It’s safe to say a lot of people do not like horror. It’s understandable: when most people watch a movie, they want to be entertained in less nerve-wracking ways. They want to laugh, cry, or be wowed by how visually stunning movies can be. Horror, on the other hand, is a bit of an acquired taste. To voluntarily sit down and be scared senseless takes courage. Indeed, you have to be willing to subject yourself to nights of looking under the bed and double-checking the locks.
However, suppose one wanted to give scary movies a try. Here are eight films for anyone wanting to get into horror. They’re some of the best and most welcoming that the blood-chilling film type has to offer. Know that these films are not ordered based on quality, but intensity, starting from most tame to most terrifying. Think of this as a choose-your-own-adventure scenario.
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8 Gremlins
Warner Bros.
As an early Christmas gift, Billy’s dad gifts him a Mogwai, a strange otherworldly creature he found at a Chinese pawn shop. The creature’s name is Gizmo, and he’s left with only three rules to follow for its care. But as one would expect, all the rules are broken, and duplicates spurt from Gizmo’s back and continue to multiply before eventually evolving into horrible goblin-like creatures, leaving Billy to dispose of them before they can destroy his whole town. Gremlins is the perfect monster movie. The titular creatures are horrifying to look at and deliver some scary scenes, but they are more mischievous than they are murderous. This film can be seen as a scary movie for kids as it blends both scares and humor seamlessly, making for a fun and startling ride at times. It’s a fun balance that the whole family can enjoy. It’s also a huge recommendation even for anyone not looking to try horror films, as it’s too much fun to pass up.
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7 Arachnophobia
Amblin Entertainment
Perhaps this film should be excluded for anyone who has this phobia themselves. If not, then it’ll be sufficient to make your skin crawl. Arachnophobia is perhaps the mildest film on this list for its lighter tones and recurring silliness. Perhaps director Frank Marshall created this as such for non-horror fans to feel comfortable watching as it may also be the least scary film here as well. Arachnophobia sees a physician and his family relocate from San Francisco to a rural California town for a new job, but soon finds more than he bargained for when a large spider from an undiscovered Venezuelan breed begins hatching thousands of babies, which quickly plague the town. Despite the film’s lighthearted nature, it’s still classified as horror for the sheer levels of discomfort throughout. Who wouldn’t feel just a little itchier or watching large arachnids preparing to crawl up someone’s leg?
6 The Amityville Horror
Photo Credit - Cinema 77, Professional Films, Inc.
The Amityville Horror is based on the real-life murders by Ronald DeFeo Jr., who killed his entire family when he allegedly heard their voices in his head plotting to kill him. The story starts a month after the horrific crime and follows the Lutz family after having moved into the house and expands on the tragedy as we watch George Lutz fall under the same influence as Ronald. Over time, he becomes more hostile and withdrawn from his wife and kids as he falls deeper under the influence of the house. Despite being critically panned, this film is beloved by fans for its eerie tone and tension-building. Its characters are likable, making it easy to wish for their well-being. Its subtlety in handling the supernatural elements does not go overboard either, making for a gradual and almost organically rising feeling of dread, leading to a climax that leaves the viewer guessing whether the entire family will make it out alive.
5 Jaws
Photo Credit - Zanuck/Brown Company, Universal Pictures
Here we have the film that made beachgoers afraid to go in the water. A horror film must be truly spectacular to gain the Roger Ebert seal of approval, and this Spielberg classic from the 70s did just that. Jaws does what no other daylight horror has been able to do since by instilling a sense of dread in a place brimming with people. Not only that, but it shines with well-rounded characters that struggle to end a murderous spree by the ocean’s deadliest predator. What helps to make the shark so menacing is the fact that it goes most of the picture without being seen. No one knows how big it is or where it will strike. While not an intentional decision on Spielberg’s part, it effectively elevated the suspense and sense of impending doom. No one knows where it is, but when that iconic score plays, the viewer knows death is closing in. Like Halloween, Jaws is a masterclass in horror, but on a whole other level that is often imitated but never duplicated.
4 The Exorcist
You can’t talk about horror without bringing up The Exorcist. This movie revolves around the possession of an actress’ daughter after she finds herself inhabited by a malevolent and violent entity. At the time of its release, it was seen as absolutely visceral. Moviegoers were said to have been so terrified in theaters that many were rumored to have suffered adverse effects such as fainting and vomiting. Some were even said to have suffered heart attacks and miscarriages. While the film is largely outdated by today’s standards, its use of practical effects and eerie atmosphere have served as inspiration for generations of filmmakers in the decades following. It’s pretty tame but sufficient to continue making viewers feel uneasy as the demon named Pazuzu grows in power at the expense of an innocent child.
3 Psycho
Shamley Productions
Newbies will likely find their way to the slasher subgenre as their horror adventure continues. There are plenty of great serial killer flicks out there, but the original slasher is a can’t miss. Directed by the master of suspense himself, Alfred Hitchcock, this film is a tense affair from beginning to end. The director sold this film to theaters without giving anything away. No one knew what to expect, and the sense of dread felt throughout keeps viewers looking around every corner for an attack or scare of some kind. Despite being over 60 years old, Psycho holds up to this day. The mostly bloodless and non-gory deaths make it a perfect starting point for the squeamish as the film rides on tension for most of the journey, a trait most horror films lack these days.
2 Halloween
Photo Credit - Compass International Pictures, Falcon International Productions
While Psycho may be the original slasher, Halloween (1978) is the greatest, setting the stage for all others that came after it. Witness the debut of one of horror’s most iconic villains, who took center stage in a way that was never duplicated. After escaping from Smith Grove Sanitarium, Michael Myers makes his way back to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, where he sets to work haunting unsuspecting babysitters on Halloween night. Halloween is grounded in reality in that the events that transpire feel as if they could happen to us. John Carpenter’s masterful use of ambiance, lighting, and a handful of well-placed jump scares blend to make for a chilling journey from beginning to end. The tension never lets up as we watch Michael stalk his victims through his own eyes in this mild yet timeless masterpiece.
1 The Grudge
Photo Credit - Columbia Pictures, Ghost House Pictures
Set in Japan, The Grudge follows multiple characters who find themselves haunted by a murderous presence after stepping foot inside a house where a horrific tragedy occurred. The curse that befalls them was born when a wife and son died in extreme sorrow and rage. It’ll consume anyone who comes into contact with it, and it’ll never stop. The film can be a bit confusing for some to follow at first as it tracks the curse’s victims in a non-linear order, but by the end, they all coalesce into one intersecting plot. While largely bloodless, The Grudge may still be an intense film for some. It breaks typical horror conventions of a spirit simply haunting victims by outright killing them, sometimes brutally. Not only that, but it can appear in any place at any time, putting its targets in constant danger. Despite this, the kills are never seen on screen. The unpredictable nature of the curse makes for some great scares without trying too hard and leads the tension to go from 0 to 100 at a moment’s notice, making for a thoroughly chilling experience.
