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Ten Great Horror Movies To Expand Your Horizons

Added 2018-10-30 05:34:22 +0000 UTC

This Halloween bonus is a spin-off on Ten Great Books to Expand Your Horizons. Later this week, the short-lived but much appreciated 10 Random Thoughts On Weight Training series is making a comeback. True to tradition, the dead walks among the living. Following the resurrection of said series, a new training modality comes shortly thereafter.

Until then, I hope this will hold you over. I'll be adding a movie or two to this list daily and I hope it's appreciated by some, even if you don't like horror movies. I've curated the list carefully and you won't any basic bitch horror in here, rest assured.

Good Scares

Good horror movies are damn hard to find these days — were they ever easy to find…? No, and the horror genre is probably the single lowest scoring movie category on average. It’s riddled with tropes; formulaic and predictable to the nth degree thanks to successes that preceded them. This is not for lack of imagination, it’s simply how Hollywood works these days.

It's not all shit and it's not all formulaic. I’ve found a few unexpected delights throughout the years. Diamonds in the rough. Movies out of the left field — watched on a whim, without expectations and knowledge beyond a few bylines and the small reassurance of red tomatoes.

Fuck hype. The best horror movies I’ve seen came unexpected and left unforgettable. They touched me in some way, each one differently. These movies left me with an uneasy feeling. Scenes and endings that persisted to this day. Moments that left a lingering feeling of dread and never went away. It's mainly those movies that I'm sharing with you here. Enjoy.

***WARNING***

If you're planning to watch these movies, don't click the links. They contain spoilers. I include these links as reference for those who have seen them and for you once you have seen them. The best way to enjoy these movies are without knowing more than what's written here.

***WARNING***

1. Take Shelter

There’s not much I can or will say about this movie without spoiling it.

But a few of you will know exactly what I mean. And that’s why this epic scene is one of the best in modern cinema. With its unique and terrifying mix of hope, dread and despair, it remains one of my favorite moments. Ever.

2. Never Let Me Go

What’s a drama slash love story with low key sci-elements doing on this list? I’m not sure if that’s an apt description by the way. Frankly, I can’t remember how the movie begins, unfolds or anything else beyond a byline or two.

Suffice it to say, it’s hardly a horror movie. For 90 mins or so.

‘Nuff said. Don’t doze off like I did or you might wake up to the jump-scare of your life. The kind of scare you get after escaping death by a millisecond. The kind that leaves you shaky after a truck misses by an inch. The kind that has you reassuring yourself that everything is fine. Going whew-that-sure-was-close. Over and over again to convince yourself that it didn’t actually happen.

I hate that shit. But in this movie, it's nothing compared to what follows. I’m not the sensitive type but it's the harshest shit since that POS camper AWPed Bambi’s mum.

Can still hear him screaming like it was yesterday. This movie gave me PTSD. Mild, but still.

3. The Invitation

Lovers and friends are invited to a New Year's Party hosted by another group of friends. They haven't seen each other in years. And that's really all you need to know to enjoy this dark masterpiece.

I've mentioned it here before and the Patrons who have seen the film will agree when I say that it's the best damn thing to come out of Hollywood in the last decade or so. A horror movie for grown-ups that aren't scared of ghosts and goblins because why be scared of that when all you need to do is take a look around to know that humans are far scarier and much closer to home? Next door maybe. Or within.

When this slow-burner gathers steam, it does so with rapid and intense crescendo that culminates in an unforgettable and terrifying end scene that you won't soon forget, rest assured of that.

Watch it this weekend and let me know what you think.

4. The Descent

Let's cool it with slow-burners and human affairs and let's do it with the nightmarish visions tucked away deep underground in the greatest horror-horror movie of the 21st century, The Descent.

While you can't peg the other films on this list as horror movies per se, you can't peg The Descent as anything but. And a goddamn masterclass in horror it is. I don't know about you, but I think it's best creature-feature ever made and among Top 3 of all time as far as pure horror is concerned.

