Horror Movies for the Easily Spooked

by Corey Gray

I believe that the horror genre is the best genre. It has

such power to elicit a visceral reaction from the watcher and

completely shake them unlike any other genre. Too often

people don’t give horror a chance because they think it’s too

scary. They think that horror is all about cheap jump scares

and flat plots, but there’s so much more to a strong horror.

For anyone who wants to dip your toes into a darker

atmosphere, more high stake situations, and a little bit of

blood, but you don’t want to have to constantly cover your

eyes, here’s a list of movies that may not all be classified as

horror, but they sure all do pack a spooky punch.

1. Spring (Directed by Aaron Scott Moorhead,

Justin Benson)

If you’re just looking to dip your little toe into the

depths of horror, then this is definitely a good option

for you. This has the concept of a strong sci-fi horror,

but it was deftly woven into an atmospherically and

historically bright romance. It tells the story of an

American man looking for an escape from his life. He

ends up in Italy and sees a stunning girl in a red dress

and the rest is history. The horror aspect is the perfect

pungent relief from what would’ve been just another

romance, but it doesn’t steal the show, it enhances and

adds to the complexities of the film and provides for a

great foil to the well meaning and charmingly mundane

leading man. This is a brilliant example of a beautifully

artistic semi-horror.

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2. Misery (Directed by Rob Reiner)

This Stephen King adaptation is a wild ride of a

psychological thriller. The acting by lead Kathy Bates

creates such a strong tone of unease and despair in

the viewer without being overwhelming or feeling

contrived. It’s a rather simple plot, a writer crashes

during a snowstorm, a woman, who happens to be his

biggest fan, rescues him and nurses him back to

health. As the plot unfolds, there are definite horror

moments that would give even a horror junkie their

spook fix for the day, but it’s balanced with smart

writing and a delicately crafted tone.

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3. Jennifer’s Body (Directed by Karyn Kasuma)

This one is more in the traditional vein of teen horror.

It’s a really fun, teen hormone frenzied movie with

commendable special effects, but it’s not outright

scary. There are for sure some scenes that could give

you a jolt, but this isn’t a movie that goes for the

cheap jump scare. Also, the campy writing almost puts

up a nice wall between you and the potential spook, so

I would say this is a good start if you want to try some

campy and demonic fun.

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4. Black Swan (Directed by Darren Aronofsky)

This is another psychological thriller that will have you

dripping in delicious confusion. A gorgeously artistic

film that quickly dissolves into twisted dance between

the film and the viewer. It slowly builds for the entire

film, teasing you, and then climaxes with an unsettling

and completely quenching scene at the very end. The

meat of the film is filled with many horror aspects, and

at times, it’s satisfyingly spooky.

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5. The Witch (Directed by Robert Eggers)

This is an incredible period piece about a family

struggling to survive in Puritan Massachusetts. It’s a

slow burning, gorgeously atmospheric film and is

definitely the scariest out of this list. This is a very

confident film that does it’s best to undermine any

sense of security you may have. It really prods you to

consider who or what is the villain, or even if everyone

is a villain in their own way. A very smart and thought

provoking film that will have you spooked to just the

right degree that’ll spark that craving for more horror.




I hope this inspires you to explore the horror genre.

There are so many little nooks and crannies full of the

enticing unknown to explore. The unique tone and versatility

of horror are unparalleled. The amount of intersection within

the genre is insane, and it really makes me sad to see

people’s aversion to horror. I just want to share my love for

the spookier side of life (and death).