Back in the \u201980s and \u201990s, there were a wealth of creepy comedy-horror movies designed specifically to scare the heck out of kids. These days, however, the sub-genre has largely fallen by the wayside. <\/p>\n
Sure, we have 2009\u2019s The Hole and 2015\u2019s Goosebumps, which were both *this* close to making the final list, but it\u2019s fair to say that getting your mitts on scary movies aimed at a young adult demographic is getting harder and harder. With that in mind, then, here are our picks for the top 10 best scary movies for 13-year-olds<\/strong>. Let\u2019s get into it, shall we?<\/p>\n Yes, we know there\u2019s a new The Witches film that came out in 2020, and it\u2019s actually pretty darn good. That said, if we had the choice, we\u2019d always opt for the original Nicolas Roeg-directed classic every time.<\/p>\n Based on the famous children\u2019s novel by Roald Dahl, The Witches tells the eerie tale of a global society of child-loathing witches who prey on innocent children. Anjelica Huston\u2019s dementedly evil turn as the coven\u2019s High Witch is a highlight, while Jim Henson Productions\u2019 disturbing practical effects are still a sight to behold.<\/p>\n Forever burned into my memory, though, are the poor children whose souls have been trapped in the paintings forever. *shivers*<\/p>\n Speaking of movies based on books, The Woman in Black is another top-notch adaptation of literary source material. This one, however, is inspired by Susan Hill\u2019s eponymous 1983 novel. <\/p>\n Further, another parallel with Roald Dahl\u2019s The Witches is the fact that this is one of two filmic interpretations of the famous gothic horror story. Sure, 1989\u2019s rendition is excellent, too, but we\u2019d opt for James Watkins\u2019 modern take thanks to Daniel Radcliffe\u2019s surprisingly nuanced performance and the pic\u2019s spine-chilling atmosphere.<\/p>\n Interestingly, the production got into a little bit of hot water for being a bit too<\/em> scary for its age rating here in the UK, so perhaps bear that in mind. Still, if your whippersnapper is made of tough stuff, this is a seriously creepy supernatural chiller that\u2019ll have \u2019em reaching for the pillow in no time.<\/p>\n Rather than the straight-up horror fare we\u2019ve discussed so far, Tremors is undoubtedly more of a comedy-horror cocktail that\u2019ll likely make you smile just as much as it makes you jolt in fear. <\/p>\n Indeed, Ron Underwood\u2019s sci-fi creature-feature centers on a small town in the middle of Nevada that\u2019s being hounded by giant killer extraterrestrial slugs that travel through the ground and can only \u201csee\u201d its prey through vibrations, hence the movie\u2019s title.<\/p>\n With a charming ensemble cast, including the award-winning Kevin Bacon, Escape From Alcatraz\u2019s Fred Ward, and Family Ties\u2019 Michael Gross, Tremors has gone on to become a cult classic spawning an entire b-movie franchise. Still, we\u2019d probably just recommend the first one if we\u2019re being honest as the series takes a dramatic downturn with its many ill-conceived sequels.<\/p>\n Speaking of comedy-horrors, the batshit surreal and deliciously bonkers Beetlejuice wants to come and introduce itself. <\/p>\n Starring Batman\u2019s Michael Keaton in a career-defining turn as a mischievous spirit with a penchant for chaos, accompanied by a fresh-faced Winona Ryder in one of her first ever film roles, Beetlejuice is a Tim Burton classic that eschews the traditional horror blueprint by delivering one of the most fiendishly unique pics that deals with life after death in ages. <\/p>\n In short, a must-watch for Tim Burton and Michael Keaton fans! Just make sure not to say his name three times, okay?<\/p>\n Fred Dekker\u2019s tween-horror is full to the brim with schlocky practical effects and iconic monstrosities like Dracula, Frankenstein, and\u2026 a weird-looking fish-man, but it\u2019s the chemistry between the ramshackle band of misfits at the heart of the movie that really helps make this phantasmal pic zing.<\/p>\n Much akin to a more child-friendly version of Stephen King\u2019s It, the titular Monster Squad shares some of its DNA with the Losers Club and even The Goonies. <\/p>\n While its \u201980s origins may show its age through a more modern lens, it\u2019s still a super fun pic that will absolutely satiate that tween horror itch.<\/p>\n You\u2019d be hard-pressed trying to find a movie that\u2019s equal parts cute as it is creepy, but Gremlins definitely takes this idea and runs with it. <\/p>\n Centering on a boy called Billy (portrayed by Zach Galligan), who gets gifted an adorable critter named Mogwai as a Christmas present, Gremlins is a marvelously delectable black comedy that ultimately pits an assortment of pesky beasties against an unsuspecting town. <\/p>\n The twist is that Mogwai comes with three special rules: Don\u2019t expose it to light, don\u2019t let it come into contact with water, and, most importantly, don\u2019t feed it after midnight. Of course, these rules are inadvertently broken which is the spark that ignites the impending mayhem.