Nostalgia from the 1980s and old horror films are the inspiration behind a new comedy horror film for children.

Richard Johnstone, 46, a filmmaker from Carlisle, has launched a month-long kickstarter campaign to raise £45,000 for his second feature film, Kids vs Halloween.

Inspired by classic films including The Goonies, Monster Squad and modern films such as Goosebumps, it follows a Stranger Things-esque plot, where a group of children fight to save Whitley Bay after a group of horror characters from trading cards come to life on Halloween.

However, the hit Netflix TV show isn’t where Richard got the inspiration for the film; his son enjoys playing with trading cards - Pokemon, football, retro and horror.

“We contacted the makers of the horror trading cards and said ‘can we use these in the film... and can we have a licence to use the rights of the names of the monster characters coming alive?’,” explained Richard, who now lives in Whitley Bay.

“Things like the Executioner, and the Risen Dead which are zombies.”

The company agreed, and the film concept moved forward.

Crowdfunding is becoming an increasingly popular way for independent film-makers to bring their ideas to life as grants from film councils and the government are hard to come by these days.

“Over the years it just gets harder and harder to get the grants and even established directors and production companies find it hard to get the money,” Richard said.

“When these established directors are struggle to get financed, what chance do we have?”

It also allows film-makers to retain a certain degree of control over their ideas - and over who they can cast.

“We’ve got dozens and dozens of children from the local schools who are going to be in the film,” he continued.

“It’s very hard for child actors to get parts in anything, especially a feature film.”

Since a lot of iconic horror films from this time period are set in small towns, the location was an easy decision to make.

“Whitley Bay is a small town and it’s got some really nice locations like the Spanish City Dome and the lighthouse, and the promenade,” he said.

“I thought wouldn’t it be great to do an 80s-themed children’s comedy horror.”

There are rewards and incentives for those who donate money towards the film - copies of the film, signed merchandise, even cameos. For more details or to donate, visit www.kickstarter.com/projects/kvh/kids-vs-halloween