Great scary movies that are not too violent/gory
If you like to be scared and kept on the edge of your seat but don't like the blood & guts slashers/torture porn etc here's a list of some great movies that should do the trick! Some of them have some violence but I've tried to pick those with minimal blood/gore/violence to none-at-all. These movies are more about the thrills and suspense, the atmosphere & psychological horror and less about visual blood baths and screaming teens getting killed for no apparent reason :)
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- DirectorRobert HarmonStarsRutger HauerC. Thomas HowellJennifer Jason LeighA young man who escapes the clutches of a murderous hitchhiker is subsequently stalked by the hitcher and framed for his crimes.There is some violence in this one, most implied off-screen, but enough to warn that it might be too strong for kiddies. That aside this is one of the best thriller movies I've ever seen. There is something about the way this unfolds that grips you by the short and curlies right from the start and never lets go, despite having minimal blood & gore. A fast-paced thrill ride you will never forget. NB: The remake of The Hitcher is also good, nowhere near as good as the original but a decent thriller in it's own right. It also has more on-screen violence & gore than the original so I haven't included it on this list. But it's still above average and worth watching (after you watch the original) - as long as you don't think of it as a remake of this masterpiece.
- DirectorBanjong PisanthanakunParkpoom WongpoomStarsAnanda EveringhamNatthaweeranuch ThongmeeAchita SikamanaA young photographer and his girlfriend discover mysterious shadows in their photographs after a tragic accident. They soon learn that you can not escape your past.The original and the best. You have to deal with subtitles but you will hardly notice. Gripping, spooky and one of the most frightening movies I've seen. Very clever use of camera shots to drive the suspense. If you like searching for ghosts in photographs you will love this.
- DirectorJonathan MostowStarsKurt RussellJ.T. WalshKathleen QuinlanA man searches for his missing wife after his car breaks down in the middle of the desert.This R rated suspense thriller is one action-packed, non-stop, adrenaline infused rush with minimal violence but some scary bad guys and adult themes!! Highly recommended.
- DirectorJ.A. BayonaStarsBelén RuedaFernando CayoRoger PríncepA woman brings her family back to her childhood home, which used to be an orphanage for handicapped children. Before long, her son starts to communicate with an invisible new friend.Brilliant atmospheric thriller with stellar performances by all concerned. MUST SEE!!!
- DirectorAlejandro AmenábarStarsNicole KidmanChristopher EcclestonFionnula FlanaganIn 1945, immediately following the end of Second World War, a woman who lives with her two photosensitive children on her darkened old family estate in the Channel Islands becomes convinced that the home is haunted.Some might be put off by Nicole Kidman's starring role. Don't be. She is exceptional in this movie and really surprised me. As are all the actors including the young kids. This is a beautiful movie, with fantastic direction, editing & cinematography with suspense & chills galore in the tradition of well-crafted horror movies of old. If you like edgy dramatic thrillers with a surprise ending this is your kind of flick. DO NOT READ REVIEWS as many of them contain important spoilers.
- DirectorCarlos BrooksStarsBriana EviganCharlie TahanGarret DillahuntA thriller centered on a young woman and her autistic little brother who are trapped in a house with a ravenous tiger during a hurricane.The star of the movie is the tiger and the movie is much MUCH better than you'd expect. They used real tigers (3 of them) not CGI. It's awesomely directed & has a great script & believable sympathetic characters. It's a movie about a nice, resourceful, underwear-clad hot girl & a cute autistic kid in a boarded-up house being terrorised by a tiger. What more do you need to know!! Go get it!
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsMelanie LynskeyKate WinsletSarah PeirseTwo teenage girls share a unique bond; their parents, concerned that the friendship is too intense, separate them, and the girls take revenge.This is probably more atmospheric & suspenseful than "scary" but is a brilliant movie that should satisfy anyone looking for a good drama with sinister overtones. The young stars (including a then unknown Kate Winslet) are astoundingly good. Based on a true story.
- DirectorBernard RoseStarsCharlotte BurkeJane BertishSamantha CahillA young girl lost in the loneliness and boredom of reality finds solace in an ill boy, whom she can visit in a surreal dream world that she drew in her school composition book.Delightful acting from the youngsters and beautifully directed/filmed this lovely fantasy story is for young and not so young.
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsMichael J. FoxTrini AlvaradoPeter DobsonAfter a tragic car accident that kills his wife, a man discovers he can communicate with the dead, and he uses that gift to con people. However, when a demonic spirit appears, he may be the only one who can stop it from killing the living and the dead.This awesome criminally over-looked horror-comedy is a must see. I can't describe it without giving away too much detail but think of it as a far more sophisticated, funny, engaging, scary, Ghost Busters for intelligent adults. There are some scenes in this that are not suitable for young viewers.
- DirectorSandor SternStarsDavid HewlettCynthia PrestonTerry O'QuinnIsolated by his strange parents, Leon finds solace in an imaginary friend, which happens to be an anatomy doll from his father's doctor office. Unfortunately, the doll begins to take over Leon's life, and his sister's life as well.No blood & gore, just good old-fashioned Hitchcock style tension, mystery & thrills. Produced on a low budget this is an unpredictable chiller with beautiful direction and excellent acting. Highly recommended. (I see a remake is in production for 2014. I sincerely hope they don't wreck it)
- DirectorIain SoftleyStarsKate HudsonPeter SarsgaardJoy BryantA hospice nurse working at a spooky New Orleans plantation home finds herself entangled in a mystery involving the house's dark past.An fine engrossing gothic mystery thriller with excellent performances from all the cast. This is more like the horror movies of old where they relied on quality performances, acting, camera work and story to deliver rather than CGI FX or over the top blood & violence. NB Do not watch trailers or read too much about this flick as everyone wants to give away the awesome ending.
