A frequent question on the horror sub Reddit is a request for the scariest and most disturbing movies of all time. While I have watched my share of extremely intense ones (such as Funny Games and Eden Lake), sometimes I just want a more enjoyable flick won’t scar me. If you are looking for a less intense scare, I have two great horror movies that you will be sure to enjoy.
Night Swim (2024): A Suburban Horror Movie
Night Swim (2024) tells the story of a haunted swimming pool in a suburban backyard. I had my reservations about this movie before seeing it because it sounded terribly dull. Luckily, I was wrong. This movie involves a family who moves into a new house with a swimming pool. Little by little, they discover that something is wrong with their pool, but one member of the family is dead set against moving. I like how this movie unfolds, revealing the danger in small steps until the final reveal. I also like the dynamics among the family members, especially the siblings. They are a family that stick together, but like every family, they have underlying tensions.
Night Swim didn’t receive rave reviews, and I believe that part of that is due to its milder tone. There are some solid scares, but this movie aims for a broader audience of viewers who might not like hardcore horror. I’ll admit that the premise is a bit silly, and that the plot is fairly predictable. However, I don’t mind these things when the movie itself is enjoyable. This PG-13 movie would make a great family movie night.
Wish Upon (2017): A Dark Twist on the Monkey’s Paw
My next less intense scare is Wish Upon (2017). This movie is a remake of the ‘monkey’s paw‘ scenario. The owner of a Chinese wish box gets several wishes, but the wisher soon finds out that wishes are tricky things. What I like about this movie is that it’s a teenage movie, complete with mean girls and first crushes. Although Wish Upon can be grim at times (trigger warning: self harm), it can be fun as well. The buildup of tension makes the shocking ending even stronger.
Like I said, Wish Upon is grimmer than Night Swim, but compared to other, harsher horror movies, it is quite tame. If you enjoy movies about mean, popular girls and high school, this is the movie for you.
These horror lite movies are good introductions for those new to the genre. They can be scary, but fun at the same time.
What about you? Do you prefer tamer horror movies, or do you like the stronger stuff? Let me know in the comments.
