I have trouble finding people who will watch horror films with me. Most people I know claim that they simply do not like horror films, period. However, once we get talking, I find out that this is not entirely true. Turns out my roommate actually enjoys Shutter Island (2010), my best friend loves Gremlins (1984), my mother reveres The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and my nerdy friend is fascinated by The Witch (2015).

What they do not like are horror films with a formulaic plot, flat characters, generic jump scares, bad lighting, bad CGI, objectified female bodies and gratuitous gore. Some are also generally put off by stories about the supernatural. However, all of these elements are not inherent to the horror genre. I believe you might be missing out on a diverse, affecting, innovative and unpretentious genre and I will attempt to convince you to give it a chance.

Before I try to disperse your potential worries, I want to point out the merits of good horror films. 

Why the genre is great

Relevant topics

In general, a horror film artistically explores something unsettling: mental illness, addiction, contagion, disease, death, grief, domestic violence, stalking, home invasion, pregnancy, sexuality, puberty, aging, wild nature, outer space, artificial intelligence, technology, isolation, guilt, bullying, all kinds of abuse, war, fascism, religion, cults, class struggle, … These are rich topics that provide genuine conflict and are deeply relevant to the human experience. If a film is too on-the-nose with its meaning, it becomes lecturing and heavy, if it is too subtle, it will seem pretentious. Luckily, horror is good at being just ambiguous enough to strike that balance with hidden themes, ambiguity and dramatic human conflict. This is especially true for the 2010s trend of “elevated horror”. These were films that were stylistically close to prestige dramas with their realistic acting, natural-looking lighting, restrained style and, most importantly, relevant themes and profound message(s).

Psychoanalysis 

Part of the fun or watching horror is “decoding” it. Yes, supernatural elements are there for reasons of visual style and to drive the plot, but they also have symbolic meaning. A film about the scary aspects of pregnancy, depression or immigration does not need to be a horror film, but some messages are more poignantly communicated through the language of horror. You can choose to just enjoy the action, thrill and entertainment and you could also play the psychoanalyst interpreting a patient’s nightmares. The vampire dream? That one is really about anxieties around female lust. The one about demonic possession? About mental illness. The monster? Represents nature reclaiming its rule over us. Horror films reveal our conscious and subconscious anxieties which imbues them with relevancy. Really good horror films both reveal something about the Zeitgeist and also speak to the human experience in a way that is timeless. Horror is interesting.

Captivating style

It is not the topic that makes a film a horror film, but how it is stylistically executed. It is about atmosphere. For a film to be considered a horror film, it has to be designed to scare the audience. Even if a viewer is not scared themself, they will be aware of the film’s intended mood because of the stylistic choices the director makes. The sound design and camera angles can set the mood, put viewers in the protagonist’s shoes and make them care. Directors may use barely noticeable atonal background noises, claustrophobic camera shots or a look of pure dread on the actor’s face to create tension. For the viewer, it becomes an exercise of uncomfortable empathy. We want the protagonist to make it out unharmed, but the film rarely obliges. It is true that from an emotional perspective, horror films ask a lot of their audience, but that also makes them exciting. Horror compels our emotion and attention like no other genre.

Jump scares

A word on jump scares: Yes, they are a stylistic horror film staple. And yes, film snobs hate them because they are shallow and short lived and are sometimes used to distract from the fact that the film is otherwise lacking depth and conflict. Others dislike being startled or do not want to endure the intensity of the nervous expectation. Jump scares make a film feel like a roller coaster ride – which some people love. They create a moment when the suspense is built up and then released and can thereby work as effective punctuation for the narrative. If they are used well, they will add to the watching experience and if not, they are an empty annoyance. Ultimately, this aspect of horror cinema will remain controversial and hard to judge objectively.

Therapeutic

Another reason people enjoy horror films is that they provide an opportunity to face and process fears without ever actually being in danger which is why, ironically, many people who suffer from anxiety gravitate towards the genre. Horror films provide preexisting anxious feelings with an actual tangible object that can then be understood and overcome which gives the viewer relief. Also, the acute danger shown in horror films makes the viewer’s real-life problems feel harmless in comparison and by having experienced the anxieties of bigger problems they feel more confident and in control in everyday life. Horror helps (some!) anxious people cope.

