I don't think it has been mentioned but Wolf Creek seriously freaked me out when we watched it. It was all I could do not to turn the TV off. No other film has affected me like that, both wanting to watch it and not wanting to watch it. I'm sure when it came out there were lots of reports of people leaving the cinema because they couldn't handle it.
Stupidly watched this in an Aussie youth hostel. Not fun.
I've heard, from my daughter, that A Tale of Two Sisters is terrifying. Just working up the courage to watch it.
Errata.
Its excotcist III not II with the corridor scene
Horror can't rely exclusively on jump scares (and that movie doesn't), but this my favourite jump scare ever. Lengthy build up that completely lulls you to sleep...then that happens.
Errata.
Its excotcist III not II with the corridor scene
Horror can't rely exclusively on jump scares (and that movie doesn't), but this my favourite jump scare ever. Lengthy build up that completely lulls you to sleep...then that happens.
Yeah totally but once you have seen it you know enough to expect it. Its still a watchable scene but its not scary in the same way it was the first time.
Along similar lines, in that it's not "horror" in terms of genre, but the movie "Irreversible" gave me nightmares.
For me it was not so much the subject matter (which is horrible in itself), but the presentation.
For example there is a violent murder and the way the sound, lighting etc captures the essence of rage is like nothing else I've watched- it gave me the electric/hot/shaking/sicky adrenaline feeling you might know if you've ever been close to receiving serious violence. It properly ****ed me up.
In summary, perhaps not one to watch with the kids.
Another good shout - your description of that scene sums it up perfectly. It reminded me of footage I saw in a documentary about the Rwandan genocide: there's no flash-cuts; the camera just sits stock-still and records every blow that falls.
I saw it in a cinema with about 30 people and a third of them left within the first 10 minutes. I have seen it exactly once, not because it's a bad film; I just can't imagine ever being in the mood to watch it again. I remember meeting my pal after seeing it (she was supposed to go, but chickened out) and her asking if I'd recommend it. I told her to go and see Chicago instead.
Some good suggestions so far.
I saw the Descent in the cinema and I was terrified, it a good combination of jump scares and properly creepy atmosphere.
Both Alien and Aliens hold up as pretty scary if you don't know what to expect, but who doesn't these days.
If you don't want jump scares then I really like The Silence of the Lambs for just an overbearing sense of dread, it just a really well made film but again you've probably seen it.
I really like The Mist (2007) for one of the most unsettling endings ever.
One no one else has mention is Martyrs, its a French horror for 2008. Body horror plus psychological horror its pretty damn scary.
there’s one film I watched, and one scene made me never want to watch it again, and that’s ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’; the scene where the army officer beats the person’s head in with a bottle, and is clearly deriving sadistic enjoyment from it is stuck in my mind, and reminds me that most of the time it’s the humans who are the real monsters, and I don’t ever want to watch it again.
This +1. Because humans behaving like monsters is far more plausible and therefore more frightening than mythical monsters.
Not so scary perhaps but gory and entertaining is Dog Soldiers.
Dog Soldiers is great, and was clearly made on a budget of the change down the back of the sofa, but I agree, scary it is not.
Classed as a thriller rather than horror, but Clint Eastwood's first film as a director, Play Misty for Me, really freaked me out when I first saw it.
"Dog Soldiers is great, and was clearly made on a budget of the change down the back of the sofa, but I agree, scary it is not."
Deffo not a scary horror, and brilliantly close to being a full on comedy/farce. Despite the low budget, it also has some of the coolest looking movie werewolves I've seen. Constantly skirmishing in my head with Tremors for the title of best B Movie ever.
Somebody mentioned a film they found unsettling but couldn't remember why. The Serpent And The Rainbow is that for me. Saw it at the cinema and don't remember anything specifically scary but it left me feeling decidedly iffy for a while.
Watched Silence of the Lambs with my daughter for the first time the other day. She enjoyed it once she'd stopped laughing at the use of that hackneyed "eagle screech" sound effect over the opening credits. Clearly she was a more sophisticated audience member than I was at that age.
