I’m just going to get straight to the point: I am a major wimp. Now that Halloween has come and passed, the spooky season celebrations are winding down for the year. If you still want to get into the creepy mood, but not be haunted by nightmares afterward, then I’ve got a list for you. And listen… when I say I’m a wimp, I mean it. I will literally watch a scene of a scary movie and have nightmares the same night. Heck, even Criminal Minds gives me major heebie-jeebies. Here are five movies I recommend you watch, if you’re a scaredy-cat, like me!
- Scream
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You might be thinking, “WTF?” after seeing this movie on the list. But hear me out: yes, it’s scary, but it’s more fun than scary, if you’re watching with a group of friends. I saw this a couple summers ago with some friends, and between the little side conversations and the distraction of my phone, I was able to watch the movie and enjoy myself. If you do get super scared, here’s a pro tip: read the spoilers! Once you know what will happen, before it does, all the jump scares and twists aren’t as horrifying.
- Heathers
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Heathers might not be considered a horror flick by most standards, but the film does follow a serial killer hell-bent on killing each and every girl from a high school clique, all of whom are named Heather. The film is a cult classic for a reason. It’s bonkers and self-aware, but it will still provide some scares every now and again.
- Get Out
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Jordan Peele first made a name for himself through his comedy sketches with Keegan-Michael Key, but he’s also an ingenious director. His directorial debut was 2017’s hit film Get Out. He’s since put out another movie, Us, but I found it a bit too scare-inducing to put on this list. Get Out does have its jump scares, but it’s not too terrifying in terms of gore. The frights of Get Out lie in its apt social commentary. I was able to sleep pretty well after Get Out, but be aware that the film will stay with you long after the credits roll.
- Ready or Not
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You’ve probably not heard of Ready or Not, and that’s a shame! The movie was just released this August, and I had such a blast watching this in theaters with my mom. The movie follows newly wedded Grace, whose husband and in-laws might be a bit more blood-thirsty than she imagined. As the saying goes, in-laws are the worst. Well, Grace’s in-laws take the cake, as they hunt her down and attempt to sacrifice her to Satan (yes, Satan) before the sun rises the next day. The movie is half horror film, half satire. Yes, the movie was scary, but the laughs evened out the scares, and I slept soundly just a couple hours after watching the film.
- Cabin in the Woods
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Speaking of playing on horror tropes, Cabin in the Woods does it best. Written by Joss Whedon (yes, of Avengers) and Drew Goddard (The Martian, World War Z), who also directed, the satire and scares are on point. It’s got all the stereotypical characters – the jock, the goody-two-shoes virgin, the slut, etc. When they go on vacation and end up staying at a cabin in the woods (who thought that was a good idea?), they’re soon faced with horror after horror. If you’re looking for a movie that’s scary on its own, but also deconstructs the genre it’s working within, then look no further than Cabin in the Woods!
Here’s to spooky season. Even though our wimpy tendencies don’t correlate well with horror flicks, we scaredy-cats do have some options! Catch me watching another horror movie through the spaces between my fingers!