🧛🏽♀️🧟♀️👹Horror Movies for Beginners🦇💀👻
Disclaimer: This is something I'm doing for fun and because I've had people in the past ask me for suggestions for people who are interested in horror but are too scared to get into it. I'll be adding more to this list as I think of more.
Tips: For one thing, I would suggest checking doesthedogdie.com before watching any horror movie. It's a great source for triggers ahead of time. The people who contribute to it can be very helpful too, as they sometimes provide timestamps as to where in the movie the triggers take place so you can skip over them.
I would also suggest horror comedies, as they provide humor to lessen the blow of the scary stuff.
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Spooky Movies for Beginners
Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters II, Ghostbusters (2016)
Yes, I am including 2016. No, I am not ashamed to like that version. No, I will not be taking criticism. I did not include Afterlife because I have not seen it yet. That aside, I do recommend the Ghostbusters movies listed. The movies contain a balance of horror and comedy and cool science-fiction tech. They're fun, but not too scary for beginners.
Haunted Mansion (2003)
Most of the "scares" in this movie aren't really scary. If you've been to Disneyland and can ride through the attraction with no problems, you can probably get through this movie. It's geared more towards families, so if you have kids, they'll probably enjoy watching it with you. However, there is an anti-Romani slur used repeatedly throughout the movie. Also, proceed with caution if you have a fear of spiders.
Coraline (2009)
This movie is animated but contains a lot of creepy imagery. Some kids might get creeped out by it. If you like "rabbit hole" type movies that involve stumbling upon hidden and treacherous worlds, you'll probably like it. Henry Selick, the dude who made Nightmare Before Christmas, is responsible for this film adaptation.
Wendell and Wild (2022)
Another animated movie from Henry Selick with Jordan Peele. Two mischievous demons cause havoc. Peele and Kegan-Michael Key play the demons. Oh, and it's a middle finger to private prisons and the school-to-prison pipeline, so there's that. If you're too afraid to watch Get Out, Us, or Nope, but want to experience the horror magic Peele, you will probably enjoy this one.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
I'm hesitant to put this one on the list because this one does contain disturbing imagery that can be too much for a beginner. But this is a really solid movie even if the ending has already been spoiled for you. How scary the ghosts are really isn't what this movie is all about--the themes of grief and healing are really what it's about.
Gremlins (1984) and Gremlins II: A New Batch (1990)
When I was a kid, my parents thought they could scare me into behaving by saying the gremlins from these movies were going to get me. But I loved the gremlins because they were fun and I wanted to be their friends lol. If you like practical effects, you'll probably like this movie. I don't think these movies would be scary for most adults, but kids might be a little iffy with the gremlins--but Gizmo is adorable and might be able to balance out the scariness. However, there is some...questionable Asian representation typical of 80's movies. Proceed with caution.
Warm Bodies (2013)
This movie was released when the Twilight craze was at its height and I remember being shit-talk about that, but this movie is worth watching. Yes, it is about a zombie falling in love with a living human, but it really is adorable (in my opinion) and the movie is overall clever and fun. I will say that there are some parts that might be a little too much for beginners. The "bonies" might be a little too scary. However, the "scary" parts are very brief and they are not the center of the story.
Dracula (1931)
One of Universal's classics. This was probably a very terrifying movie for the time it was released, but by today's standards, I cannot describe it as scary. You'll probably laugh at the bat puppets used throughout the film. However, Bela Lugosi's timeless portrayal of Dracula is nothing short of creepy. There's a reason it's still iconic even to this day. The film, though, is not for everyone. It's just under an hour and a half but can feel very slow to those with short attention spans. Regardless, I think this is a must-watch if you're into vampires of any sort, and it is worth appreciation.
