Still, some just aren’t interested in committing ninety-five minutes to watching bodies getting stalked, haunted, or gutted like a fish. But spooky season is here, and everyone wants to be part of the fun. So here are five horror movies that folks who don’t typically like horror movies can still enjoy.
House
Not to be confused with the William Katt movie of the same name, this Japanese film has developed somewhat of a cult following in recent years and it’s well-deserved. House tells the story of a young girl who visits her aunt’s country home with six of her friends. Spoiler: The house is haunted and her friends start getting killed off one by one. What sets it apart from other haunted house films is its use of surreal imagery and psychedelic special effects. The whole movie plays out like a dream. Scenes like a piano coming alive and eating a schoolgirl or a cat painting throwing up enough blood to flood an entire haunted mansion are hard to forget. There’s nothing else quite like it.
Frailty
Despite being slightly obscure, this film features some big names, including Bill Paxton and Matthew McConaughey. Frailty asks the terrifying question: What if God was real? It’s the story of two young brothers living in Texas. One day, their father tells them that he’s been visited by an angel and God has tasked him with destroying demons. Only the demons look just like humans. Does that mean they’re murdering ordinary people? Told with a non-linear narrative and quite a few twists and turns, Frailty is an uneasy look at the meaning of faith.
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare
Horror fans might argue that the first or third films in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise are the best entries in the series, but those bored by traditional horror are going to be more interested in the seventh installment. New Nightmare breaks the fourth wall; its story is centered around the cast and crew involved in the original films. The premise is that the Nightmare films worked to contain a very real demon and now that they have stopped being made, the demon is free and has entered the real world. Only those who let the monster out can stop it. New Nightmare is an indictment and defense of horror cinema as written and directed by one of its foremost creators, Wes Craven.
Hellraiser
Portal to hell? Check. Demented ex-lover brought back from dead? Check. Murderous evil step-mother? Check. Strong and likable female lead? Double-check. Hellraiser has it all. At its core, it’s a grotesque love story told with graphic violence and splattered body parts. It’s an inventive and demented fairy tale seen through the lens of ‘80s horror. Yes, there are some cheap jump scares and horror cliches here, but they’re far outweighed by the effectiveness and creepiness of the film. While the movie does contain tons of gore, there’s an engaging and solid story underneath. It’s the reason Hellraiser holds up in ways most ‘80s horror doesn’t.
Magic
Magic stars a young Anthony Hopkins as up-and-coming ventriloquist Corky. He has found great success with his new partner, a vulgar dummy named Fats. Suffering from mental illness and hiding from a mandatory medical exam, Corky runs away and is reunited with his former high school crush. Fats doesn’t take too kindly to this and the the bodies start piling up. Magic is a slower and more psychological take on the traditional killer doll story. After all, Fats is just an expression of Corky’s id. Right?
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