As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of horror films, I must say that these three movies have left quite an impression on me. Each one offers a unique take on the genre, and they all serve as a testament to the enduring appeal of a good scary story.
As a devotee of the thrilling world of horror, I can’t help but marvel at its enduring popularity. Despite keeping a safe distance from the genuinely scary stuff myself, there’s no denying the impact of iconic series like “Friday the 13th” and “Scream,” or the chilling experiences offered by video games such as “Resident Evil” and “Silent Hill.” Whether you prefer movies, games, or any other form of entertainment, there’s a spine-tingling treat for everyone who craves a dose of adrenaline and suspense.
R-rated films, however, aren’t for everyone, even if the viewer is 17 years or older. That doesn’t mean there aren’t scary movies at their disposal, though. While the PG-13 rating didn’t come about until 1984, plenty of horror projects have been given that classification since its inception. With seemingly endless choices, we’ve compiled a list of the best PG-13 horror movies you can watch today, from iconic features to some for which the rating may be come as a surprise.
Drag Me to Hell
Initially having a tough day at work, Alison Lohman’s character Christine takes an unexpected turn when she refuses an elderly woman’s plea for a third mortgage extension in the movie “Drag Me to Hell.” The old lady casts a curse on Christine in the parking lot, leading to a chaotic chain of events as a demon tirelessly tries to drag her soul into Hell.
As a fan, I must admit that the PG-13 rating of this movie took me aback, given the horror maestro behind its helm – Sam Raimi, who’s famously known for his bloodcurdling “Evil Dead” series, decidedly R-rated. Yet, this 2009 film veers off from Raimi’s gory Deadite escapades. Flames are strategically employed to mask the tormenting demon that haunts Christine, attempting to drag her beneath the Earth on multiple occasions. Standard horror scenes, like a seance and an apparition sharing her bed, deliver enough shocks to rattle any viewer. A humorous goat scene never fails to elicit laughter from viewers. And it all stems from a curse triggered by a coat button.
A Quiet Place
In “A Quiet Place,” John Krasinski, known for his role in “The Office,” switched gears to direct and write this 2017 film that is predominantly silent. The story unfolds on a farm where a family must maintain absolute silence to avoid being detected by aggressive extraterrestrial intruders who hunt by sound. However, complications arise when the mother, portrayed by Emily Blunt, experiences labor pains and the family becomes separated amidst the ensuing confusion.
In contrast to many horror films that employ sound to induce fear through sudden music for jump scares or eerie, loud noises to build tension, the film “A Quiet Place” effectively utilizes silence as a tool of terror. The monstrous creatures are fully revealed in this movie, their grotesque faces unfurling like blooming flowers as they chase their prey on swift, spindly legs. By using the appearance of these nimble creatures to generate fear instead of musical cues, “A Quiet Place” stands out as an exceptional PG-13 horror film. Interestingly, both its sequel, “A Quiet Place: Part II,” and prequel, “A Quiet Place: Day One,” share the same rating, making them ideal choices for a chilling evening watchlist.
Tremors
In 1990, the horror movie “Tremors” offers a unique blend of campy and frightening appeal. When characters Val (Kevin Bacon) and Earl (Fred Ward) opt to depart from their modest Nevada hometown in pursuit of better opportunities, they encounter an unexpected nightmare: subterranean monsters that terrorize the town and its residents. These creatures, later named graboids, are worm-like and leave destruction wherever they go as they strike, utilizing elongated split tongues with built-in teeth to drag victims towards their demise.
As a devoted fan of Kevin Bacon, if you’re looking for a chilling horror movie performance from him that doesn’t require a strong stomach for gruesome scenes, I highly recommend giving “Tremors” a watch. The graboids, these massive worm-like creatures with colossal mouths, may seem harmless at first, but as the earth trembles beneath your feet, the suspense lies in anticipating when they’ll appear rather than enduring graphic violence. The performances are delightfully over-the-top, with characters fleeing in terror as the ground unpredictably gives way around them. With a series of PG-13 sequels available, “Tremors” offers a thrilling creature feature experience for fans like ourselves.
