The Mummy

A librarian, her brother and a treasure hunter head for Hamunaptra, the City of the Dead. They accidentally wake Imhotep, a cursed high priest with supernatural powers. That is quite enough trouble for one trip, even before you consider how awkward the journey home might be. I would be the person asking if we could leave immediately.

The fear here comes from disturbing something that should have stayed buried. It is supernatural, but the action, comedy and treasure hunt give the danger room to breathe. I would put it on the gentler end of a horror night: there is a cursed figure to worry about, while the adventure is part of the appeal. If you want to be frightened without spending the whole evening braced for it, this is a comfortable place to start.

It suits a dark evening when you want a bit of peril with your sofa time, and company that will actually watch the film instead of talking over it. What draws me in is the simple, dreadful mistake at its centre. They go looking for something lost and find someone who should have been left alone. My own plans for the evening would end at that point, but theirs make a much better story.