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Gen Xers, born between 1965 and 1980, grew up in an era marked by a lack of constant adult supervision. Their childhoods were characterized by muddy bike rides, risky games in abandoned construction sites, adventures in the woods, and solo junk meals. Despite their parents caring for them, the norm was to let them toughen up on their own.
During this time, as they entered adulthood, the Internet age began, but their formative years were filled with exposure to series and movies featuring violent, scary, tear-jerking, or sexual content. These impressionable and free-spirited children often lacked the sensitivity, inclusion, and safe content seen in today’s carefully curated releases, both animated and live-action, targeting their demographic.
The eclectic selection of shows and movies from the 1970s and 1980s had a profound impact, haunting young viewers for years. The lack of today’s standards for sensitivity and inclusivity contributed to experiences that were often creepy, saddening, or shocking, potentially leaving lasting scars on the Gen Xers.
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15 Movies and Shows That Traumatized Gen X Kids
Lidsville (1971-1973)
Lidsville, an ABC show, features performers either in elaborate makeup or mascot costumes. The storyline revolves around a boy named Mark, played by Butch Patrick, who accidentally falls into the hat of Merlo the Magician, portrayed by Charles Nelson Reilly. This transports him to a peculiar land inhabited by living hats, with hat-shaped houses.
The unsettling nature of the show arises from the fact that these eerie hats not only talk but also reside in hat-shaped homes. Charles Nelson Reilly also plays the antagonist, Horatio J. HooDoo, another magician who terrorizes the hat people, using beams on them if they fail to pay his imposed tax. Regular characters include Mr. Skull, a mounted alligator head, and a sawed-in-half lady. Despite Mark’s efforts, he struggles to return home.
The show’s overall atmosphere is trippy and disconcerting. Additionally, the title itself suggests a connection to drug use, as “lid” was a slang term for “an ounce of cannabis” in the early ’70s.
The Trap Door (1984)
The conclusion of the British animated dark fantasy series “The Trap Door” warns of unsettling creatures residing in a castle’s mysterious caverns. Key characters include Berk, a blue oviform creature, the large spider-like Drutt, and the disembodied skull named Boni. The unseen and perpetually shouting ruler, The Thing Upstairs, possesses three eyes and three humps. Among the creatures is The Splund, a round monster with teleportation abilities that poses a threat to the protagonists. The show’s eerie atmosphere is heightened by the creepy, crawly, and slimy creatures described in the outro, emphasizing the unsettling nature of what lies beyond the trap door.
Land of the Lost (1974-1977)
The TV show “Land of the Lost” features the Marshall family stuck in an alternate universe with dinosaurs, Pakuni people, and hostile Sleestak creatures. The presence of mysterious portals adds an element of danger as unexpected visitors arrive. Despite the frightening elements, children in the ’70s avidly watched the show, fostering an early interest in science fiction.
The Brave Little Toaster (1987)
The indie animated musical film “The Brave Little Toaster,” directed by Jerry Rees and based on the novella of the same name, revolves around a group of vintage anthropomorphic household appliances: a toaster, lamp stand, blanket, radio, and vacuum cleaner. Guided by the toaster, they embark on a journey to locate their owner, Rob, who used to visit their cottage during his childhood.
The film explores themes of loneliness, the fear of abandonment, and yearning, receiving positive reviews and generating two sequels. However, the appliances’ adventures are notably distressing, including a frightening night in the forest, a storm causing the blanket to get stuck in a tree, falling into a murky river and quicksand, and being picked up by a store owner with intentions of disassembling the radio.
Adding to the emotional intensity, upon reaching Rob’s apartment, they face rejection from his new, technologically advanced counterparts who discard them into a dumpster. The climax unfolds as the appliances are on the brink of destruction in a junkyard crusher, only to be saved by Rob, who is now heading off to college. In essence, the movie provides a deeply emotional and harrowing experience for viewers.
The Plague Dogs (1982)
Adapted from Richard Adams’ novel of the same name, “The Plague Dogs” is an animated adventure drama written, directed, and produced by Martin Rosen. The story revolves around two dogs, Rowf and Snitter, who manage to escape a brutal animal research facility in England. The U.S. version of the film is 17 minutes shorter, edited to tone down some of its most shocking scenes.
