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What Movie Would You Use to Get a Non Horror Fan Into Horror?

post #1 of 70
9/14/07 at 11:08pm
Thread Starter 
Some time ago, someone posted a thread asking the above question about comics. What comic would you recommend a non-comics fan read, if they expressed an interest in maybe giving comics a try. What book do you think is strong enough that it could maybe win over a person that, while open minded enough to give them a try, didn't grow up loving comics. Lot of people voted for the Sandman, Dark Knight Returns, Watchmen. . . The usual suspects.

Something made me think of that thread today, and I got to wondering: what movie would I recommend to someone who maybe wanted to get into HORROR, but wasn't already a fan? What film do I think is good enough to win them over & make them want to see more?

I think the 1st movie I'd show anyone who isn't a horror fan would be John Carpenter's Halloween. Reason being it is suspenseful and creepy, mainly because of the score and the masked, menacing figure that is Michael Meyers (utilized beautifully in scenes like him slowly but inexorably chasing his victims across the street, or appearing/disappearing amongst the sheets in Laurie's backyard, all while wearing that expressionless mask), and Donald Pleasance's performance, making his dread of this maniac almost palpable with his speech about Michael being the nature of evil. BUT, it's not a gore fest (not that there's ANYTHING wrong w/ that, but that's probably not the best way to start off someone who maybe isn't sure about this whole horror thing). There's a few jump scares, which are always good for a laugh for newbies, but I don't think there's much in the way of disturbing imagery (apart from maybe the image of Michael himself, which might disturb more sensitive people) that'd make a reasonably mature adult (or even teenager) cover their eyes and refuse to watch, or that would haunt their nightmares.

Halloween was one of the first horror movies I saw as a kid. I was maybe 8 or 9. I was pretty afraid of them before that, but after seeing Halloween, I thought: "That wasn't that scary. I kinda liked that. If I can survive this, maybe I can watch more." I've loved Halloween ever since, and I haven't stopped watching horror movies since, either.

So what do my fellow corner creaturees think? If a person asked you, as their horror fan friend, to recommend the horror film that'd get their non-horror fan ass into the genre, what film would you choose, and why?
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post #2 of 70
9/14/07 at 11:11pm
The Ring.
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post #3 of 70
9/14/07 at 11:12pm
Thread Starter 
Probably a solid choice; why would you choose it for a beginner?
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post #4 of 70
9/14/07 at 11:15pm
I think horror comedy would be a good transition. So Shaun of the Dead, Evil Dead 2, Phantasm 2.
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post #5 of 70
9/14/07 at 11:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by IggytheBorg
Probably a solid choice; why would you choose it for a beginner?
I guess 'cause if you got a dude who doesn't like horror movies, it'll probably be someone who doesn't like 'em because he thinks they're stupid and pointess (I hear that a lot). I think the Ring was a smart horror film at the time it came out. Freaked the fuck outta me, and I don't really get freaked by anything. Then again, maybe the pot helped.

Ok. I'd recommend it if you're going to smoke pot with said non-horror movie fan.
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post #6 of 70
9/15/07 at 12:07am
Thread Starter 
Agreed on all counts. Pot helped freak me the fuck out when I saw Candyman. If I had been stoned when I sawThe Ring the 1st time (alone in my apartment w/ only 1 lamp on at 1 AM), I probably woulda freaked then too. Particularly when that bitch came out of the TV. I can see that scaring a non horror fan (even a sober one), in the good way.
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post #7 of 70
9/15/07 at 12:08am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by englebert
I think horror comedy would be a good transition. So Shaun of the Dead, Evil Dead 2, Phantasm 2.
I've never seen any of the sequels, but I wasn't aware Phantasm 2 was a horror/comedy.
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post #8 of 70
9/15/07 at 12:11am
I think 3 is more of an outright comedy, but I doubt anyone would take Phantasm 2 seriously. Reggie has a fucking quadruple barrel shotgun and has a chainsaw duel with a graver. It's a good movie to drink beer to and laugh at.
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post #9 of 70
9/15/07 at 1:01am
I'd suggest John Carpenter's 'The Thing' as a good entry point. No matter your feelings about the film, there's no getting around the 'cool' factor of the special effects. For some people, that cool factor is enough. The scares are real and the tension is real. I've shown this to many non-horror types and they've all appreciated it (if not loved it).
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post #10 of 70
9/15/07 at 1:07am
depends on what their reservation on horror is in the first place. I've noticed i can get a lot of people who hate horror movies to watch An American Werewolf in London. there's lot's of laughs but it is a very real horror movie, not a comedy. But i think the laughs help coax a fragile mind into it. then, they get skull fucked. but, most people that i have shown it to who don't like horror movies, like it.
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post #11 of 70
9/15/07 at 1:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Judas Booth
I'd suggest John Carpenter's 'The Thing' as a good entry point. No matter your feelings about the film, there's no getting around the 'cool' factor of the special effects. For some people, that cool factor is enough. The scares are real and the tension is real. I've shown this to many non-horror types and they've all appreciated it (if not loved it).
This immediately popped into my mind after reading the 1st post.

