Scary Movie Megathread - Reviews, Recommendations, and Rants!

[MKO]

A few months ago I decided I wanted to find a movie that scared the crap out of me. I have been unsuccessful thus far. This thread can serve as a place to discuss your favorite scary movies, and/or to find a few new ones to enjoy. Right now I have a list of 50 movies in my IMDB "Must See" list, so I will keep this post updated with spoiler-free comments about which ones work and which ones don't.

 

 

I'm extremely picky with scary movies. I am not a big fan of slashers (Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Halloween, Jason, etc), which are what you think of when you hear "horror" movies. I'm also not really into the 'torture porn' (Hostel, Turistas) films either. I don't mind gore, and I think it was very very well done in films like Hostel, but it isn't scary to me.

 

 

My type of movie is the psychological horror/thriller. A film that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and that uses subtlety to scare you (instead of trying to startle you or gross you out).

 

 

Here are a few examples of films that have ever really gotten to me...and in order to save my credibility, I'll explain why.

 

 

 

SPOILERS FOR OLDISH MOVIES BELOW! IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE MILD SPOILERS, SKIP DOWN TO THE SECOND POST, WHICH CONTAINS "THE LIST"

 

 

 

 

 

 

#1 - The Blair Witch Project (1999) - Please don't close the thread right away. Let me explain. This is a definite love/hate movie for people...it's definitely hit or miss. When I first saw it, it hit. At the time, I worked at a camp in the woods that had frequent overnights, so every time I was out in the woods after that, I was on edge. What this movie does best is it DOESN'T SHOW YOU THE BAD GUY. It leaves everything to the imagination. It doesn't satisfy your craving to know what happened and why. The actors in the movie were given no scripts, so the acting is realistic to the point of being tedious at times, but it is completely believable and doesn't detract.

 

Others (no particular order):

 

The Descent (2005)– I am not claustrophobic by any means, but this movie almost made me become claustrophobic. And that isn’t even the scary part. The (SPOILERS) creatures in the movie are fairly well done, very creepy looking, and you don’t really see them too often – most of the time its just a quick flash.

 

The Hills Have Eyes (2006) – this movie is about a 7/10 in my book overall, but there is once scene that is one of the most horrifying scenes I have ever seen in a movie, and that’s why it makes my list of the best. If you’ve seen the movie, you know which scene I am talking about.

 

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) – Another so-so movie that has some amazing scenes. It loses a bit of scariness because it takes place in the context of a trial. However, the scene that (SPOILERS) starts in the classroom and ends in the church on campus was great – leaves you with a feeling of complete desperation. Also, the scene where Emily’s friend wakes up and sees Emily on the floor leaves an image with you for a while.

 

The Ring (2005) – This is another embarrassing one, I’ll admit. I was a big fan of the sudden and quick flashbacks during otherwise quiet parts of the film. The scene in the guy’s studio/apartment towards the end was extremely tense. The overall concept of a (SPOILERS) videotape that can kill you was a little off the wall, but beyond that, the film did a great job of keeping me tense.

 

 

END SPOILERS

 

 

 

You may note that I do not have some of the older classics (The Shining, The Exorcist, The Omen, etc) on here. I’ve seen most of them, but for some reason, I just do not get into them as much….not sure why! However, please post your favorites (whether they stand up to my pickiness or not)!

 

 

Well, I’m going to shut up now and get to watching. The next post will contain my list of films I have yet to see. I will include a snippet about each one. If you have a recommendation, I’ll put it on the list and include your comments. I want to keep the list up here in front so people don’t accidentally come across spoilers while looking for new movies to watch. Make sure to mark spoilers!

[MKO]

Recommended Movie List

 

(Ordered by Title - If foreign, the English title is included in parenthesis/quotes)

 

Links go to the IMDB page. I HATE knowing too much about a movie, so I will keep my comments to a bare minimum. You can look up the plot on IMDB if you want more information. If you have any specific questions about a movie that might be too spoily, you can PM me. I am not necessarily a fan of all of these, so don't blame me if you don't like them. I probably agree with you!

 

 

1408 (2007) - Via IMDB: "A man who specializes in debunking paranormal occurrences checks into the fabled room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel."

 

28 Days Later (2002) - A new take on 'zombie' flicks. Gritty camera work really adds to the atmosphere.

 

Alien (1979) - Gonna give this one a shot too...have to add it to the Netflix queue..wife will be pissed when this comes in the mail instead of some chick flick!

 

The Blair Witch Project (1999) - Don't get too dizzy! Recovered footage from the videocameras of three film students who were never found.

