There is no more terrifying trope in a horror movie than a family at risk. From ghostly hauntings and vicious killers to terrifying monsters, and in films such as Steven Spielberg's Jaws, TV's Dark Shadows, and 1979's The Amityville Horror, there is nothing more horrible than a family in peril.
And sometimes it is the family itself that is the root of the terror, as the evil force of the piece. Whether in peril or as the aggressors, some of the best families in horror films leave a lasting cinematic impression.
The Merrye Family - Spider Baby (1967)
Lon Chaney Jr. stars as the caretaker of a twisted family of demented and dangerous siblings. All who encounter this macabre bunch, and those who shun the daughter's infatuations, meet a most gruesome fate.
A cult classic amongst genre fans, this film was ignored on its initial release but found a following when it hit VHS in the 1990s and it has since grown into one of the most respected horror film oddities.
The Wilson Family - Us (2019)
In Jordan Peele's hit sociological allegory horror film Us, the Wilson family comes under attack by another family that appears to be their doppelgangers. What follows is an ever-escalating terror that threatens the entire world.
Lupita Nyong'o anchors the tale as the mother and her "other," giving an award-worthy performance. Through incredible strength of character, The Wilsons band together to fight a terror that they do not understand, only to reveal one of the most horrifying twists in modern horror history.
The Joneses - Coraline (2009)
Dakota Fanning gives voice to the lead character in Henry Selik's creepy, stop-motion classic, Coraline. The film tells the tale of an 11-year-old girl who finds a secret world that is, at first, enchanting, but one that holds something much darker.
Coraline's mom and dad are sweet and good people, but a secret and sinister world threatens to destroy their happy family, turning the comfort of one's mother into something dangerous and potentially deadly and one of the most frightening monsters ever experienced in an animated film.
The Deetz Family - Beetlejuice (1988)
In Tim Burton's wickedly funny and completely unique Beetlejuice, Michael Keaton's titular character comically terrorizes The Deetz family in what becomes a macabre and cartoon-like world of goofy madness.
Jeffery Jones, Catherine O'Hara, and Winona Rider play The Deetz family, each giving a well-received performance that complements the film's bizarre tone.
The Freelings - Poltergeist (1982)
"They're here!" is one of the most recognized lines in all of horror cinema and Carol Anne Freeling is one of the great horror film characters. In Tobe Hooper's Poltergeist, The Freeling family is haunted by ghosts who take young Carol Anne into their spirit world.
Craig T. Nelson plays the father, while Jobeth Williams plays one of the most determined mothers in horror history, as she stops at nothing to save their young daughter from the grip of vengeful spirits.
The Sawyer Family - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1 & 2 (1974 / 1986)
In 1974, Tobe Hooper unleashed The Sawyer family in his visceral horror masterpiece, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The father led his insane clan of Hillbilly cannibals as they dug up corpses and murdered innocent people to get meat for their BBQ business. The family was joined by their ancient Grandpa and long-dead grandmother, but it was the two sons, "The Hitchhiker" and "Leatherface," who became horror film icons.
Leatherface is one of the most recognized of all horror film maniacs with his mask made of human skin, bulking figure, and his murderous chainsaw. The Sawyers are one of the most feared families in horror.
The Firefly Clan - House of 1000 Corpses / The Devil's Rejects / 3 From Hell (2003 / 2005 / 2019)
Rob Zombie created modern horror film icons with The Firefly Clan. Led by Momma Firefly, this murderous and satanic family terrorized the Southwest over the course of three films. Sid Haig is the father, "Captain Spaulding," and his demented offspring - "Baby," "Otis," and Tiny - round out the clan.
After Tiny dies in the first film and Mother Firefly gets arrested, Spaulding, Otis, and Baby tear a bloody path through the land, leaving corpses and mayhem in their path. Thanks to the devil-may-care performances of Haig, Bill Mosely, and Sheri Moon Zombie, The Firefly Clan is one of the most popular of all horror film families.
The Torrance's - The Shining (1980)
Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's The Shining holds what is perhaps the most terrorized family in horror film history. The Torrance family endures a terrifying winter in the Overlook Hotel - a snowbound terror that houses murderous ghosts who seek to destroy the family who has come to watch over the hotel until the Spring season when it reopens.
Jack Nicholson, Shelly Duvall, and Danny Lloyd play Jack, Wendy, and Danny. Young Danny has been through some kind of family trauma, while Wendy and Jack's relationship can be described as shaky, due to Jack's troubles with alcoholism and a tendency towards the abusive. When the ghosts take over Jack's reality and begin to come for Danny, Wendy must conquer her fears and fight to save her young son. The dichotomy of the ghostly hauntings with the fact that the Torrance family doesn't have a strong bond adds to the horrors, both real and psychological.
The Addams - The Addams Family (1964 - 1966)
One of the most popular television shows of its time, The Addams Family gave the world Gomez, Morticia, creepy and dark prankster Wednesday, Pugsly, and Uncle Fester Addams, a spookily comical horror television family. John Astin and Carolyn Jones were the patriarchs and while the situations and their lifestyles were definitely macabre, The Addams family was a close and loving clan who meant no harm.
The show was a big hit and spawned a 70s cartoon series, two popular cinematic incarnations in the 90s, and a recent animated film that featured Oscar Issac as Gomez and Charlize Theron as Morticia.
The Munsters - The Munsters (1964 - 1966)
Along with The Addams Family, The Munsters was the reigning horror-comedy show on television in the mid-1960s. The Munsters was a loving family who just wanted to fit into society and live normal lives. They just happen to be monsters and ghouls. Fred Gwynne and Yvonne DeCarlo were perfectly cast as Herman and Lily Munster, while Al lewis made an iconic character out of his hilarious incarnation of Grandpa. Along with son Eddie and daughter Marilyn (who is the only non-monster of the family), great comedic situations are found in every episode.
The Munsters are an abnormal family trying to navigate a normal world. What makes them so special is their inherent sweetness and real respect for one another. It was the closeness of their family unit that helped make the characters and the show so special, endearing it to comedy and horror fans alike.