I suspect that quite a few of you have already seen it and those that haven't can check it out on IMDB knowing there's not much to be spoilt. Except maybe your underwear.

...You know what, don't watch the trailer and don't read anything more because I can't recall how that ever made a movie better. If you're lucky to not have watched this already, you, just know that you're in for a ride.

5. Train to Busan

...This modern Korean classic has zombies and people dying in droves, so I guess that makes it a horror. But in contrast to 28 Days Later, this one's not really scary, and intermixed with the violence and gore is a good amount of humor.

So fuck categories. This is not only the best movie with zombies I've ever seen, it's the best film of this century on the merits of its entertainment value alone. See it. You'd be crazy not to.

6. The Hallow (The Woods)

With a 43% audience rating, this might not be everyone's cup of tea. If you ask me, the film critics have it right this time because for someone with a love of Irish mythology and old folk tales, like me, this really hits the spot. It's a creature feature done well and 90 mins flies by quick.

Too quick and that's my only critique, because I wish they would've explored and elaborated more on the strangeness in the woods and it's peculiar inhabitants. The ending hints at a sequel and I'll be first in line if that ever comes to pass.

If you like this spoiler-free trailer, you'll probably like the movie too. So give it a go, ye olde shite!

7. A Dark Song

This is the only movie on this list that I half-expected to be garbage. Lo and behold, it's anything but in spite of low budget and all. Proving a good story is worth its weight in gold, this one's got heft like a sledge, but wields it gently. Like the previous entry it comes with a fascinating mythology attached to it and this one's rooted in gnosticism.

The movie takes place in a large mansion somewhere in Scotland or Wales. It centers around two people engaged in a ritual, a summoner/magician and the woman who enlisted him. The ritual involves far more than scented candles, an Ouija-boards and a six-pack brewskis on a Friday evening. It stretches over several days. Needless to say, things don't go according to plan.

The film and its story become more fascinating still when you learn that the ritual in question is an actual thing in real life. With practitioners congregating in Yahoo-groups and other quaint places above and below. There, they bear witness to all sorts of strange and remarkable experiences. I know because I explored these groups for awhile and who knows, they might just be a crazy bunch feeding each other's delusions. No different than the Taubesities or hardcore Paleo crowd. Or...they might be onto something.

Anyway, aside from one very campy scene at the end, I enjoyed this quite a bit. A horror movie for smart people, let's say. The ones that appreciate a trip to the dark side every once in a while. Even if it's just to sneak a peek over the edge before hurrying back to safety.

8. Martyrs

The so-called French New Wave of horror is the most exciting thing to happen to the genre in modern times. It started with Irreversible in the early 2000's, anyone seen it? Trade the drama elements for suspense and the rape scene for torture and you get the idea.

Brief tangent about Irreversible, I was at home between modelling gigs and still remember the shitstorm it caused. Talking heads and panels on the morning news, angry listeners calling in to the radio to voice their outrage, etc.

I can't imagine the reaction in today's society but it's a movie that would never see daylight in this climate. Why? Well, it became infamous for a long and drawn out rape scene that's quite uncomfortable to watch.

Depictions of rape, the mere thought of the act is unappealing to the extreme, agreed. But as far as visuals go, it won't give a guy nightmares and maybe that's caveat here. The gender of the audience member. And if you ask me, the fire hydrant scene is far worse and actually traumatic to watch. In contrast to the rape, once seen, never forgotten.

After Irreversible, half a decade passed without a peep. Then out of nowhere Martyrs came and became the modern cult classic for similar reasons -- for the outrage it caused, sure, but that's simply the byproduct of breaking new ground. Martyrs more or less came to define The French New Wave, but it also started a subgenre some lovingly call torture porn and made Hollywood take notes.

