Unintentionally Scary Movies That Frightened Us as Kids
The mind of a child is a notoriously impressionable place, and everyone has a story about how a scary movie watched too young scarred them for life. However, what about films or television shows that weren’t expressly meant to be scary? Sometimes, being caught off guard while watching something seemingly innocuous is far more terrifying than the chills you experience during an actual scary movie, especially for a child.
In honor of spooky season, behold our list of titles that unintentionally scared the living daylights out of a select few (but surely, many more as well).
1. “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” (1987)
Director: John Hughes
“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” is a beloved ’80s comedy about trying to make it home for the holidays and an unlikely friendship made along the way — to most, that is. However, as a child, I was traumatized by a scene played for laughs where the characters drive the wrong way and are briefly turned into skeletons (wearing wigs!). I’ve never revisited the film. Even now, when I see Steve Martin appear on “SNL” or in “Only Murders in the Building,” I shudder.
2. “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” (1985)
Director: Tim Burton
I can’t be the only one who got scared out of their skin by Large Marge in “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.” This phantom truck driver initially seems nice enough, but when she suddenly adopts a ghoulish visage with cartoon eyes popping out of her skull, it becomes truly terrifying. A petrified Pee-Wee quickly exits the vehicle, and we never hear from Large Marge again — except in my nightmares for many years of my youth.
3. “Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation” (1986)
Overview: The Care Bears obviously didn’t care if they gave children nightmares in the ’80s. In this animated film, these lovable characters face an evil spirit named Dark Heart, whose main goal is to destroy Care-A-Lot. Whenever Dark Heart isn’t a horrifying red amorphous cloud, he has shapeshifting powers and a maniacal laugh. At a gripping climax in the movie, he traps the Care Bears, declaring they’ll be locked “forever.” My parents, however, couldn’t save me from countless sleepless nights.
4. “Signs” (2002)
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Although “Signs” is not a scary movie per se, I found the birthday party news clip scene absolutely terrifying. I saw it for the first time as a teen in a packed theater, where everyone was on the edge of their seats watching Joaquin Phoenix’s character, Merrill. When the big reveal happened, I never heard a theater scream so loud, and some of the noise was probably me.
5. “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001)
Director: Peter Jackson
Although I was already 20 at the time, I was completely caught off guard by the moment in Rivendell when Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm) suddenly turns into a monstrous creature far more terrifying than any orc. Bilbo had always been an endearing character from my childhood; thus, the drastic transformation was shocking. Everything about that scene still gives me goosebumps.
6. “Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue” (1990)
In a cartoon team-up for the ages, characters from Bugs Bunny to the Smurfs teamed up to help a teenager named Michael make the right choices as he battles the lure of drugs. However, the character named Smoke is so unnervingly intimidating that it’s a true mystery how any kid watching this special at the time found it unscary.
7. “The Day After” (1983)
Overview: As a teenager, I often avoided horror movies, but I was drawn into this TV movie about the devastating effects of nuclear war. The star-studded cast featuring Jason Robards and John Lithgow didn’t lessen the shock of the grim events portrayed. The concluding note that the results of a real nuclear war would be much worse than what I’d just watched still resonates with me.
