There's no way around it: Sometimes real life can be an absolute nightmare. Whether you're stressing out over politics, your bank account, or your relationship, sometimes you just want to get away. Movies have long provided worthy distractions from life, and horror movies in particular can serve as a great escape. But not all horror movies. There are certain types of horror movies to watch when real life feels too disturbing that are ideal for putting things in perspective, and they're the type that feature horrors that are just too fantastic to believe.
For instance, if you're feeling that the real world is a terrible place, you probably don't want to watch a horror movie about a mass murderer who tortures his victims before killing them, because that's something super messed up that actually happens and will likely make you feel worse about the world. But a movie about a large scale alien invasion? Go ahead and fire it up, because that's probably not going to happen and you'll be able to say, "Well, at least the world's not being blown up by aliens." See how that works? So without further adieu, here are the best horror movies to watch when the real world seems like it can't get any worse.
1'Cloverfield'
New York can be a rough place to live sometimes, but at least it's not going to be destroyed by a giant monster of unknown origin.
2'Alien'
In space, no one can hear you scream, but what do you care? You're not going to space.
3'Child’s Play'
A doll coming to life and trying to kill you is a far worse time than say, having to call Time Warner.
4'The Faculty'
For many people, high school sucked, but just imagine how much worse it would have been if your teachers were literally aliens bent on world domination.
5'Tremors'
Real earthquakes are scary; earthquakes caused by giant man-eating worms would be too much to handle.
6'The Ring'
The worst thing a VHS tape will do to you in real life is nothing, because no one even watches VHS tapes anymore.
7'A Nightmare on Elm Street'
Regardless of how bad real life is, at least you can always find an escape while you're asleep without fear of a burn victim's ghost coming after you.
8'Jeepers Creepers'
You're practically guaranteed at some point to see something disturbing on the side of a highway, but it will pale in comparison to the monster in this film.
9'The Evil Dead'
Camping can sometimes be a little more rustic than you'd like, but you can be confident you won't encounter any demons on your vacation to Yellowstone.
10'They Live'
A secret Russian takeover of the U.S. Government is a scary prospect, but it's not quite as frightening as the idea that malevolent aliens are keeping you down.
11'The Babadook'
If you read Fifty Shades of Grey, you know the horrors of the book will stay on the page, so be thankful for that.
12'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'
The people in your life may annoy you from time to time, but at least you know they're not pod people.
14'The Thing'
You may have to deal with people are two-faced and parasitic, but just be glad they're not actual shape-shifting alien parasites.
15'Christine'
Cars can be dangerous, but at least you can be sure they're not actively trying to kill you.
16'Attack of the Killer Tomatoes'
Having to eat vegetables is bad enough, so just be happy they're not trying to eat you.
17'Killer Klowns From Outer Space'
As bad as life gets, nothing could ever be as horrifying as murderous alien clowns. Nothing.
