Hi all!

Today I want to share my 5 favourite PG-13 horror movies. If a spooky film has a rating lower than M, it generally means it’s devoid of gore and coarse language. I strongly believe a motion picture requiring parental guidance, can be just as effective in disturbing viewers, as those rated R. You don’t need blood, guts and extreme brutality to give somebody the creeps. In fact, you may find yourself surprised by my list. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

1.) The Grudge 

I adore The Grudge. The first film in the series is rated PG-13. There is no gore, strong language or adult themes. However, it is very scary. In this movie, a curse is born when somebody dies under sorrowful or angry circumstances. Those who encounter this supernatural force are killed, and the curse reborn, passing from victim to victim, in an endless, growing chain of horror. In 2001, a tragic event occurs in a Japanese home. Flash forward to 2004, where the residual negative energy continues to infect anybody that enters the house. The best scenes are the iconic shower/hands in the hair moment and the ending, where Kayako crawls down the stairs. Parental guidance may be advised, but I think kiddies should wait a bit longer, before watching this one.

2.) The Sixth Sense 

This is the first horror movie I ever watched. I was 13, at school camp. Technically, the teachers adhered to the rating system, but I was still traumatised. At the time, the “I see dead people” twist, blew people’s minds, but now, I see how obvious everything was. The story follows a boy, haunted by spirits. Bruce Willis, a psychologist, befriends the child, trying to help him channel his gift in a positive way. The Sixth Sensemay be PG-13, but damn, it’s disturbing. You see a lot of disfigured ghosts, including a vomiting girl, poisoned by her mother. It’s also claustrophobic in the sense that the boy is constantly harassed by the dead. He cannot go anywhere, without witnessing them. I recommend not showing this one to your pre-teens.

3.) The Ring 

This is one of my favourite horror movies of all time. It’s so hard to believe The Ring is rated PG-13. As proof, you never actually see Samara kill anybody –  just their distorted faces afterwards. Furthermore, there isn’t any gore. In this film, a cursed video kills the watcher in seven days. After an unseen force claims the life of Rachel Keller’s (Naomi Watts) niece, she decides to investigate the evil phenomenon behind the tape. Rachel soon learns there is a lot more to the story than just a possessed child. It’s heartbreaking and utterly terrifying at the same time. Not for the youngsters!

4.) The Others 

This is an excellent horror movie! Similar to The Sixth Sense, The Others also has a fantastic twist. Grace (Nicole Kidman), is the devoutly religious mother of Anne and Nicholas. She moves her family to the English coast, during World War II, awaiting word on her missing husband, whilst protecting her children from a rare photo-sensitivity disease. When Anne claims to sees ghosts, Grace initially thinks the new servants are playing tricks. However, chilling events and visions, begin to make her wonder if the supernatural is involved. The scares in this film are mainly centered on paranormal activity. You won’t witness anything gruesome or intense. It’s the first flick on this list I would actually recommend kids watch with their parents.

5.) What Lies Beneath  

After watching What Lies Beneath, I was amused by the reviews from various parents, complaining about the rating. To be fair, this film does include sexual references, some violence and coarse language, but it’s nothing extreme. In my opinion, the true horror stems from the shocking reveal. With their only daughter in college, loving couple, Dr. Norman Spencer and Claire, a former cellist, retreat in picturesque Vermont, to live a tranquil life at their serene and isolated lake house. However, their idyllic marriage starts falling to pieces, when sensitive Claire becomes convinced that a supernatural entity has occupied their vacant home. Trigger warning for gas-lighting and manipulation. I can’t see many teenagers being interested in this one (due to the more mature themes), but I love it. It’s very underrated.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What are some of your favourite PG-13 horror movies? Thanks for reading! 

Peace & Love xoxo