Back in the day, I was essentially scared of pretty much everything [1]. You couldn't even pay me to watch a horror movie. When I was growing up, horror films were all about the shock value you could get from gore and just reading about the antics in Saw had me set on the idea that I'd never be a horror fan. Then one day, I stumbled across The Shining [2]on TV and I realised horror didn't have to scar you for life and there was a lot of fun in a good scare. Horror movies that are light on gore and take a more psychological route [3] to a scare will stick with you but not leave you trembling in fear. If you're interested in checking out the horror genre [4], keep reading to see some of the best horror movies for beginners.
Psycho (1960)
Secretary Marion Crane is on the run after stealing $40,000 from her employer. As she travels the backroads, she comes across the Bates Motel run by the high-strung and secretive Norman Bates. A classic horror film, the suspense will keep you hooked until the very end. In comparison to recent horror movies, it's light on gore so you won't get queasy while watching.
Watch Psycho on Peacock [6].
Jaws (1975)
After a young woman is killed by a shark while skinny-dipping, police chief Martin Brody wants to close the beaches. The mayor goes against his wishes and keeps them open while ichthyologist Matt Hooper and ship captain Quint offer to help Brody kill the shark. The iconic theme song signals when danger is about to go down in case you'd like to avert your eyes. It'll probably make you rethink whether you'd like to go into the water but it won't keep you up at night.
Watch Jaws on HBO Max [7].
Halloween (1978)
15 years after he murdered his sister, Michael Myers escapes the Smith's Grove Sanitarium and returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, IL. High school student Laurie Strode catches his attention and she must survive Halloween [8] or else she'll become his next victim. While Michael Myers is terrifying as an antagonist, it's helpful to remember that his mask his actual just the painted face of William Shatner's Captain Kirk. It also helps that most of the "scary" parts of the film happen in darkness so you can hardly see what's going on.
Watch Halloween on Shudder [9].
The Shining (1980)
Based on Stephen King's 1977 novel of the same name, The Shining follows Jack Torrance as he becomes caretaker of the haunted Overlook hotel. As Jack begins to lose his mind, his son Danny struggles with psychic visions of the hotel and the threat his father is becoming. Although there are grotesque images, like the decrepit lady in room 237 and the lift full of blood, the scares are more psychological than anything else.
Watch The Shining on Amazon Prime Video [10].
Child's Play (1988)
Murderer Charles Lee uses his dying breath to transfer his soul into a doll named Chucky via black magic. As Chucky, he's given as a gift to a boy named Andy, who realises he's alive after Chucky kills Andy's babysitter. Andy tries to warn people of Chucky's intentions while the doll hunts Andy down to make him his next victim. The voice of Chucky, Brad Dourif, really sells the doll's cheeky attitude. Plus, the film was made in the '80s, so the effects aren't as cutting-edge as they were when the film first premiered (aka you can tell the doll is a puppet).
Watch Child's Play on Amazon Prime Video [11].
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Adapted from Thomas Harris's 1988 novel of the same name, The Silence of the Lambs follows FBI agent Clarice Starling as she tracks down serial killer Buffalo Bill. With the help of the psychopathic psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter, she has the tools she needs to hunt Bill down without being his next victim. Not quite as gory as the TV series Hannibal, it's still full of scares as well as iconic lines like, "It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again."
Watch The Silence of the Lambs on Netflix [12].
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Considered M. Night Shyamalan's best twist, The Sixth Sense is far more chilling than it is scary. Cole Sear sees dead people, and only his psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe knows. While Dr. Crowe tries to find the truth behind Cole's abilities, he avoids a glaring truth about his own life.
Watch The Sixth Sense on Amazon Prime Video [13].
The Conjuring (2013)
There are a number of jump scares in this film, so this may be a movie to check out once you feel you can handle them. In 1970, paranormal investigators and demonologists Lorraine and Ed Warren visit the secluded Perron home. While things seem somewhat innocent at first, the supernatural manifestations escalate as the Warrens investigate the house's history.
Watch The Conjuring on Amazon Prime Video [14].
Get Out (2017)
Jordan Peele [15]'s directorial debut is a thought-provoking take on racism through the horror lens. When Chris is brought home to meet his girlfriend's parents, things are awkward at first as they escalate through a number of disturbing discoveries. This leads him to a truth he could never have foreseen. Not only will its twists and turns keep you wondering where the story is headed, it also makes you think about the state of the world today.
Watch Get Out on Amazon Prime Video [16].
Us (2019)
The remix of "I Got 5 on It" will be stuck in your head for days after watching the film. Us centres on Adelaide Wilson as she returns with her family to the beach house she grew up in. Haunted by the traumatic events of her past, Adelaide does what she can to keep her family safe from the growing threat of "the Tethered." Lupita Nyong'o's performance alone is worth the watch plus it has a mix of horror genres present so you can get a feel for what other horror movies you may like from it.
Watch Us on HBO Max [17].