Top 10 Traumatic Childhood Movies

Top Ten Traumatic Childhood Movies

Ever thought that some television programmes and films made for children are actually pretty scary? We have! Here are our top ten most traumatic children's films and television programmes:

1. Set in 1910 when Jemima and Jeremy Potts go to live with their uncle Caractacus Potts, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang follows them on an adventure when they meet the Child Catcher. With his long black coat, thin pointy nose, tall top hat and his net, he scared many children and in 2005 was voted “the scariest villain” in children's books despite only appearing in the film version.

Child Catcher From Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

2. ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark?’ was broadcast between 1992 and 2000 and referred to a group of teenagers who called themselves “The Midnight Society”. They would meet in abandoned houses or dark woods and tell tales of ghosts, vampires, witches and magic.

Although most shows would end with a happy ending to the story, a few episodes like “The Tale of Vampire Town” ended with the main character being attacked by a vampire. Scary stuff!

 Tale of Vampire Town-part 3/3 

3. Although enjoyed by many adults, the Harry Potter series was originally written for children and young adults. Firstly it starts off with the main character living under the stairs in his uncle's house after his parents have been killed. He then meets evil Lord Voldemort, who has no nose, before being attacked by Dementors, ghostly flying creatures. Definitely one for kids to watch from behind a cushion!

Dementors and Dudley Image Credit

4. The early Walt Disney film, ‘Dumbo’ is upsetting on so many levels. Firstly Dumbo is teased by the other elephants for having big ears. Then his mother is locked up after sticking up for her son. Next the little elephant causes a trick to go wrong after which he is forced to perform an act where he is laughed at for falling in pie filling. Although he later strikes back at his tormentors and is reunited with his mother, you will still need to get the tissues ready.

Baby Mine-Dumbo & His Mommy

5. Originally shown in 1963, Doctor Who is now the world's longest running science fiction television show. The “Doctor” who is actually a time travelling humanoid alien, helps save civilisations while travelling in his Tardis. Two particularly scary adversaries are the Daleks who scared many with their robotic “exterminate” calls and the Cybermen who insert artificial parts into their body and become devoid of emotions except rage and aggression.

Doctor Who: The Next Doctor - Monster File: The Cybermen

6. What can be scarier than telling children that normal people wandering the streets could be witches? Well in the film adaptation of Roald Dahl book ‘The Witches’ that’s exactly what happens. The scariest of them all is the Grand High Witch, is played by Angelica Houston, who instructs all other witches to exterminate all the children of the world. How scary is that?

The Witches - 1990

7. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe tells the story of the Pevensie siblings who venture through the back of the wardrobe and into the land of Narnia. Here they meet Mr Tumnus, a bare-chested faun (slightly bizarre), Aslan, a talking lion who is tortured by the white witch (very sad) and the white witch who has made Narnia always winter but never Christmas and turns people to stone (scary).

Narnia: The Lion,The Witch And The Wardrobe trailer

8. Voted third in the animation section of top ten best films, Bambi tells the story of a dear who makes friends with a rabbit and a skunk. One day his mother takes him into the meadow to graze when she tells Bambi to flee as the hunter is coming. Bambi runs and it is not until he meets his father he finds of that his mother didn't make it, implying that the hunter shot her. A tearjerker on so many levels!

Bambi's mom dies

9. From the start, Charlotte's Web has us going. From a litter of piglets, the later named Wilbur is singled out as a runt and sent for slaughter. Saved by the farmer’s daughter, Wilbur is sold to her uncle but she visits him less and less and then he discovers he is going to be killed and eaten at Christmas. A friendly spider called Charlotte saves the pig and Wilbur goes on to win a prize at the county fair but sadly Charlotte dies. How much more can one pig take?

Charlotte's Web (1973) theatrical trailer

10. Grotbags was the evil nemesis to the virtuous Rod Hull and Emu. Dressed as a traditional witch with a black cape and pointy hat, she also carried a “bazazzer” which was pointed at the offending person. In every episode she threatened to steal Emu and terrorised the children however Rod and his helpers always prevailed. At least there was a happy ending.

'Grotbags' - Emus All Live Pink Windmill Show

This article was produced on behalf of Chessington Holidays; where you can find the best Chessington Deals and childhood memories.