Movies
Navigating an Ocean of Horror: The Perfect Horror Movies for Beginners
From the kid-friendly horror titles to the all-out screamers, this list of horror for beginners has you covered no matter which section of the pool you or your viewing partner is ready for. Remember, you can’t toss a brand-new swimmer straight into the deep end. Well, I suppose you can, but they may hate swimming for it. Introduce horror responsibly.

Scary movies exist within many levels of horror. Because of this, it can be challenging to find a scary movie to start with when you need a good horror movie for beginners.
Whether for yourself, your kid, your partner, your co-worker, your mother-in-law, or someone in between, knowing the fortitude of your audience is half the battle.
Should you start at the pool’s shallow end, where things are a bit tamer, or are you ready to dive into murkier depths of horror? No matter your or your viewing party/s horror tolerance, this list of scary movies for beginners will help you navigate the waters to find the perfect horror movie to start with.
DISCLAIMER: Swim at your own risk.
Everyone’s tolerances and the things they find acceptable wildly vary. While I have taken great care to organize this list into what I believe are different levels of horror movie tolerance, I recommend doing your due diligence before watching any title (especially with anyone aged lower than the film’s rating). This website will tell you any film’s potential triggers, e.g., “Does the dog die?” Meanwhile, IMDB has a Parent’s Guide which lists each incidence of a film’s use of profanity, sexual content, violence, drug use, etc. Also, some movies show how far they are willing to go during the opening scene; if you start a film and the opening scene is gruesome, you can expect the movie to go that far, and perhaps farther, again.
Time to dive in (and yes, I will be beating this swim lesson metaphor to death for the duration of this piece).
The Best Horror Movies for Beginners
The Kiddie Pool
Some of the best movies to serve as an introduction to horror can be found in films made explicitly for kids. Now don’t get me wrong; just because they’re kid-friendly horror movies doesn’t make them any less scary. The kiddie pool may seem harmless from the outside, but it might just give you nightmares once you know what’s in that water. That’s why these family-friendly scary movies are near and dear to many hardcore horror fan hearts. Starting up with a personal favorite of mine:
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998)
This movie is the perfect gauge for someone’s horror tolerance. Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang reunite to face off against real monsters for the first time. The cartoon zombies give a taste of violence, while the pirate ghosts and voodoo dolls make a fantastic introduction to the paranormal.
Coraline (2009)
Delivering light body horror via the Other Mother who replaces children’s eyes with buttons… need I say more? It’s a movie whose dark themes will have you questioning how this was made for children but being surprised by the way it serves horror in an objectively palatable manner.
Nightbooks (2021)
The only live-action option in this section is also (in my opinion) the least scary. A witch imprisons a boy who loves to tell scary stories. It’s a little like The Black Phone for kids and makes a perfect creepy movie for family night.
Water Wingies
So they let you out of the kid’s pool, but not without a little floatation device. These family horror films aren’t necessarily suitable for *all* ages; however, they are fun for *most* ages.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
While this film has a similar premise to many children’s movies as a boy finds a magical realm, this title has just enough unsettling imagery to see that it’s too grown up for the kiddie pool.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Take this PG title with a grain of salt, as anyone who’s seen it may remember Beetlejuice perusing the red light district or saying, “Nice f**king model.” The 80s and 90s kids’ movies were most certainly built differently. Outside of that, there’s some fun Claymation horror, great comedic moments, iconic looks, and just enough scariness to unsettle a fresh audience.
Poltergeist (1982)
Speaking of PG horror movies, the 80s “family friendly” horror film where the parents smoked some devil’s lettuce in the kitchen, the man peeled his face off, and real human skeletons swarmed the woman is a perfect introductory scary movie. The face-peeling effects have certainly aged with time, as has some of the terror it once instilled in its day, placing it safely in the safety of water wingies.
Learning to Doggy Paddle
You’re learning to swim alone now; this independence comes with scarier movies. Good for you.
Child’s Play (1988)
Child’s Play was my oldest child’s first horror movie because it has the perfect blend of suspense and violence to be expected of any scary movie but does not go over the top with it. Added to the fact that, at 35 years old, Chucky is such a known icon, the familiarity helps taper the fear. To the upcoming generation, I suppose Chucky is about as threatening as the older gentleman from Up feeding pigeons on a park bench. After all, the film will be fifty years old when most of our children graduate high school. Pardon me; I’m feeling faint.
