With All Hallows Eve’ steadily approaching lets revisit some of the movies that have terrified people of all ages. Get some popcorn, search turn out the lights and get ready to be scared…
- A Nightmare on Elm Street, 1984.
Directed by Wes Craven, this supernatural gory film distorts the line between reality and fiction. Imagine your worst fears coming to life. Check out those special effects too… the 80’s did it right.
- Night of the Living Dead, 1968.
George A. Romero’s cult classic and the forerunner to the entire Zombie movie genre. Romero takes ‘fear of the unknown’ among many other subconscious human fears to a higher level with this film. Expect a general sense of paranoia post-viewing.
- The Fly, 1958.
Sci-fi horror at its best. Mishaps occur when an experiment goes awry with matter transporter and mystery ensues. If Sci-fi doesn’t do it for you, the eerie voice of Vincent Price will.
- An American Werewolf in London, 1981.
If you’re looking for a lighter fright, this one might be for you. You’ll still see some gore in the shape of the werewolf ‘transformation’ scenes but there’s a touch of humour throughout the film. Pay attention to the make-up and special effects. I’ve said it already, I’ll say it again. The 80’s did it right.
- The Grudge, 2004.
The western remake of the Japanese horror film franchise “Ju-On”. Takashi Shimizu’s creation sent shivers through the spines of people across the globe. This film is all about the visuals. You’ll be left with a few particularly haunting images after viewing.
- Insidious, 2010.
Playing a part in the recent resurgence of possession horror films, Insidious is one of the more frightening. It’ll leave you asking questions about the tangible world. Who needs buckets of blood when you’ve got Tiny Tim’s “Tiptoe through the Tulips” scored into your brain? Terrifying.
- The Last Exorcism, 2010.
Think The Exorcist meets The Blair Witch Project. Filmed in the style of a Documentary, the fear felt when watching feels more genuine. If you like Horror with a plot twist, give this one a go.
- The Ring, 2002.
Another American adaptation of a Japanese Horror. The Ring or the Japanese original ‘Ringu’ will evoke a new found terror associated with technology. You’ll be glad you ditched the VHS player a few years ago.
- Frankenstein, 1994.
Not as chilling as the original film adaptation but more faithful to the novel. If you haven’t seen this version watch it at the very least for Robert De Niro’s performance. It’s a slight change from that of Taxi-driver.
- The Silence of the Lambs, 1991.
Merging the horror and crime genres together to make something horrifying and magic. Goodbye Horses. Goodbye sanity.
– Geneva Pattison
