Horror isn't for everyone, but the genre is so wide and expansive that even regular movie fans who don't care for traditional horror can find something they like in certain horror films.
From award-winning Hollywood classics, genre-bending horror-comedies and popular novel adaptations, there's no short supply of horror movies that can appeal to anyone, and many sub-genres that fall under horror. But what are some horror movies that go beyond just jump scares, heavy gore, and a killer in a mask?
10 The Love Witch (2016) – A Bewitching Film Where Love Literally Kills
Written and directed by Anna Biller (who also designed the sets, costumes, and props), 2016’s The Love Witch is technically a horror film, but it’s easy to get lost in the craft. The Love Witch includes the intoxicating 1960s and 1970s-inspired color palettes. The Love Witch is about a woman named Elaine, obsessed with love and willing to do anything in her power – both as a witch and as a gorgeous woman – to get it, but her magic kills the men she falls for.
9 The Devil’s Backbone (2001) – A Ghost Story Set During The Spanish Civil War
Described as a gothic horror film, non-horror fans are always in good hands with the lovely and imaginative Guillermo del Toro who directed and co-wrote 2001’s The Devil’s Backbone (original title: El Espinazo del Diablo). Set during the Spanish Civil War, the film is about a young boy who is sent to an orphanage where he learns a dark secret from a frightened ghost. More of a drama with a horror thread woven throughout, The Devil’s Backbone is a worthwhile watch, even for non-horror folks.
8 Dracula (1992) – Coppola's Love Letter To Old Hollywood Special Effects & Campy, Gothic Romance
Back in the early 1990s, directing auteur and Hollywood legend Francis Ford Coppola created Dracula, starring Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, and Keanu Reeves, one of the most popular and influential vampire movies.
Though it’s often remembered as a gorgeous and campy romance (with a terrible British accent by Reeves), this adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel is categorized as a horror film. Despite the blood and frightening imagery throughout the film, there’s humor, sexy romance, and unbelievable costumes in Dracula that any non-horror fan can enjoy.
7 Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992) – A Devastating Dive Into Laura Palmer's Dark Life
A feature-length prequel to David Lynch and Mark Frost's popular television series, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me gives viewers a peek into the last few days of Laura Palmer's life. A prom queen with nothing but dark secrets and desires, Fire Walk With Me is among Lynch's best.
A horror-mystery-drama, this film is saturated with supernatural darkness and terrifying imagery that reveals more about the twisted and tragic Laura. It's best to watch the first two seasons of Twin Peaks first before diving into this one.
6 Alien (1979) – Ridley Scott's Classic "Haunted House In Space" That Anyone Can Enjoy
It’s sometimes easy to forget that Ridley Scott’s Alien is a horror film and not just some heavy sci-fi thriller that leads into an action movie sequel. But Alien, starring Sigourney Weaver, is indeed a horror film, and one of the most accessible ones in the genre. After answering a distress signal, a strange alien gets its way onto the commercial ship Nostromos and kills the crew one at a time. With only a handful of real scares, Alien is a classic film for everyone.
5 Eyes Without A Face (1960) – A Gorgeously Thrilling French Film About A Woman No Face
A French film titled Eyes Without A Face (translated from Les Yeux Sans Visage), is the 1960 horror film. Eyes Without A Face was misunderstood at the time of its release by French critics but has since become a heart-stopping classic horror film. After an accident leaves his daughter Christiane's face heavily damaged, doctor Génessier becomes obsessed with finding her a new one. His guilt and obsession go so far that Génessier kidnaps young women in order to surgically remove their faces in hopes that he can graft them to Christiane's.
4 Jaws (1975) – One Of The Biggest Movies Of All Time Is In Fact A Horror Film
One of the biggest, most popular movies of all time, Steven Spielberg's Jaws is the summer blockbuster that warned, "you'll never go in the water again!" A horror film and thriller centering around a killer shark stalking the waters of Amity Island, Jaws is undoubtedly one of the most frightening films ever made thanks to Spielberg's expert directing and John Williams' terrifying, minimalist score. Even the most anti-horror movie folks out there can't deny the power of Jaws, as it's one of the most watchable movies.
3 One Cut Of The Dead (2017) – A Highly Original Take On The Zombie Genre
One-part horror movie and two-parts comedy gold, 2017’s One Cut Of The Dead (or, Kamera wo Tomeru na!) is one of the most entertaining films of the last ten years.
The movie starts out as a legitimately scary zombie slasher all done in one take. One Cut Of The Dead then swan dives right into another genre where – SPOILERS! –there are no zombies. It transpires that One Cut Of The Dead is a Japanese short film for live television, from conception to the actual filming, where almost everything goes wrong but ends up so right.
2 The Silence Of The Lambs (1991) – An Enormous Oscar Winner Starring Hannibal Lecter
The only horror movie to win an Academy Award for Best Picture, The Silence Of The Lambs is a special film that is more psychological in its horror. FBI trainee Clarice Starling is assigned to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist and cannibal, in order to learn more about a serial killer known as Buffalo Bill. A highly influential film, Silence Of The Lamb's villain is based on Ed Gein, the murderer who also inspired Psycho and Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
1 The Shining (1980) – Everyone Takes A Shine To This One, Doc
One of the most popular and beloved of Stanley Kubrick films, The Shining is one of those horror movies that almost transcends the genre, as it’s one that just about everyone has seen and enjoyed, even if they don't like horror. Adapted from Stephen King’s novel of the same name, Kubrick brings his own spin and madness to this scary story. The Shining focuses on a haunted hotel isolated in the Colorado Rockies, and what it does to a small, vulnerable family in the middle of winter.
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