- DirectorJaume BalagueróStarsAnna PaquinLena OlinIain GlenA teenage girl moves into a remote country house with her family, only to discover that their gloomy new home has a horrifying past that threatens to destroy the family.Anna Paquin carries the bulk of this well directed thriller and she does it well. It falls apart a bit at the end but still well worth watching.
- DirectorDavid BetonJames NunnStarsSheridan SmithJamie Thomas KingJack O'ConnellSeveral months after witnessing a murder, residents of Tower Block 31 find themselves being picked off by a sniper, pitting those lucky enough to be alive into a battle for survival.This is more a thriller than horror but it's still edge of your seat scary so I thought it should be included. It's one of those hidden low budget indie gems, this time from the UK, that deserves a better rating and to be more widely known. The plot has it's flaws but the movie succeeds despite that and you can more than happily overlook them. This is extremely well directed & acted & really worth seeing. I also see a couple of stars in the making in that young cast.
- DirectorDanny PangOxide Chun PangStarsDylan McDermottPenelope Ann MillerKristen StewartAn ominous darkness invades a seemingly serene sunflower farm in North Dakota, and the Solomon family is torn apart by suspicion, mayhem and murder.not the most riveting story in the world & the plot has several flaws (like so many thrillers do). But it doesn't matter because in the hands of the skilled and wonderful Pang Brothers this taut little thriller still a far better movie than most and easily worth the rental.
- DirectorHerbert WiseStarsAdrian RawlinsBernard HeptonDavid DakerA lawyer travels to a small seaside town to settle the estate of a recently deceased woman, but soon becomes ensnared in something much more sinister.Classic spooky movie. One of the very best chilling suspense thrillers of it's era with an ending that genuinely shocked the critics.
- DirectorJames WatkinsStarsDaniel RadcliffeJanet McTeerCiarán HindsA young solicitor travels to a remote village where he discovers that the vengeful ghost of a scorned woman is terrorizing the locals.A pretty good remake/re-imagining of the original with some differences in plot - particularly the ending which has audiences divided! (surprise surprise! LOL) I don't think it matters which you watch. If you're into the classics go for the 1989 version but if you can't stand watching movies from days gone by watch the 2012 one. Daniel Radcliffe does a decent job & the stories are pretty similar. Better yet, watch the original and then watch the remake. They're both good.
- DirectorJulian GilbeyStarsAlec NewmanEd SpeleersMelissa GeorgeA group of mountaineers in the Scottish Highlands discover a kidnapped girl and are pursued by her captors.Although the second half of this movie lets it down somewhat the first half has some of the most intense suspense you'll ever see. The movie is very good despite the flaws and deserves better ratings than it's currently receiving. Not sure if this has any graphic violence (don't recall it but I recommend caution with this one if you're looking for something younger family members can watch) but it IS thrilling and worth a rent.
- DirectorJoel ViertelStarsKip PardueTara ReidMeredith BaxterA couple spend their honeymoon in a cabin on a small island in the middle of a forest lake. There's no power nor cellphone connection. He starts behaving strange, not letting her leave the island. She can't swim.Good psychological thriller that really only has two characters in the entire movie. Despite this the movie delivers.
- DirectorPeter WeirStarsRachel RobertsAnne-Louise LambertVivean GrayDuring a rural summer picnic, a few students and a teacher from an Australian girls' school vanish without a trace. Their absence frustrates and haunts the people left behind.An oldie but an absolute classic from Australia's Peter Wier. This is a slow burner eerie story and is not for fans of fast action, MTV jump-cut, thrill-a-minute movies. PAHR is adored by all Australians & is an integral part of our film culture. I'm still not sure if it's truly based on a real story or not. Tho I grew up convinced it was! MUST SEE.
- DirectorJack ClaytonStarsDeborah KerrPeter WyngardeMegs JenkinsA young governess for two children becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted.This movie is old but stands up well even today. Good for a quiet afternoon as it's not very scary. Just a bit spooky.
- DirectorBob ClarkStarsOlivia HusseyKeir DulleaMargot KidderDuring their Christmas break, a group of sorority girls are stalked by a stranger.Apparently Halloween was originally intended as a sequel to Black Christmas but ended up changing it's name and focus and creating an actual villain. That worked well for Halloween commercially but it took away one of the most significant attractions of this classic movie - the terror of the "nameless & faceless killer". This is just one of the aspects of BC that works so well in generating an atmosphere of menace & suspense. Many of the horror "cliches' we now know and love began with this movie. It's brilliant in it's own right but wont be everyone's cup o' java. It doesn't have today's blood & gore & thrill-a-minute scares, despite being an early slasher flick, but it is still a fantastic movie for so many other reasons. But it's also worth watching for the historical perspective - to see where all those horror traditions originated. (PS DO NOT BOTHER WITH THE REMAKE!!)