7 Horror Films for Genre Newbies
- Beanie White
- Mar 23, 2022
- 4 min read
Does the notion of being frightened intrigue you? Are you simply a movie buff trying to get into a new genre? Or perhaps you just don’t know where to start… Let me, a horror expert (I’ve earned it, I swear), present you with a list to ease you gently into the superior (joking) genre (not joking). I’ve given you slashers, monster movies, haunted houses, creepy kids and one of the most iconic movies of all time… Let’s take a sinister little journey, I’ll hold your hand…
1) The Woman in Black (2012)
This one might be a biased pick as it was the first horror movie this horror aficionado saw in the cinema – I remember it all too well, hiding behind my scarf with a similarly petrified audience full of screaming teens and flying popcorn... Based on the long-running West End play of the same name it tells the story of a lawyer accidentally pulled into the path of a vengeful child-murdering ghost. With themes of grief and revenge this isn’t a light-hearted horror by any means, but with low gore and a fantastic central performance from Daniel Radcliffe (fresh from the Harry Potter series) it’s a relatively tame venture into our world full of spooks and scares... Come for Daniel Radcliffe, stay for bleach guzzling bubs and demonic dancing monkeys.
2) Frankenstein (1931)
It is, of course, important that we sneak a classic into your repertoire and where better to start than with one of THE definitive adaptations of one of the greatest works of fiction of all time… If we’re going to get you ready for the sub-genre of “monster movies,” you’ve got to have a little knowledge of the original creature feature. With Boris Karloff giving a gloriously iconic performance as Frankenstein’s monster against a backdrop of pure gothic grimness, this movie might not scare you, but it will thrill you and prepare you for what’s to come…
3) Get Out (2017)
With his third movie, Nope, set for release this July, Jordan Peele is quickly establishing himself as a mainstay in the horror genre. In this, his first directorial outing, he gives us an entirely unsettling horror/thriller presenting themes of racial politics and casual racism through a unique horror lens. Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) has been dating Rose (Allison Williams) for around 5 months when she decides to take him home to meet her wealthy white conservative family. At first they appear welcoming, but underneath the surface something sinister is occurring. Whilst straying from genre norms and steering clear of overt horror, Peele manages to create a quiet sense of dread and foreboding. Something is wrong, that’s the overarching feeling of the movie, and it will stay with you long after the end credits roll. A good pick for the horror starter pack, fitting into the category of social commentary wearing a horror disguise - or mask if you will.
4) The Conjuring (2013)
I’ve got a gift for you my lil’ horror newbie… Your very own horror mum and dad, Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), the heart and soul of modern horror. This is the first instalment of James Wan’s Conjuring universe and it has all the ingredients of a perfect horror movie: possession, exorcisms, haunted houses, familial relationships, and a great big dose of jump scares…
5) Hush (2016)
Had to give you a Final Girl, didn't I? In this husband-and-wife team-up between director/writer Mike Flanagan and writer/lead actress Kate Siegel, a masked killer stalks a deaf writer, Maddie Young, (Siegel) working on her latest novel in her reclusive forest home. This is a slasher low on overt gore but high on creepy and subversive jump scares with the added tension of watching as our lead character navigates this horrific story by using her other senses to outsmart her hearing attacker. Oh, and it introduces you to your second horror parents: Flanagan and Siegel, consistently fantastic contributors to the horror genre with Flanagan’s catalogue of work often referred to as “the Flaniverse.”
6) Ghost Stories (2017)
An often-overlooked gem of a British horror and one of my personal favourites, this movie shows us three separate stories of paranormal activity recounted to our central character, Philip Goodman (Andy Nyman), a sceptic who fights to disprove each one. A twisty rollercoaster of a plot is complimented by a range of fantastic performances and a truly disturbing ending.
7) The Shining (1980)
I feel like it would be almost sinfully dishonest to not include one of the most highly regarded horror movies of all time, although it was a close toss up between this and The Exorcist (1973), but I thought maybe extreme religious blasphemy uttered by a 12-year-old should come further into your own personal horror journey… Adapted from the novel of the same name by the literal MASTER of horror and my hero, Stephen King (who ironically publicly expresses dislike for this film), it follows the story of aspiring writer, Jack Torrance, as he accepts a caretaker position at an abandoned hotel. I’m sure you’re familiar with the famous line, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” but with this particular horror there isn’t a dull moment in sight. Jack rapidly descends into chaotic insanity, terrorising his wife Wendy, (Shelley Duvall) and his son Danny (Danny Lloyd). You’ll never look at an elevator or a bathtub in the same way again…
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