It stands up really well (although Cox>Hopkins all day, obviously). It would make a great double bill with Ex Machina: both pleasingly short feminist films by male directors; both featuring interviews through glass with a hyper-intelligent antagonist/love interest; and both featuring seriously unsettling dance scenes.
A few disturbing little numbers that haven't been mentioned.
Fresh (2022)
Crimes of the Future (2022)
The Innocents (2021)
Bonus recommendation: The Orphanage. A great ghost story with a genuine emotional punch.
+1 for The Orphanage, I'm not a horror fan, but this is a great film. Only a couple of jump scares and more of a mystery/ghost story than true horror, but very unsettling. The lead actress is fantastic, it's almost like a one woman play in how it focuses on her.
Borderlands.
The last exorcist.
Paranormal activity,first one.
The Vanishing (original Dutch film). For banality of evil terror and ultimate twist ending
Event Horizon did it for me.
Whenever my kids ask to watch tv at innapproriate times, i say "yes, but only event horizon". Theyre 3,5,9.
They all want to see it now 😀
The Babadook would be good to watch with offspring 🙂
Came to this thread to say the same thing.
Genuinely chilling.
The Babadook would be good to watch with offspring 🙂
Came to this thread to say the same thing.
Genuinely chilling.
To recommend another double bill, I've always thought that The Babadook would pair well with We Need to Talk About Kevin. Don't worry - this isn't a spoiler; it's just that they both address that whole taboo about parents (particularly mothers) being, at points, terrified, exhausted and even disgusted by their children.
Amazing production design on The Babadook - love the book especially.
One no one else has mention is Martyrs, its a French horror for 2008. Body horror plus psychological horror its pretty damn scary.
I was going to add that - sticks in my head that one. Full on brutal.
New French extremity have some good entries.
For example - It's not technically horror (but more horrific than a thousand horror films) as such but 'Irreversible' goes right to the top of the list for making you feel rough and nauseous about watching something.
I think mostly horror films are disappointing, unable to resolve interesting set-ups. But when a good one comes along - it can really shake you.
I say that as a fan of horror.
Kevin Smith's 'Red State' I think an interesting entry.
It got terrible reviews - but there's something about the setting and tone that really stuck with me. Fans of cult or folk horror should find it interesting if you missed it.
I find unsettling more interesting than jump scare jump.
I hate horror films, don't like to pay money to be scared! But I saw event horizon at the cinema when it came out, thought it was a science fi film when I decided to go. I can't remember it being that scary..
I suppose the ones I hate are the one that make you jump, rather than the psychological horrors.
Nice one - I need to come back here to try some of the films I've not seen out.
I guess I don't really get scared as such but I do really like a really, unsettling and uncomfortable not exactly very much fun, total buzzkilling film 👍
Some great suggestions above, but some I haven't spotted being mentioned that have stuck with me due to their twistedness
Funny games (original one)
Man bites dog
Requiem for a dream
Melancholia (not Melania 🤣)
These two shorts have something going for them
Pan's Labyrinth. proper freaked me out.
My ex partner got very upset by Pan's Labyrinth but I'm not sure it's scary, as such (I love it).
I rewatched Event Horizon free on Prime this week out of curiosity, and my reaction was similar to when I saw it 30 years ago on its cinematic release: meh.
Bone Tomahawk is also currently free on Prime atm and I just rewatched the final scenes. Again, not scary as such, but - blimey.
I seemed to become immune to horrors at a young age, probably from having ‘a video’ as a kid and dad who liked a horror. One that I do recall disturbing me was Salem’s Lot. That freaky floating kid spooked me for months and still hate the little bastard. I rewatched it a few years ago and it’s aged badly but he’s still a freaky little git.
Not found a modern horror that has had anything disturbing to me, Event Horizon I seen at the cinema and laughed at how bad I found it. That didn’t go down well with other’s who were almost physically shaking. Tried to watch it twice since, including just a year or so ago. Still comically bad.