It was Martyrs that paved the way for Hostel, Saw and similar Hollywood schlock for mass consumption. These movies satisfied primitive urges and simple minds, but left depth and subtext back in France. At least there, they were appreciated.

All of the aforementioned pale in comparison to Martyrs. This is a movie you'll either love or hate. If you have the stomach for it, you'll likely be in the latter camp, because it's a brilliant movie for many reasons. Extreme and gut-wrenching violence is the least of them.

And before you start watching, be damn sure you have the right release. I suffered through 20 mins of the terrible Hollywood remake dubbed into French. Let me tell you, the suffering of the film's protagonist pales in comparison to those minutes. Don't make the same mistake.

9. L'Interiur (Inside)

As good as Martyrs is, L'Interiur is the crowning jewel of the French New Wave. It's not even a horror movie per se. There are no supernatural elements involved and it could categorically be called a thriller. Had it not been so fucking frightening.

Like other movies on this list, Inside makes the most of what it has. In this case, a pregnant woman visited by a crazed bitch that wants to lay claim to the unborn child. Sharp objects come with the territory and this movie made me wince and cover my eyes more than once.

You can do the math and figure out why. That said, this is not a movie with gore and blood as central themes. Those are simply byproducts of the story in this fine film and nailbiter of a thriller.

And once again, the French original from 2007. NOT the POS Hollywood remake. If you're gonna watch that, just jam a pair of scissors into your eyes and save yourself some bandwidth.

10. The Wicker Man

This is one of those movies everyone knows about, but few have seen. A shame. Because if I had to pick one horror movie as the greatest of all time, it would be the classic 'The Wicker Man.' The original from the 70's, mind you. Not the remake with Nicholas Cage. That's a classic in another genre (comedy).

What's it about? A detective is summoned to a remote island outside Wales to investigate something or the other. What he discovers there is for me to know and you to find out. Lucky bastard.

Film scholars would protest against labelling it as horror and say that it's actually the first 'occult thriller' but fuck them. It's a movie that's hardly outright horrifying, yet terrifying in its own right. The right you struggle to put into words, but you know it when you see it. The righteous kind.

Clocking in under 90 minutes, The Wicker Man is quick but unforgettable viewing. Finishing with an end scene that stays 'till death do you apart. Enjoy it while is lasts. They don't make movies like this anymore. (Guess why. Or guess right and there's a gold star waiting to be plucked.)

Bonus: TV Shows

Two quick mentions here because why not?

The Terror

Based on a novel thick as a brick, this TV series is arguably better than the book according to those that made it through. I lasted 50 pages so I wouldn't know.

Picture Game of Thrones on a ship in the 1800s, The North Pole, eskimos, and entities with malicious intent. If that sounds appealing, this one's for you. Best TV horror since...well, recently, I guess.

The Haunting of Hill House

This one caught me by surprise. A haunted mansion? Ghosts? Aaaah, fuck off dude! I fucking hate ghosts.

Never thought this day would come but I'll be damned if it hasn't. There's 3 episodes left in this 10-parter but unless they shit the bed completely, this might be the finest horror TV series ever made. Not that hard when the only competition is the Outer Limits from the mid-90s, but still. It's fucking good.

Ghosts are so played out it takes something extra to hit the spot and this series has it. Most of it's in the details; the characters and story arch are far from predictable and even some of the scares are pretty damn original.

Case in point, Episode 5 has the most bone-chilling twist ever witnessed in a TV series. Once you see it, you know it. And it comes right after a hair-raising, spine-shaking and mindbending merry-go-round with a ghost, and the whole is perfection to behold.

Brilliant execution. I'm impressed. Bravo, Netflix. Bravo.

P.S. My only critique is that the acting is a bit uneven in select places. I'm mainly thinking of the extremely cringey and awkward mother-daughter-talk about "gifts" that takes place somewhere in the first half of the season. It's so whack and out of place that you wonder how it made it past the cutting block. Fortunately, that's one scene and the rest aren't bad enough to remember.