1. The Babadook
A classic monster film with a new twist, “The Babadook” depicts widowed mother Amelia battling her young, troubled son, Sam, as a grisly presence enters the home through the pages of a children’s book. The uneasy tone of the entire film is what gives it the edge. The downward spiral of Amelia and the feeling of being out of control keeps the viewer on edge. The film relies not on classic gore or jump scares but rather on a building tension and uneasiness, making it a riveting success in the psychological horror genre.
2. The Houses October Built
“The Houses October Built” is an American found footage style film that follows a group of terror lovers on a journey to find the “scariest haunted house” when, yes, you guessed it, they get a little more than they bargained for. This revolutionary concept plays on a fear that all goers of haunted houses have had; that the actors tucked behind broken walls and sprinting toward their victims with chainsaws have a more gruesome plan in mind. This film will make you think twice about visiting a haunted house when Halloween rolls around.
3. Contracted
“Contracted” brings a whole new meaning to STD. After Samantha, a recovering drug addict, is ruffled and raped, she begins to experience an array of symptoms while her body is, very literally, decomposing from the inside out. Struggling with relationships with friends and her lover, all while experiencing these horrific symptoms, the film keeps the viewer glued to the screen and eager to see what happens next. A sequel has also been recently added to the Netflix archive, and I’m eager to see what it brings to the table.
4. The Seasoning House
A take on human trafficking, “The Seasoning House” follows Angel, a deaf mute, who was kidnapped from her home and brought to a secluded house, initially, for use as a sex slave, but instead was given the duty of caring for the others: putting on make-up and drugging the girls in the morning and cleaning them at night. She befriends one of the girls who can understand sign language, setting a whole string of events in motion that leave Angel fighting for escape. The absolutely bizarre relationship between Angel and Viktor, who runs the brothel, and the gut wrenching circumstances of the situation leave the viewer weighing the morality of the characters that is otherwise out of the question for human traffickers.
5. Come Back To Me
The best word to describe this hidden gem is “uneasy”, as this is what the viewer feels from start to finish, in the best way possible for a horror film.
When couple Sarah and Josh are met with new neighbor, Dale, Sarah begins experiencing night terrors while strange things begin happening in their home. Dale has taken a very obvious liking to Sarah, making their encounters incredibly uncomfortable to watch. The viewer already gets a dose of his character in the beginning scenes as a teenage Dale watches as his mother is brutally murdered by his father. This is one of those movies where every detail counts and it’s important for the viewer to stay on their toes. Not very often does a movie come along with this many twists, turns, and an ending that leaves you breathless. This one is a must-watch, for sure.
6. Hush
This one is a roller coaster right from the beginning. “Hush” follows Maddie, a deaf mute author that has secluded herself away from the city in a cottage to finish her latest book. She is visited by a neighbor and, once alone, things take a turn for the worst as her tormentor murders her friend and taunts her from outside her home. It’s a classic thriller in the sense of building tension and stereotypical plot points, but it’s the ending that really makes this film a masterpiece. With the entirety so well done and an ending so chilling, this one certainly sky rockets to one of my personal favorites. You’ll be sure to check the locks of your doors and windows for weeks to come.
7. They Look Like People
Reunited friends Christian and Wyatt are the stars in this psychological thriller. Wyatt, recently separated from his fiancé and convinced of infiltrating demons, finds himself sleeping on the floor of Christian’s apartment, who is battling intense body insecurities. The tone is tense, uncomfortable, and keeps the viewer attentive. As the two friends reconnect but are constantly plagued by their own issues, there is an overwhelming sense of urgency that builds up until the last few minutes of the film.
8. The Taking Of Deborah Logan
‘The Taking of Deborah Logan” follows documentary film crew Mia, Gavin, and Luis who are setting out to make a documentary film about Alzheimers. They contact Deborah, a sufferer of the disease, and her daughter who agree to be part of the film. Along with tackling an already heart wrenching topic, “The Taking of Deborah Logan” expertly builds suspense right until the end of the film. With jump scares, an incredibly eerie tone, and a fantastic performance by all parties, this is a horror film you’ll never get sick of watching.
9. Honeymoon
A very well executed science fiction horror film, “Honeymoon” follows newly married couple Bea and Paul on their honeymoon to Bea’s secluded family cabin. Bea’s strange sleep walking incident one night sets in motion a chain of events that will leave the viewer conflicted and eager for the ending. This one is a trip, for sure, with plenty of twists and turns and a startling ending.
