# What type of horror scares/interests you? What doesn't? What would you like to see? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [May 8, 2023, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755 "2023-05-08T15:39:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/21 "2023-05-08T19:13:43Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Oh the same on jump scares. The mark of a lazy movie IMHO. I saw a clip of a standup routine recently where the comedian said that jump scares are like if he’d start tickling audience members, going, ‘see, I’m funny, you’re laughing’! ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/22 "2023-05-08T19:32:21Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I like psychological and supernatural stuff. No gore, except as necessary. 🙂 > Ghosts are good, and haunted houses are the best. I also like stories that are in an isolated setting, such as the hotel in The Shining. Have you ever seen _Haunted_ with Aidan Quinn and Kate Beckinsale? It wasn’t perfect, but it was nice at upsetting assumptions. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/23 "2023-05-08T19:52:47Z")
Nope, I’ll check it out sometime. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/24 "2023-05-09T23:40:08Z")
I don’t watch a lot of horror because of my anxiety, but when I do it’s usually weird, atmospheric or psychological horror. I appreciate the slow build up of dread and just being in a really creepy setting. Some movies I have liked (not all horror, but horror-adjacent) are _The Omen,_ _Shutter Island,_ _The Lighthouse,_ _The Thing,_ the Peele movies and my personal all-time favorite, _Alien._ I also thought the _Haunting of Hill House_ TV series was excellent. Ditto the _Silent Hill_ video games. I am not bothered by gore but I am extremely sensitive to humans being cruel to other humans. Torture is right out. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/25 "2023-05-09T23:50:55Z")
I like movies that are at the intersection of science fiction and horror, like _Alien_, _The Thing_, and _The Fly_. There’s something about genetically twisted, scary creatures that fascinates me. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/26 "2023-05-09T23:59:12Z")
I like horror that doesn’t show the blood/gore/scares right away, but uses suspense. There was a scene in the second Alien movie where the xenomorph rises up behind the pilot bringing in the landing craft. She glances back and the view cuts to the instrument panel as a spray of blood goes across it. Your imagination, (which can produce the worst horrors} fills in what happened. You didn’t see the shark in Jaws until about a third of the way through the film. Anthony Hopkin’s acting scared the heck out of me when he simply talked the Jodie Foster ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/27 "2023-05-10T13:50:53Z")
I like the suspense of the Hitchcock movies. _The Man Who Knew Too Much_ and _Rear Window_ are my favorites. I avoid watching movies with explicit violence. There’s too much of it in real life. I’d like to see comedy/horror return. Movies like Re-Animator are still my favorites. The horror is so absurd that it’s funny. ---
**Author:** ![NinthAcolyte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ninthacolyte/32/13676_2.png) [@NinthAcolyte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinthAcolyte)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/28 "2023-05-10T14:06:04Z")
This is _exactly_ how I feel! I can quite enjoy a slasher/serial killer type horror movie, but they don’t _scare_ me. > [@Moonrise](#): > > The scariest horror movie I can imagine would unfold just like a nightmare. Pure existential, inescapable dread. Did you see “Skinamarink?” If not, give it a go. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/29 "2023-05-10T14:07:26Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’d like to see comedy/horror return. Movies like Re-Animator are still my favorites. The horror is so absurd that it’s funny. Evil Dead 2 is kind of an amazing comedy in its second half. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/30 "2023-05-10T14:14:36Z")
I haven’t seen Evil Dead 2. I’ll check it out. I’ve seen Evil Dead. It’s gory but so absurd that I like the movie. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/31 "2023-05-10T14:27:34Z")
I have two broad categories I like, and three that I dislike. Like 1. Movies with supernatural villains. The Exorcist, the Conjuring movies, Annabelle, etc. Like 2. Movies with slasher villains. Friday the 13th, Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, etc. Dislike 1. Movies where ordinary people act in odd ways. I’m not talking about the typical cliches like splitting up, going out into the woods alone at night, not finishing off the bad guy when they have a chance, and so on. Instead I’m talking about movies where people act as if nothing is wrong even when it’s blatantly obvious that there is something weird happening. There’s a creepy movie from the 80s which is supposedly a children’s movie, but is way scarier than anything Freddy Krueger or Michael Myers can dish out. I present _The Peanut Butter Solution_ as an example. > **[The Peanut Butter Solution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Peanut_Butter_Solution)** > > The