I’ve been a horror film geek since age 13, so I thought I’d share my top picks!
Yes, I used to watch the worst horror movies I could find just to say I’d watched them. Not sure why I thought that was a good idea, because it has probably done some serious damage to my psyche…
But on that note, we all know the best horror/thrillers are those that screw with your mind and make you feel a little crazy, right?
Here are my favourites of the psychological horror/thriller genre that you should definitely check out this weekend for Halloween:
Blair Witch Project (1999)
You probably already have seen this classic, but if you haven’t you totally should! It popularised the whole ‘found footage’ Paranormal-Activity-esque genre; a trend that is still being flogged to this day. But it was the original freak-your-mind-crazy handheld horror!
PS. Has anyone seen the sequel in cinemas yet? I’m not sure whether to go see it or not!
Shutter Island (2010)
I will always stand by my high regards for this film, no matter what anyone says. I thought it was great and it had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Plus it’s Leo – who doesn’t love Leo?
The Shining (1980)
Another older cult movie, The Shining was one of the original psychological horrors that focuses on the deteriorating sanity of Jack Torrance (played by Jack Nicholson). You won’t be able to shake the image of his insane face for a while…
Donnie Darko (2001)
Is this even a horror/thriller? Like with many films of the ‘psychological’ genre, it’s actually quite hard to place them into a category like that. Donnie Darko is one of my favourite films of all time (and I promise it’s not just because of Jake Gyllenhaal) and will definitely give you the creeps. You won’t understand what it’s about, but it’ll give you the creeps.
I was hesitant to include two particular movies in this list: The Butterfly Effect and Requiem for a Dream. They often come up in psychological thriller movie lists and I guess they are, but more than that, they are the most miserable films. The Butterfly Effect is just endlessly miserable, and I honestly don’t think I’ve ever felt so emotional as I did at the end of Requiem for a Dream – it had a pretty big effect on me!
Just saying – if that’s what you wanna watch, then go ahead, but I felt those two particularly needed a warning!
Ummmmm how about NO ;) hahaha. I have seen Donny Darko and the Butterfly Effect and used to love them. Not sure as an adult I would think the same? Alice xxx
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Donnie Darko is worth a re watch as an adult – especially if you have a read of what it’s actually all supposed to mean too! Xx
I used to love horror films but now I’m turning into a big baby! However I do love thrillers like the butterfly effect & Donnie Darko is a fave! My scariest film will always be Scream because I saw it when I was 6… Doh. I still can’t look at the mask now! Have a Happy Halloween! xx
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Hehe my scariest film was actually Paranormal Activity believe it or not! I think I was 16 when I watched it and I was so so tense in the cinema that I burst into tears when I came out haha! The whole time i was just hiding behind my hands; I think the music and atmosphere of it was just really intense.
Happy Halloween! Xx
Shutter Island and The Butterfly Effect are great films. I still don’t know what to think at the end of Shutter Island.
Drifting slightly off topic, other recommended Halloween films are:
– I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle (1990, shot in the backstreets of Birmingham with a budget of maybe £5, most of which seems to have been spent on ketchup. It’s a terrible film, but a cult classic.)
– 28 Days Later (the original, not the Americanised sequel.)
– The Lost Boys (has there ever been a better film about vampires? “Death by stereo!”)
Nice! I’m not a massive fan of vampire films (other than the original Nosferatu obviously haha) but do love a good zombie movie and I LOVE the original 28 Days :) so good!
Shutter Island!! The film is really a horror, do you know I have watched this film more than 20 times. And the rest of the films are very thrillers
I first watched “The Shining” on my laptop wearing headphones by myself.
Needless to say, I slept that night with the lights on.
Very scary. Watched The Shining with my baby and he didn’t slept the whole night and lights were on.
Thanks for sharing..