Some people hear “horror” and immediately think gore or cheap jump scares. But the truth is, horror is a vast umbrella; it can be quiet, stylish, playful, or even romantic. So when someone tells me, “Oh, I don’t really like horror,” I take it as a challenge. These are the five films I always recommend to the horror naysayers:

1. Popcorn — As a horror film, it’s pure fun: campy, self-aware, and full of energy. There aren’t really jump scares, and the humor keeps it from ever feeling cruel. This is the kind of horror you share with people who swear they “don’t like horror”, because Popcorn isn’t trying to punish you. It’s the total opposite of something like Eden Lake; this one wants you to have a good time.

2. Carnival of Souls — The perfect entry point. This black-and-white cult classic is all about mood. From the eerie organ score to the dreamlike, almost ghostly visuals, it creates a sense of unease, but not terror. It’s low-budget, yes, but that only adds to its strange, otherworldly charm. What I love most is how rare it feels: a film that unsettles not through violence or shocks, but through mood, music, and that lingering sense that someone is watching you.

3. The Others — This is a gothic ghost story done to perfection. Nicole Kidman wandering through a fog-drenched mansion with her two sickly children feels more Jane Eyre than Saw. It’s elegant, moody, and timeless. What makes The Others work so well for non-horror fans is that, for much of the film, it plays more like a mystery-drama than anything else. You’re pulled into the atmosphere, the questions, the eerie quiet of the house, and by the time it turns spooky, it never tips into outright terror. There are no jump scares, just a slow burn of unease and a story compelling enough to keep you leaning in. It’s the kind of film that reminds you horror can be beautiful, too.

4. What Lies Beneath — This one is glossy Hollywood horror in the best way. Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford in a supernatural domestic thriller that feels more Hitchcock than horrific. It’s a great entry point for non-horror fans because you’ve got instantly recognizable faces, no gore, and no violence. Just a spooky score and a mystery that keeps you wanting answers. It’s polished, suspenseful, and moody, the kind of film that makes you realize horror can be sleek and mainstream without losing its edge. An actual “bridge” film for anyone who thinks they’re too squeamish for the genre, and yes, the dog lives.

5. Darling — If blood makes you squeamish, black-and-white is your friend; everything here feels a step removed from reality. Darling is a slow, stylish descent into madness, anchored completely by Lauren Ashley Carter’s performance. It’s eerie without ever relying on gore, more of an arthouse nightmare than a traditional horror film. What makes it beginner-friendly is that it’s unsettling without being relentless. You get the atmosphere, the mind-bending tension, but none of the stomach-turning realism. It’s a brain-scrambler, yes, but one you can actually sit with.

Horror doesn’t have to mean slasher or splatter. It can be haunting, beautiful, strange, and honestly, I think once people get a taste, they realize they like horror more than they thought.

Stay spooky, stay curious.