What are some good ghost story movies that aren't quite horror?
January 10, 2014 5:53 AM
My partner loves ghost story movies that take out the usual blood-and-gore trappings of horror movies. The Others is a particular favorite. Can you recommend other movies in this unsearchable-on-Netlflix microgenre?
Kwaidan Is a Japanese movie with four ghost stories. Moody. Not gory. It's subtitled, if that's your thing.
posted by hot_monster at 6:10 AM on January 10, 2014
posted by hot_monster at 6:10 AM on January 10, 2014
The Awakening.
posted by crush-onastick at 6:16 AM on January 10, 2014
posted by crush-onastick at 6:16 AM on January 10, 2014
The Uninvited (1944)
The Innocents (1961)
The Haunting (1963)
None of these are gory, but they're all very high on the chills and atmospherics.
posted by mdrew at 6:19 AM on January 10, 2014
The Innocents (1961)
The Haunting (1963)
None of these are gory, but they're all very high on the chills and atmospherics.
posted by mdrew at 6:19 AM on January 10, 2014
Session 9.
The Haunting. (only the original)
The Innocents.
House of the Devil. (not about ghosts, but it's near enough to the same genre, and the tone is right)
The Innkeepers.
Solaris / Solaris (the two versions are comparable in quality, and I actually prefer Soderbergh's version) (not technically about ghosts per se, but not only is it close enough, but I feel inclined to quip, "I'm not saying it's ghosts, but it's ghosts.") (either way, it's not a horror story at all, but it is a great pair of movies about ghost-type things)
Repulsion (not about ghosts, but in practice, it's hard to differentiate it from an out-and-out ghost story - if a psychological condition produces in you the same sensation that a malevolent ghost would, then what's the difference?)
The Tenant
posted by Sticherbeast at 6:21 AM on January 10, 2014
The Haunting. (only the original)
The Innocents.
House of the Devil. (not about ghosts, but it's near enough to the same genre, and the tone is right)
The Innkeepers.
Solaris / Solaris (the two versions are comparable in quality, and I actually prefer Soderbergh's version) (not technically about ghosts per se, but not only is it close enough, but I feel inclined to quip, "I'm not saying it's ghosts, but it's ghosts.") (either way, it's not a horror story at all, but it is a great pair of movies about ghost-type things)
Repulsion (not about ghosts, but in practice, it's hard to differentiate it from an out-and-out ghost story - if a psychological condition produces in you the same sensation that a malevolent ghost would, then what's the difference?)
The Tenant
posted by Sticherbeast at 6:21 AM on January 10, 2014
I loved "Stir of Echoes", but be aware that it includes a graphic rape scene, several rotting corpses, and a shooting. Seconding "The Changeling".
Check out Whistle and I'll Come to You - the other BBC adaptations of M.R. James' stories are worth looking into as well.
Kuroneko is also very atmospheric and spooky, and - with the exception of a minute or so at the start - largely bloodless.
posted by ryanshepard at 6:32 AM on January 10, 2014
Check out Whistle and I'll Come to You - the other BBC adaptations of M.R. James' stories are worth looking into as well.
Kuroneko is also very atmospheric and spooky, and - with the exception of a minute or so at the start - largely bloodless.
posted by ryanshepard at 6:32 AM on January 10, 2014
Nthing The Haunting.
Also, one of my old favorites is Ghost Story. There are a few death scenes, but nothing gory by today's standards.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 6:38 AM on January 10, 2014
Also, one of my old favorites is Ghost Story. There are a few death scenes, but nothing gory by today's standards.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 6:38 AM on January 10, 2014
Does he like ghost stories that aren't horrible at all? Then you might try The Ghost and Mrs Muir, The Canterville Ghost and (especially) Blithe Spirit.
posted by ubiquity at 6:43 AM on January 10, 2014
posted by ubiquity at 6:43 AM on January 10, 2014
Look for The Conjuring when it hits Netflix, very little gore, self concusouly old fashioned ghost story.
posted by The Whelk at 6:48 AM on January 10, 2014
posted by The Whelk at 6:48 AM on January 10, 2014
Thanks all. A quick note from the partner: she watched The Awakening a couple weeks back and really loved it, so that's certainly on the right track. Keep 'em comin'!
posted by HeroZero at 6:52 AM on January 10, 2014
posted by HeroZero at 6:52 AM on January 10, 2014
The Woman in White.