Didn't see Halloween till I was an adult and it did nothing for me (please don't strip me of my horror merit badge!). But Carpenter's truly timeless masterpiece of suspense, paranoia, and "WTF" HORROR is probably my 1st choice. Alien a close-2nd.

AWWIL is another fine choice for the reasons given (as is the horror-comedy genre effort).
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post #12 of 70
9/15/07 at 1:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by IggytheBorg
What movie would I recommend to someone who maybe wanted to get into HORROR, but wasn't already a fan? What film do I think is good enough to win them over & make them want to see more?
In my experience, the choice of film should be influenced by the potential viewer. F'rinstance, my wife needs to emotionally connect to the characters, preferably via romantic or familial relationship between characters. So, I wouldn't expect her to get into Dawn of the Dead (the romance in that one is pretty meager), but I have high hopes for Shaun of the Dead or The Exorcist.

But I suppose this is generally true of most films. If you care about the characters, you'll care about what happens to them.
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post #13 of 70
9/15/07 at 1:42am
I'm gonna say Re-Animator is a good one to introduce someone into horror films.
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post #14 of 70
9/15/07 at 1:59am
I'd start with The Others or maybe Carpenter's The Fog.
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post #15 of 70
9/15/07 at 2:11am
The Shining
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post #16 of 70
9/15/07 at 2:20am
I also think it would depend on the person in question. I'd show a girl a different movie than I would a guy (after I berate him severely for never having seen a horror film). I'd be more likely to show a girl Shaun of the Dead, because that has a lot of laughs coupled with some genuine zombie-filled moments, while I'd definitely start one of my buddies off with Night of the Living Dead or Halloween.
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post #17 of 70
9/15/07 at 2:45am
Interestingly, I think the remake of Dawn of the Dead would be more likely to pull in a non-fan than the original. I'm actually considering showing that one to my wife.
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post #18 of 70
9/15/07 at 3:29am
That's a good choice, Greg.

I think if they're someone that has good taste in movies, and are prejudiced against horror because they think it's all bad b slasher stuff, then show them something thought provoking like Don't Look Now.

If they're squeamish about the violence try something relatively bloodless like The Others.

If they're the type that doesn't really like being scared then show them one of the horror comedies mentioned to cut some of the tension.

Or you could take them to Mr. Woodcock and watch them seethe and rage until the only tonic is massive carnage.
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post #19 of 70
9/15/07 at 3:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BubWilliams
I'm gonna say Re-Animator is a good one to introduce someone into horror films.
Seeing a de-capitated head perform oral sex on a bound woman is probably a little too much for the horror neophyte. Just a little.
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post #20 of 70
9/15/07 at 3:52am
Re-Animator is absolutely one of the last things I would ever show a person who didn't like horror.
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post #21 of 70
9/15/07 at 4:07am
Frailty
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post #22 of 70
9/15/07 at 5:28am
Carpenter's HALLOWEEN and THE FOG, and the US remake of THE RING are great choices for initiating a newbie into the world of horror. From there, you can gradually ramp up the gore/shocks - stuff like CANDYMAN makes for an ideal next step. But you've got to take it step by step, as NKOTB once said.

