Looking for scary movies to watch that have ghosts, monsters or other supernatural beings, but don’t show much blood and gore? I avoid watching violent movies and TV shows since I just don’t find them entertaining.
I’m also not fond of most suspenseful movies. I get bored waiting for something to happen.
Fortunately, there are plenty of scary movies to watch with some supernatural flair that aren’t slasher flicks and don’t drag on while you wait for somebody to do something stupid that you KNOW is going to result in their horrific demise.
Here are 10 of my favorite scary movies to watch, minus the excessive blood and gore. They have frightening scenes and maybe a smattering of blood, but they meet my fairly low threshold of tolerance for blood and gore.
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Poltergeist (1982)
In my book, Poltergeist
The movie contains some mild profanity and a few intensely frightening scenes. I’d probably let my 11-year-old see it if she was interested, but not the 5-year-old. Of course, each kid has his or her own level of tolerance for scary content.
Ghostbusters (1984)
Ghostbusters
The movie, which also stars Sigourney Weaver, was rated PG and came out just on the cusp of the MPAA’s introduction of the new PG-13 rating, which it probably should have had. It contains sufficient sexual dialog and frightening images to make it a no-go for younger kids.
Young Frankenstein (1974)
Mel Brooks’ classic comedy Young Frankenstein
The movie was rated PG in 1974, before there was a PG-13 rating, which the movie probably would have if released today. It has enough comments of a sexual nature, intense scenes and comedic violence to make it inappropriate for younger kids.
Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
When you think of cult classic films, Rocky Horror Picture Show must come to mind. Made in the 1970s and starring Barry Bostwick, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Meat Loaf, this comedy/horror/musical was based on the popular stage musical of the same name. It features snazzy tunes such as “Sweet Transvestite” and “Time Warp.”
Two sweethearts are stranded with a flat tire during a storm and discover the scary mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite scientist. Dr. Frank-N-Furter houses a variety of strange characters, and the cast performs elaborate dances and rock songs. It’s available on HBO GO (subscription) and Google Play Movies.
The movie gets its R rating mainly for some brief nudity, sexual content and a few cuss words (the F word once and a few dammits). A character is chopped up with an ax offscreen, and you see a blood trail and later a very fake-looking pile of body parts. It’s implied that the characters eat the dead man’s parts for dinner.
Love at First Bite (1979)
Rated PG, Love at First Bite stars George Hamilton and Susan Saint James, telling a comedic Dracula love story. Dracula, cast off from Transylvania, falls in love with a model, Cindy, and travels to New York to make her his forever bride. However, another guy also loves Cindy, and he’s a descendant of a vampire killing family, bent on destroying his romantic rival.
Love at First Bite is a romantic comedy with some mild sexual innuendo and implied intimate involvements. It also contains some rather tame comedic violence.
Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)
In Transylvania 6-5000
The movie contains mild sexual content, a cuss word or two and comic violence, enough to earn a PG rating, but, at least by my standards, not too objectionable for kids.
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Loosely based on a previous horror film of the same name, Little Shop of Horrors
Rated PG-13, the movie contains enough comedic violence, comments of a sexual nature and frightening scenes to make it inappropriate for the younger crowd.
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
Legendary comedy duo Abbott and Costello made numerous “meet” movies. They meet the Invisible Man and the Mummy, among others. My favorite of their interactions with movie monsters is Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
The movie is not rated, but I don’t think it would upset either of my kids with its mild comedic violence. The monsters aren’t nightmare-grade frightening, and the whole family can enjoy this classic comedy.
The Others (2001)
The Others
The Others is rated PG-13 due to some very frightening images and themes, with violence implied but very little actually seen.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
The Sixth Sense
The movie contains a few violent scenes that would make it inappropriate for young children (hence its PG-13 rating). It also concentrates on some intense emotional themes that little kids wouldn’t understand.
What are Your Favorite Scary Movies to Watch?
What spooky movies make you want to make some popcorn, turn out the lights and enjoy the show?
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