Don't Look Now . A grieving father thinks he sees his dead daughter, tries to find her and sets in motion a chain of events that lead to his own death
https://share.google/DhNZndsGXyjSA7aj0
I love horror films but there are several 'sub-catagories'.
Most fall into what I would call 'comedy horror'.
Then at the extreme end, you have what I would call 'torture porn', films such as 'Hostel'...just really messed up, just for the shock value, and not very good films.
Then you have films that are actually frightening on an emotional level.
Pans Labyinth is an interseting one, I love the film but I'd call that more fantasy than horror.
Babadok is good. Now I have kids ooof.
Hereditary is great.
If you want something really horrifying try Come and See.
One that I do recall disturbing me was Salem’s Lot. That freaky floating kid spooked me for months and still hate the little bastard. I rewatched it a few years ago and it’s aged badly but he’s still a freaky little git.
That's a good one. Affected many of our generation given it was made for TV.
That really is haunting scene.
One that I do recall disturbing me was Salem’s Lot. That freaky floating kid spooked me for months and still hate the little bastard. I rewatched it a few years ago and it’s aged badly but he’s still a freaky little git.
That's a good one. Affected many of our generation given it was made for TV.
That really is haunting scene.
Ooh had forgotten the floating kid in Salem's Lot - I could never opened my curtains at night after seeing that as a kid lol
Add to that anything tapping on the window and I was down under the covers! 🤣
It really depends on what you find scary. For some its lunatics with a big knife, for others zombies or monsters and for some its the occult.
Some people watch Blair Witch and get very freaked out, others see nothing more than some folks running around in the woods. Your imagination has to do a bit of the work in most horror films.
Based on what you have said is OK i'd suggest - The Grudge or A Tale of Two Sisters. Both of these should put you on the edge of your seat.
La cabina (the telephone box), a short Spanish film from the 70s. IIRC it was shown on BBC in the early 80s.
Definitely a must see even now 😀
La cabina (the telephone box), a short Spanish film from the 70s. IIRC it was shown on BBC in the early 80s.
Definitely a must see even now
Thats ace. Its on youtube too
I'm a bit of a horror fan at times, nothing too obscure - mostly like supernatural / psychological ones with an "off" atmosphere rather than gory body horror type stuff (with some crossover!). Here's some recommendations:
Shutter (Thai version): Very archetypal Asian-style horror (scary pale girl with black hair) but it's done very very well. Based around cameras which is a bonus if you're into photography.
.REC (Spanish version): Found-footage zombie film with a bit of a difference. It's super low budget and been copied a million times by this point but, especially if you've lived in a flat with a stairwell, is pretty scary. I like things that take place all in one room or building.
Hereditary: Not quite what you'd expect. It is absolutely a horror film but some of the scariest / most upsetting parts are not the traditional horror scenes.
Midsommar: From same director as above. Stretch to even call this a horror film and it's incredibly marmite, but I loved it. Has such a bizarre unsettling atmosphere, and takes place almost entirely in brightly lit sunny meadows.
Pulse (2001): Really unsettling Asian horror. Lots of uncanny valley moments.
The Descent: Very stupid and a bit by-the-numbers but christ if it's not claustrophobic and scary.
Bring Her Back: Watched this on the plane to Japan just last year. Some hard to watch moments if you're squeamish and very creepy. Sally Hawkins is absolutely unhinged in this. Talk to Me by the same director from a few years ago is just as good.
I also genuinely like Signs by M Night Shyamalan. Full of plot holes but I watched it was I was about 13 and it led to a few sleepless nights.
The original Spanish movie ‘bird box Barcelona’ is pretty harrowing.
Stephen kings ‘the mist’.
the first v/h/s movie was just spooky…the old dude in the armchair!
Midsommer didn’t do too much for me. Too linear. Unlike Hereditary, it didn’t throw any curveballs.