Now that you know why I like the genre, let us talk about your potential reasons to not watch horror.

Managing fear

Disclaimer: Despite my premise here, I acknowledge that horror is not for everyone. For some anxious people, horror films are triggering and put their mental wellbeing at risk. Also, there are horror films that even I will not watch, because they have nothing to offer besides shock factor. Be reasonable and take good care of yourself. Your mental health is precious.

If your problem is that you struggle to enjoy even interesting and well-crafted horror films when they are too scary, I have some tips for you.

1. Pick a kids’ film

The easiest way to circumvent the problem is to watch children’s horror films. I recommend Hocus Pocus (1993) for Halloween, then A Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) for in between Halloween and Christmas and A Christmas Carol (2009) and/or Gremlins (1984) for during the Christmas holidays. These are timeless classics and while they might scare a child, they are generally pretty harmless. Many adults rewatch them as a holiday tradition. I also recommend Coraline (2009), Ghostbusters (1984), Labyrinth (1986) and The Haunted Mansion (2003). There is practically no downside to this approach. The first one of these that I watched as a kid was The Haunted Mansion and I am most likely to rewatch Gremlins.

2. Pick something old

Alternatively, you might want to watch old horror films. As a rule of thumb, most films before 1990 are unlikely to give you nightmares. These films are required viewing for film nerds and are still referenced beyond the context of the horror genre and even beyond film as a medium. I recommend watching Jaws (1975), The Shining (1980), Alien (1979), The Exorcist (1973), The Thing (1982), Carrie (1976) and The Fly (1986). I could not possibly pick a favorite from this list. I feel like it would have to be between The Exorcist and The Thing. While they are stylistically not as terrifying as current horror films, they are scarier than kids’ horror films, so watch the trailers beforehand. Unlike trailers nowadays, they do not give away too much and besides, I would rather you be spoiled than traumatized.

Speaking of, I have omitted Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960) and The Birds (1963) and Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby (1968), because their famous directors are known for their sexual mistreatment of women (or, in Polanski’s case, at least one child) and because their pacing is a bit slow by today’s standards. Sorry, if that ruined the mood. Go watch Jeff Goldblum turn into a gross mutant in The Fly!

3. Pick a parody

While watching films that parody the tropes and stereotypes of the horror genre is of course funniest when you know the references, it is not necessary to have watched specific films. Most tropes belong to the whole genre rather than one specific film anyway and you will recognize them when you see them. I only have two recommendations for this approach: Scary Movie (2000) and Shaun of the Dead (2004). The former is an American parody of the slasher film and the latter a British parody of the zombie film. You might also watch Scream (1996), a self-aware horror film where the characters explicitly reference horror tropes. Scream has been many people’s entry point into horror films.

So bad, they are good?

Depending on your sense of humor, you might also want to get together with friends and watch a B-film with a punny title like Sharknado (2013), Zombeavers (2014) or Velocipastor (2017). These films often have a ludicrous premise, obvious CGI, bad acting, unrealistic stunts, plot holes and the flattest of characters. I am still looking for someone who will watch Rubber (2010) with me – a film about a murderous car tire. If you are watching on your own and/or you are not into slapstick humor, please ignore this tip and skip the B-films. They are not scary, but neither are they good and they might put you off the whole horror genre.

4. Adjust your settings

Ideally, you should watch horror films in a dark film theatre and bring a friend whose hand you might squeeze. However, like I, you probably watch most of your films at home and alone. If you have misjudged the scariness of a film and it turns out to be too scary, you might be tempted to simply turn it off. Unfortunately, in my experience, that leaves you mentally stuck in the moment of highest tension and fear and you are usually worse off than if you had watched till the end.

Sound

What I do instead is: pause for a moment and turn the volume off and subtitles on. Then, I watch the scary scene on mute and sometimes I will then rewatch it with the sound on. Much of the anxiety felt during a film comes from the sound design: loud jump scares, eerie silences, tense ambient noise in the background, sound distortions and Foley. Back in the day, horror films relied on instrumental music for atmosphere, but today’s horror film soundscapes are more effective at creating anxiety and the subsequent jump scares.