Cloverfield
In the wake of the success of “The Blair Witch Project” in 1999, which sparked a trend for found-footage films, director Matt Reeves contributed his own piece to this genre with the release of “Cloverfield” in 2008. After New York City experienced various catastrophes, such as an earthquake and an explosion that severed the Statue of Liberty at its pedestal, these events attracted enigmatic creatures who made the city streets a dangerous playground for hunting, with one person capturing the chaos on camera.
In those days, people found it somewhat implausible that someone would continuously film, but “Cloverfield” was actually quite prescient given how commonplace video recording has become today. Due to the handheld style of filming used, the alien isn’t often fully revealed, instead we see its shadows or brief glimpses as the camera-holder is fleeing for safety. This gives the movie a disconcerting feel, making you feel like you’re in the thick of it.
This encourages viewers to unleash their creativity, crafting something fearful uniquely to them. The persistent unease as the characters seek shelter, alongside a creature of one’s own conception, results in an adventure that might make you reconsider a visit to New York for quite some time.
Insidious
Insidious” is the initial movie in a series of films produced by James Wan, who is known for creating, directing, and producing movies such as “The Conjuring,” “Saw,” and “Malignant.” In this 2010 film, viewers are introduced to The Further, an otherworldly place inhabited by spirits that aren’t particularly pleasant. They have the ability to return to our world if they find a host, like Dalton (played by Ty Simpkins), who can travel there while out-of-body, whether intentionally or unintentionally during astral projection.
Moving to a new house can be a treasure trove of horror stories, and the movie “Insidious” offers a fresh take on this worn-out concept by focusing not on the haunted house but on the troubled child instead. From the chilling scenes featuring the lipstick demon, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Darth Maul from “Star Wars,” to the eerie sequence linked to the viral hit song “Tiptoe Through the Tulips,” there’s no shortage of things to unnerve viewers. While many spirits are relatively ordinary, such as two ladies in white gowns or a young boy in a cap and vest, the truly terrifying ones make a lasting impression. The entire five-film series is rated PG-13, making it an ideal choice for tweens who want to explore the darker corners of The Further while still adhering to age-appropriate guidelines.
M3GAN
In a departure from typical scary doll tropes, the movie “M3GAN” pushes boundaries while managing to maintain a PG-13 rating. Essentially a sophisticated robot, M3GAN is marketed as the latest advancement in children’s toys. However, things take an unsettling turn when she becomes overly protective of her young charge, Cady (Violet McGraw), after the child loses her parents. Designed by Gemma (Allison Williams), this machine was meant to solve their problems, but there’s an eerie quality about M3GAN right from the start.
In the upcoming movie “M3GAN” from 2022, you might find yourself doubting the safety of future high-tech toys after watching it, but despite its chilling performances, such as a popular dance scene online, the film contains only minimal content that would warrant an R rating. The risky actions by M3GAN are often suggested rather than shown explicitly, with cleverly placed cuts to prevent graphic depictions of harm or violence. Unlike other films featuring possessed toys, M3GAN uses subtle language and instead focuses on reprogramming herself in order to take care of Cady, going to great lengths that may raise eyebrows.
The Ring
In “The Ring,” Naomi Watts takes on a part she initially hesitated to accept, portraying Rachel Keller, a journalist. After her niece Katie gets involved with a chilling VHS tape that has claimed the lives of many who watched it, Rachel embarks on an investigation. The 2002 American adaptation of the trailblazing 1998 Japanese film “Ringu” was successful at the box office, earning $249 million compared to its production cost of just $48 million.