The unsettling nature of the movie arises from the horrifying experiences the dogs endure at the research facility. Snitter undergoes experimental brain surgery, while Rowf is repeatedly drowned and revived. They narrowly escape death in an incinerator, only to face further challenges in the wild. The grim journey includes an accidental killing by Snitter with a shotgun. As hunger and exhaustion take their toll, the duo is relentlessly pursued by their captors and armed troops.
Their lone ally is Tod, a morally ambiguous fox, who ultimately sacrifices himself to help them escape on a train. The film concludes on a foggy island, leaving viewers uncertain if it’s a genuine happy ending. The overall narrative leaves a lingering sense of distress for the audience.
The NeverEnding Story (1984)
Wolfgang Petersen’s fantasy drama, “The NeverEnding Story,” centers around a lonely boy named Bastian who discovers a magical book about the troubled land of Fantasia. The realm is plagued by The Nothing, and its ruler, the Childlike Empress, is ailing. Atreyu, her champion, embarks on a quest to save their world.
One particularly haunting scene ingrained in the memories of Gen Xers is the moment when Atreyu’s cherished horse, Artax, tragically sinks into the Swamp of Sadness despite the desperate attempts of a grieving Atreyu. Only the intervention of the dragon Falkor prevents Atreyu from sharing the same fate.
The film’s unsettling elements extend to Rockbiter’s sense of despair as he awaits the encroachment of The Nothing, and Bastian’s personal struggles, including bullying and isolation, as he grapples with the loss of his mother.
Return to Oz (1985)
“Return to Oz,” directed by Walter Murch, serves as a dark sequel to the beloved “The Wizard of Oz.” The film features Fairuza Balk as Dorothy Gale, Nicol Williamson as Dr. J. B. Worley/Nome King, Piper Laurie as Aunt Em, Matt Clark as Uncle Henry, Justin Case as the Scarecrow, and Jean Marsh as Nurse Wilson/Mombi.
The unsettling nature of the film arises from Dorothy’s perceived obsession with Oz, leading her guardians Em and Henry to commit her to a mental institution out of concern for her mental state. Just as Dorothy is on the brink of undergoing electroshock therapy, she is rescued by a mysterious girl, finding herself back in the fantastical land of Oz. However, Oz is now in ruins and under the rule of a headless princess who controls a collection of disembodied heads. Additionally, Dorothy encounters Jack Pumpkinhead, a disturbing creature who was separated from his mother and pleads with Dorothy to reconstruct him. These eerie and nightmarish elements contribute to the unsettling atmosphere of “Return to Oz.”
The Little Mermaid (1975)
The 1975 Toei adaptation of The Little Mermaid directed by Tomoharu Katsumata is remembered by Gen X anime enthusiasts for its haunting soundtrack and particularly disturbing ending. In this rendition, the protagonist, Marina the Mermaid, is heartbroken to witness the prince marrying another princess who bears raven-black hair, failing to recognize her as the one who once saved him from drowning.
The unsettling nature of the conclusion lies in Marina’s dilemma. Faced with the painful reality that the prince has chosen another, she must make a dire decision. One option involves stabbing the prince in the heart and bathing her feet in his blood to revert to her original mermaid state. The other option is equally grim – she can become sea foam. After a tearful internal struggle, Marina chooses the latter fate and tragically throws herself into the ocean.
Her reasoning adds an extra layer of melancholy to the ending, expressing that only through her death can she maintain the purity of her love for the prince. Marina desires to be with him and remain in his presence, even if it means existing only as clear, fine sea foam. This choice adds a profound and somber dimension to the classic fairy tale narrative, making it a memorable and emotionally impactful adaptation for those who experienced it during their Gen X childhood.
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X-Bomber (1980-1981)
X-Bomber, also known as Star Fleet, is a Japanese marionette science-fiction and fantasy series created by manga artist Go Nagai. Originally airing on Fuji TV in 1980 and 1981, it was later dubbed in English and French for international audiences. The narrative unfolds in the year 2999, revolving around the crew of the formidable spacecraft X-Bomber, a project of the Earth Defense Force.
What sets the series apart is its unsettling elements, particularly embodied in the main antagonist, Commander Makara, also known as Bloody Mary and voiced in English by Denise Bryer. Makara is the ruthless right hand of an alien overlord, characterized by her loud, psychotic, and sadistic nature. Her horrifying appearance, featuring crimson hair, three red eyes, a multi-horned helmet, and a biomechanical right arm, instilled fear in children and contributed to many nightmares.
