With the Halloween season approaching, many fans will be eager to start watching horror movies, even those fans who aren't fond of blood. With gore can sometimes feel synonymous with horror, there are plenty of movies that have pulled off being scary without much violence.
These horror movies seem more interested in implying the violence or creeping out the audience with psychological scares. While audiences don't have to get squeamish from blood and guts, these non-violent horror movies will certainly still deliver plenty of thrills.
The Others (2001)
Ghost stories seem to be a perfect format for horror movies that don't rely on violence. The Others is a great example of this as the movie is set post-World War II and follows a woman and her two children whose home seems to be invaded by some otherworldly presence.
Nicole Kidman gives an excellent lead performance that helps to ground the movie while still being a supernatural thriller. There are plenty of bone-chilling sequences all leading up to the clever twist ending.
The Orphanage (2007)
Two of the most unsettling antagonists in the genre are creepy little kids and masked horror movie killers. The Orphanage checks both boxes with its gripping Spanish-language horror story. It follows a woman who brings her family back to the orphanage where she grew up when her son begins communicating with an unseen new friend.
The movie will put audiences on edge and deliver plenty of scares. But while they might be waiting for the blood to start flowing, The Orphanage is more effective at making it appear as though danger is lurking everywhere.
The Conjuring (2013)
As one of the most popular horror movie franchises of all time, many audiences probably assume The Conjuring is filled with startling gore. Instead, the first movie is quite bloodless yet one of the most terrifying modern horror movies anyway.
It follows paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren who attempt to help a family who believes they are being targeted by some dark force in their farmhouse. But even without much violence, the movie always has a feeling that something terrifying will happen in every scene.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
The movie that helped popularize the found footage horror movie also proved the public can be thrilled by a movie that never shows any violence. The Blair Witch Project follows a documentary crew who go into a local forest to explore a supernatural folk story and find themselves in a nightmare.
The format of the movie makes it feel as though the audience is seeing this unsettling story play out in front of them. There is a sense that anything could happen at any time and it is an intense thing to experience even if so much of it is left as a mystery.
The Babadook (2014)
It is very impressive for a movie to create a great horror movie villain. It is even more impressive when a horror movie villain with limited screen time makes a big impact on audiences. The Babadook is a great example of this as the titular monster has already been cemented in the genre.
The Australian movie follows a widower dealing with her troubled young son when a book exposes a looming threat of a creature known as Mr. Babadook. The movie delivers real terror while also tackling some deeper themes beyond the scares.
The Wicker Man (1973)
While fans might want to avoid the infamous Nicolas Cage remake, the original version of The Wicker Man is an excellent horror movie. It follows a detective who ventures to an isolated island community to investigate the case of a missing girl and contends with the bizarre cult-like residents of the island.
For much of the movie, The Wicker Man is simply a creepy and somewhat surreal look at this unusual community. But the third act really grips the audience with its amazing twist and unforgettable ending.
It Follows (2014)
What many of these movies prove is that paranormal movie villains can be the scariest. One of the best examples of this is It Follows. It centers on a young woman who has a curse passed to her through sex which makes her the target of an evil entity that only she can see and that pursues her relentlessly.
While the audience is shown the grisly aftermath of what can happen if someone is caught by this entity, it is scarier just seeing it emotionless and repeatedly making its way towards its target.
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)
Though the original is a terrific movie as well, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a rare horror remake that might be the better version. It is set in a small town that is invaded by aliens who are able to take over and replace humans.
Unlike other horror movie aliens, these visitors are not looking to obliterate or eat the humans. In fact, their takeover is very non-violent and they even see themselves as helping humanity with their flaws. The slow-burn movie still manages to be a chilling and terrific ride.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Though it is best remembered for its brilliant twist ending, The Sixth Sense is far more than just that final reveal. Bruce Willis stars as a child psychologist who helps a young boy who sees ghosts and is haunted by them.
The movie is a gripping and suspenseful experience that relies on its eerie tone rather than gore. It is also elevated by terrific performances and is the kind of movie that is so fun to rewatch in order to see the subtle clues to its twist ending.
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Some of the best non-violent horror movies succeed simply because the audience doesn't even know if there is something to be afraid of. Rosemary's Baby stars Mia Farrow as a woman who moves into a new apartment building with her husband only for the other tenants to take an unusual interest in her pregnancy.
For much of the movie, it is unclear if there is really a threat at hand or if it is all in Rosemary's head. Yet even with that lingering question, it is an uneasy and captivating horror story that builds to a terrific conclusion.