Paranormal horror movies can be hit or miss. Sometimes the ghosts aren’t all that scary, the characters aren’t properly developed, and the setting of a haunted house can become tiresome. Supernatural films that focus on teenagers can fall flat as well, as teen slashers tend to be more fun and terrifying. Slashers are also the types of teen horror movies that are discussed more often, thanks to the popularity of theScreamandHalloweenfranchises.
While this subgenre can be tricky and some films are definitely too cheesy, there are a lot of teen supernatural horror movies that deserve to be appreciated more, as these films offer up enjoyable stories about high schoolers dealing with spirits or things that the rational mind can’t easily explain.
RELATED:Blumhouse’s 5 Best Non-Supernatural Horror Movies
Final Destination 3 (2006)
Final Destination 3is the franchise’s best moviebecause the storyline is powerful and the main character Wendy Christensen (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is relatable and sweet. Wendy and her friends are ready for a fun evening at an amusement park, but when several of her classmates die on the ride, Wendy becomes convinced that Death is coming for those who survived.
Watching Wendy mourn her losses is especially moving and this is ahorror movie that deals with griefin a particularly smart way. The film is both a solid supernatural story, as none of the characters know when Death is going to get them, and a teen film, as Wendy is trying to move on from high school while dealing with this terrible trauma.
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
High school is often tough… and when someone’s best friend is possessed by a demon and starts murdering boys, it’s definitely even worse.Jennifer’s Bodyneeds a TV rebootas it’s full of strong characters and genuinely creepy scenes. Anita “Needy” Lesnicki (Amanda Seyfried) lives in the shadow of her more confident pal Jennifer Check (Megan Fox) who starts acting pretty strange one night.
Jennifer’s Bodyis an underrated teen horror movie as Needy’s story is raw and relatable. She can’t believe what’s happening and wishes that things could go back to normal as she wants to get through high school in one piece and then move on. The movie has scary supernatural elements but also speaks to how far off track someone’s life can get from one major event.
Warm Bodies (2013)
There are someunforgettable zombie movie charactersand inWarm Bodies, Julie (Teresa Palmer) meets R (Nicholas Hoult), a zombie who she ends up developing feelings for. The film functions like any regular high school romance with obstacles that are different and more interesting than strict parents or a busy schedule that doesn’t always allow for romantic dates. It makes sense that Julie is scared of R and they go through a long journey.
Warm Bodiesworks as a supernatural film about zombies but also as a story about how different teenagers feel and how sometimes forgetting about other people’s expectations is the only way to be happy. Julie and R are a sweet couple and it’s fun seeing everyone react to the zombies in town.
Unfriended (2014)
It would begreat ifUnfriendedhad a third movie, as the 2014 film and the sequelUnfriended: Webfrom 2018 are both well-done. WhileUnfriendedhasn’t been super popular, with a 61% rating on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer and a 37% Audience Score, it deserves to be appreciated more for its story, characters, and the fact that the whole story is told on a computer.
Unfriendedis a greatfemale-led Blumhouse horror movieand examines the coldness and cruelty of teenage life. Blair Lily (Shelley Hennig) used to be best friends with Laura and when everyone at school began making fun of her, Blair became a bully as well. Blair feels guilty but loves her life with her boyfriend and friends. Blair learns her lesson when it’s too late as Laura’s ghost torments a group chat one evening and begins killing everyone off.
Freaky (2020)
Freakyis anunderrated Blumhouse horror movieand also asupernatural and slasher film. Millie Kessler (Kathryn Newton) switches bodies with “The Blissfield Butcher,” a serial killer played by Vince Vaughn. The result is a hilarious and horrifying story about high school, growing up, fitting in, and peer pressure.
While the movie didn’t get that much attention when it was released in 2020, it’s smart, funny and definitely has some scary moments and intense kills. Millie doesn’t feel cool or interesting, but she does an incredible job standing up for herself and figuring out how to get out of The Butcher’s body and get her life back. If the horror elements were removed, it would be an excellent movie about high school life.
