Kids films that make you feel inexplicably uneasy

[HowDairy]

The original 1971 version of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory is on, and I’m just keeping half an eye on it (no one is really watching it, it’s just on!)
I can’t exactly explain why, but this film makes me feel on edge,
like it has a menacing undertone to it.
Anyone else feel the same? Or any other films make you feel this way?
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is another, it has that awful Child Catcher in it!

As a kid, I absolutely loved those films precisely for that undertone of menace and danger. It’s safe peril, a little frisson that kept you on edge and engaged with the film. All of Dahl’s are like that (The Witches, anyone?). Agree either way a PP, the original Anderson and Grimm’s tales are exactly the same - I’m looking everywhere for any fairy tale books that were like the ones I grew up with, with death, destruction and gory endings for bad or unfortunate little boys and girls but everything is so sanitised now…more children’s books and movies like these please!

Some films don’t filter well through today’s wokeness but many of us watch these films and survived.

Labyrinth. The early scene where the baby is stolen really spooked me as a child, and Bowie (while brilliant) was oddly disturbing.

Alice in Wonderland! I've never seen the appeal in all that confusion.

Pinocchio used to terrify me as a child.

Return to Oz, loved it but the different heads and wheelers spooked me.

I’ve never watched Coraline or Polar Express but I bloody love ET 😁

Spirited Away is also a bit freaky.

Agree with The Witches!

The Wizard of Oz was also scary to me as a kid

I agree with this, I think young children enjoy dark stories and get more from them than we credit them with these days. Children are generally aware from a very young age that life is not all sweetness and light, imo it's not at all problematic to explore that in children's literature and stories.

The witches 🫠🫠🫠

The secret garden

Elf. I just cannot watch it.
I know that everyone else loves it, but I can't bear it.
Come to think of it 🤔 I just can't be doing with Will Ferrell at all.

Yes! The scene were all the heads scream!

The boys turning into donkeys was so sad. Was that also the film with the big black whale in it? Where they almost got eaten by it?

Mrs Doubtfite.

Watership Down. Though I’m not sure that’s inexplicable, dead rabbits and whatnot.

@SayDoWhatNow I came here to add Mrs. Doubtfire.

I love that film! But it is scary. Still. In my mid-fifties. Diana Dors is brilliant, but the fire...terrifying.

I was referring to The Amazing Mr Blunden here :) Incidentally, Mrs Doubtfire is on ITV2 as we speak!

The original Escape to Witch Mountain. Donald Pleasance was born to play such roles.

Another vote for The Polar Express.

Also Elf.

The book is more disturbing. But almost deliciously so... 🙃

Alice in Wonderland.
For some bizarre reason the Mad Hatter literally terrifies me, in any version, old or new movies, cartoons etc. I once went to a fancy dress party and someone was dressed in the costume- I had to leave! I have to be really careful when browsing for movies on the tv in case the fucker pops up!

When Augustus Gloop falls in the river and Wilder says, totally deadpan, 'Help. Police. Murder'...

Didn't notice how tight his trousers were as a kid 😳