I don’t need to tell you that things are pretty stressful for everyone right now, which is why I’m going to let you know a good way to deal with that – feel stress about something else that has no effect on the real world. Horror movies are great in a time where we don’t really know what’s going to happen next, because when you’re watching one, you often feel the security of knowing exactly what’s going to happen next – something bad. And after that, there’s probably going to be something even worse. Watching the worst experiences of somebody else’s life play out on screen can be surprisingly cathartic. I prefer worrying about ghosts to the job market I’m going to graduate into.
In light of, you know, I won’t be including anything to do with viral infections or the end of the world on this list. I’m not saying you shouldn’t watch these kinds of movies right now – lord knows I am – but I get why people wouldn’t want to, and horror can be something to ease people into. As this list is for beginners to the genre, body counts are low and none are particularly bloody.
- Hush (Mike Flanagan, 2016)
My first recommendation is a home invasion movie, which I love, because I too live in a home. Quarantine is the best time to delve into this sub-genre, because it’s the worst time to burgle somebody. They know for a fact you’re home, and one cough from you and they’re out of there. What makes this movie different to others with the same premise is that the lead character is deaf, meaning that the intruder has an advantage over his would-be victim, on top of his crossbow. It’s short and sweet, and is a great first horror movie because not only does it keep you in suspense throughout but, if you get too scared watching it, you can imagine the film’s writing process. This is great because it involved the husband and wife who made the film trying to figure out how many ways they could break into their own home.
Available to stream on Netflix.
- The Hole in the Ground (Lee Cronin, 2019)
My next recommendation is home-grown: a woman moves to the country with her son after separating from her husband. However, their fresh start quickly begins to sour. There are a million and one ‘creepy kid’ movies, so you might as well watch one that sounds like a kid you’d actually meet. It’s one thing to watch a pale kid stare unblinkingly for far too long and say “mommy”. But “mammy”? Jaysus. It’s also great to see the use of Irish music and folklore in a movie without it ever feeling like a caricature.
Available to stream on Netflix.
- It (Andrés Muschietti, 2017)
There’s a reason this is the highest grossing horror movie of all time. Do you like movies where kids go on adventures? This is one of those – except the adventures they went on caused them all horrible trauma. The dialogue is really believable for a group of friends, and on my fourth watch I was still noticing things that brought the town of Derry and its inhabitants to life. If you can make it through the first scene, you can make it to the end no problem, and I hope you do. Just don’t bother with the 2019 sequel.
Available to stream on Netflix.
- Get Out (Jordan Peele, 2017)
This movie knows how to be funny and smart at the same time, most likely because the guy who wrote and directed it made his name in sketch comedy. A man goes to meet his girlfriend’s parents, and finds out that she hasn’t told them he’s black. Things are already uncomfortable, and they don’t get better after his girlfriend’s mother offers him a hypnotherapy session. If you’re looking for a horror movie that’ll really make you think, this is the one for you.
Available to rent.
- Lake Mungo (Joel Anderson, 2008)
This is my favourite horror movie of all time. It’s an Australian pseudo-documentary about a family whose teenage daughter has recently died. It’s probably the scariest film on this list, which just goes to show how effective quiet horror can be. This film manages twist after twist without things getting melodramatic, and the actors being allowed to ad-lib really helps the movie feel authentic. To help matters, the credits at the end feel pretty comforting.
