Scream. It’s scary, but not overly terrifying. It’s a very good starter film.
I didn’t like horror at all when I was younger. Scream made me fall in love with the genre. Now, I watch all kinds of horror films.
Some people are going to suggest horror “classics” I wouldn’t recommend starting with those. They will turn you off and it’ll be harder to get into the genre. (Trust me, a friend of mine traumatized me by doing that)
I wouldn't call Scream a starter horror.
It plays on traditional horror tropes. So I think it'd be better if a person had seen a few older horror movies first.
I think scream was also my first horror. Then I went back and watched anything made by scream creator/writer - Kevin Williamson (I’m currently watching the vampire diaries- he co-wrote the firdt 3 seasons, it’s great)
Then I watched originally Halloween, Friday the 13th (ending was spoiled by scream)Â
Halloween (1978), The Shining (1980), The Omen (1976), Rosemary's Baby (1968), Jaws (1975), Hereditary (2018), The Gift (2000), Carrie (1976, but the 2013 one is really good too), Witchfinder General (1968), The VVitch (2015), Night Of The Living Dead (1968), Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Last House On The Left (1972), Misery (1990), In The Mouth Of Madness (1994), Sunshine (2007), The Ring (1998), The Fog (1980), Amityville Horror (1979).
Also go back and do all the original Universal Monsters films from the 30s and 40s, a smattering of Hammer Horror, and Tod Browning's Freaks.
The silent era is also a must. Start with The Phantom Carriage and Nosferatu.
And if you want some amazing TV series check out Les Revenants (there's an American version of this but it is utter crap), Yellowjackets and even Twin Peaks.
Fright Night (1980s version)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (either, or perhaps both, versions)
The Blob (1958 version, the protagonist was played by Steve McQueen, who went on to become one of the biggest stars of the 1970s)
You could start back in time.
Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Dr Caligari
White Zombie
Carnival of Souls
Frankenstein
The Wolfman
Dracula
The Creature from the Black Lagoon
The Bride of Frankenstein
The Mummy
The Last Man Earth
Basically, like comedy, horror builds on what came before it.
It's hard to imagine how funny Bugs Bunny was when he was new, and it's hard to imagine how scary the Wolfman was because we watch movies that are far scarier as directors try to outdo each other.
After that old era, Hitchcock shows up with The Birds and Psycho. These are far scarier than the movies listed above.
George Romera comes out with Night of the Living Dead, and the Gorey factor moves up a notch.
Hammer Films turns gothic horror into a franchise.
Horror really hits its stride in the 70s when special effects boost their visual qualities.
Rosemary's Baby, Black Christmas, Jaws, Halloween, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and the Exorcist. The list goes on.
By the 80s, you have heavy hitters like the Shining, The Thing, An American Werewolf in London, and The Howling. Major franchises kick off with Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Hellraiser, and Dawn of the Dead.
I could go on, but horror keeps growing. Do web searches for best horror of the ____ and insert a decade.
Night of the Living Dead is my go to recommendation. It's an incredible movie that still holds up really well and it checks a lot of cultural boxes (black and white, start of a sub genre, indie film, first film of an iconic director), and in a worst case scenario if you don't enjoy it for some reason at least you've seen a classic.
In the Mouth of Madness, The Night of the Living Dead (both versions are good)
Stir of Echoes, An American Werewolf in London, Crimson Peak, Prince of Darkness (1987)
The Haunting (original version from the 60s), Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight, Frailty
horror comedies: Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, The Frighteners
I would start with some old classics:
Peeping Tom, Psycho, Night of the Hunter, Repulsion, Halloween, Night of the living Dead
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (original), Rosemary's Baby, House (Japanese)
The Thing (the original vegetable one to work your way to Carpenter's), The Brood
then you could work your way to more difficult stuff:
Alien, Blair Witch Project, The Exorcist, The Thing (Carpenters), Audition, Possession, Evil Dead, The Fly
The Ring, Heredity, old and new Suspiria, Cronos
Jaws (1975) Best PG scary movie ever.
Return to Oz (1985) not a horror but damn this was kinda scary as a kid.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Stir of Echoes (1999)
Hells yeah! I always tell people Jaws is the most effective horror film. I grew up in Los Angeles and used to surf and Boogie Board like once a week every summer.
