A Beginner’s Guide to Horror Movies

You’re on a date, your partner offers to stay in and order delivery and watch a movie. They know you’re into horror and want to try and give the genre a chance even tho they’re big cowards, but they trust you’ll make the right decision. So where do you start? This list is to help those who deem themselves scaredy-cats to ease their way into the genre while still getting some thrill in the process.

Jeepers Creepers

Victor Salva, 2001

Cast: Justin Long, Gina Philips, Jonathan Breck, Patricia Belcher

Though surrounded in controversy regarding his personal life, writer/director Victor Salva delivered an absolute chiller in the form of 2001's Jeepers Creepers. The depiction of the titular monster combined with some terrifying visual effects, strong performances and stylish direction make this an easier entry for newcomers while still remaining thrilling enough to put viewers on the edge of their seats. The film follows siblings Darry (Long) and Trish (Philips) as they make their way through rural Florida to get home from college to see their folks while on spring break, only to be terrorized and hunted by a demonic creature (Breck).

1408

Mikael Håfström, 2007

Cast: John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Mary McCormack, Tony Shalhoub

From vampires to evil doppelgängers, author Stephen King has covered nearly everything in his works, but one of his most revisited tales is that of the haunted hotel, which is told in powerful fashion in 2007’s 1408. Based on the short story of the same name, the film follows a paranormal-investigating author (Cusack) who gets more than he bargained for when he finds an actually haunted room. Combining an emotionally-driven character development alongside some truly chilling plot progression and a powerful performance from Cusack (one of the best in his career), this is an easy first installment for new King viewers.

The Blair Witch Project

Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sánchez, 1999

Cast: Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, Michael C. Williams

Long before Paranormal Activity began its box office reign, the found footage horror genre found its first true hit with 1999’s The Blair Witch Project. Parodied dozens of times since its release, there’s a reason it’s highly regarded in the cinematic field: it’s a work of art. Following a group of student filmmakers investigating the urban legend of the Blair Witch in the Black Hills in Maryland, the film takes a page out of Jaws’ book in terrifying its characters and audiences with the fear of the unknown, resulting in an unsettling and chilling trip through the woods.

Evil Dead II

Sam Raimi, 1987

Cast: Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks, Kassie Wesley

The horror genre is loaded with comedy blends, and while most lean towards the laughs than the terror, Sam Raimi’s 1987 sequel Evil Dead II still remains one of the kings of the lot. Acting as both a remake and follow-up to its 1981 predecessor, the film sees Bruce Campbell’s Ash continue his fight against the Deadites in the infamous cabin in the woods. Combining Campbell’s slapstick-yet-badass tour de force performance with Raimi’s delirious direction and creepy practical effects, this is one of the best blends of horror and comedy for newcomers, introducing them to the possibility of watching the rest of the franchise.

Darkness Falls

Jonathan Liebesman, 2003

Cast: Chaney Kley, Emma Caulfield, Lee Cormie, John Stanton, Sullivan Stapleton

Alright, let me be honest, this is by no means a good movie. However, as a kid, this was one of the scariest movies I’d ever seen. Taking the bright concept of the tooth fairy and turning her into a force of terror that hunts in the darkness and wears a porcelain mask made of victims’ teeth, it was a film rife with potential, and while it doesn’t reach the terrifying heights it should due to a lackluster script and unintentional hilarity, it’s a great watch for early horror viewers thanks to some chilling special effects and an eerie atmosphere.

Final Destination

James Wong, 2000

Cast: Devon Sawa, Ali Larter, Seann William Scott, Kerr Smith, Tony Todd

We’ve all wondered what it would be like to play a game of chess with Death to live, but what if you didn’t even know the game had already begun? That’s the question the debut installment of the Final Destination franchise poses as high schooler Alex (Sawa) and a group of his peers find themselves hunted by Death after escaping an explosive plane accident thanks to a premonition. Taking seemingly normal accidents and using them to kill the group one by one, this is a terrifying exploration of cheating Death and the consequences that could follow.

Ouija

Stiles White, 2014

• Cast: Olivia Cooke, Ana Coto, Daren Kagasoff, Douglas Smith

Welp, time for another stinker, the opening installment of the Ouija franchise is a prime example of wasted potential that would thankfully see a much more terrifying outing in its follow-up (see Intermediate Vol. 2). However, that being said, there are enough chilling moments and an effective jump scare or two here to make this a worthwhile outing for the still fresh viewers. The film follows Laine (Cooke) and her friends as they use an old Ouija board to learn more about the death of their friend, only to open a gateway for more sinister forces to terrorize them.

Scream

Wes Craven, 1996

• Cast: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courtney Cox, Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lillard

When discussing horror, one would be remiss not to include Wes Craven, but before I present his more terrifying tales, I present you, humble reader, with Scream. The film follows a group of horror-movie-living teens as they are stalked and killed by a masked madman. Acting as both a meta commentary on the slasher genre, poking fun at his and his fellow filmmakers’ past projects, and a thrilling exercise of the same field, the writer/director masterfully blends the humor with a few major twists and shocks throughout, resulting in one of the most fun and exhilarating slashers in history.

Mirrors

Alexandre Aja, 2008

• Cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Paula Patton, Amy Smart, Cameron Boyce

Save for 2002’s Phone Booth and 2009’s Monsters vs. Aliens, Kiefer Sutherland has not had a film career to write home about post 2000, and though this one took a lashing from most, there’s some good to be found here. Following an ex-cop (Sutherland) as he takes a security job at an old warehouse store and is hunted by a malevolent force living in mirrors, the story doesn’t play out so fresh and the performances are hit or miss, but thanks to some creepy special effects and a chilling atmosphere, this one can certainly be a challenge to both newcomers and those of the queasy persuasion.

Fright Night

Tom Holland, 1985

• Cast: Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Roddy McDowall, Amanda Bearse

Over a decade before Craven began exploring his meta side, writer Tom Holland (no, not THAT Tom Holland) decided to try his hand at directing with the hilarious, chilling and smart exercise in horror comedy. Charley Brewster (Ragsdale) is a horror-obsessed teen who enlists the help of TV host Peter Vincent (McDowall) to kill his neighbor when no one will believe that he is a vampire. Poking fun at some of the genre’s classic tropes while spinning a few of them on their head, Fright Night is a dark, funny and spine-tingling treat.