posted by vitabellosi at 7:16 AM on January 10, 2014
posted by vitabellosi at 7:16 AM on January 10, 2014
I haven't seen it since I was a kid, but Lady in White should fit the bill.
posted by Neely O'Hara at 7:43 AM on January 10, 2014
posted by Neely O'Hara at 7:43 AM on January 10, 2014
It's been a while since I've seen it, but Session 9 was pretty creepy and suspenseful, and I don't recall much, if any, blood and gore. Possibly one scene, but it's certainly not a slasher film.
posted by Ham Snadwich at 8:22 AM on January 10, 2014
posted by Ham Snadwich at 8:22 AM on January 10, 2014
The Village doesn't have ghosts, but it is wonderfully creepy without being gory.
posted by tracer at 9:04 AM on January 10, 2014
posted by tracer at 9:04 AM on January 10, 2014
I also came in to suggest The Haunting (1963).
posted by michellenoel at 9:23 AM on January 10, 2014
posted by michellenoel at 9:23 AM on January 10, 2014
I might also check out Rebecca, Dragonwyck, and and Laura. They may not fit neatly into the category - Laura doesn't even feature a creepy old house - but they all have strong elements of Gothic suspense and psychologically-driven fear. Plus, they're all classics that feature Hollywood legends in their prime.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:41 AM on January 10, 2014
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:41 AM on January 10, 2014
Seconding The Orphanage. The fact that it is not in English made it that much more engrossing for me.
posted by jenjenc at 10:00 AM on January 10, 2014
posted by jenjenc at 10:00 AM on January 10, 2014
I really liked Mama, which was essentially gore free and pretty creepy. It sort of loses itself in the final act, but good up till then.
posted by codacorolla at 10:23 AM on January 10, 2014
posted by codacorolla at 10:23 AM on January 10, 2014
Seconding the M R James recommendation. The BBC used to show these as Christmas horror stories back in the 70s. They are a little dated now, but still great. Available on dvd, but not sure about Netflix.
posted by Fence at 12:19 PM on January 10, 2014
posted by Fence at 12:19 PM on January 10, 2014
Not a ghost story per se but The Milagro Beanfield War has a wonderful ghost in it and is a very enjoyable movie. And seconding, Truely, Madly, Deeply with Alan Rickman as the ghost, delightful.
posted by BoscosMom at 9:39 PM on January 10, 2014
posted by BoscosMom at 9:39 PM on January 10, 2014
The Conjuring is indeed pretty good, if a little silly. James Wan's earlier movie, Insidious is also worth a look.
A couple of others not mentioned here that I have enjoyed (although none really approach The Others) :
Fragile
Dark Water (original Japanese, not the Hollywood remake)
posted by arha at 2:27 AM on January 11, 2014
A couple of others not mentioned here that I have enjoyed (although none really approach The Others) :
Fragile
Dark Water (original Japanese, not the Hollywood remake)
posted by arha at 2:27 AM on January 11, 2014
The Secret of Crickley Hall was a BBC adaptation of a James Herbert novel
The tradition of a BBC MR James adaptation was revived this past Christmas with The Tractate Middoth
Crooked House had a similar vibe
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:48 PM on January 11, 2014
The tradition of a BBC MR James adaptation was revived this past Christmas with The Tractate Middoth
Crooked House had a similar vibe
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:48 PM on January 11, 2014
As others have said, definitely The Orphanage if she liked The Awakening and The Others.
posted by chill at 10:33 AM on January 12, 2014
posted by chill at 10:33 AM on January 12, 2014
Good suggestions here already (most of what I came in to recommend are already here).
The Possession.
And the 1989 version of The Woman In Black.
posted by biscotti at 1:47 PM on January 12, 2014
The Possession.
And the 1989 version of The Woman In Black.
posted by biscotti at 1:47 PM on January 12, 2014
Wanted to mention the lushly atmospheric Tale of Two Sisters. Wallpaper has never been so creepy.
posted by whistle pig at 6:25 PM on January 12, 2014
posted by whistle pig at 6:25 PM on January 12, 2014
Ditto The Lady in White, The Changeling, The Woman in Black, The Shining...
posted by Lillypad331 at 8:46 AM on January 13, 2014
posted by Lillypad331 at 8:46 AM on January 13, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Kriesa at 5:59 AM on January 10, 2014