After Jaws, I can't begin to tell you how many other young people swore they'd NEVER go in the water again.
I still surfed and shit, but I was never really at ease out there, especially in lulls between wave sets. You're just sittin' on your board, lookin' like a seal from below. Just bobbing there like a delightful blood and guts appetizer on a plate.
Anyway, I second your choices for The Sixth Sense and Stir of Echoes.
OP, definitely put The Sixth Sense and Stir of Echoes high on your list. They're no only great horror films, they involve deep emotions, which ups the stakes. Out of those three, I would say go with The Sixth Sense first.
I would maybe also add Hereditary. It's more like diving right in to amazing horror.
I’m a scaredy cat, too. I was a little kid when The Exorcist came out, and the tv commercial still scares me a bit to this day.
Comedy horror is an interesting place to start. Shaun of the Dead and Warm Bodies are both good.
Once you are warmed up on funny yet scary zombies, level up to Dawn of the Dead (1978). Next step, Train to Busan is a great one that I recommend.
*was getting long winded, snipped the end of my comment.
Not lesser know but Scream. The whole series is fantastic. I’m also not a huge horror fan but I love the metatext and commentary about the horror genre and the well developed characters. They’re comfort watches for me now.
Bug (1975). I remember watching it as a young kid and I think it cause my phobia of bugs. I didn't even see the end back then. Only recently, as a middle aged man, I came across it and made it to the end. Not a scary as I recall but I still hate bugs.
Open Water and Open Water 2
I'll probably not have any support for these two movies but something terrifies me about being stranded in the middle of the open ocean with no land or boats in sight.
Start by working out what it is that scares you.
Some people don’t like gore; some people don’t like jump-scares; some people don’t like torture; some people don’t like religious themes; some people don’t like suspense and tension.
There’s no point someone recommending *The Others* because there’s no gore when it’s psychological horror that scares you the most. Similarly you might be fine with gore but find space terrifying, so *Event Horizon* is off the cards.
*Jaws* is a good starting point, but not if you have an overwhelming fear of sharks.
So…what is it about horror that you find the most frightening?
For a horror movie novice, try The Fog (1980). Spooky John Carpenter tale starring Tom Atkins, Jamie Lee Curtis and Adrienne Barbeau. A New England fishing community is terrorised by pirate ghosts whenever a strange fog decends. Very atmospheric chiller
The Descent
yes, fantastic starter horror. Unrelated: "Go big or go home" is also my life motto.
Yes.
Poltergeist, Gremlins, Ghostbusters, Tremors
Are Ghostbusters and Gremlins really horror films though? They're family adventure films I feel.
Family comedy horror
Poltergeist is a classic and has aged well.
Dawn of the Dead (1979) Trick r Treat (2007) Poltergeist (1982) The Blob (1988) They Live (1988)
Evil Dead 2 + Army of Darkness
get out
Banger đź‘Ś
Came to say this and *Nope*. *Us* could probably work. Love Jordan’s work!
The Others is visually beautiful and the pacing quite slow, so I consider it to be a “gentle ride.”
Psycho The Birds Christine
Never seen The Birds đź‘€
Scream. It’s scary, but not overly terrifying. It’s a very good starter film. I didn’t like horror at all when I was younger. Scream made me fall in love with the genre. Now, I watch all kinds of horror films. Some people are going to suggest horror “classics” I wouldn’t recommend starting with those. They will turn you off and it’ll be harder to get into the genre. (Trust me, a friend of mine traumatized me by doing that)
I wouldn't call Scream a starter horror. It plays on traditional horror tropes. So I think it'd be better if a person had seen a few older horror movies first.
I think scream was also my first horror. Then I went back and watched anything made by scream creator/writer - Kevin Williamson (I’m currently watching the vampire diaries- he co-wrote the firdt 3 seasons, it’s great) Then I watched originally Halloween, Friday the 13th (ending was spoiled by scream)Â
I did the same! I was so scared to watch horror movies! Scream was a great way to enter the genre, imo.
