Horror Movies For Beginners

From John Carpenter, starring Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Masur
Rated R

The Thing is a science-fiction horror film directed by John Carpenter, released in 1982. The movie follows a team of researchers in Antarctica as they come into contact with an alien organism that has the ability to absorb and mimic any living creature that it comes into contact with. As the team struggles to find a way to stop the alien, paranoia and mistrust begin to set in, leading to a battle for survival as they try to stay alive and contain the creature. In the end, the team is successful in stopping the alien, but at the cost of their lives.

From William Friedkin, starring Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Lee J. Cobb
Rated R

The Exorcist is a horror classic directed by William Friedkin in 1973. It follows the story of a young girl named Regan who is possessed by a demon. As Regan's behavior becomes increasingly more erratic and violent, her mother calls upon two priests to help her daughter. With the help of a specialist, the priests employ a series of exorcisms to try and rid the young girl of the demon. As the priests become increasingly more desperate, they must confront the powerful forces of evil in order to save Regan's life. The Exorcist is an intense and powerful film that has been lauded for its intense atmosphere and its exploration of faith and religion.

From Tomas Alfredson, starring Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar, Henrik Dahl
Rated R

Let the Right One In is a Swedish romantic horror film set in 1982 in the suburbs of Stockholm. It follows Oskar, a twelve year old who is regularly bullied at school and lives with his mother. He meets Eli, a pale girl who moves into his apartment complex and takes a strange interest in him. She reveals to him that she is a vampire, and the two eventually become close friends. As their relationship deepens and Oskar's courage grows, he stands up to the bullies at school and helps Eli with her struggle to survive. Together, they must face the consequences of Eli's immortality and confront a mysterious figure who has been stalking them. Let the Right One In is a haunting and atmospheric story of friendship, love, and coming of age.

From Edgar Wright, starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis
Rated R

Shaun of the Dead is a 2004 horror-comedy film written by and starring Simon Pegg and directed by Edgar Wright. The film follows Shaun, a 30-year-old electronic store employee in London, who takes on the task of trying to save his friends and family from a Zombie apocalypse. Along the way, he is forced to confront his own problems, as well as the difficult relationships he has with his family, friends, and ex-girlfriend. The film is a tongue-in-cheek parody of zombie films and culture, as well as a commentary on modern British society. It is also notable for its unique blend of comedy and horror, which allows the audience to laugh at the absurdity of the situation, while still being able to sympathize with the characters.

From Danny Boyle, starring Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston, Alex Palmer
Rated R

28 Days Later... is a post-apocalyptic horror film directed by Danny Boyle. The movie follows Jim (Cillian Murphy), a bike courier in London, who wakes up after a coma to find that a virus has infected the world. The virus has wiped out most of humanity, leaving the city of London a desolate wasteland. With the help of a small group of survivors, Jim attempts to make sense of the situation and find a way to survive. Along the way, they face off against the infected "rage zombies" that have been created by the virus, as well as a band of military-style scavengers who are out to enslave and exploit the few remaining survivors. Jim's journey brings him closer to understanding the devastating effects of the virus and the hope of a new beginning.

From Directors: Robert Rodriguez, Eli Roth, Quentin Tarantino, Edgar Wright, Rob Zombie, starring Kurt Russell, Rose McGowan, Danny Trejo, Zoë Bell
Rated R

Grindhouse is an action-horror-thriller double-feature directed by Robert Rodriguez, Eli Roth, Quentin Tarantino, Edgar Wright, and Rob Zombie. The film consists of two feature-length films, Rodriguez’s Planet Terror and Tarantino’s Death Proof, as well as four fake trailers, designed to look like B-movies from the 1970s. Planet Terror follows a group of people in a small Texas town who must fight against a horde of zombies. Death Proof follows a stuntman and serial killer who stalks and kills women with his “death proof” car. Grindhouse pays homage to the B-movies of the 1970s, with its stylized violence, over-the-top plotlines, and grainy visuals. The film was a box office failure, but has since become a cult classic.

From Directors: Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza, starring Manuela Velasco, Ferran Terraza, Jorge-Yamam Serrano, Pablo Rosso
Rated R

From J.A. Bayona, starring Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Príncep, Mabel Rivera
Rated R

From Zack Snyder, starring Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Mekhi Phifer, Jake Weber
Rated R

From Ari Aster, starring Toni Collette, Milly Shapiro, Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff
Rated R

From Frank Darabont, starring Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Andre Braugher
Rated R

From Matt Reeves, starring Mike Vogel, Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan, T.J. Miller
Rated PG-13

From Drew Goddard, starring Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz
Rated R

From James Wan, starring Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, Lin Shaye
Rated PG-13

From James Watkins, starring Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender, Tara Ellis, Jack O'Connell
Rated R

From Rob Zombie, starring Sid Haig, Sheri Moon Zombie, Bill Moseley, William Forsythe
Rated R

From Directors: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez, starring Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, Joshua Leonard, Bob Griffin
Rated R

From Christophe Gans, starring Radha Mitchell, Laurie Holden, Sean Bean, Deborah Kara Unger
Rated R

From Fede Alvarez, starring Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Jessica Lucas, Lou Taylor Pucci
Rated R

From Brad Anderson, starring David Caruso, Stephen Gevedon, Paul Guilfoyle, Josh Lucas
Rated R

From Marcus Nispel, starring Jessica Biel, Jonathan Tucker, Andrew Bryniarski, Erica Leerhsen
Rated R

From Takashi Shimizu, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr, Clea DuVall, William Mapother
Rated PG-13

From Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, David Bruckner, Tyler Gillett, Justin Martinez, Glenn McQuaid, Radio Silence, Joe Swanberg, Chad Villella, Ti West, Adam Wingard, starring Calvin Reeder, Lane Hughes, Adam Wingard, Hannah Fierman
Rated R