MKO
Four-Star Recruit
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!
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!
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