Whether you get frightened easily or love a good scare, there is a horror movie for everyone. We watched three PG-13 horror movies, “Beetlejuice,” “Insidious” and “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark,” and rated them based on Torch’s terror index, with five skulls being the spookiest. With this review, even the more sensitive souls can fall into the eerie movie scene this spooky season. 

Beetlejuice (1988) 

2/5 skulls

After Adam and Barbara Maitland swerve off a bridge into a river, they wake to find themselves as ghosts back to haunt their beloved home. The Maitlands try to scare away the new owners of the house and call for help from Betelgeuse, a “bio-exorcist” who specializes in removing living people from haunted spaces. The new owners of the house are unable to see the ghosts, except for their daughter, Astrid, who then connects with them. “Beetlejuice” was not very scary as there were only a few small jumpscares, and overall, it is a more lighthearted movie with an overarching theme of family because of Astrid’s connection with the Maitlands.

Insidious (2010)

5/5 skulls

Combining supernatural forces with family dynamics, “Insidious” follows a family of five that experiences paranormal events in their new house after their son unexpectedly falls into a coma. Don’t be fooled by the few tame scenes in the beginning of the movie, because the tension and plot twists escalate quickly. “Insidious” includes common horror film elements such as a haunted house, a creepy grandfather clock and numerous jumpscares. This film is perfect for those who love psychological horror and suspense due to the ominous atmosphere and tense music, but for those who scare easily, it may be better to watch with some friends. 

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)

4/5 skulls

After a group of teenagers in a haunted mansion come across a cursed book containing tales about their worst fears, the book’s stories begin to come to life, haunting each of the teenagers one by one. There were a variety of jumpscares and terrifying creatures that appeared throughout the movie, causing terror for each of the teenagers. The use of creepy sound effects like music and screams create an unsettling atmosphere for the audience. This movie was very well made thanks to the use of uncanny special effects, but we recommend it only for those who enjoy truly horrifying films.