Horror films are not for everyone. Particularly when one shocking moment follows the next, some viewers prefer to switch off. Our list presents 9 films that are scary in places, but are also suitable for more anxious people.
The horror film is a very popular genre. This may be because we humans can watch others in extreme situations while lying comfortably on the sofa ourselves. This creates excitement without putting you in danger.
At the same time, many genre representatives are not for the faint of heart. Regardless of whether it is very bloody and brutal, or whether a jump scare (i.e. a surprising moment of terror accompanied by a loud noise) happens every few minutes – many people give horror films a wide berth.
In this list we will show you 9 films that are really good and are also suitable for the scaredy-cats among you. They largely avoid conventional jump scares and are not overly brutal either. The order is chosen randomly.
Jaws
Trailer for the wildlife horror film “Jaws” by Steven Spielberg
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Let’s start with a film that some would probably argue isn’t a horror film at all. Steven Spielberg’s film is classified as an animal horror film and tells of a beach in the USA in whose waters the eponymous shark roams.
The film is very effective at only hinting at its monster for a long time, but never fully showing it. Slowly but surely tension builds up. Whenever someone goes into the water, as a spectator you expect a shark attack. When it was released, the film caused a real panic and made people afraid to go swimming in the sea.
Fun fact: The shark itself is only seen for about 4 minutes in the entire film. For a long time the camera only shows details; you only see the whole shark after about 80 minutes of running time. The film attracted many not-so-good imitations.
Nosferatu – A Symphony of Horror (1922)
The ultimate vampire classic: “Nosferatu” in the trailer
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The oldest film on this list is a prime example of German horror cinema from the silent era. The story of Nosferatu is very similar to that of Dracula, but they didn’t have the rights to Bram Stoker’s book, so the title and names were changed.
The film may be over 100 years old, but it has lost none of its eerie impact. The images are like something out of a horror novel and Nosferatu’s look alone is scary. The film was remade by Werner Herzog in 1979, and another remake by Robert Eggers will be released this year.
Fun fact: Because the producers lost the copyright dispute with the Stoker heirs, all copies of Nosferatu were to be destroyed. However, they managed to save a few cut versions and later restore them.
The Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs – Trailer for the classic thriller with Anthony Hopkins
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The novel adaptation of the book of the same name is about the young FBI agent Clarice Starling, who has to work with the feared serial killer Hannibal Lecter in order to catch a serial killer. The film is told in an exciting way throughout and the encounters between Clarice and Lecter are particularly nerve-wracking.
Because Lecter is highly intelligent and tries to manipulate the still inexperienced agent. Until the eerie finale, the film avoids any major shock moments. Rather, he captivates the audience through the fantastic acting and the dense atmosphere.
Fun fact: Similar to the shark in Jaws, Hannibal Lecter is seen on screen for a much shorter time than many often assume. He only appears for about 16 minutes, but you still get the feeling that he’s there the entire time. Anthony Hopkins won an Oscar for his performance.
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