The thrills and chills subgenre is as broad as the horror subgenre itself. Ingenious methods are routinely used by directors like Stanley Kubrick and David Lynch to confound and scare audiences. It wouldn’t always be fair to call Denis Villeneuve, Bennett Miller, Lynne Ramsay, Yorgos Lanthimos, & Todd Haynes horror film directors, even though each of them has made at least one creepy film. There is also no complete definition of “horror” or “scary” since many Reddit users have freely shared their fears in several threads of a similar nature. Many of these films aren’t even categorized as “horror,” thus they have a more significant effect on viewers who aren’t anticipating the feelings and aesthetics often associated with the genre. According to Redditors, these are among the scariest non-horror films, but they range from contentious kiddie movies to soberingly realistic dramas.
A Space Odyssey
One of Stanley Kubrick’s most noteworthy magnum opuses was his 1968 sci-fi film 2001: A Space Odyssey. The film isn’t a blood-and-gore flick. However, it has snapshots of unadulterated dread that make it one of the most frightening non-thrillers in Kubrick’s filmography. With the AI assuming command over the boat and killing individuals to keep it, as well as the claustrophobic idea of the film, the film strikes dread in quite a large number. BlackPantherDies composed on Reddit that “I find 2001 additional alarming existentially than The Shining, Kubrick’s immediate thriller.”
Nightcrawler
The actor who appears the most regularly on our list is Jake Gyllenhaal, and for a good reason. Gyllenhaal hardly ever appears in horror movies, but he is excellent at playing creepy, sleazy characters that give viewers the creeps. However, “Nightcrawler” might best illustrate his skills as a rare performer who excels at portraying intimate, dramatic parts. He describes Lou Bloom as a “stringer” who operates in the dubious realm of video journalists who try to capture crimes to profit from the footage. Gyllenhaal’s portrayal of a corrupt society in Dan Gilroy’s film, a sad investigation rarely spoken up, is renowned.
Prisoners
Denis Villeneuve is now one of the top chiefs working today, with blockbusters like Dune and basic show-stoppers like Blade Runner 2049. Before he made those two motion pictures, he coordinated a strained thrill ride called Prisoners. Hugh Jackman is featured as a dad whose girl vanished and assumed control over equity. The film isn’t a blood and gore flick, yet it had a few dull and horrendous scenes, and it was a gradual process that was difficult to watch. When requested the terrifying non-blood and gore flicks accessible, Salty_Invite_757 replied on Reddit with only one word — “Detainees.”
Return to Oz
Despite Victor Flemming’s classic The Wizard of Oz featuring many unsettling images, Walt Disney Pictures’ 1985 sequel is genuine horror material. It is legitimate for user u/Idler- to express the emotions of other Redditors by asking, “WTF, Disney.” The opening scene in Return to Oz strips away all the charms of the classic by having Dorothy receive electroshock treatment for her “delusions” of the beautiful country. Her second excursion to Oz is further cast into shadows by incidents including wailing cut heads, the terrible Nome King, and the dreadful Wheelers. Children of the 1980s have been kept up at night for decades by the Wheelers, who cause viewers to yearn for Flying Monkeys as soon as they appear on TV.
Enemy
2013 was a memorable year for Denis Villeneuve and Jake Gyllenhaal. The two guys collaborated on the gory thrillers “Enemy” and “Prisoners.” Hugh Jackman’s extra star power made “Prisoners” more well-liked, but “Enemy” is also a spooky thriller worth seeing on its own. Jake Gyllenhaal portrays two characters who seem to be identical yet have quite different personalities in two different roles. After spotting the other in a movie, one sets out to find him, which will forever alter their lives. In both parts, Gyllenhaal excels, putting on a nuanced portrayal that just never looks awkward. It gets more upsetting as you take away layers of the film. Consequently, it merits more than one viewing.