I love horror movies. I love them with a burning passion, which doesn't make any sense, because I am one of the most easily frightened people in the world. In honor of Halloween in a few weeks, here's a list of some of the best horror movies I have seen.
1. Insidious
This was the first horror movie I ever saw, and it's one of my favorites. At first glance, it may seem very cliche, with a family wanting a fresh start (don't they all?) and moving into a new house (first mistake). However, soon after that, it veers in a wildly different direction from typical horror movies. It's horrifying, it's creepy, and you will never want to be around children again.
Jumpscares: 8/10*
*Jumpscares: a deliberate attempt to scare the audience by surprising them with an unexpected or sudden event. Often described as lazy (see: Annabelle), if done properly, they can make you cry (not that I ever did that...).
2. The Conjuring
Dear. Lord. The Conjuring. This one is based off of a true story, and while the movie did take some artistic liberties with the story, the majority of the film stays close to the actual events. IT'S TERRIFYING. The Conjuring was also the first horror movie I saw in theaters, which was a bad idea, but also why it made such a lasting impression on me. I still cannot play hide and seek without being unreasonably frightened.
Jumpscares: 9/10
3. The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project was revolutionary, because it started the documentary horror movie franchise that we all know and love today (it may have not been the first, but it was definitely the most popular). The actors had no idea that myth of the Blair Witch was fake, the directors scared them at night by shaking their tents (without letting the actors know), and the actors actually got lost a few times. Sounds cruel? Oh, without a doubt. However, the actors' reactions are real, and for the majority of the movie, they are full of pure terror. That's something you can't fake.
Jumpscares: 6/10
4. Babadook
Ugh, The Babadook. I have never seen a horror movie with such depth put to the characters and their stories. It's one of the few horror movies that doesn't have the atypical family of a father, a mother, and (at least) two children. Instead, it focuses on a single mother, Amelia, and her hyperactive son, Samuel. I'm pretty positive that the overall theme is symbolic and has a deeper meaning, but I was too busy focusing on the horrifying pop-up book to notice.
Jumpscares: 10/10
5. The Walking Dead
Okay, I know I cheated; The Walking Dead is a TV show and not a movie, but this show TERRIFIES me. My number one irrational fear (more on that another time) is a zombie apocalypse and being unprepared for that event. What makes this show even more fantastic are the costumes and makeup effects for the zombies. As the show continues, the zombies begin to look more deteriorated and worn, because of time passing. In all seriousness, they look far too real for my comfort, so hands off to all of the makeup and costume team on this show.
Jumpscares: 7/10 (however, I'm still in the middle of the second season, because I can't watch many episodes at once without becoming convinced that the zombie apocalypse is real.)
6. The Shining
The Shining is a classic, wonderful, unsettling horror movie that has terrified people ever since it was released in 1980. Based off of the Stephen King novel and directed by Stanley Kubrick, this movie is filled with subtext, hidden themes, and disguised symbolism; there have been documentaries and analyses focusing on this movie and its secrets (and some are pretty interesting, I would recommend watching this movie then looking up this analysis or this documentary about it). While The Shining has become a staple in the horror movie genre, King was always thoroughly displeased by Kubrick's changes and the documentary (same one as previously stated) that followed.
Jumpscares: 4/10
7. The Cabin in the Woods
CHRIS HEMSWORTH. Now that I have your complete attention, HE'S IN THIS MOVIE! The Cabin in the Woods is by far the most brilliant take on the classic horror movie. It begins with five college-aged friends going to someone's cousin's friend's remote and isolated cabin in the woods. Filled with a clash of dark humor and terror, this movie does not disappoint.
Jumpscares: 6/10
8. Sinister
If children already terrify you, then this movie is not for you, because the children are hands down the creepiest part of this movie. Opening with a cliche plot, the Oswalt family (a father, a mother, and two children) move into a new house for a fresh start; however, it turns out that the family who previously lived in the house were murdered. What sets this movie apart is that it turns out that Mr. Oswalt knew about the previous murders and chose to move his family into the house so he could write about it for his next crime novel. The movie quickly descends into terror and chaos that I do not want to spoil, so go watch it immediately (I would advise doing so during the middle of the day with lots of friends).
Jumpscares: 9/10
9. Oculus
I saved the most terrifying movie for last. Oculus was the last horror movie I ever saw in theaters, and even then, I can't fully say I saw it in theaters, since I watched a majority of the movie through my hands. The story is different from the very beginning, with the main characters being an adult brother and sister duo who acknowledge the existence of the paranormal and decide to fight it. This movie takes other horror movie cliches and twists them around on themselves, making it all the more frightening. Oculus is complicated, twisted, and impressively constructed.
Jumpscares: 15/10--I rated Oculus like this because (aside from the jumpscares in the trailer), you have no idea when the jumpscares are going to occur. Usually, there are some hints you can pick up on, but this movie doesn't give the audience any warnings.
