10 Best PG-13 Horror Films

Stylistically similar to the James Wan produced Insidious/ Conjuring/ Annabelle horror movie universe, it's no surprise that 2016's Lights Out managed to nab its helmer a seat in the director's chair for 2018's Annabelle: Creation.

This 2016 adaptation of Shazam director David F Sandberg’s viral short of the same name tells the story of a strange "monster" which can only attack under cover of darkness, resulting in some terrifyingly tense sequences where characters desperately attempt to stay within the relative safety of light.

Of course, this addendum also means the monster's attacks are unseen, with only grisly sound design cluing the viewer into their brutality. As a result, the fill manages to get by on expertly crafted tense sequences and an inspired (anti-)villain design rather than R-rated scares, resulting in a slice of PG-13 horror which is arguably scarier than a lot of its R-rated competitors.

Is it hampered by an inevitable cliched backstory? Sure, but so are R-rated efforts in the "subverted ghost story" horror sub genre.