Top 10 Horror Movies For People Who Don't Like To Be Scared

Perhaps the greatest midnight movie ever released, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” has been a kitschy late-night staple for decades. The movie parodies and riffs on cheesy B-movies, including things like creepy monsters, gothic mansions, unnatural creations, and of course, aliens. It’s also filled with great music that helps lighten the mood, including the timeless “Time Warp.” But it’s not all jokes and showtunes. The movie can actually be quite unnerving when it wants to be, especially the scenes involving Tim Curry’s Frank-N-Furter. It’s a quintessential comedy-horror musical, and it goes down real easy for even the most stringent horror haters.

Few movies are as unabashedly ‘80s as “The Lost Boys.” Taking its name from the “Peter Pan” characters, this movie is about a group of hunky, good-looking vampires stalking the bright nights of Santa Carla, California. The movie can certainly be scary. The vampires are obviously violent, and many of their scenes are frightening. But for the most part, “The Lost Boys” is an entertaining film that is filled with humor and style. The music and fashion reek of the mid-’80s (in a good way, of course), the Santa Cruz setting is gorgeous, and the all-star cast all turn in wonderful performances. It’s more funny and sexy than scary, and it makes for a wicked good time.

Time has been kind to this 1962 psychological thriller. At least for those who hate horror movies. The film is certainly effective, but it has undeniably aged. As a result, it may be more palatable for those who wish to experience a great movie but who don’t wish to be actively scared. One can definitely appreciate the qualities of the movie even today, and there are many. This includes the piercing black and white cinematography, haunting atmosphere, and fantastic lead performances from film legends Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. It’s one of those horror movies that is more respectable than scary.

Writer-director Stephen Sommers made “Van Helsing” to honor the classic Universal monster movies of the ‘30s and ‘40s. It features the likes of Van Helsing (duh), Dracula, Mr. Hyde, and Frankenstein’s monster, and it’s all filmed with reverence to the classic movies of old. However, it’s far less frightening than those films. Instead, “Van Helsing” veers more towards a comic book movie, complete with CGI creatures and deafening action. It never takes itself too seriously, instead offering up a fun and enjoyable take on some of cinema’s most iconic monsters. It’s not scary in the least, but it still has its DNA rooted in the horror genre.

If “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” isn’t the most iconic horror-comedy musical ever made, it’s “Little Shop of Horrors.” This film shares a lot in common with “Rocky Horror,” like mixing campy B-movie thrills with music - and even some genuine horror. The cast is simply spectacular and veered towards the comedic, and many comedy legends like Rick Moranis, Steve Martin, John Candy, and Bill Murray are present. The dark humor and music also help lighten the mood, including the Oscar-nominated showtune, “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space.” The movie is about as scary as a singing Venus Fly Trap puppet can be - which is to say, not scary at all.

Serving as one of the best horror comedies of the 2010s, “What We Do In the Shadows” is a fantastic mockumentary about vampires. Specifically, vampires sharing a New Zealand apartment. The movie was both written and directed by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, and it is every bit as entertaining as their reputations would suggest. It’s a biting and hilarious take on the vampire genre, mixing traditional parody with mockumentary gags that help give the proceedings an uproariously realistic tone. Trust us when we say that you will be laughing far more than you will be covering your eyes in fear.

There’s no denying that “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is unsettling. It’s a very dark film with a gothic atmosphere and some of the most grotesque creatures to ever grace an animated movie. However, the gorgeous stop-motion animation helps lessen the ferocity of the scares, as viewers will be too busy admiring the special effects. Furthermore, the film has an undeniable charm about it. Jack Skellington is a fun protagonist, Danny Elfman’s music is typically magical and fairy-tale-esque, and the Christmas sequences are invitingly warm. “Scary” isn’t the right word to describe this film. More “creepy.” And even then, it’s all conducted in a rather innocent and family-friendly manner. It is a holiday film, after all.

Yes, “Jaws” is one of the most popular horror films ever made. But it’s not exactly scary. At least, not by today’s standards. Most of the “horror” is derived from suspense rather than jump scares or gore. Furthermore, the movie’s scariest and most iconic sequences have been ruined by pop culture throughout the years, whether it be through parody, imitation, or seeing them in various compilations. The entire second half of the film is also more action-packed than scary, as the three protagonists venture to the open ocean to do battle against the shark. It’s a fun movie to watch for non-horror lovers, and it’s a great point of entry for those looking to delve deeper into the genre.

A gleefully inventive and original horror-comedy, “The Cabin in the Woods” pays loving homage to the horror genre. There are very few scary scenes in the movie, and those that are present are intentionally schlocky and old-schooled. The real fun of the movie lies not in the horror, but in the hilarious ways it parodies the genre. “The Cabin in the Woods” is a comedy for horror lovers, as it parodies virtually every horror trope under the creepy pale moon. But even non-horror fans can appreciate the originality of the film, the artistry of its creation, and the unique twists that it presents.

Forget the first “Evil Dead.” Even with its painfully small budget, it still manages to pack some solid scares. Instead, go straight for the acclaimed sequel. It significantly lessens the horror of the original and veers the series into comedic territory. In fact, it largely plays as a parody of the first film, and it contains a lot of goofy stuff like Ash making himself a chainsaw hand. It’s gory, but the violence is primarily played for laughs rather than shocks. And Bruce Campbell is at his wacky best throughout the film, proving himself a capable leading man. “Evil Dead II” may be the greatest horror-comedy ever made, and everyone - even those who detest horror - is guaranteed to have a good time watching it.