A Quiet Place Part 2 (2021)
A Quiet Place did not need a sequel, but the follow-up managed to justify its existence anyway. This part’s selling point is that it forces the characters to venture out of their home and into A Quiet Place’s world, a decision that suggests Evelyn and her children might face threats beyond just monsters.
As good as this storyline is, A Quiet Place Part 2’s strongest sequence takes place prior to the events of the previous film. The prologue chronicles the events of Day 1 through the eyes of the Abbott family, and this short section is incredibly intense.
A Chinese Ghost Story (1987)
A Chinese Ghost Story has all the elements of a horror film, just with the caveat that the film does not strive to be scary. A debt collector takes shelter at an abandoned temple, falls in love with a ghost, and they both try to protect each other.
This film is a love story packed with haunting imagery and even a hint of comedy. While not the best pick for someone seeking to be chilled to the bone, A Chinese Ghost Story is a moving piece with strong direction and cinematography.
Saint Maud (2020)
A disconcerting look into faith and obsession, Saint Maud follows a nurse who is desperate to save the soul of her dying patient. She will go to any extreme to accomplish her goal, and things get chilling quickly.
Saint Maud wisely opts to depict the story’s events almost entirely from the nurse’s perspective, raising questions about what is truly happening. This also adds a degree of sympathy to this terrifying character.
Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil (2010)
Do not judge a book by its cover or, in this case, a hillbilly by their overalls. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil twists the slasher horror formula by focusing on two guys who would typically act as villains, roles they are incorrectly assigned by a group of teenagers who happen to be camping in the same woods as Tucker and Dale. From there, accidental deaths follow, while the lovable leads ponder why kids seem to be killing themselves all over their property.
Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is not just a hilarious parody of slasher flicks but an above-average entry into the horror genre as well. The film’s death scenes are creative and over-the-top, while the eponymous characters are well-written and acted.
Black Box (2020)
Blending sci-fi, horror, and character-driven drama, Black Box centers around Nolan, a father who lost his wife in a car accident that also left him with memory loss. This not only makes it difficult for him to fully connect with his daughter, but Nolan can’t remember the type of relationship he had with his wife. So, to fill in the gaps, he undergoes a unique form of experimental therapy.
Black Box slowly sprinkles in elements of horror as Nolan revisits moments from his forgotten life, and the film builds up towards an effective crescendo. While not a masterpiece, this movie should get the job done on a stormy Tuesday night.
Carnival Of Souls (1962)
While it didn’t find an audience upon release, Carnival of Souls gained a cult following over the next decades, and it is now hailed as one of the better low-budget horror movies of the ’60s. Following a car accident, Mary Henry moves to a new city but struggles to immerse herself in this climate. Eventually, she finds herself attracted to a deserted carnival.
Atmospheric and surreal, Carnival of Souls blurs the line between reality and the unearthly through effective sound design and framing. Even if it does not deliver much in the way of extremely terrifying moments, the film is constantly disorienting and compelling.
Let The Right One In (2008)
Adapted from a novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, Let the Right One In presents a unique take on the vampire mythos. The film focuses on the relationship between a young boy and a girl, the latter of which happens to be something other than human. Their characterizations and relationship are complex and gripping, and both characters are elevated by strong performances.
In 2010, Let the Right One In was adapted into an American production as Let Me In, a good horror movie that arguably does not quite reach the same heights as the original. This Swedish production is one of the best Prime Video horror movies.
Maniac (1980)
Despite debuting at the onset of ’80s slasher fever, Maniac is a serial killer movie rather than something in the vein of Friday the 13th. This is an important clarification to make as a viewer needs to not only be in the right mindset to appreciate this grimy classic but also be prepared for just how uncomfortable of a watch this movie is.
Maniac follows the disturbed Frank Zito as he commits a string of gruesome murders. These visceral sequences are separated by equally unsettling scenes that show the killer’s capacity for manipulation. Joe Spinell’s performance is nothing short of brilliant.
Suspiria (2018)
Loosely based on Dario Argento’s 1977 horror epic, 2018’s Suspiria removes quite a bit of the mystery from the original, opting to drop Dakota Johnson in a school filled with witches while making it clear that is the case.
