Five Terrifying Scenes from Children's Films

Image via Untitled Art Gallery

Who knew children's films could cause so much trauma?

In the genre of horror, there are countless famous scenes that terrified audiences worldwide.  But before we were all old enough for horror, we were scaring ourselves half to death with some of our most beloved films from our childhood. Below is a list of five films that can still scare the living daylights out of the average viewer, despite their family friendly rating.

1.      Donkey Transformation, Pinocchio

Seriously, what right does a children’s film have to be this scary? The whole concept of young boys being kidnapped and turned into donkeys is bone-chilling enough but when Lampwick groves hooves and his shrikes for his mother turn into distressed donkey noises?  It’s enough to make you vomit with fear.

Watch the nightmare inducing scene below:

2.      The Tunnel Scene, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

One minute you’re watching a wholesome film about a chocolate factory and the next you’re watching a scene that could be from The Shining! The imagery, the screaming and Willy Wonka’s bone-chilling poem? Petrifying. A slightly amusing fact about this scene, however that the poem was partially improvised by Gene Wilder, who decided to go completely bananas in his delivery. So a lot of the actors reactions in that scene are genuine.

Watch the incredibly frightening scene below:  

3.      The Ruby Slippers, Wizard of Oz

Forget the flying monkeys or The Wicked Witch of the West, the visual image of The Wicked Witch of The East’s feet curling up is easily the most disturbing part of this classic film. How any child was able to sleep after seeing this, I’ll never know.

 If you want to scar yourself for life, watch the scene below:

4.      The Evil Queens Transformation, Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs

If you saw my video on being a late in life horror fan, then you’ll know this is one of my earliest childhood memories of being afraid. And rightfully so. Her evil cackle, her sinister grin and overall demeanour are enough to frighten even the bravest of souls. One fun fact about this scene is that Lucielle La Verne, who voiced The Evil Queen, achieved the old hag’s distinct voice and cackle by simply taken her false teeth out.

If you’re interested in my childhood trauma, watch the video below:

5.      Joe’s death, Help! I’m a Fish

If you were a child of the 90s or early 2000s, you might have thought that this film wasn’t real and was instead some bizarre dream you had while on a high fever. But no. It’s real and very strange. But the scariest scene in this very odd film has to be the death of the film’s villain, Joe. Joe turning human is already terrifying, but the sudden silence and quickness of his death is haunting.

Watch this spooky scene below:

Is your childhood trauma on the list? Or is there another scene from a children’s film that led to years of sleepless nights?