My personal recommendation for early on: Brad Anderson's SESSION 9. Scary as fuck but not all that graphic. Or maybe something like 1408, which I watched last night and found quite impressive.
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post #23 of 70
9/15/07 at 6:16am
The Ring's a great choice, but most definitely not for women - It was a bit intense for a lot of ladies I've met. Whenever I want to turn a woman onto horror, I head straight for the zombie action (Shaun of the Dead being a great example).
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post #24 of 70
9/15/07 at 10:28am
My 2 choices that actually worked many times for me are already listed. The Thing and Dawn of the Dead (remake). Worked 5 or 6 times each.
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post #25 of 70
9/15/07 at 12:06pm
It would also depend on why someone doesn't like, or isn't interested in horror. For instance, if someone doesn't like horror because of the gore, August Underground is probably not a good starting point. The Thing would probably work since it's more sci-fi than horror, but it has a whole lot of wet effects that could be helpful in the gradual "callousness" that one needs to get further into the genre.
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post #26 of 70
9/15/07 at 1:23pm
Thread Starter 
I thought of using The Thing, too, but ultimately decided against it because some of the effects can be abit much for the horror neophyte (Like Doc Copper getting his arms crunched off in Norris' chest, or Norris' autonomous head). But there's a lot of support for that film here; you don't think the effects are too much?
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post #27 of 70
9/15/07 at 1:25pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by alexc.
The Shining
Also probably a solid choice, but why would you choose it?
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post #28 of 70
9/15/07 at 1:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by IggytheBorg
I thought of using The Thing, too, but ultimately decided against it because some of the effects can be abit much for the horror neophyte (Like Doc Copper getting his arms crunched off in Norris' chest, or Norris' autonomous head). But there's a lot of support for that film here; you don't think the effects are too much?
Actually, now that I think about it, yes, that would be too much. The problem with this stuff is you get desensitized.

Carpenter would probably be a good start though...he's not too terribly horrifying. Vampire$ might be good...Though that is a little tame. Halloween is probably pretty good too.

If you don't like the person then any of the Guinea Pig movies would work.
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post #29 of 70
9/15/07 at 2:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Devildoubt
If you don't like the person then any of the Guinea Pig movies would work.
I know it' would really piss me off to sit through that crap again. Good grief, exactly what was supposed to be so great about it? Effects were horrible, the torture almost laughable, the victim either over acting or not reacting at all. If I had to watch them again, I think I'd show somebody how to do a torture film.

I think the Sixth Sense would be fairly decent introduction and second the Frailty love.
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post #30 of 70
9/15/07 at 3:10pm
After thinking it over some more and reading the suggestions listed, I'm gonna go with An American Werewolf in London. It's an extremely well-made film with enough dashes of humor to offer tension relief, the protagonist is likeable, it's violent without being too violent, has wonderful use of music, has great situational accessibility (stranger in a strange land, something's wrong with me), and Jenny Agutter is just really damn sexy. Probably the best all-around introductory horror film.
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post #31 of 70
9/15/07 at 4:16pm
Somehow I managed to get my ex-girlfriend to watch "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer," and miracle of miracles, she loved the motherfucker. She was then up for "The Fly" and the original "Dawn of the Dead." I miss her.

For a noob, I'd usually recommend '80s horror. I think that watching teenagers in short-shorts and tube socks getting cut to pieces is easier for non-fans to take than something contemporary. The films are also largely gutted by the MPAA, so the gore is at a minimum.

But it also depends on the non-fan's sensibilities. Does he not like horror because he thinks the films aren't well made? Show him "Silence of the Lambs." Does he not like horror because he thinks it's too bloody? Show him the original "Night of the Living Dead." Does he have a man-crush on Christian Bale? Show him "American Psycho."
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post #32 of 70
9/15/07 at 5:13pm
If a person has tried to avoid horror movies, it's because they're probably biased against the genre for some reason or another. If you want someone to start watching horror, get them to take baby steps with movies like Jaws or Poltergeist. If they like those movies, then take it up a notch with movies like Halloween or American Werewolf in London.
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post #33 of 70
9/15/07 at 5:56pm
Well, my wife, for instance, generally doesn't like horror because she tends to like more character-based movies, and horror is generally pretty light on that. That's why things like The Fly, Silence of the Lambs, and Shaun of the Dead are able to break through it. They keep character front and center. The Thing, not so much.
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post #34 of 70
9/15/07 at 6:28pm
For art school types I'd recommend Suspiria, Repulsion or Bava's Black Sunday.
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post #35 of 70
9/15/07 at 7:06pm
"Evil Dead"

Sink or swim baby.
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post #36 of 70
9/15/07 at 7:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Death Surge
"Evil Dead"

