As a child, I loved the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang until this absolutely terrifying man, known as the Child Catcher, appeared onscreen. He ruined the entire movie for me with his terrifying attempts to lure innocent young children into his wagon by promising them candy and other sweet treats.
"That movie is like a horror movie without deaths, blood, and swearing. I used to be scared of the other mother turning into a spider, along with her button eyes being gone." —u/CriticismJust5144
"The scene of the Wicked Witch’s feet protruding from under a tornado-blown house scared me and haunted my dreams." —u/v9Pv
"I remember I would rewatch the movie and always kind of skip the Tin Man scenes. I don't know why, [but] he gives me the creeps to this day..." —u/mintderp
"As a small child, I was genuinely terrified that teachers were like that. I had nightmares about going to school and being locked in fricking death closets." —u/Internal-Heron6734
"The part with that little girl with braces who abuses all the fish in the tank was just horrifying to me as a kid. The creepy sound effect when she shows up for the first time is equally haunting too." —u/Potential-Bread-9241
"I always hated the scene with the depressing music when the fishes were struggling to get out of the giant fish net. I would plug my ears or mute the movie every time." —u/mintderp
"I lost it at [the] blueberry girl, and we had to head back home from the drive-in." — u/Milnoc
"That nightmare acid-trip boat tunnel scene. We watched that in elementary school, complete with the chicken decapitation. Fun times." —u/musicmaster82
"I remember being creeped out by Stripe's death at the end (it could've just not showed him melting, but no, they didn't). Even worse is that Stripe was a terrifying skeleton after he jumps out of the fountain right when Billy walked closer to see if Stripe was dead. I can't believe I watched that movie when I was a kid." —u/CriticismJust5144
"I love Gremlins as an adult, but as a small child, it terrified me. The ending where they suggest there might be gremlins in your house had me freaked out for years. I used to wake up in the morning and sit at the top of the stairs waiting for my parents because I wouldn’t go downstairs on my own. I thought gremlins would be hiding behind the sofa and armchairs." —u/WideMiss
23.And finally, The NeverEnding Story
Did any of these movies also traumatize you as a child? Are there any others that terrified you so much that you'll never be able to watch them again? Share your picks in the comments!
Note: Responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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