans to enslave children at his music school and force them to play a giant piano. The look of the film is pure Seuss. The creepiest scene is probably the dance number in the middle of the film involving the musical prisoners of Dr. T. The current dvd of the film looks just great for apparently not having had any restoration.
TWICE UPON A TIME
I know this isn't strictly a kids film, as it has some very adult humor in it, but I think it can be included. This is a little-seen animated film from the early 1980's financed by none other than Mr. Lucas himself. The plot, what there is of it, isn't really the draw. The animation utilizes backlit cutouts that lend the picture a truly otherworldly appearance. Sadly, the only version available on home video is a slightly sanitized version. The uneditied (and much funnier) version was shown on HBO in the early '80s and to my knowledge nowhere else. It isn't available on dvd as of yet. Warner Bros? Please?
I'm sure I'll think of more later on. Anyone want to join in?
My favorites include:
WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
This is probably the granddaddy of all creepy kids' films. The Wonkatania scene alone acts as pure nightmare fuel. Also, the Oompa Loompas are distinctly frightening. They never smile. They always seem to show up before one of the kids "gets it". They're dwarves with orange and green hair.
THE 5,000 FINGERS OF DR. T.
This was a Columbia picture from the early 1950's that serves as the only true live-action Dr. Seuss film. He wrote the script and also the lyrics to the many songs. The whole thing takes place in the mind of a small boy who dreams that he and his mother are prisoners of the evil Dr. T. who plans to enslave children at his music school and force them to play a giant piano. The look of the film is pure Seuss. The creepiest scene is probably the dance number in the middle of the film involving the musical prisoners of Dr. T. The current dvd of the film looks just great for apparently not having had any restoration.
TWICE UPON A TIME
I know this isn't strictly a kids film, as it has some very adult humor in it, but I think it can be included. This is a little-seen animated film from the early 1980's financed by none other than Mr. Lucas himself. The plot, what there is of it, isn't really the draw. The animation utilizes backlit cutouts that lend the picture a truly otherworldly appearance. Sadly, the only version available on home video is a slightly sanitized version. The uneditied (and much funnier) version was shown on HBO in the early '80s and to my knowledge nowhere else. It isn't available on dvd as of yet. Warner Bros? Please?
I'm sure I'll think of more later on. Anyone want to join in?