<\/p>\n It\u2019s worth noting that there\u2019s also a really great sequel to check out if you happen to enjoy the first one. Plus, a third film is allegedly in the works, too.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve been living under a rock these past few years, you may be one of only three people in the entire world who\u2019s never seen Ivan Reitman\u2019s ghost-battling action-comedy. Hey, that\u2019s probably a good thing, as it means you get to witness the hilarious hijinks of the titular Ghostbusters in all their glory with fresh eyes. Honestly, we envy you.<\/p>\n With outstanding turns from Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Sigourney Weaver, along with some awesome practical special effects, Ghostbusters pits man vs. otherworldly spirits in a no holds barred battle over New York City. Oh, and it also boasts an iconic theme tune and even went on to spawn a multimillion-dollar franchise. Absolutely essential viewing!<\/p>\n Arguably one of the most culturally impactful horror movies on this list, thanks to its impressive Academy Award nominations combined with the fact that it helped usher in an entirely new audience to the horror genre (it\u2019s one of the only PG-rated horror films to go on to be both a critical and commercial success). <\/p>\n Interestingly, the general scuttlebutt surrounding Poltergeist is that it was largely directed by the one and only Steven Spielberg. You see, the King of Entertainment had a clause in his contract for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial which stopped him from directing another movie while shooting the sci-fi family pic. <\/p>\n As a result, Spielberg came on board as a producer for Poltergeist but apparently spent much of his time overseeing the project in a directorial capacity.<\/p>\n Boasting one of the most disturbing scenes in the entire genre that\u2019ll stick with you forever (I\u2019m looking at you rip-your-face-off bathroom scene), Poltergeist is an iconic tale of supernatural terror that will get under your skin.<\/p>\n Sometimes, you just want to put on a scary movie to frighten the living crap out of yourself and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark fits the bill nicely. <\/p>\n A more YA-centric blend of the children\u2019s-style supernatural horror of Goosebumps combined with the adult-focused terror from Stephen King\u2019s It, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is ostensibly a creepy anthology of short, chilling stories that will likely make your tweens hide behind the safety of your sofa.<\/p>\n As this one\u2019s a particularly terrifying experience, especially for younger folks, we recommend caution with this one. In other words, if you\u2019re in the mood for a bloodcurdling experience (heck, who isn\u2019t?), this film is for you.<\/p>\n If eight-legged critters give you the heebie-jeebies, this one will surely be the perfect nightmare fuel for you. Yes, Frank Marshall\u2019s directorial debut, which centers on a deadly spider infestation within a small North American town, is an absolute doozie. <\/p>\n With a memorable opening sequence set in the isolated mountains of Venezuela, a sweeping orchestral score from The Dark Crystal\u2019s Trevor Jones, wonderful turns from John Goodman as a cocky pest exterminator and Jeff Daniels as an endearingly affable spider-hating doctor, Arachnophobia is the gold standard for scary tween horror pics. Oh, and I\u2019d be remiss if I didn\u2019t mention that there\u2019s even a modern remake in the pipeline, too. Just make sure to bring some bug spray, just in case.<\/p>\n10. The Witches (1990)<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Best-Scary-Movies-for-13-Year-Olds-The-Witches.jpg\")
<\/div>9. The Woman In Black (2012)<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Best-Scary-Movies-for-YA-audience-The-Woman-in-Black.jpg\")
<\/div>8. Tremors (1990)<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Best-Movies-for-YA-audience-Tremors.jpg\")
<\/div>7. Beetlejuice (1988)<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Best-Scary-Movies-for-YA-Audience-Beetlejuice-2.jpg\")
<\/div>6. The Monster Squad (1987)<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Best-Scary-Movies-for-YA-Audience-The-Monster-Squad-2.jpg\")
<\/div>5. Gremlins (1984)<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Best-Scary-Movies-for-YA-audience-Gremlins-2.jpg\")
<\/div>4. Ghostbusters (1984)<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Best-Scary-Movies-for-Kids-Ghostbusters.jpg\")
<\/div>3. Poltergeist (1982)<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Best-Scary-Movie-For-Kids-Poltergeist.jpg\")
<\/div>2. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Best-Scary-Movies-for-Kids-Scary-Stories-to-Tell-in-the-Dark.jpg\")
<\/div>1. Arachnophobia (1990)<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Best-Scary-Movies-for-Kids-Arachnophobia.jpg\")
<\/div>