It’s safe to say that horror movies aren’t for everyone. Those who love them truly love them, but they are something of an acquired taste, as feeling scared isn’t something every movie fan wants to feel when they settle down in a cinema or their living room.
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As such, the following eight films are what could be described as “light horror” films. They either blend their horror elements with other, slightly less terrifying genres, or feature a comedic tone that makes the horror easier to handle. Some people might consider none of these to be horror films, and hardened horror fans could well scoff at the idea that any films here are even related to horror… but this list of films isn’t for them. If you are scared easily or hate horror movies, but still want to get a taste of what the genre’s about, the following could make for solid (and only slightly spooky) viewing experiences.
‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991)
A massive critical and box office success, and amodern classic some 30 years onfrom its release,The Silence of the Lambsfocuses on the uneasy alliance between notorious serial killer Hannibal Lecter, and FBI agent Clarice Starling, who needs Lecter’s help in tracking down another serial killer at large nicknamed Buffalo Bill.
Yes, arguably,The Silence of the Lambsis a crime-thriller more than a horror film, but it deals with some grisly subjects, and two of its main characters could star in their own slasher franchise. It certainly ratchets up the horror in its second half though, during terrifying scenes like Lecter’s escape attempt and Clarice Starling confronting Buffalo Bill. It provides the perfect mix of thrills and scares for those who aren’t big on horror.
‘The Invisible Man’ (1933)
One of the most enjoyable (and admittedly least scary) characters out of allthe classic Universal Monsterswould have to be the Invisible Man. In his original film, the invisible dude himself goes on a chaotic mission to find out how to make himself visible again after an experiment gone wrong, with the side effects of his invisibility driving his mind and psychological wellbeing further and further into disarray.
The Invisible Manis just a lot of fun to watch, and is more focused on science-fiction (and maybe even comedy) over horror. Still, it retains the feel of those classic 1930s black and white horror films while offering a slightly less dark tone, as well as a faster pace (compared to many other Universal Monster movies) that all makes for solid entertainment.
‘Saw’ (2004)
Sawis remarkably tense, and certainly qualifies as a direct example of a horror film. It might not be ideal viewing for all horror-averse viewers who need their scary movies mild, but there are a few notable reasons why it’s less full-on and maybe even a little less horrific than some hesitant filmgoers may think.
Most clearly, it’s not nearly as gory or disgusting as its sequels, which are bloodbaths that squeamish viewers will want to avoid at all costs. The firstSawis more concerned with being psychologically tense than graphically horrifying, perhaps due to budgetary reasons. It also has strong elements of the crime and thriller genres to it, and much of it plays out like a police procedural, with a search for the serial killer known as the Jigsaw Killer. As long as the sequels are avoided, this first entry could be a decent watch for viewers who don’t like gory, super violent horror films.
Sam Raimi’sEvil Deadfilms form a beloved trilogy for horror fans. While the first is a genuinely tense and surprisingly not goofy horror film, and the third is a wonderful slapstick medieval fantasy/comedy with little to no horror elements,Evil Dead IIrides the line fantastically between horror and comedy. It also stands asone of the rare horror movies sequelsthat’s on the same level as the first.
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As a result, it makes for a great watch for anyone afraid of… well, being afraid. The split between silly physical comedy/one-liners and over-the-top, gory horror is right on fifty-fifty, and the comedy helps make the horror elements much easier to digest for anyone sensitive to on-screen terror.
‘Psycho’ (1960)
Alfred Hitchcock’s most famous film (well, maybe before one of his othersmanaged to dethroneCitizen Kanein the prestigious Sight & Sound Poll back in 2012) is still pretty scary, even by modern-day standards. It features one of the most famous and unsettling villains of all time in Norman Bates, and has a creepy atmosphere and some shocking scenes.
Why might it be okay for people who don’t like horror, then? Well, more violent films have followed in its wake, and many of its most iconic and terrifying scenes are now so famous that they’re unlikely to fully shock or surprise. That might be a bit unfair toPsycho, but that’s what happens to a film when its reputation precedes it…
Braindead(AKADead Alive) is one ofPeter Jackson’s first movies, made years before the blockbusters ofThe Lord of the RingsandHobbittrilogies. It’s a notoriously gory zombie film about a small town in New Zealand that’s struck by a virus that turns the population into flesh-eaters, and one man’s desperate fight for survival.
Thankfully, the horrific violence and buckets of blood are all presented in a comedic way. It’s still very gross in parts (after one particular scene, you may never want to eat custard again), but the gore tends to be as comedic as it is copious.Braindead’snot for the squeamish, but it is a good watch for anyone who’s after a good zombie film that’s not too tense or dark.
‘Young Frankenstein’ (1974)
One ofMel Brooks' best-known movies,Young Frankensteinis a playful take/spoof on the well-knownFrankensteinstory, as well as the classic Universal Monster movies of the 1930s and 1940s. The plot concerns the son of Dr. Frankenstein, and his attempts (and ultimate failure) to distance himself from his infamous father’s legacy.
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Young Frankensteinreplicates the look and feel of the oldFrankensteinmovies with uncanny accuracy, but given it’s a Mel Brooks film, the focus is far and away on the comedy. That means it stands as a film that feels like a normal horror film without necessarily being scary like a normal horror film, so it’s a good watch for anyone who doesn’t like getting their movies making them sleep with the lights on.
‘Beetlejuice’ (1988)
Being directed byTim Burton,Beetlejuicealmost can’t help but be a little creepy. It’s a supernatural-themed tale about two freshly-made ghosts who go to desperate lengths to scare a living family out of their old house, which they would like to stay in undisturbed, even after death.
There’s some mildly unsettling imagery here and there, but nothing too traumatic, and so while this movie is all about ghosts, death, the afterlife, and being haunted, it’s relatively tame. It provides just the right level of light scares for anyone who likes their horror breezy, and it has an emphasis on comedy, a genreBeetlejuiceclearly belongs to - definitely more so than horror.
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