Unlike many other horror films popular during its time like “Saw” or “Dawn of the Dead,” “The Ring” opted for chilling visuals rather than gory deaths to instill fear, managing to keep its PG-13 rating. The cursed videotape features a woman combing her hair, a chair spinning by itself, and a solitary well in a forest – all accompanied by eerie static and whirring noises, reminiscent of the “American Horror Story” opening sequences but with a touch of the “Twilight” blue filter. While “Scream” left its audience fearing every ringing phone, “The Ring” took it further, blending spine-tingling events and the sinister child motif to create an enduring feeling of unease even after the VHS tape has been removed.
I Saw the TV Glow
One way of rephrasing that paragraph in a natural and easy-to-read manner: “The ‘monster-of-the-week’ trope is common on television shows like “Supernatural”, which have been running for years. The show “I Saw the TV Glow” employs this concept by introducing Owen (Justice Smith) and Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine), two teens who share a passion for “The Pink Opaque,” a program featuring two young girls with psychic abilities battling various supernatural threats every week. However, things get confusing when Maddy disappears and reappears years later, claiming that she spent the intervening time inside the show itself, leaving Owen puzzled as he tries to make sense of the series finale in light of her revelation.
The phrase “I Saw the TV Glow” delivers a chilling psychological terror, prompting viewers to ponder deeply about their existence and the environment that surrounds them. It provokes introspection as everyday items, such as pink spectral apparitions on TV, assume fresh significance in Owen’s struggle with his identity and reality. Is he living his life or merely watching it unfold on screen? The 2024 movie has been compared to a metaphor for the journey of transgender individuals, since both Owen and Maddy confront their true selves and strive for authentic living.
Signs
Among numerous films that explore alien themes, M. Night Shyamalan’s “Signs” stands out as one of the most compelling portrayals. Starring Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, and Abigail Breslin in her early career, this movie centers around a family taking refuge in their home after mysterious crop circles appear worldwide, including on their own farm. Will they make it through the night?
2002’s scariest movie moment showcases an alien crashing a birthday party on screen, creating a chilling depiction of a tall, swift, relentless humanoid creature with rough skin. The shocking twist by M. Night Shyamalan – water being harmful to the aliens – is astonishing in its everydayness. Compared to other PG-13 films, this scene stands out as one of the most effective due to minimal gore and violence. Odd lights, shapes, unfamiliar beings, and the sounds of a house invasion are all Shyamalan needs to make you hide under the blankets.
The Birds
Leaving out a top-tier horror movie collection without Alfred Hitchcock’s timeless masterpiece, “The Birds,” from 1963, would be unthinkable. This film taps into common fears by centering on something we find hard to grasp: birds, our seemingly harmless avian companions. The story initially presents as a romantic tale, with the character Melanie Daniels (played by Tippi Hedren) giving lawyer Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor) lovebirds as a gift. However, the idyllic setting soon transforms into a nightmare when birds of every kind inexplicably begin attacking people and objects around them.
Birds seem to attract worrisome ideas, from the conspiracy theory that all pigeons were created by the government to watch us to the use of hooting owls to create creepy atmospheres. So an entire movie dedicated to how scary they can be was bound to happen. Different types of birds come together, from ravens to crows to small finches, attacking humans and causing destruction in seemingly random fashion. The birds are ruthless, as in one of the most well-known scenes in horror cinema in which they relentlessly pursue a group of schoolchildren. If you weren’t already a little afraid of birds, you certainly will be after watching this.
Under the Shadow
For all international movie enthusiasts, there’s no need to worry as we have an excellent PG-13 recommendation for you. The 2016 Persian film titled “Under the Shadow” stands out with a remarkable 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the highest-rated film on this list. This movie is set in 1980s Tehran, where Shideh (Narges Rashidi) and her daughter Dorsa (Avin Manshadi) are struggling to stay safe amidst the war with Iraq. Despite the regular air raids, Shideh stubbornly refuses to abandon their home.