Buddies, bright lights, spoilers

In case of emergency: In the event that turning off the sound is not enough, you might want to watch with someone who will be scared with you or hold your hand and protect you. Or you could turn on all the lights and read the plot summary on Wikipedia before proceeding with the muted film. Spoiling the plot for yourself has obvious disadvantages, but it makes the experience less scary, too.

5. Be a little scared

The dread and tension of horror films can be exhilarating and you will be able to handle small doses of it and gradually become more resilient. Remember, although most horror films do not end well, the tension will subside. It sounds trivial, but enjoy the thrill without overdoing it.

6. Do some “aftercare”

Personally, I like to watch reviews on YouTube about horror films I have seen. This increases my appreciation for the film and helps me understand why something was unsettling. If there are behind-the-scenes/making-of videos, outtakes and bloopers online, watching them can help by demystifying the film in retrospect. Also, for most current horror films, there are also videos about how to survive in specific horror film: “How to Beat X in Film Y”. Or you might watch an “Everything Wrong with Film X” video.

Also, even the scariest films become harmless if you rewatch them. However, this is a slippery slope: I have a friend who has made a habit of rewatching Inside (2007) to fall asleep. She must have seen this film hundreds of times by now.

Now, with the big one out of the way, let us look at other issues of the horror genre.

Problems of the genre

1. Clichés

If I only watched early 2000s horror and slashers, I would be bored and/or offended with their depiction of women. However, I have seen horror films position women at the center of their plot without objectifying them. Examples of this are Alien (1979), The Babadook (2014), Hereditary (2018), Midsommar (2019), Black Swan (2010), Pearl (2022), Ready or Not (2019), Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) and Goodnight Mommy (2022). Some horror films are overtly feminist like Carrie (1976), IT (2017), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), The Shining (1980), Jennifer’s Body (2009), The Witch (2015), Hush (2016), Invisible Man (2020), Barbarian (2022) and The Substance (2024). Maybe I am too easily placated, but when it comes to female representation, I am happy with where horror is at.

People of color

However, we need more films with good POC representation. The protagonists of horror classics Candyman (1992 and 2021) and The People Under the Stairs (1991) are Black, but other than that, Black people were sidelined by mainstream horror cinema for a long time. There have recently been highly successful anti-racist horror films like Get Out (2017), His House (2020) and Sinners (2025). Also, some modern horror films are not primarily about race, but their depiction of Black people as fully realized persons is refreshing: Us (2019), Black Box (2020) and Talk To Me (2022). Besides, if you want to see more people of color on screen, watch more foreign films like Under the Shadow (2016). Also, J-horror is just a treat to watch, particularly Ju-On (2000) and Pulse (2001). If you want to see more non-white people on screen, there are already plenty of films to choose from. At the risk of jinxing it: We are on the right path concerning this aspect of diversity as well.

The LGBTQIA+ community

Unfortunately, queer representation is still harder to come by – especially in blockbusters. After you have already watched the queer-coded teenage friendship in Jennifer’s Body (2009), and Hannibal (the series) you are mostly left with the exciting outcast villains of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and The Craft (1996) and some less well-known films like The Perfection (2018). The queer community famously has such a love for horror cinema that it is a shame that it is not reciprocated via good representation.

What to avoid

Beware of regressive tropes: Monsters that are essentially old naked women usually feel ageist and sexist. The best friend who is queer or a person of color and is killed off early is an example of tokenism. The virginal “final girl” reinforces purity culture. The disabled/disfigured villain, the indigenous curse, the unhinged mental patient, … the list goes on. Progressive horror films play with and subvert these tropes and others just avoid them altogether. To avoid tired clichés, you might want to skip slasher franchises.

Outside of cookie-cutter type horror, the horror genre really is not that bad. It is by nature great for audiences that want original and creative films that feel fresh.