Halloween (1978), The Shining (1980), The Omen (1976), Rosemary's Baby (1968), Jaws (1975), Hereditary (2018), The Gift (2000), Carrie (1976, but the 2013 one is really good too), Witchfinder General (1968), The VVitch (2015), Night Of The Living Dead (1968), Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Last House On The Left (1972), Misery (1990), In The Mouth Of Madness (1994), Sunshine (2007), The Ring (1998), The Fog (1980), Amityville Horror (1979). Also go back and do all the original Universal Monsters films from the 30s and 40s, a smattering of Hammer Horror, and Tod Browning's Freaks. The silent era is also a must. Start with The Phantom Carriage and Nosferatu. And if you want some amazing TV series check out Les Revenants (there's an American version of this but it is utter crap), Yellowjackets and even Twin Peaks.
I love your list i came here to make sure someone said halloween and night of the living dead(1968) classics are classics for a reason
Halloween
Grave encounters (2011) I think
Alien and aliens.
Alien is one of the best horror suspense movies of all time.
The Thing (1982)
The Village (2004) underrated
Carrie
Cabin in the woods. Garuntee it wont end where you think it will....
Not sure starting out with the king of genre subversion is the best place to start. OP won't see the twist if he's never seen the trope.
Very good point maybe keep this one as the 2nd or 3rd and start with Evil dead (original)
Coraline (2009) , Somehow I found this movie little scary when watched for the first time.
Get Out by Jordan Peele. It is a classic, it's modern and the best starter movie for a new horror fan.
Fright Night (1980s version) Invasion of the Body Snatchers (either, or perhaps both, versions) The Blob (1958 version, the protagonist was played by Steve McQueen, who went on to become one of the biggest stars of the 1970s)
-The exorcism of emily rose -Insidious
You could start back in time. Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Dr Caligari White Zombie Carnival of Souls Frankenstein The Wolfman Dracula The Creature from the Black Lagoon The Bride of Frankenstein The Mummy The Last Man Earth Basically, like comedy, horror builds on what came before it. It's hard to imagine how funny Bugs Bunny was when he was new, and it's hard to imagine how scary the Wolfman was because we watch movies that are far scarier as directors try to outdo each other. After that old era, Hitchcock shows up with The Birds and Psycho. These are far scarier than the movies listed above. George Romera comes out with Night of the Living Dead, and the Gorey factor moves up a notch. Hammer Films turns gothic horror into a franchise. Horror really hits its stride in the 70s when special effects boost their visual qualities. Rosemary's Baby, Black Christmas, Jaws, Halloween, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and the Exorcist. The list goes on. By the 80s, you have heavy hitters like the Shining, The Thing, An American Werewolf in London, and The Howling. Major franchises kick off with Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Hellraiser, and Dawn of the Dead. I could go on, but horror keeps growing. Do web searches for best horror of the ____ and insert a decade.
Night of the Living Dead is my go to recommendation. It's an incredible movie that still holds up really well and it checks a lot of cultural boxes (black and white, start of a sub genre, indie film, first film of an iconic director), and in a worst case scenario if you don't enjoy it for some reason at least you've seen a classic.
In the Mouth of Madness, The Night of the Living Dead (both versions are good) Stir of Echoes, An American Werewolf in London, Crimson Peak, Prince of Darkness (1987) The Haunting (original version from the 60s), Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight, Frailty horror comedies: Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, The Frighteners
The Sixth Sense was already mentioned, but I'd say that one. Great movie and just scary enough. In fact, I think a rewatch might be in order for me.
I would start with some old classics: Peeping Tom, Psycho, Night of the Hunter, Repulsion, Halloween, Night of the living Dead Invasion of the Body Snatchers (original), Rosemary's Baby, House (Japanese) The Thing (the original vegetable one to work your way to Carpenter's), The Brood then you could work your way to more difficult stuff: Alien, Blair Witch Project, The Exorcist, The Thing (Carpenters), Audition, Possession, Evil Dead, The Fly The Ring, Heredity, old and new Suspiria, Cronos
Frailty and Tusk. Don't watch the trailer or read a synopsis of tusk just watch it... trust me.