Following an unsettling encounter with a new child in a neighboring apartment, which was followed by a missile strike on their building, Dorsa exhibits strange behavior, convinced her doll will shield her from all dangers. Shideh, on the other hand, experiences disturbing dreams and perceives eerie figures resembling her daughter, casting doubt on her sense of reality. This sequence of events unfolds amidst conflict, crafting a chilling horror narrative about a mother taking whatever measures she deems necessary to safeguard her child from both international strife and an unseen menace. A malevolent spirit that can move with the wind serves as a more relatable source of fear, leaving viewers shuddering long after the end credits have rolled.
Split
M. Night Shyamalan adds another film to the list with “Split” (released in 2016), a sequel to “Unbreakable.” In this movie, James McAvoy delivers an outstanding performance as Kevin, a man suffering from dissociative identity disorder and grappling with over 23 distinct personalities. One of these personas, Dennis, kidnaps three girls from a parking lot, setting off a chain reaction of events that become increasingly complex.
The intense fear of “Split” arises from observing McAvoy skillfully play multiple characters, some more submissive than others, with one having a chilling notoriety that puts the kidnapped teens in a fight for their lives as they discern which personalities are on their side and manipulate them against each other. Anya Taylor-Joy plays the lead teen, Casey, who engages most with the personalities. Her fear is tangible as she evaluates the situation and strives to escape alive. This film is an excellent choice for viewers seeking a PG-13 experience that deviates from typical horror cliches and instead focuses on authentic actions and psychological tension.
Happy Death Day
Ever since the release of “Groundhog Day,” movies across different genres have often employed the recurring concept of a time loop, with varying levels of effectiveness. The horror genre, for instance, demonstrates its potential excellently in the film “Happy Death Day.” In this movie, a college student named Tree, played by Jessica Rothe, finds herself trapped in a never-ending loop where her birthday keeps repeating. As she navigates this predicament, she strives to unmask the person behind the terrifying babyface mask who seems to be responsible for her untimely deaths.
It’s quite amusing to see Tree piece together the clues about her own destruction in endless loops, and her comic responses to waking up each morning in someone else’s bed never fail to entertain. Most horror masks are terrifying, but the babyface mask straddles that eerie “uncanny valley.” With one prominent buck tooth and piercing blue eyes, it’s impossible not to be drawn to it, no matter your effort to look away. Despite its infantile appearance, it’s effortless to imagine the person concealed beneath it as malicious as they seem. The 2017 movie had a long wait of over a decade before hitting screens, but it was undeniably worth it.
The Others
In 2001’s “The Others”, Nicole Kidman plays Grace Stewart, a woman inhabiting a house in the Channel Islands post-World War II with her children. Her daughter Anne (Alakina Mann) starts encountering eerie occurrences, befriending a spectral boy named Victor and his family. But as the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that not everything is as it seems. By the movie’s end, Grace discovers there are far more mysterious events taking place within their home than she had initially suspected.
In essence, the movie “The Others” skillfully navigates the borderland between chilling supernatural terror and unsettling psychological suspense. However, the truth remains shrouded in mystery until the climax, when it delivers a mind-bending twist that surpasses all others on this particular list. The audience is left questioning who among the characters is truly a spirit and who isn’t. If you’re intrigued by convoluted narratives, haunting ghost tales, and top-notch acting performances, “The Others” should undoubtedly be on your to-watch list. In this film, Grace serves as an ambiguous narrator, so it’s essential to approach her words and actions with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
The three books “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” are frequently found in school library lists, and a film version of certain stories from these books was released in 2019, with Guillermo del Toro serving as the producer. Directed by André Øvredal, the movie brings seven different tales from the series to life, such as one where a woman searches for her missing big toe, another involving a menacing scarecrow chasing a high school athlete, and a shocking scene of numerous baby spiders bursting out of a teenager’s face.
I found a strong resemblance between the structure of “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” and the device of Tom Riddle’s diary in “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.” For fans who grew up immersed in those books, it evokes a sense of nostalgia. The creativity exhibited by the filmmakers in transforming our childhood fears into tangible nightmares is both imaginative and downright terrifying.
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2024-10-12 14:30