 

The Changeling (1980) - No relation to the recent Hilary Swank drama. Via IMDB: "A man staying at a secluded historical mansion, finds his life being haunted by the presence of a spectre."

 

Darkness Falls (2003) - DAMN, I wish the rest of the movie could've been on par with the first 15 minutes or so. The first chunk of this movie is great (like 9/10 or so), and the rest of it is so disappointing that overall I can't completely endorse this one, even with the strong start.

 

The Descent (2005) - Do you have any desire to go caving? If so, don't watch this. Great atmosphere in this film. I saw it on TV with commercial breaks and still got into it.

 

The Exorcist (1973) - I'm gonna give this one another shot....

 

Funny Games (1997) - Remade in 2007, but word is it's not as good. Via IMDB: "Two psychotic young men take a mother, father, and son hostage in their vacation cabin and force them to play sadistic "games" with one another for their own amusement."

 

Ghostwatch (1992) - An old BBC special that scared the crap out of a lot of people back in the day. A mockumentary where BBC reporters filmed live at a family's haunted house on Halloween night. Some spots of bad acting, but it was enough to fool a lot of viewers at the time.

 

Ils ("Them") (2006) - French/Romanian? - Similar to (if not the inspiration for) The Strangers. Very solid!

 

Låt den rätte komma in ("Let the Right One In") (2008) - More of a good movie than scary. I really liked this one.

 

Legion (2010) - Via IMDB: "An out-of-the-way diner becomes the unlikely battleground for the survival of the human race. When God loses faith in humankind, he sends his legion of angels to bring on the Apocalypse. Humanity's only hope lies in a group of strangers trapped in a desert diner with the Archangel Michael"

 

El maquinista ("The Machinist") (2001) - Starring Christian Bale - Via IMDB: "An industrial worker who hasn't slept in a year begins to doubt his own sanity."

 

Niori ("The Curse") (2005) - Mockumentary style film that does a good job with subtle creepy moments throughout. Allows tension to really rise.

 

Ôdishon ("Audition") (1999) - Japanese - Not necessarily horrifying throughout, but it has its moments. A good movie, IMO, just not a great scary movie.

 

El Orfanato ("The Orphanage") (2007) - Spanish - By the director of Pan's Labyrinth. I felt this was more on the 'good movie' side than the 'scary movie' side. Maybe missed out on some potential given the creepiness of the story and settings.

 

Paranormal Activity (2009) - LOVED the theory, hated the execution. This one reminded me of the 2009 NU/MU game...boring for the first three quarters, and as soon as it starts getting good, it ends! I think it suffered from 1) too much hype and 2) giving away most of the 'scary' parts in the trailer. The main problem was, it was easy to tell when 'scary' things were going to happen, so you were completely prepared for it, and oftentimes whatever ends up happening isn't as 'scary' as what your mind was coming up with.

 

[REC] / Quarantine (2007/2008) - Original (Spanish) and remake (US). Mockumentary-style film about a reporter who is doing a story on a fire brigade when they are called to a very strange situation.

 

Session 9 (2001) - Via IMDB: "Tensions rise within an asbestos cleaning crew as they work in an abandoned mental hospital with a horrific past that seems to be coming back."

 

The Shining (1980) - Via IMDB: "A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from the past and of the future."

 

Spoorloos ("The Vanishing") (1988) - Dutch - Make sure to see this version and not the US remake with Keifer Sutherland. Well I must defer this one to you guys. I've been told that people have been terrified by seeing this one...but it just didn't happen. It was a solid movie, but about as terrifying as an episode of CSI.

 

The Strangers (2008) - Frustrating at times, because you feel that if you were in that situation, you'd be able to get out of it. Feels like it could've been scarier. However, one thing that was absolutely perfect about this one is the very limited background music. Films are much creepier when they don't rely on background music to build up tension. This one doesn't.

 

Stuck (2007) - This is another one of those that won't necessarily keep you up at night, but is worth a watch. Best use of music being completely inappropriate for the visuals that I've ever witnessed.

 

 

 

 

I am continually updating this, so if something is missing, let me know!

[GSG]

 

I'm extremely picky with scary movies. I am not a big fan of slashers (Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Halloween, Jason, etc), which are what you think of when you hear "horror" movies. I'm also not really into the 'torture porn' (Hostel, Turistas) films either. I don't mind gore, I think it was very very well done in films like Hostel, but it isn't scary to me.

 

 

My type of movie is the psychological horror/thriller. A film that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and that uses subtlety to scare you (instead of trying to startle you or gross you out).