2. Absurdity

Many viewers also feel exasperated with the absurdity of horror. For script writers, it can be tempting to first mystify their audience just to then give a supernatural explanation that feels like an easy shortcut. They use supernatural elements to clumsily pave over plot holes rather than enrich the story. If you have developed an hatred for this feature of the genre, please consider this:

Not all horror films contain supernatural phenomena. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Misery (1990) are some of the most well-known horror films without demons or magic, but there are many more like Creep (2014), Funny Games (1997/2007), Pearl (2022), Barbarian (2022), Midsommar (2019) and Hush (2016) that explore evils that are real and human. If the absurdity of the supernatural bothers you, start with these types of films and stay near the realms of (true) crime and thrillers.

True crime

Reality can be stranger than fiction at times, but at least, true crime stories do not annoy their audience by employing supernatural elements that feel like a cop-out. When the story is bizarre or even contains contradictory information, we still do not feel cheated, but intrigued. True crime is more popular than ever and there are both lots of jokes about and psychological research on the reasons why women in particular love this genre so much and listen to true crime podcasts to relax. Is it perhaps because it makes them feel validated in their preexisting fears? Do they use these stories to mentally prepare for real-life danger? Either way, a lot of true crime can provide a gateway into the horror genre for the more logically inclined. I myself have a morbid fascination with true crime, but I admit that it is no satisfying substitute for more traditional horror.

Small doses

All of that being said, I encourage you to view film as an art form and if you do not enjoy absurdity for creativity’s sake, maybe dabble in horror that uses the supernatural in a logically consistent and meaningful way.

My favorite examples of these are His House (2020) and The Babadook (2014) where the supernatural elements represent guilt and grief respectively and how these deep and terrible emotions prey on the protagonists while they feel socially isolated. Sticking with films that have absolutely no supernatural or sci-fi elements can be similarly limiting for your film experiences as looking only at photography and never at the paintings in art exhibitions.

3. Gore and violence

Personally, I do not feel scared, but repulsed by most gore. Something about the voyeurism does not sit right with me. When horror films use it for cheap thrills, they desensitize their viewers to on-screen violence. They give them indulgently vivid scenes of torture and then gloss over any realistic impact by immediately cutting to the next scene and/or by showing characters that recover quickly both emotionally and physically. I find that neither truthful nor interesting nor morally right. That is why I largely avoid gore, so-called “torture porn”, and snuff films, and I recommend you do the same. Google the specific film beforehand or simply avoid this whole subgenre within horror.

Unacceptable violence

Some people watch footage of actual rape, torture and murder because staged violence is not horrifying enough to them. Although you will probably get better at handling disturbing films, you will not become as jaded as these people are just by watching regular staged horror. Some snuff fans will go online to shame mainstream horror fans like myself for having vanilla taste and thus being casuals. The internet has amplified these peoples’ voices, but they are an unhealthy minority and although it can be tempting to watch these films just to belong to a group of perceived insiders, my opinion is that snuff films have no artistic merit and should not be considered horror cinema. A pretty comprehensive list of upsetting horror films is Reddit’s horror iceberg – of which I have only seen the films on the levels above water.

Necessary violence

I do not object to all depictions of violence. In many cases, the plot does not work without it or there has to be at least the threat of violence. Often, the camera actually cuts away and we only imagine that we saw it happen. Any director worth their salt will make their on-screen violence at least bearable and plot relevant.

Violence done right

I even sometimes like how films use the mere anticipation and threat of violence to create tension or empathetic fear. Also, the topics of the sadism of the perpetrator, the coercion or even compliance of the victim(s) or the emotional devastation of the aftermath are complex topics that are relevant to real life and therefore worth artistic examination. In this context, I want to mention my love for the film Funny Games (1997/2007) which is both an effective home invasion horror film and a comment on callous and gratuitous violence in horror cinema. Violence is merely implied through sounds and some blood that the viewer sees after the fact. I acutely felt the fear, hopelessness and pain of the protagonists in Funny Games. Injuries and trauma have consequences and the camera lingers to show them. Some horror fans felt lectured and chastised by the film, but it really just poses some interesting questions for us to engage with.

Do violent horror films corrupt us?