Skinamarink (2022)
Much of the horror of this film comes from the tension building and its ability to tap into old childhood feelings of fear – not so much the horrific imagery. As such, this is a great place to begin for anyone who still needs to prepare for the gruesome likes of The Outwaters but is interested in liminal horror.
Fall (2022)
While this film isn’t a scary movie in the sense that there’s a monster or paranormal event, this film is the perfect family night horror movie, assuming our doggy paddlers can handle extreme heights and perhaps a corpse or two. When two girls are stranded at the top of a 2,000-foot radio tower, the ensuing tale and ending are hauntingly unforgettable.
Strong Swimmer
This section equates those who passed the lifeguard test at the public pool to be allowed to swim in the deep end.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
If it weren’t for the headless horseman decapitating the pregnant woman’s fetus, Sleepy Hollow would’ve been at a more shallow end of the pool, but here we are. It’s an excellent introduction to gore, as aside from regular decapitation, it’s pretty minimal. Plus, everyone gets to enjoy Christopher Walken’s memorable performance as the Hessian. Between the shot of his mouth with the pointed, bloody teeth, and the witch in the woods, some moments will stick with you long after watching.
The Others (2001)
The complete lack of gore, minor violence, and ensuing horror make this film excellent for anyone beginning to watch scary movies for the first time. To this day, it’s a unique horror tale that belongs on everyone’s watch list. The intense reveal at the end makes it a title that is likely unsuitable for all viewers.
Happy Death Day (2017)
Sometimes the best way to accustom oneself to horror is to laugh at it shamelessly. This PG-13 Blumhouse horror comedy is the perfect avenue for just that as the main character relives the same day repeatedly (in Groundhog Day fashion), all for her to be murdered by the same unknown, masked assailant each time. The film follows her journey as she tries to unravel the mystery of who is behind the mask. It’s a great introductory slasher, as since time rewinds each day, the deaths never really mean anything. (Or don’t they?)
Adult Swim
Finally, these are the honest-to-goodness scary movies that make the perfect horror movies for beginners ready to be terrified. This category is for people who can’t handle the gore but want to be scared. Sink or swim.
Sinister (2012)
The folks behind Sinister tried desperately to achieve a PG-13 rating, so there are few moments where violence is shown head-on. Despite this, the film’s subject matter nevertheless landed an R rating. If your viewing party can handle the dark journey of a true-crime writer investigating families ruthlessly annihilated by a demonic entity, this is the film for you.
Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)
Mike Flanagan is one of my favorite directors, and this film is a testimony to his expertise in the horror genre. There is little violence, but the imagery is so disturbing that it makes for a wonderfully terrifying time. A family who runs a fraudulent séance operation sees absolute horror as one of them becomes demonically possessed.
The Conjuring (2013)
This movie marks the rare occasion where a scary movie receives an R rating despite having few scenes of violence, nudity, or profanity. It’s rated R simply for being terrifying. Based on the real-life investigation of an allegedly haunted Connecticut home by Ed and Lorraine Warren, this film is a jump off the diving board straight into the deep end of horror.
From the kid-friendly horror titles to the all-out screamers, this list of horror for beginners has you covered no matter which section of the pool you or your viewing partner is ready for. Remember, you can’t toss a brand-new swimmer straight into the deep end. Well, I suppose you can, but they may hate swimming for it. Introduce horror responsibly. Let us know in the comments or on social media if there are any beginner horror movies you wish had been included!
Movies
The Best Horror You Can Stream on Shudder in February 2025
The Shudder February lineup is after my heart. Obviously, the app is adding more 2024 titles like The Dead Thing and Little Bites. However, they are also adding so many cool movies I have been dying to make my friends watch these last few years. There are some films guaranteed to make some heads roll alongside some cute vampire rom-coms hitting the horror streamer this month, and I cannot wait to revisit each title. Check out the five movies I’m highlighting this year, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! So here are the best movies to stream on Shudder this February!

The Shudder February lineup is after my heart. Obviously, the app is adding more 2024 titles like The Dead Thing and Little Bites. However, they are also adding so many cool movies I have been dying to make my friends watch these last few years. There are some films guaranteed to make some heads roll alongside some cute vampire rom-coms hitting the horror streamer this month, and I cannot wait to revisit each title. Check out the five movies I’m highlighting this year, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
The Coffee Table (2022)
A couple of new parents experiencing a rough patch decide to buy a coffee table, not knowing that the decision will alter their lives forever. The Coffee Table was one of my favorite movies of last year, and it is one of those titles you want to know as little as possible when you hit play. It is the bleakest and most stressful comedy I have seen in years, and I love it. This one goes out to my fellow sickos (complimentary). Please watch it the day it hits Shudder before the internet can ruin it for you.
