Lock your doors and grab your crucifix, because here comes: #4 – 1!
#4: The House of the Devil
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Director: Ti West
Starring: Jocelin Donahue, Tom Noonan,
Greta Gerwig
Year: 2009 |
What's it About?
As is the case with most of these flicks, the less you know going in, the better. Seriously, don't even watch the trailer. But if you must know the bare bones of the plot: desperate for some cash, a college girl accepts a babysitting job from a pair of eccentric characters living in the boonies, and things just don't go well.
"Are you here for mother?"
What Makes it Scary-Good?
- It's all in the build-up. Other horror directors should take notes on Ti West's ability to crank up the tension while showing the audience virtually nothing.
- Right down to the Coca-Cola cups, the props and intricate details used to recreate the 1980s deserve some kind of award.
- That ending sure packs a wallop.
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| Director: Neil Marshall Starring: Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid Year: 2005 |
What's it About?
One year after a devastating tragedy, a group of friends reunite for a rousing adventure through the underground caves of North Carolina. They'll be lucky to survive the claustrophobic cave systems – let alone the sheer terror waiting patiently for their arrival.
"Hey, there's something down here..."
What Makes it Scary-Good?
- Takes the time to develop its characters and their relationships so that the pure horror is much more intense.
- Once it shifts into high gear, it never quits until the credits roll. Hold on to your headlamps, people.
- If you enjoy high-quality scares AND more than a fair amount of carnage, this one's for you.
#2: Repulsion
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Director: Roman Polanski
Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Ian Hendry,
John Fraser
Year: 1965 |
"I must get this crack mended."
What's it About?
When her sister leaves Carol alone in her flat, Carol's troubled past catches up to her and slowly leads to madness.
What Makes it Scary-Good?
- Talk about some serious tension. Polanski's unique approaches to depicting Carol's decaying mental state make you feel as if you are slipping into hysteria yourself.
- Fantastic visual effects that only enhance the character's journey, rather than serve as distracting eye-candy.
- Works just as effectively as a spine-tingler as it does a character-driven mystery. What is the cause of Carol's delusions?
#1: Session 9
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Director: Brad Anderson
Starring: Peter Mullan, David Caruso,
Josh Lucas
Year: 2001 |
What's it About?
A crew of asbestos cleaners sign up for an ambitious assignment at an abandoned mental hospital. But as tensions rise within the group, they realize that the institution may not be as abandoned as they thought.
"And where do you live, Simon?"
What Makes it (#1-worthy) Scary-Good?
- On-location filming, meaning that the film was shot inside an actual abandoned mental hospital. A silent film composed of photographs of this place would be terrifying enough.
- A musical score that sneaks up and whispers in your ear.
- Just try to shake this one off as the final frame fades to black.
Well there you have it, people: the top 13 horror films that you might have passed by on your way to Poltergeist, The Evil Dead and The Happening (one of these is a joke). Like all scare-flicks, you could throw any of these films on with a group of friends and laugh your way through the entire 90-minute running time. But if give them a chance, I guarantee you will find something here that keeps you sleeping with a night-light.
Happy Halloween!
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