Not by themselves. Being desensitized to on-screen violence, though not desirable, is not equivalent to being desensitized to real-world violence. Also, even sensationalized violence is almost never depicted to be attractive. Already violent teenagers usually seek out violent media, but to my knowledge, the causality does not go both ways. That being said, if you are by nature extremely aggressive, if you fantasize about torturing people, if you have plans for or a history of violence, horror films may give you bad ideas.

4. Quality

How can one find a good horror film to watch? There are, of course, no definitive rules. You could watch trailers of outcoming horror films. Unfortunately, many trailers nowadays give away too much of the film and are no reliable indicator of overall quality. Awards are tricky, because even brilliant horror films rarely receive awards. So, if a horror film has an Oscar or Academy Award (see The Silence of the Lambs), you should definitely watch it, but you will soon have exhausted that criterion. 

Taste

Popularity is tricky, because even bad horror films are often watched by many people. Some people purposefully watch the so-bad-they-are-good B-movies or they go to see the same formulaic plot played out by different actors. Personal taste is another issue, but eventually, you will know which specific subgenres (mine are psychological, sci-fi and folk horror), directors (mine are Zach Cregger, Guillermo del Toro, John Carpenter, Ari Aster, David Lynch and Michael Haneke) and production companies (mine are A24 and Blumhouse) you like. 

Newcomers and low budgets

Also, do not underestimate the newcomers. Directors’ debuts are often horror films, because they can be produced cheaply. Blumhouse is a production company that famously lets film directors freely execute their vision as long as their budget does not exceed 5 million USD. The idea is that they can recoup that cost even if the film flops. I recommend you allow for some time to pass and then watch specifically those Blumhouse films that had a great critical reception. A horror subgenre that has a purposely cheap look to it is found footage horror. The two most famous films from this genre are The Blair Witch Project (1999) and Paranormal Activity (2007). Both films are highly effective because of their actors and their realistic feel, so please do not equate budget and quality.     

How to pick

As a rule of thumb, I recommend checking a film’s Rotten Tomatoes score, avoiding franchises in favor of book adaptations (I like Gothic horror and Stephen King adaptations) and reading what film nerds and critics have to say about it. However, adaptations are not guaranteed to be good or faithful to the source material, some sequels actually work (e.g. Dawn of the Dead (1978), The Conjuring 2 (2016), Terrifier 2 (2022) and Smile 2 (2024)) and many great films were initially bashed by the critics. Some fans blindly hype up every horror film they see while others dismiss every horror film as “boring, not scary at all”. In short, the quality of a horror film cannot be judged by its awards, popularity, production company, director, subgenre, budget or original novel alone and even trailers, nerds and critics can fail you.

Where to start

You could start by watching the most quintessential horror films, if you can handle that some of these iconic horror films (especially the slasher franchises) might feel cliché. For clichés to exist, some film had to be the first to do it, the one to establish the trope, the blueprint, so you cannot really blame the originals. I find that they are usually a better watch than what came after (Jaws is more compelling than its imitator Piranha) … Anyway, here is my horror film canon for nerdy beginners:

Slashers:

• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
• Halloween (1978)
• A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
• Scream (1996)
• Final Destination (2000)
• It Follows (2014)

Psychological:

• The Shining (1980)
• Misery (1990)
• The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
• The Babadook (2014)
• Get Out (2017)
• Hereditary (2018)
• Invisible Man (2020)
• Pearl (2022)

Home Invasion:

• Funny Games (1997/2007)
• Inside (2007)
• Hush (2016)
• Us (2019)

Haunted House:

• Poltergeist (1982)
• The Others (2001)
• Sinister (2012)
• The Conjuring (2013)

Supernatural:

• The Exorcist (1973)
• Candyman (1992)
• Ringu (1998)/The Ring (2002)
• The Sixth Sense (1999)
• The Witch (2015
• IT (2017)
• Suspiria (2018)
• Weapons (2025)

Monsters:

• Jaws (1975)
• Dawn of the Dead (1978)
• Alien (1979)
• The Thing (1982)
• Gremlins (1984)
• 28 Days Later (2002)
• Nosferatu (2024)

Found Footage:

• The Blair Witch Project (1999)
• REC (2002)
• Paranormal Activity (2007)

Body Horror:

• Carrie (1976)
• The Fly (1986)
• The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
• The Substance (2024)

Folk:

• The Wicker Man (1973)
• Midsommar (2019)

Later on, you might want to watch less accessible films (silent films, black and white, slow-paced) that are canon: Nosferatu (1922), Frankenstein (1931), Dracula (1931), The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Psycho (1960), Peeping Tom (1960), Rosemary’s Baby (1968), Night of the Living Dead (1968), Black Christmas (1974).