The Secret of NIMH (1982)
The animated fantasy adventure film “The Secret of NIMH,” directed by Don Bluth and based on Robert C. O’Brien’s novel, “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH,” is known for its disturbing elements. Voiced by Elizabeth Hartman, Peter Strauss, Arthur Malet, and John Carradine, the movie revolves around a widow mouse seeking help from a rat colony to save her ailing son.
What adds to its unsettling nature is the portrayal of a struggling widow with three children, off-putting anthropomorphic rodents, a menacing owl with glowing eyes and a rotating head, and the depiction of animals undergoing torture and experiments at the hands of the National Institute of Mental Health. The film instills a sense of dread in young viewers, stemming from the dark magic and violent conflicts between rat factions.
The Boy from Space (1971/1980)
“The Boy from Space,” a captivating science-fiction drama that originally aired on BBC in 1971 and later re-released in 1980 with additional segments in color, revolves around siblings Dan and Helen, who shield the white-haired alien boy Peep-Peep from the menacing Thin Space-Man, portrayed by John Woodnutt.
What adds to the show’s unsettling nature is the eerie presence of Peep-Peep and the nightmarish quality of the Thin Space-Man. One viewer, reminiscing about watching the show at the age of eight, shared on his blog, “The Thin Man haunted my nightmares for WEEKS. When I went to sleep, I would have to clear a path from the bed to the door. He spoke by just holding his mouth open, and sounds not of this earth would fall out. Also, he walked in slow motion. Why would you do that to a child?”
Children of the Stones (1977)
Children of the Stones, directed by Peter Graham Scott and featuring Iain Cuthbertson, Veronica Strong, and Gareth Thomas, is a captivating blend of fantasy, horror, and drama. The series follows scientist Adam Brake and his psychic son Matthew as they discover the village of Milbury under the influence of astronomer Rafael Hendrick, who exerts mental and spiritual control.
What adds to the unsettling nature of the show are the eerie elements such as a village encircled by potent stones, time loops, enigmatic deaths, mind control through a beam of light, the presence of an ancient Druid priest, memory loss, and the prominence of a serpent pattern.
Watership Down (1978)
The British animated film “Watership Down,” based on Richard Adams’ novel of the same name, has gained a significant cult following. The movie, featuring the voices of John Hurt, Richard Briers, and Harry Andrews, is notable for the inclusion of Art Garfunkel’s hit song “Bright Eyes.” The storyline revolves around a colony of rabbits facing the destruction of their habitat by human developers. In order to find a safer settlement, the rabbits embark on a perilous journey filled with predators.
What contributes to the film’s disturbing nature is its portrayal of violence and distressing scenes. Parents had voiced concerns to the British Board of Film Classification for decades, leading to a change in its rating to PG in 2022. The film is known for its realistic depiction, gripping pace, and theme of survival. While some parents and critics praised it for addressing issues of injustice and environmental disasters, others argued that children should not be shielded from such harsh realities. The haunting quote from the film, “All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies. And when they catch you, they will kill you. But first, they must catch you,” encapsulates the ominous tone of the story.
Candy Candy (1976-1979)
Adapted from the beloved manga penned by Kyoko Mizuki and illustrated by Yumiko Igarashi, Candy Candy is a shoujo anime that revolves around a spirited and compassionate orphan girl. She finds herself adopted by a wealthy family and subsequently enrolled in a stringent boarding school.
What adds a disquieting layer to the narrative is the series’ exploration of the social isolation faced by orphaned children. Amidst moments of humor, the show delves into unsettling themes such as bullying, heartbreak, injustice, and the harsh realities of accidental deaths and the impact of war. Adding to the somber tone, the conclusion is far from a happy one, as the protagonist’s significant other opts for a different path out of pity rather than genuine connection.
Nobody’s Boy: Remi (1977-1978)
Adapted from Hector Malot’s 1878 novel “Sans Famille,” Nobody’s Boy: Remi is a period coming-of-age anime series that follows the journey of a young boy working for the mysterious Vitalis and his traveling troupe, hoping to earn enough to return to his foster mother. The narrative unfolds with tragic events, from Remi discovering he is an orphan to being sold by his foster father and learning to survive on the streets. The individuals he believes to be his real family turn out to be criminals, and he witnesses the gradual loss of both the animals in the troupe and Vitalis. After enduring 51 episodes, Remi is ultimately reunited with his biological mother, who proves to be a kind and affluent woman.
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