You can watch The Coffee Table on February 24th.
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (2024)
A young vampire who is too sensitive to kill for her supper meets a young loner with suicidal tendencies. What starts as a transactional relationship soon blossoms into an unexpected friendship. This movie is much cuter than I like my vampire movies. However, it is still a nice time for those looking to fill the void left by What We Do in the Shadows ending. It’s also not the worst romantic horror movie we have ever seen. I had very few notes for it in my review, and I know it made it onto quite a few top 10 lists of last year.
You can watch Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person on February 10th.
My Animal (2023)
An outcast falls for a new girl in her small town, which makes it difficult to keep her darkest secret hidden. My Animal is a severely overlooked lesbian werewolf tale. It has been stuck in streamer purgatory for years, so finally finding a streaming home is a big deal. This moody story stars Bobbi Salvör Menuez and Amandla Stenberg and deserves your attention. It belongs somewhere between Ginger Snaps and Good Manners in the women werewolves we must celebrate. Make this feral love story a date night this winter, preferably during a full moon.
You can watch My Animal on February 1st.
Nightsiren (2022)
A woman returns to her birthplace, searching for answers to questions about her childhood. However, she is met with ancient superstitions and a community accusing her of witchcraft and murder. Nightsiren has been on my radar for a couple of years and is the only movie I have not seen. I love that Shudder is letting me find out if it’s as good as it looks this February. Worst-case scenario, I can say that I watched a Slovak-Czech feminist psychological horror this month, and that feels like a win.
You can watch Nightsiren on February 10th.
Tiger Stripes (2024)
An 11-year-old discovers the body horror of puberty as her body begins to change. Gothic horror is out, and menstruation is in because Tiger Stripes is the kind of period horror we need more of in the world. I fell for this cute little movie during a festival a couple of years ago and am so glad it has finally made its way to Shudder. It’s funny and very relatable. It is also a new genre entry destigmatizing the menses, and we need more movies in this subgenre. So, while you should watch it with as many people as possible, it’s also a delightful brunch body horror moment.
You can watch Tiger Stripes on February 24th.
It seems like Shudder has read my diary and added titles that I need the rest of you to see. I hope you check out these tales of lesbian werewolves, fun period horror, and everything between this February. You truly deserve cool new stories by cool new filmmakers, and that is exactly what the streamer is giving us almost weekly this month. What a time to be a subscriber!
Movies
Revisiting The Stepfather Films (And The Insane Real Crime Spree That Inspired Them)

We all have one person in our lives who carries everything on their backs. It could be a family member whose work ethic shocks everyone around them or a friend juggling dozens of projects at once and still managing to get everything done just right. Thankless individuals who go unrecognized, but sometimes, that person ends up getting the spotlight they deserve.
To me, the Stepfather series is the perfect example of that in cinematic terms.
The Stepfather, directed by Joseph Ruben in 1987, is the first in a small franchise of horror films that feels pretty forgotten in the grand scheme of 80s slashers and thrillers. But the film is a really interesting study of how one actor can take a role and make it their own, in a way that’s so compelling it makes you want to see more of that character even when the movies he’s in are kind of mediocre.
ODDLY MEMORABLE FOR A FORGOTTEN FRANCHISE
As the cultural conversation of the era has turned into a lot of circular discourse about how much better effects were back then and how unproven concepts made it to the screen more often, it should be easy to forget a psychological horror film with such a simple premise: what if your stepfather you hated was actually a freaky serial killer who was going to take your family out? From that premise sprung an unexpectedly great film, carried entirely by its lead actor.
I have a weird connection to The Stepfather because it was written by Richard Stark, who wrote one of my favorite crime stories of all time: The Hunter. I didn’t even know Richard Stark was only a pseudonym until I watched The Stepfatherand discovered it was writer Donald E. Westlake’s pen name. And Westlake’s proficiency with crime fiction translates here smoothly, because he took a horrifying real-life story of absolute evil (straight out of Westfield, New Jersey) and brought it to the screen with a true-to-life character.
THE CRIMINAL BEHIND THE STEPFATHER SERIES
The real-life killer behind The Stepfather films was John List. To most people, he was a family man, living the dream with his wife and three children. He was a banker, hard-working and clean living, on the outside at least. He had a close relationship with many of the people in the Lutheran church he attended every Sunday, and was well-liked. But in reality, List was about to become one of the most infamous mass murderers in American history.
