A Sensitive Person’s Guide to Horror Movies

I was talking to a person who really doesn’t like horror films. When I asked them what constituted a horror film the response was what I expected. Lots of gore and blood. Nothing but ultra violence from beginning to end. We horror fans know that yes some films are like this, but most aren’t. Horror has a wide range of sub genre that no other category of films have. So why is it that horror is represented by the slasher genre? It’s pretty simple. It is the most extreme. Yes I know other genre are more extreme than slasher. Movies like Hostel or what some call torture porn are the far end of horror on the gore scale(some make slasher films look like Disney), but they dont represent horror in that it is an extremely small sub genre. Polls show us few horror fans like those movies, and even fewer non horror fans do. So they are not represented or even though of, since the majority of people see those as non watchable.

So lets take a truthful look at some outstanding films that do not represent what people think are horror films. The complete opposite of the stereotypical HORROR FILM. So if you are only a gore fan, well this will be a disappointing article.   

Arachnophobia (1990)

A rare venomous South American spider hitches a ride to a small California town and spawns a deadly infestation around the house of a doctor who happens to be scared of spiders.

Poltergeist (1982)

A normal, everyday family who confront an in-your-face malevolent presence.

The Village (2004)

A remote village's encounters with creatures in the nearby woods.

 

Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)

In a small American town, a diabolical circus and its demonic proprietor prey on the townsfolk.

 

The Birds (1963)

A socialite pursues a potential boyfriend to a small Northern California town that slowly takes a turn for the bizarre when birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people. *For those who dont know why the birds are attacking(and Ive heard many people ask), just listen to Hitchcock at the beginning.

Insidious(2010)

A family looks to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further. *All the Insidious films rated PG13, so any or all of them apply.

1408 (2007)

A man who specializes in debunking paranormal occurrences checks into the fabled room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel. Soon after settling in, he confronts genuine terror.

Willard (2003)

A young man with an unusual connection to rats uses them at his own sociopathic will. *There is a 1971 film also, but I enjoy the 2003 version better. Both are great films.

House II: The Second Story (1987)

The new owner of a sinister house gets involved with reanimated corpses and demons searching for an ancient Aztec skull with magic powers.

The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)

After being rescued and brought to an island, a man discovers that its inhabitants are experimental animals being turned into strange-looking humans, all of it the work of a visionary doctor.

Cloverfield (2008)

A group of friends venture deep into the streets of New York on a rescue mission during a rampaging giant monster attack.

Mars Attacks! (1996)

Earth is invaded by Martians with unbeatable weapons and a cruel sense of humor.

Jaws (1975)

A local sheriff, a marine biologist and an old seafarer team up to hunt down a great white shark wreaking havoc in a beach resort.