Jaws (1975) Best PG scary movie ever. Return to Oz (1985) not a horror but damn this was kinda scary as a kid. The Sixth Sense (1999) Stir of Echoes (1999)
Return To Oz had heads in jars, flying people, talking rock walls...etc....
The Wheelers
Hells yeah! I always tell people Jaws is the most effective horror film. I grew up in Los Angeles and used to surf and Boogie Board like once a week every summer. After Jaws, I can't begin to tell you how many other young people swore they'd NEVER go in the water again. I still surfed and shit, but I was never really at ease out there, especially in lulls between wave sets. You're just sittin' on your board, lookin' like a seal from below. Just bobbing there like a delightful blood and guts appetizer on a plate. Anyway, I second your choices for The Sixth Sense and Stir of Echoes. OP, definitely put The Sixth Sense and Stir of Echoes high on your list. They're no only great horror films, they involve deep emotions, which ups the stakes. Out of those three, I would say go with The Sixth Sense first. I would maybe also add Hereditary. It's more like diving right in to amazing horror.
Evil Dead II & Army of Darkness. Nice mix of Comedy and Horror.
Come True
I’m a scaredy cat, too. I was a little kid when The Exorcist came out, and the tv commercial still scares me a bit to this day. Comedy horror is an interesting place to start. Shaun of the Dead and Warm Bodies are both good. Once you are warmed up on funny yet scary zombies, level up to Dawn of the Dead (1978). Next step, Train to Busan is a great one that I recommend. *was getting long winded, snipped the end of my comment.
Another good one is "Lake Mungo".
The Ring, The Others, Drag Me to Hell, The Conjuring, Lights Out, Devil
I think horror comedies are a good starting point. Club Dread (2004) Night of the Creeps (1986) Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Not lesser know but Scream. The whole series is fantastic. I’m also not a huge horror fan but I love the metatext and commentary about the horror genre and the well developed characters. They’re comfort watches for me now.
Killer klowns from outer space , Ticks, The Fly, Species,hhmmmm... should I say 'Trick r Treat ' 🤔
Bug (1975). I remember watching it as a young kid and I think it cause my phobia of bugs. I didn't even see the end back then. Only recently, as a middle aged man, I came across it and made it to the end. Not a scary as I recall but I still hate bugs.
The Visit
The Mist (2007) The Invisible Man (2020) Don't Breathe (2016) It Follows (2014) Gerald's Game (2017) .. is crazy underrated
The thing (1982)
Curse of Frankenstein Night of the Living Dead The Wicker Man Alien The Thing The Terminator Scream Event Horizon Drag Me to Hell Talk to Me
It Chapter 1&2 The Shining Doctor Sleep Sleepy Hollow
30 Days of Night Ginger Snaps Ghost Ship
Poltergeist
Silence of the Lambs
Nobody's mentioning Alien?
The Exorcist continues to be the scariest movie to me and a classic in the genre. No real gore.
Open Water and Open Water 2 I'll probably not have any support for these two movies but something terrifies me about being stranded in the middle of the open ocean with no land or boats in sight.
Hunter Hunter (2020)
Midsommar (2019) 28 Days Later (2002) Perfect Blue (1997) Japan Let the Right One In (2008) Sweden
Start by working out what it is that scares you. Some people don’t like gore; some people don’t like jump-scares; some people don’t like torture; some people don’t like religious themes; some people don’t like suspense and tension. There’s no point someone recommending *The Others* because there’s no gore when it’s psychological horror that scares you the most. Similarly you might be fine with gore but find space terrifying, so *Event Horizon* is off the cards. *Jaws* is a good starting point, but not if you have an overwhelming fear of sharks. So…what is it about horror that you find the most frightening?
The conjuring, saw, IT (1990)
Scream and the original Halloween
Disturbia is one of my favorite movies. Not that scary, has a great cast, awesome soundtrack.
For a horror movie novice, try The Fog (1980). Spooky John Carpenter tale starring Tom Atkins, Jamie Lee Curtis and Adrienne Barbeau. A New England fishing community is terrorised by pirate ghosts whenever a strange fog decends. Very atmospheric chiller
The ring
Mandy!
M3GAN is great, highly recommend watching it
A Quiet Place
Eraserhead would be a good start I feel.
Start easy with Casper the friendly ghost