Behind the scenes, List was struck with financial trouble after financial trouble that exacerbated his already worsening mental health problems. A number of layoffs and setbacks left him and his family teetering on the brink of poverty despite the fact they lived in a 19-room mansion (I couldn’t even begin to explain how that works, don’t ask). List’s relationship with his wife was damaged by her spending habits, alcoholism, and deteriorating mental state due to untreated syphilis.
He was left to “raise” three children, whom he was verbally and physically abusive to; his daughter Patricia even warned her drama coach that she was certain her father was going to kill her. Then her father actually sat all the kids down and told them they should prepare to die. And eventually, Patricia, her mother and grandmother, and both of her brothers became List’s victims in 1971.
List left his car in long-term parking at JFK International and disappeared with almost nothing in his name. Leaving a confession for his pastor behind in the form of a letter, it took weeks for neighbors to report the family’s disappearance, thanks to List’s meticulous planning. He had already slipped through the hands of the police by running from state to state, before eventually settling down into a new persona: Robert Clark. He eventually “fell in love” with a woman named Delores Miller, and the two moved to Virginia together soon after that.
Their relationship ended abruptly after an episode of America’s Most Wanted aired, in which famous forensic artist Frank Bender made an incredibly accurate sculpt of what List looked like at the time. After years of close calls and narrow captures, List was discovered. It took 17 and a half years for List to be caught. He was sentenced to five consecutive life sentences and died in jail in 2008.
THE ACTOR WHO GAVE LIFE TO THE STEPFATHER SERIES
Now, I mention all of this above to punctuate one thing: The Stepfather isn’t the only fictionalized retelling of List’s story, but it is the most effective. Its opening scene is a gruesome recounting of List’s disaffected disappearance, how he slipped off to freedom, to an alternate life of his own design for nearly two decades, with little emotion at all. It opens on a mystery—what kind of man is he, if he is human at all? How does one simply walk away from a crime scene so calm and collected?
Because at the heart of the List case is the intensely intriguing and horrifying persona that is John List. To adapt that kind of personality, that deeply unhinged and deceptive person, is the kind of acting challenge many actors would pounce on immediately. And for horror fans, an unlikely hero stepped up to the plate: Terry O’Quinn. He’s best known for playing John Locke on the show Lost, but he’s also a quintessential “that one guy” character actor; he’s been in so many films and television shows you can probably throw a dart in any direction and hit his filmography.
I don’t know if I’d go so far as to call the first two Stepfather movies iconic (entertaining, definitely). Still, our main man Terry O’Quinn is incredibly iconic in his performance of Jerry Blake. O’Quinn really does enthrall you, and he’s an actor to beat when it comes to depicting someone slowly unraveling and releasing bursts of madness along the way like solar flares on a star’s surface. And I don’t just say that because he bears a bizarre resemblance to an older Anthony Starr.
He even almost tricks you into thinking Jerry’s moments of manufactured sweetness and maudlin family-man aesthetic are genuine, but then you remember what you’re watching and go right back to hating him with a passion. He is a quintessential horror movie villain because you despise him, but you’re transfixed by him.
He’s an emotionally disturbed con man, a parasite who can worm his way into a new skin with sociopathic ease. And when it all comes crashing down, to the point where even he isn’t sure what role he’s supposed to play for his fake family, its fantastic. With a line as simple as, “Wait a minute, who am I here?”, O’Quinn cemented himself as the definitive depiction of the character.
WHY EACH OF THE STEPFATHER FILMS IS WORTH WATCHING
As I said, these films are far from perfect, but each one brings something a little new and different to the table. It’s fun to see O’Quinn return to the role in Stepfather 2, playing opposite of the legendary Caroline Williams and Meg Foster; a psycho-slasher finale at a wedding is just hard to beat. Stepfather 3 brings a surprisingly good changing of hands to the title role, though, since despite O’Quinn being replaced by Robert Wightman, Wightman brings just the right kind of energy to the role; he’s the perfect fit for the much campier and goofier tone of the 3rd film, and I was honestly very impressed with how he brought the role to life. But be warned: don’t bother with the remake. It is borderline bloodless, and incredibly boring. You can put a million Penn Badgley’s in that film, I’m not watching it again.
The Stepfather films aren’t anyone’s favorite of the many horror fans I’ve met and spoken with. But they are a capsule of how one artist can have enough staying power to keep them in your mind. So, for all my people out there who are going to check the trilogy out now thanks to this article: happy watching horror fans, and have fun!