I’ve always been easily scared, but I’ve also always loved movies. This becomes a problem during fall when everyone wants to watch movies that would have me sleeping with the lights on. But recently, I’ve been finding movies that are perfect for Halloween and still allow me to go to sleep after. If you’re also easily scared, these are my recommendations for you.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
This is a ghost story that focuses more on telling the story than being scary. There are eerie moments, but the movie is mostly quiet and emotional. It follows a boy and his psychologist, who is trying to help him. There’s almost no gore and it has one of the most famous plot twists in history. I watch this movie every year around Halloween.
Signs (2002)
This movie follows a family on a farm while the world is being invaded by aliens. It builds suspense slowly, and there are a few jump scares, but it’s never graphic, and the family scenes feel warm.
Donnie Darko (2001)
This movie takes place in the weeks leading up to Halloween in 1988. It’s strange and kind of mind bending, which makes it more unsettling than scary. It focuses on themes of death, time, and mental health, but it also has a stellar soundtrack and great imagery. It’s also free on YouTube at the time of writing this article!
Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010)
This is the least scary on the list. It’s a horror comedy where two guys on a cabin trip are mistaken for two killers by a group of college students. There is some gore, but it’s mostly cartoonish and played for laughs. Definitely the safest pick on this list.
Pearl (2022)
This one takes place in the early 1900s and is shot like an old Technicolor movie. It follows a young woman on a Texas farm, and there aren’t any jump scares. But there is some graphic violence. Overall, it’s more disturbing than frightening, but it’s still probably the scariest on this list.
If you’re easily scared, start with Tucker and Dale vs. Evil and then work your way up to Pearl with the other movies on this list!