Sink or swim baby.
I agree, but I say show them the entire trilogy... out of order.
Army of Darkness first, Evil Dead last. If they're still with you after that, bust out some Dead Alive.
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post #37 of 70
9/15/07 at 7:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nexus-7
I agree, but I say show them the entire trilogy... out of order.
Army of Darkness first, Evil Dead last. If they're still with you after that, bust out some Dead Alive.
You should have a Meet the Feebles/Dead Alive double feature. Then when it is done tell them they were directed the same guy who did the Lord of the Rings trilogy. "OMG, Mind = blown"
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post #38 of 70
9/15/07 at 7:43pm
No, no, you tell them it's by the Lord of the Rings guy up front. That's how you get them in front of the TV. Then you watch the creeping expression of confusion of horror move across their face.
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post #39 of 70
9/16/07 at 1:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by alexc.
The Shining
Ya see, I thought so too. Showed it to my now-wife when we were dating. One of my faves, of course. And I'd argue that Kubrick's masterpiece is too damn effective.

Guys, don't expect any action after this flick.

EDIT: Just found out that I gave the same warning in the "Does Your Significant Other Not Get It?" thread.

EDIT: Upon 2nd thought, the PG or PG 13 horror is probably a better gateway... Jaws, Poltergeist, the Ring, the Sixth Sense, etc. (unless you know the person in question can handle violence/gore/blood). Might not be "horror" to the die-hard gorehounds, but it's a start.

Glad to be able to admit that my wife watches Evil Dead 2 with me every Halloween.
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post #40 of 70
9/16/07 at 6:20pm
Basically, you don't want to start with anything that's actually legitimately disturbing. The Shining is way too nasty for a non-horror fan.
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post #41 of 70
9/16/07 at 6:26pm
Silence of the Lambs and the Shining are good choices, or Psycho or The Birds.
They're well known-enough that you should be able to get people to watch them to see what all the fuss was about.
Some snobs even try to claim they aren't horror once in a while.
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post #42 of 70
9/16/07 at 6:43pm
I have a friend who tries to tell me that Silence of the Lambs isn't horror. Of course, he also tried to tell me that Lethal Weapon isn't an action movie, and that there's actually a genre of "buddy movie" that it belongs to. Basically, his genre classifications are based on him liking movies that belong to genres he doesn't like.
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post #43 of 70
9/16/07 at 6:58pm
Shaun and the remake of Dawn are, in fact, wonderful choices for this thread. They both have enough elements of other genres that can sucker the newbie in.
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post #44 of 70
9/16/07 at 9:07pm
The Thing. It's got genuine tension, characters, paranoia, and good acting. That can hook them and get them through some of the most eye-popping practical effect work in motion picture history. If you can get them interested in both the effects and honest fear and themes of paranoia, you'll be opening their eyes to all sorts of horror movies from Dawn of the Dead to The Fly.
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post #45 of 70
9/16/07 at 9:23pm
See, I find it interesting that you consider The Thing to have good characters. To me, they're barely there. They're personality archetypes, and there's really no development of them at all. They're just barely interesting enough for us to tell apart. I really don't think the characters are even a small part of why that film works so well.
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post #46 of 70
9/16/07 at 9:26pm
I suppose I mean that the acting is good. It doesn't have great character development, but every person "feels right" to me.
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post #47 of 70
9/16/07 at 9:34pm
I'll give you that. The actors do a great job without that much to work with.
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post #48 of 70
9/16/07 at 9:37pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg David
Basically, you don't want to start with anything that's actually legitimately disturbing. The Shining is way too nasty for a non-horror fan.
I'm about to do something I hardly ever do, and disagree w/ Greg here. The Shining is disturbing, no doubt of it. And there's some blood & creepy effects, like the old lady in the forbidden room. But The Shining might be a good choice for the neophyte anyway because it's just SO well done, and a touch artsy, that a not-easily-disturbed horror neophyte - one who doesn't like horror more becuse they think it's all crappy than because they're squeamish - might eat this right up. A movie buff that turns their nose up at horror might be a Kubrick devotee, and almost anyone else will have at least heard of him. In the proper circumstances, this wouldn't be a bad choice at all.
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post #49 of 70
9/16/07 at 9:39pm
A movie buff that turns their nose up at horror might be a bitchass bitch.
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post #50 of 70
9/16/07 at 9:47pm
Thread Starter 
No argumrnt there.
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