Recently, it's no secret that good, thoughtful horror movies are rare finds. Coming to college, I have found a couple people who are obsessed with discovering solid horror movies. We've watched a bunch of horrifying films, some cringeworthy, some that send shivers down your spine; ultimately, for this article I decided to list some that we've watched that have the most heart. By encompassing heart, I mean horror movies that take the time to develop their characters, and take the time to showcase the emotional reactions to the terrifying, messed-up things that happen to them. Heart is what separates a good (or just downright terrible) horror movie from one that is shockingly, jaw-droppingly thrilling. There are so many that we brainstormed for this article, but I tried to narrow it down to six for this time.

1. "The Devil's Candy"

This is the most recent watch we've triumphed with only a little trauma. With probably my favorite aesthetic of any movie on this list, this heavy-metal-influenced thriller is so much fun, exhausting, but in a good way. "The Devil's Candy" has a familiar premise -- a family moving into a house with a treacherous history. What sets this movie apart, however, is the amount of time and effort it puts into making you fall in love with this heavy-metal family. In the midst of building mystery and tension, you get great family drama that is not directly related to the antagonist's antics. Wonderfully acted, "The Devil's Candy" sets aside time in its relatively short less-than-an-hour-and-a-half to show the family's emotional reactions to the horrors they are experiencing. In my opinion, this makes this movie so much more realistic than other films of its sort, even alongside its stylized and fantastical elements.

2. "The Babadook"

Another family drama with allegorical elements, this horror film focuses on a single mother and her son. This is a rad movie to sit down and watch a second time and analyze, as you begin to understand all of the hidden elements. Their relationship develops significant tension throughout the film, alongside the title character, a creature that looms in the dark from a sinister children's book. This movie acknowledges grief; it creates a full story with an emotional foundation. The scariest part of this movie is the descent into emotional disturbance both characters go through. You feel their despair, their exhaustion, their hopelessness in every grey-tinged shot. Still, you grow to know the characters and understand them and their actions, and that makes this movie special.

3. "I Am Not A Serial Killer"

This one made us tear up, for reasons I cannot disclose without spoiling the movie. One of the stranger, more unique movies on this list, it depicts a teenager who is clinically diagnosed with sociopathy who takes an interest with a serial killer in his town as he struggles with feelings he is personally having. Again, the root of a lot of the horror in this is the familial dynamics, between him and his mother, who just wants to be closer with her son. This movie delves into the motives of the serial killer, which turn out to be a more intense and emotional route than other movies would necessarily take the time to travel.

4. "Monster"

"Monster" is one of the most honest horror movies I have seen in recent memory; it is not afraid to depict an imperfect character. Like "The Babadook," it centers around a tense mother-child relationship as they face a supernatural creature. It employs flashbacks throughout the film to explain why the relationship between the mother and daughter is so damaged, and these end up being more horrifying than the scenes with the monster. This movie takes a fear most people have -- breaking down in the middle of nowhere in a storm, and builds upon that with a fable-esque creature and the fear of someone you feel you should trust the most. Like the others on this list, there are breaks in between the tension to catch up with the characters, as they react to their surroundings and work on their relationship while facing this terrifying creature.

5. "Hush"

This is probably the most different from the others on this list, as there is absolutely no supernatural element or fantastical creature lurking around the corners. A lot of the horror comes in the mystery as to why this man who is attacking our protagonist is; as you ponder, you realize that human beings truly are the scariest monster of all. "Hush" focuses on a woman who is a novelist and lives alone, who is also both mute and deaf, when one night an intruder arrives at her home. With incredible performances, this movie makes you root for this woman as she faces this terrorizing masked figure. In another way, this movie is a significant and thoughtful representation of a woman with a disability, as she is strong, intelligent, and powerful. She is an incredibly written and well-rounded character, and you love to watch her as she smartly navigates this horrifying experience.

6. "The Descent"

This is another creature-led horror flick, yet it may be one of the most human. A group of six adventurous women take on a cave that, unbeknownst to most of them, was previously unmapped, and end up getting trapped. Soon, they discover that there are these monsterous humanoid creatures that have adapted to survive in these caves hunting them. This is alongside tension that was developed and established early on, that just looms over each backhanded exchange as they scramble to survive. Movies rarely make me feel as tense as this one did. With incredible sound design and cinematography that develops a murky, claustrophobic atmosphere, this movie makes you feel as if you are trapped as well. We see people reacting to deaths, grieving, trying to make sense of their surroundings, rather than cheap kills for the sake of a gory bloodbath that studios love nowadays. Like "Hush," these are intelligent characters whom are not perfect, but you still root for them, and they and their emotions are what gives this last film heart.