Snapshots
From haunted house movies to straightforward horror films, audiences crave a thrilling thrill! In 2024, some of the most talked-about and popular films were made to scare audiences. These films included Terrifier 3, Longlegs, and Robert Eggers' version of Nosferatu. Not to mention the 10 years of left-field hits from Jordan Peele, A Quiet Place, Hereditary, and the rest.
Haunted house movies and thrillers are on the rise! With the smash hit Netflix miniseries The Haunting of Hill House, this genre of haunted house movies is captivating audiences! The horror film genre is rife with forgettable trash; the scary film genre is getting a much-deserved facelift (albeit a scary one!) Because no other cinematic experience can evoke more vivid feelings when executed well, it served to overpower and obfuscate the horror film genre's genuine worth. This collection is the ultimate list of the greatest horror films (including haunted house movies) ever made, featuring both contemporary and historical masterpieces.
Paranormal Activity
Starting with the most classic haunted house movie ever- Paranormal Activity is the og! While Paranormal Activity isn't the first horror film to use found-footage framing, it effectively tells the standard haunted house tale. Despite having a limited budget, the film achieved a great deal, resulting in a slew of equally terrifying sequels. The original, nevertheless, is unmatched.
The Wailing
If your introduction to Korean films is Bong Joon Ho's Parasite and tentacled spoof The Host, you have got to view more Korean horror films! Na Hong-jin’s The Wailing wins for terror, as she brings an unidentified and ill-defined illness to a tranquil rural town. Similar to Cure by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, in which infected individuals are driven to murder everyone around them, and The Happening by M. Night Shyamalan, about a spate of mysterious suicides, the horror film depicts the horrifying reality of how new illnesses function.
In the face of widespread panic, people are confused, superstitious, and have divergent views on how to contain the disease. A shaman promises a cure in the film, but his rituals backfire, leaving the authorities bewildered by a string of brutal killings. Infused with fear and despair, Na's gloomy vision foretold the COVID-19 panic that ensued tragically not long after.
IT
For some, Tim Curry will forever embody the terrifying figure of Pennywise, the dancing clown. Bill Skarsgård is the one who truly intrigues you in this 2017 remake of Stephen King's epic tale, which takes place in the 1980s instead of the 1950s. Pennywise is portrayed as incredibly horrific and insane by Skarsgård, whose eyes dart in two opposite directions. He drools as if famished and eager to devour the kids and their terror whenever he plays with them.
The themes of friendship and the loss of innocence are evocative of ET and Stand By Me, another King adaption; the youthful ensemble gives excellent performances that avoid any 'child acting' awkwardness. While this horror film does have some tender moments, its horrific moments serve as a stark reminder that clowns may fear people of all ages.
The Sixth Sense
Now, this is a classic haunted house movie! However, the prominent emotions in this horror film aren’t terror and fear- but sadness and remorse. Perhaps even more terrifying are the universal human anxieties that plague both the living and the dead, as depicted in a great number of horror films. This idea is central to the terrifying film that catapulted director M. Night Shyamalan to horror movie stardom (and twist endings), catapulted young actor Haley Joel Osment to temporary child stardom, and gave Toni Collette a career-defining role as a troubled single mother still grieving the death of her mother.
The Sixth Sense follows an otherworldly Bruce Willis as he navigates a devastating revelation and its compassionate conclusion, all the while embraced by sombre gothic shades. It understands that the most effective ghost stories are those that eventually revolve around earthbound beings with unresolved pains.
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The Mist
If you are a fan of old school horror films- this might be your new favourite! This grim and pointed adaptation of King's novella concerns a small town whose residents are compelled to seek refuge in the nearby supermarket when an unexplained fog engulfs them. On the one hand, it's a nostalgic relic: a classic monster flick from the '80s that comes to life in its shimmering monochrome DVD edition.
As it dissects the social and political strands that almost kept the United States together throughout Bush's presidency, it becomes a very contemporary drama. Through the use of shakycam, director Frank Darabont examines religious belief, political divide, and, tragically, military involvement, creating what is perhaps the most brilliant, captivating, and devastating horror film of the century thus far.