 

I agree with everything I quoted there. For some reason I really like vampire movies (not those stupid sparkly Twilight vampires either). I want to see the new one, "Daybreakers." Probably just wait till it comes out on DVD in case it sucks.

[redout22]

Those are all freaky movies. I'm surprised Paranormal Activity isn't on the list.

Also if I was making a list most all of those movies would be on there except for the Ring.

[carlfense]

I don't like scary movies. You can make fun of me all you want . . . but I just don't sleep well after watching them. (However, for some reason being alone out in the woods at night isn't scary at all to me . . . but movies/books can scare the crap out of me.)

 

That said, the scariest/best scary movie I have seen is probably The Exorcist. I've heard The Shining is great as well.

[strigori]

I have never been scared from a movie. And I totally agree with not being into slashers and torture porn. Alien still holds as one of the more tension filled movies I have ever seen.

[mmmtodd]

i just caught the shining on satellite for the first time this weekend. im pained to admit that it actually made me laugh more than it scared me. most of all it was boring as hell.

 

ive never been into scary movies, but i definitely agree about The Hills Have Eyes... that fah-reeked me out.

[Bo-Nose]

One movie that is permanently embedded in my brain is "The Neverending Story". That was without a doubt the scariest movie I have ever seen when I was little. There are all kinds of things in that movie that messed with my developing brain and caused me to grow up paranoid. Where do I begin? ...

 

*The giant talking mountain on a giant motorcycle.

*The speedy snail.

*The big turtle who sneezes hurricanes.

*The swamp of sorrows.

*The talking dog-dragon that flies.

*The eye statues that kill people with lazers.

*The scary talking wolf with glowing eyes.

*The ocean of acid.

*The man with three faces.

*The princess who lives in an ivory tower on top of a massive floating asteroid.

*The all-consuming shadow called "The Nothing".

 

Oh god...

[MKO]

I agree with everything I quoted there. For some reason I really like vampire movies (not those stupid sparkly Twilight vampires either). I want to see the new one, "Daybreakers." Probably just wait till it comes out on DVD in case it sucks.

 

 

I typically don't care for vampire movies (Twilight is making me detest everything that is and has ever been vampires), but I think Daybreakers looks great. Great cast, too!

 

Låt den rätte komma in/Let The Right One In (2008) is apparently an excellent and unique 'vampire movie.' I haven't gotten to it quite yet but within 48 hours or so I should have a mini-review up.

[dizzturbedNUfan]

Anytime it is based on actual events usally makes it a good movie.

I think Strangers in one of the best ones in awhile.

Quarantine was kind of an F'd up movie.

The first 3 Saw's were pretty good, they kept you guessing quite a bit.

Mothman Prophecy wasn't too bad.

Rob Zombie has a pretty messed up mind, Night of a 1000 corpses

 

I also agree with Blair Witch Project, I was one of the few people around here who liked it. I still listen for babies crying when we go camping. Most people I know that watched it didn't understand why the guy was standing in the corner at the end. You have to pay attention to the interviews at the start.

[dizzturbedNUfan]

Double post are scary too!

[MKO]

Anytime it is based on actual events usally makes it a good movie.

 

 

Good take. That pretty much explains which horror movies I like and which ones I dislike. The ones that at least APPEAR real or that are extremely realistic usually scare me the most. Mockumentary/1st person camera films are the best for me.

 

Fantasy creatures (Jeepers Creepers, for example) don't do it.

[Drowning_in_the_Sea_of_Red]

1408 was an intense movie. Freaked me out big time.

 

I agree with everything I quoted there. For some reason I really like vampire movies (not those stupid sparkly Twilight vampires either).

 

[Scarlet Overkill]

i just caught the shining on satellite for the first time this weekend. im pained to admit that it actually made me laugh more than it scared me. most of all it was boring as hell.

 

ive never been into scary movies, but i definitely agree about The Hills Have Eyes... that fah-reeked me out.

 

Question - did you see the original or the remake?

[Scarlet Overkill]

Maybe someone can help me out. A number of years I saw a movie on tv, I'm guessing it was from the 70's. It had individual stories to it. In one part was that there was a "bottomless pit" in the woods and people would disappear into it. There'd always be evil noises coming from it, and when someone was lowered into it with a rope, the person had seen such evil that he went crazy. Another part was a mother putting a curse on some neighborhood boys for treating her son poorly.

 

Anyone? Anyone? That hole of evil scared the daylights out of me and my mother. My dad was out of town at the time, and my mother was so scared she begged me to sleep in her bed that night.