Genre overlap

You could also start with the least quintessential. Especially, if you do not consider yourself a horror fan yet. Depending on what other genres (science fiction, drama, romance, comedy, crime) you already like, there are definitely films within that genre that have horror elements. Go for films that blur the line. These non-horror films could be your gateway to the genre:

If you like sci-fi, watch Donnie Darko (2001), Ex Machina (2014), The Stepford Wives (1975), A Clockwork Orange (1971) or 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). If you like the BBC’s Dr. Who series, watch the episodes The Empty Child (S01E09+S01E10), Blink(S03E10) and Midnight (S04E10).

If you like drama, watch Parasite (2019), Requiem for a Dream (2000), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), The Lovely Bones (2009), We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011), Whiplash (2014), Black Swan (2010), Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011), Take Shelter (2011) and The White Ribbon (2009).

If you like romance, watch A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014), The Shape of Water (2017), Nymphomaniac (2013), Interview with the Vampire (1994), Only Lovers Left Alive (2014) and Let the Right One In (2008). 

If you like comedy, watch What We Do in The Shadows (the TV series or the 2014 film), The Addams Family (1991), Death Becomes Her (1992) and Warm Bodies (2013) or, if you have a darker sense of humor, watch The Menu (2022), American Psycho (2000), Ready or Not (2019) and Barbarian (2022).

If you like teen dramas, watch Jennifer’s Body (2009) and Heathers (1988). If you like anime, watch Deathnote (2006) and The Iron Giant (1999).

If you like crime stories, watch Seven (1995), Zodiac (2007), No Country for Old Men (2007), Nightcrawler (2014), Joker (2019), Irreversible (2002), Perfume (2006) and Longlegs (2024).

Engagement

People engage with the things that they enjoy, but they also enjoy things more when they engage with them. So, engage with the horror genre! I recommend doing this anyway as a way to process traumatizing horror films (see above). As a horror fan, I listen to Mike Muncer’s The Evolution of Horror on Apple Podcasts. I like to watch the film(s) and then listen to the corresponding episode. However, when I was just getting into the genre, I listened to the 6-episode podcast (free on Audible) Phil Wang Hates Horror in which the host, Phil Wang, invites a different horror fan for each episode and that horror fan discusses their favorite horror film with Phil with the expressed purpose of converting him into a horror fan.

Trendy horror

Generally, it is fun to experience culture with others. Do not make the mistake of upfront dismissing things just for being mainstream. Watch the films that everyone is talking about. You can still be a hater afterwards. Even if a film is not your cup of tea, if it is popular, you can be part of the cultural discourse and learn something about the world we currently live in. Right now, in 2025 true crime stories have been popular for a while, and so have dark love stories (Bones and All (2022), Fresh (2022), Companion(2025), the series YOU).

Horror series

Also, I have not even gone into the many great YouTube horror short films and the horror series on streaming platforms, but they are more popular than ever. Consider what format suits you. Starting a horror series can be a big commitment and the time restrictions of a short film will limit the film’s plot or character development or both.

Series recommendations: The Walking Dead (until S01E06 or S05E11), American Horror Story (first five seasons), Bates Motel, Hannibal, The Last of Us, Stranger Things (first season), The Fall of the House of Usher, The Haunting of Hill House, Supernatural (first five seasons), Dexter (first four seasons), From, Black Mirror, and What We Do in the Shadows.

Phew! I hope you are now sufficiently persuaded and informed to pick a horror film to watch. Thank you for reading this horror introduction guide. Take care!

PS: Films on my personal watchlist include Old Boy (2013) and Heretic (2024), and when I get around to it, I want to watch the TV series Cassandra, Them, and Twin Peaks.