Similar to the classic movie, Suspiria revels in gore and blood, albeit this version utilizes an aesthetic that is far seedier than the stunning visuals of its predecessor. Although an acquired taste, Suspiria is an intriguing experiment in symbolic horror that mostly is a success.
House (1986)
The story follows a writer who steps into an inherited house to try and pen a book. Naturally, the author has a few demons to work through, and this house just happens to be the best place to get some therapy done.
Tumbbad (2018)
An ambitious Indian film, Tumbbad is soaked in culture, mysticism, and atmosphere. Hailing from a family straddled with a curse, Vinayak Rao sets out to find a secret treasure out of pure greed. Tumbbad boasts stunning cinematography and locations, depicting environments laced with history, tragedy, and enchantment.
House On Haunted Hill (1959)
Perhaps no other actor is more synonymous with horror B-movies than Vincent Price, and House on Haunted Hill ranks among the legendary actor’s most enduring projects. This 1959 film takes the haunted house blueprint and throws in a captivating mystery, all the while delivering scares and laughs courtesy of its game performers and endearing special effects.
This classic is the movie equivalent of a trip through a carnival haunted house; sure, the scares might be mixed with laughter and lack genuine fright, but everybody is having a good time.
The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane (1976)
A slightly forgotten ’70s horror film, The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane boasts a brilliant performance from Jodie Foster as a girl living alone who is hiding a few secrets. Dealing with mature themes such as blackmail, independence, and abuse, The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane plays it relatively straight, with the horror elements very much being human and relatable.
A controversial release at the time, The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane is worth seeking out even if it is not the best pick for a Halloween watch party.
Train To Busan (2016)
Zombie films are a dime-a-dozen, but occasionally, one comes out that justifies why crowds continue to flock to theaters to watch the walking dead. Train to Busan is a thrill ride from beginning to end, one that blends action, horror, and family drama to create a package with nothing resembling a dull moment. A father and daughter who are struggling to communicate catch a train for a one-hour trip, a journey that becomes slightly more complicated than anticipated when an apocalypse breaks out.
Cloverfield (2008)
Although often regarded as their own thing, monster/kaiju movies can fall under the horror category. Cloverfield serves as a prime example of the subgenre’s ability to inspire a good fright, and Matt Reeves’ project is still among the most memorable found footage horror movies of all time.
Thematically and narratively, the 2008 film does not do anything particularly original, but Cloverfield’s success lies in its presentation, chaotic energy, and its creature’s mystique. Similar to Jaws, the Cloverfield monster is almost never seen directly, with the audience having to make do with brief flashes and the wanton destruction left by the gigantic entity.
Candyman (2021)
A sequel to 1992’s seminal classic, Candyman pays homage to its beloved processor while still establishing its own voice rooted in the current socio-political climate. Brilliantly acted, directed, and written, this slasher succeeds in crafting an immediately thrilling fright fest that works on a primal level. It is plain scary.
Beneath the surface, Candyman dives into the way society and history influence and maintain a cycle of violence, tying these very real fears with the mythos of the eponymous character. Heavy as its ideas are, this film is still a good pick for a random afternoon.
The Ring (2002)
The American remake of 1998’s Ring falls short of the Japanese original, but that is hardly a damning criticism since the latter is one of the most terrifying films of the 1990s. Gore Verbinski’s The Ring is a well-told ghost story featuring a solid cast led by Naomi Watts. A slow-burner, the film prioritizes a tense build-up over frequent scares, culminating in a chilling final act.
By this point, The Ring’s story is part of pop culture. After watching a haunted tape, the viewer receives a call notifying them of their impending death in seven days. Naomi Watts portrays Rachel, a journalist who decides to investigate this urban legend. When her son ends up watching the tape, Rachel has just a week to figure out what is exactly going on and to save her child.
Hellraiser (1987)
The Cenobites are unique entities that do not overwhelm the film’s story, which does a solid job of exploring its human characters. Pinhead has grown into a horror legend, and the franchise has arguably yet to produce a sequel that surpasses the original film.
