Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Halloween puppy movie might be too scary for youngest kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Spooky Buddies
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 21 parent reviews
Parents say that while some found this film to be a surprising addition to the series with decent production quality, the overwhelming sentiment is that it is far too dark and scary for young children, featuring intense scenes, themes of violence, and supernatural elements that lead to disturbed reactions from kids. Many reviews caution against its appropriateness for younger audiences, suggesting it should probably be rated PG instead of G due to its horror aspects and the fear it incites in children.
- too scary
- dark themes
- inappropriate for kids
- mixed reviews
- not suitable for young children
- genre concerns
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 21 kid reviews
What's the Story?
Seventy-five years have passed since the legendary Warwick Warlock (Harland Williams) and his partner-in-crime, The Halloween Hound, were foiled in their quest for ultimate power over the town of Fernfield. Now on this Halloween night, when the moon is full and the town is chock-full of holiday costumes and shenanigans, the villains return from the past. They need Warwick's special magic wand, his book of spells, and the souls of five puppies to cast their magic spell and finally accomplish their evil plan. But young Billy (Skyler Gisondo), his friends, and their adorable puppy buddies -- along with a mysterious grave-digger (Rance Howard) -- are determined to foil the Warlock and the Hound once again.
Is It Any Good?
Scarier than the previous "Buddy" movies, this Halloween-themed story of mayhem and black magic may prove to be fun for die-hard fans of the puppies. (It should be noted that the cute pups have smaller roles than the human children in this installment.)
But overall, this mildly entertaining, nonsensical tale with cheesy effects and amateurish, over-the-top performances by almost everyone has little sincerity and even less charm and humor. What's more, the film's inclusion of supernatural Halloween lore (ghosts, haunted houses, monsters, fierce animals, spells, etc.) may be frightening for very young or sensitive kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the differences between make-believe violence and real violence. What are some of the ways you can tell what's real and what isn't? What effects do movies use to make things scary? What real things frighten you?
Talk about the choices the characters make. Have you ever had to choose between obeying someone and doing what you know is right?
Billy and his friends didn't get any help from their teacher or parents. Is this realistic? Who will listen to you and pay attention when you have a problem?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : September 20, 2011
- Cast : Harland Williams , Rance Howard , Skyler Gisondo
- Director : Robert Vince
- Studio : Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Holidays
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : Nada que pueda ofender a los padres para ser visto por los niños.
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate