this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2024
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I love horror but apparently I don't vibe with a lot of recommendations I find online.

I'd seen so much hype about Event Horizon and I absolutely hated it and didn't find it scary. I just watched Late Night With the Devil and whole it was definitely enjoyable, it wasn't the least but frightening. I also just watched Let the Right One In and really didn't like it. It also was not a horror movie in my opinion.

I will say one of my favorites is Sinister or the first Conjuring. Sinister for the stomach twisting dread and suspence throughout and Conjuring for the same.

So, what movies do you find to be the scariest?

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[–] [email protected] 30 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

It Follows. It isn’t the best horror movie, but the premise is one of the scariest for me. An entity that is inevitable, and you cannot get away from no matter what you do or where you go. It’s always there, walking towards you.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I agree that the idea of it is terrifying. I just feel like they executed it poorly in the movie. They somehow made it a little hokey.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Thank you! It felt like they could have done so much with it but turned it into the usual monster movie. The first appearances where "it" could be anyone were the best.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Is the entity an immortal snail?

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago

I love this film. No real jump scares or anything, just this unsettling idea that lingers with you long after the film has ended. For a few nights I was very conscious of where my exits were at any given time

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

It Follows is definitely one of the best horror movies regarding suspense and general feeling of ... gloom?! Eireness?! Futility?! Darkness?! Whatever it is, I love it!

And the (potentially) underlying message is powerful.

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

There is a particular type of emotion which "The VVitch" and "Hereditary" get absolutely perfect. It's actually not really my favorite type of movie; it's not particular scary, per se, but it is just some stuff that is really awful that you don't want to see. If you don't want that, they may not be good, but if you vibe with that particular emotion they are hard to beat for it.

The HBO "Chernobyl" miniseries is absolutely straight-up horror. It has pretty much all the elements of a perfect horror movie, except it's (with tiny exceptions and artistic licenses) all 100% true.

"As Above, So Below" is fairly good "normal" horror of a fairly unspicy flavor.

That's honestly all I can think of that really does it well. Horror books in my experience are far better. "The Shining," "Pet Semetary," "Night Shift," and "Skeleton Crew." Also lots and lots of HP Lovecraft; the "Dunwich Horror" collection is wonderful.

Hope this helps.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

There has got to be a term for the particular type of ... restlessness(?) that movies like VVitch and Hereditary inflict. It's not exactly horror, but a distinct discomfort that I can't quite name. Talk To Me also got close for me but not as far as Hereditary.

[–] EvilBit 13 points 2 weeks ago

I would say the term β€œdread” comes close for me.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

This is why I liked Longlegs so much. Not scary, but damn that movie made me uncomfortable.

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[–] Suck_on_my_Presence 8 points 2 weeks ago

Oooh yes. I'm with you and the other commenter that that particular feeling of dread is really really great. Hereditary, Midsommar, and VVitch definitely all fit that bill. I've heard the same for Lights Out, so I'm going to give that a go too.

Also Chernobyl is so so good. I've seen it a few times now and oof.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago

All films from Robert Eggers with his debut "The VVitch" and Ari Aster with its debut "Hereditary" are highly recommended although not all films are 100 % horror movies.

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[–] Canopyflyer 23 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Not a horror film per se, but definitely leaning that way:

The original 'ALIEN'.

The building of tension throughout the entire movie is brilliant.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Alien is definitely a horror film. In fact it was originally marketed as such

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[–] Crackhappy 18 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

Drag Me To Hell was surprisingly scary and also just a good movie.

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

If you like the supernatural/demon ones, check out The Autopsy of Jane Doe. I loved it, the tension is absolutely perfect and a fantastic cast to boot.

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[–] EvilBit 15 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (9 children)

I don’t consider many horror movies genuinely scary. The ones I have, at various times in my life, been actually in some way frightened (or at least shook) by, in no particular order:

  • The Exorcist (The Version You’ve Never Seen)
  • Hereditary (a masterpiece in my opinion. Free upvote literally every time I see someone recommend it)
  • Blair Witch Project
  • Paranormal Activity
  • Ouija: Origin of Evil
  • It (miniseries got me as a kid but Chapter 1 is good too)
  • Lights Out (not the entire movie but it has its moments and overall a good style)
  • Candyman (original)
  • Poltergeist (original)
  • Autopsy of Jane Doe (another poster reminded me of this one!)
  • The Taking of Deborah Logan (for like one scene but IYKYK)
  • The Dark and the Wicked
  • The Orphanage
  • Terrified and When Evil Lurks were both solidly unsettling at least
  • Event Horizon (though I know you didn’t like this one)
  • Conjuring 1-2 and Sinister too, all at least solid spookies.

Note that this does not mean these are the only GOOD horror movies. There are LOTS that I consider masterpieces that just aren’t strictly all that scary.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Blair Witch

spoilersI'm glad I knew the ending was disappointing before going in.

It hit on a very specific fear of mine that I have difficulty putting into words. The fear of developing a fear or maybe the fear of becoming superstitious?

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The original Candyman.

Everything about it is excellent and holds up even now. The musical score is exceptional.

Don't bother with the reboot. It has a message it's trying to send, which I get, but they've done it to the detriment of the horror. Something could've been done with the premise but they fell short.

OG all the way.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

Horror movies don't scare me, but Hereditary was the one movie that made me come close to experiencing genuine fear from watching a movie.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Meh. Towards the end I was laughing at the Spiderman bit. Hilarious.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I’m pretty dead inside so not a ton can get through in the horror department, but I always thought 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later did a fantastic job making zombies a bit scary again.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Not sure how great it holds up today since it was a while ago I watched it last, but The Thing is for me still one of the best ones.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

For me The Shining is one of the scariest movies and The VVITCH also comes really close to that feeling. For different types of horror I'd also recommend La Piel que Habito, Shutter and The Haunting of Hill House (the show).

And if you get the chance try the book version of Let the Right One In. It's much better than the movie and more of a horror imo.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Love The Shining! Stephen King actually wasn’t a fan of the movie, but I think it’s because it’s based on some of his own struggles with addiction.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It's very different from his book but they're both great on their own.

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[–] sanguinepar 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

If you want something a bit different, seek out Threads. It's on the Internet Archive (here, in fact)

Not a traditional horror film at all, it's set in the north of England in the early 80s (depending what n where you're from, the accents might prove a challenge!) and shows the ordinary people of a small city gradually coming to terms with escalating tensions between East and West, which result in all out nuclear war.

And then we get to see the actual on the ground nightmare that that would be. Not in a showy Hollywood way but in a grim, horrifyingly real feeling gritty British drama way. Bleak isn't the word.

It's something that's never quite left me since I saw it for the first and so far only time some years ago. Truly disturbing, and not fun at any point after things start getting serious. Brilliant though.

[–] Suck_on_my_Presence 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I've seen this one recommended a bunch, but I always thought it was a documentary. Interesting. I'll give it a watch.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Annihilation is great cosmic horror.

[–] Illogicalbit 4 points 2 weeks ago

The scene with the bear…

[–] d00phy 7 points 2 weeks ago

I enjoyed High Tension.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Perfect Blue

I absolutely love and hate how they mess with your perception of not only time but what's real because I could see myself in situations where I couldn't tell you how long has passed and/or having to question if what I'm seeing is real or not.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago

Thanks for reminding me about this movie. Been meaning to watch this for a while.

edit: it was really good!

[–] Today 7 points 2 weeks ago

Cloverfield - not sure if thats horror

Frailty

Insidious

As a kid i loved the early Jason and Freddy movies.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago

Some suggestions from my side - in addition to many already posted suggestions I would add to my list as well:

  • The series Twin Peaks (all three seasons plus the feature 'Fire Walk With Me') is not 100 % horror but it has it's tense of mystery and some scary scenes as well

  • Don't Look Now from 1974 - a classic mystery drama with great Donald Sutherland in the leading role - also more mystery/suspense than horror

  • IT (reboot) - still scarier than the Terrifier movies which are more slasher / fun-splatter

  • Quarantine - until I saw the original 'REC'

  • Schock - Italian horror movie classic

  • Barbarian - I expected different but I was surprised in a positive way

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago

As Above, So below is reasonably solid

There's a bit of a Mary Sue issue but otherwise good.

[–] Contramuffin 6 points 2 weeks ago

I liked Noroi: The Curse.

No jumpscares, but really quite unsettling

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

The latest one that got to me, was "When evil lurks" (Cuando acecha la maldad). A pretty fast-paced horror from Argentina.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Rec (2007) and Climax (2018) are some of my personal favourites that have scared me to some degree

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago

The original Rec and Rec 2 are great, the third movie was terrible and the Hollywood remake of the first Rec is a disaster.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

What I've learned from this thread as someone getting into horror again is that I really need to watch Hereditary and the original Candyman. Might just bookmark this for all the great recommendations. Only hard part is that my partner isn't into horror so it's hard to watch them.

[–] JohnSwanFromTheLough 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

A Tale of Two Sisters is one of the only movies that has genuinely scared me, some great scenes in it.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago

The Borderlands (2013) is a great found footage horror film with a unique twist on the genre. The ending was particularly horrifying to watch, and I don't normally find horror films scary.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I don't get scared easily, but Kothanodi had me watching through my fingers. It has four vaguely connected stories, and two of them are very fucked up. There's a decent amount of infanticide and other atrocities inflicted on minors, so be warned if you have any childhood trauma.

Also by the same director, the movie Aamis is about cannibalism acting as a replacement for sex. It's pretty fucked up as well.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Many other good ones have already been mentioned, so I won't repeat those titles. But "Suspiria" (2018 edition) definitely deserves a mention. The ending is just ... well, clearly somebody amongst the original writers had some issues regarding reproductive systems ... but the other 98% of the movie feature brilliant suspense & eiriness at all times. And Tilda Swinton is simply to-die-for in it. ;)

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[–] Mog_fanatic 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I absolutely love horror movies and have a long list of fantastic ones but not very many of them actually scared me. Most of them have been named already but two I didn't see were The Babadook (2014) and surprisingly a Netflix movie called His House (2020) was actually awesome. One of my favorites in the last few years.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

If you are a muslim then dabbe 3. It is the most terrifying movie i have ever seen.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Why is it only scary for Muslims?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It has a lot of black magic and jinns in it, which are quite consistent with islamic mythology. The horror hits you differently if you have heard stories about it in your childhood.

I mean for me, i can shrug off almost anything with "yeah right" but when it comes to islamic mythology, i kinda believe in it so it's more scary.

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[–] comfyquaker 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

so many recommendations already said and im sure many more to go.

Three that i didnt see mentioned that i enjoyed were:

Martyrs- French Version The Visit Session 9

Scenes from martyrs have been memed out of context so i think its fairly familiar. i hadnt watched it until recently and i think one time through was good enough for me. i’m not into a lot of torture style suspense.

The visit was particularly scary for me because If you’ve ever been in that scenario of being dropped off with familial strangers those initial reservations you have running through your head do make you uncomfortable and blossom into horrific thoughts. in the case of this movie a bit more so ;)

Session 9 i watched during the golden age of netflix. it isnt amazing but it was enjoyable.

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