Peanut Butter Solution (French title: Opération beurre de pinottes) is a 1985 Canadian children's fantasy film directed by Michael Rubbo. The second installment in the Tales for All (Contes Pour Tous) series of films by Les Productions La Fête, the film stars Mathew Mackay, Siluck Saysanasy, Alison Darcy, and Michael Hogan. > Michael Baskin is an average 11-year-old boy. His father, Billy Baskin, is a struggling artist and temporary sole caregiver of the children while his wife attends to the ... Dislike 2. Real life crime made into horror. I’m an escapist when it comes to entertainment. I get enough real life in my real life. I don’t need more of it from my entertainment. Dislike 3. Stuff that is supposed to be for children but is actually psychedelic / creepy. A lot of old Disney movies fall into this category. _Dumbo_ and _Pinocchio_ are some examples. The boat scene in _Willy Wonka_ is another. Anything involving Muppets. I don’t get how this stuff can be considered entertaining for children. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/32 "2023-05-10T19:25:47Z")
I don’t like gory movies so my pick is The Others starring Nicole Kidman. Set during the last of WWII and very grim. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/33 "2023-05-10T21:10:50Z")
> [@NinthAcolyte](#): > > Did you see “Skinamarink?” If not, give it a go. It’s great if you have insomnia! Otherwise it’s barely even watchable. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/34 "2023-05-10T22:24:50Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > It’s great if you have insomnia! Otherwise it’s barely even watchable. I agree. I’m surprised it’s been mentioned twice in this thread. I’ll watch pretty much any horror movie as long as it’s with other people, and probably some alcohol, so you can talk back and forth, guess who the killer is, guess who get killed next etc. Definitely a group watching experience. If I had to watch a slasher flick by myself I would probably fall asleep. ---
**Author:** ![NinthAcolyte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ninthacolyte/32/13676_2.png) [@NinthAcolyte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinthAcolyte)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/35 "2023-05-11T13:02:25Z")
I disagree, but I also don’t hold it against anyone for whom it was not their cup of tea. Personally I found it powerfully effective, as did those I watched it with. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/36 "2023-05-11T13:14:59Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > The Fly I recently watched this for the first since the 80s and was amazed how good it was. It was so _economical_. If it were made today, it would spend 15 minutes introducing Seth and Veronica before they meet, but instead the very first scene is them chatting at a party and the attraction is made obvious without any heavy dramatics. And later, this exchange: **Ronnie:** I don’t know what you’re trying to say. **Seth:** I’m saying… I’m saying I - I’m an insect who dreamt he was a man and loved it. But now the dream is over… and the insect is awake. **Ronnie:** No. no, Seth… **Seth:** I’m saying… I’ll hurt you if you stay. Love in conflict with unstoppable instinct? _That’s_ horror. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/37 "2023-05-11T13:37:49Z")
Like with any other genre, I just want to see something I haven’t seen a million times already. Surprise me, and not with cheap jump scares. Nothing wrong with throwing those in every now and then but if that’s entirely the source of “horror” then you’re doing it wrong. What bothers me in horror films is shitty writing. Your basic Hollywood summer slasher movie. **I Know What You Did Last Summer** , **Valentine** , **Urban Legend** , the majority of **Friday the 13th** movies, these movies are total shit. Lazy, cookie-cutter fill-in-the-blanks scripts. You root for the killers because the protagonists are all just caricatures of caricatures, and the killer is easily the most interesting character in the whole thing. Torture horror doesn’t bother me. It’s just effects, and usually is used as a replacement for decent writing. The **Saw** movies at least attempted to be clever about it, where the **Hostel** films did not. The **Human Centipede** films are actually quite compelling if you can stand to watch them. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/38 "2023-05-11T14:38:49Z")
I really want to watch this with the commentary tracks of all involved, but I understand that the cast and crew and the director are all on different versions or somesuch. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2023, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755/39 "2023-05-28T14:42:50Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > You didn’t see the shark in Jaws until about a third of the way through the film. Because they had problems with the animatronic shark (nicknamed Bruce) malfunctioning. Imagine if Jaws hadn’t been made until the CGI era, it probably would be about as compelling as Sharknado. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-horror-scares-interests-you-what-doesnt-what-would-you-like-to-see/983755.md?page=1)