Recommend me a horror movie that scared you or haunted you. Even if you think I've possibly seen it before. (If you suggest A Serbian Film, I might mute you indefinitely. Don't troll. 🖤)
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Came here to suggest this one. I’ve become pretty unscarable over the years, but when I watched Annihilation for the first time early this year, it legit gave me nightmares.
'Lost Hearts' - a BBC adaptation of a ghost story by M.R. James. It's an old one (1970s), but still powerful. Very beautiful haunting music. Absolutely terrified me when I saw it as a child, and almost as much when I saw it again recently.
The Others (2001). Nicole Kidman plays a mother with two children, living in an isolated estate in the Channel Islands in 1945. And for the rest... Well, if you know, you *know.*
May .. I love this little hidden gem
Devil's Rejects - is one that creeps me out because it i something that could happen IRL
Threads - Not horror but is haunting.
When I watched STOPMOTION recently I actually felt myself experiencing repulsion and anxiety while watching which almost never happens for me — I’m not sure what did it, maybe the sound design? Would rewatch :)
Martyrs (2008) is definitely up there, other than that the ones that have gotten to me the most are:
Inside (2007)
Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)
The Strangers (2008)
Speak No Evil (2022)
Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
I really enjoyed The Ritual! And The Cell is an absolute visual delight! (Which is kinda weird to say about a horror movie, lol, but it is very artsy in its effects, scenes, costume design, and shot composition)
28 Days Later. It’s the one and only horror movie I couldn’t sleep after watching. And in light of recent events where I live, scenes from it have become recurrent nightmares this past week 😭
Both Swallowed and Knife + Heart. Swallowed, I don't even want to say anything about but ughhhhh. Knife + Heart is a very queer modern Giallo. I think about them both literally every day.
I was really messed up by The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Also, I can't remember which movie but I think it was one of the grudge ones, you kept getting little glimpses of the vengeful spirit in windows or camera lenses as it followed people. Shit made me nyctophobic.
The Exorcist 3 is only semi-connected to the original and is almost a better movie. It goes in a very different direction from the first and only falls down at the end - where the studio insisted they add an exorcism in.
It's a masterpiece of slow build horror, with one of the best jump scares ever.
His House, criminally underrated story about a refugee couple trying to build a life in England and how their past experience haunts them as well as related folklore.
It's been a loooong time so I can't remember the exact wording of the title. It's either One Million Years to Earth or A Million Years to Earth. I wish I could find a copy. It haunted my young self back in the day.
Y'know, I just came back to say that very thing. I wish I could get a Blu-ray copy. Amazon sells it but it won't play on U.S. Blu-ray players. This movie gave my young self nightmares for years.
It's more popular in folk horror corners, I think. The topic is pretty dark and upsetting, too, so I understand it not being everyone's cup of tea.
It's a gut wrenching story that's really stuck with me since childhood, though.
I also recently watched Hold Your Breath and had the same thought. Similar vibes, but I enjoyed the plot and psychological whispyness of The Wind more.
Paranormal Activity.....anything that messes with someone when they're in bed really freaks me out, especially when you see bed sheets being moved....😱
Blair Witch did a number on me when it first came out...
Yeah it’s got a great cast that almost makes you forget it’s a mockumentary! It’s one I def try to recommend to my horror fam. Looks like it’s on tubi and prime at least as far as streaming.
I re-watched it with wife who didn't know it was a mockup and the reaction is so much better if a person went into it blind it would be a better watch, like the Poughkeepsie tapes
Prince of Darkness, for some reason, I find haunting. I think it's an underrated part of Carpenter's Apocalypse Trilogy- gets overlooked compared to The Thing and In The Mouth Of Madness.
Just from the top of my head: Session 9, Lake Mungo, Hell House LLC, Butterfly Kisses, The Ruins, Annihilation, The Ritual, Eden Lake, The Blair Witch Project
I Like Bats (1986)
The Wind (2018)
Enys Men (2023)
The Devil’s Bath (2024)
Knocking (2021)
These are all film I’ve seen recently that haunted me for awhile after watching- most of these are more subtle psychological horror which ends up sticking with me longer.
Seconding Hereditary and adding Hatching (2022). It's a Finnish film about a girl who finds and hatches a weird egg she found in the woods. The things that comes out of it is terrifying.
Do you know the one with the haunted hotel? There was a cellar or chamber and like 3 friends should sit the hotel (or had shift). And the ghost was a creepy maid in the shadows, either sleeping next to someone or jumpscaring? The young woman of the friends wrote Xoxo on a note in the beginning… 🙂↕️🫥👻
I was literally terrified by "Terrified" (Aterrados). Also, for some reason, YellowBrickRoad really messed me up. And the Blackcoat's Daughter. I rarely get scared watching films, but those three really got me.
The American "Ring" movies. I saw them when I was 16 (was made to watch them when I asked not to,) and they terrified me so bad I blacked out all of the first and most of the second. It took until last year for me to give the OG Japanese films a shot and I loved them.
(Sidebar, re: A Serbian Film... Someone asked me if I'd seen it. Having worked as a translator in the Balkans, I blinked and said "Yes, I've seen many Serbian films. Which one?" They clarified. I wiki'd before watching. I just... no.)
I think you're the only recommendation I've seen for it on this thread! It's definitely a "get under your skin" movie. "Haunting" is absolutely the word.
I recently watched The Thing (1980s) for the first time, and whew. I had absorbed most of the plot thru cultural osmosis, but watching it was good and creepy (and SO gross. Practical sfx >>> CGI)
The scariest movies play in my head. A night ago I dreamed that I was vacationing with a girl I loved. She told the locals we would have different children, then we traveled to the middle of nowhere. She asked me her name. I defiantly called her the name of an ex. That’s a scary movie!
When I was young (probably wayyyy too young) this terrified the crap out of me, looking back I think it was the trapped/claustrophobic vibe it gave! (Its now proudly in my collection)
favorite horror film of all time, The Hunger from the 80s with Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie. Sexy scary with gorgeous music. Also, Suspiria, strange and frightening. I am speaking of the 2018 version, when I looked up how to spell it, I learned the original was in 1977, not seen that yet
A Dark Song and The Wailing. I think about both of these movies and I saw them several years ago. Hausu is one I think of constantly because it's batshit and I absolutely loved it the first time I saw it.
the autopsy of jane doe legitimately scared me haha (doesnt help that i watched it alone in the dark at like 2 am). the film def has its flaws but i think it was a solid watch overall
Seconded. I knew it was a horror film, but it starts like a romcom and lulls you into a false sense of security. Probably the scariest film I've seen since the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Okay so ari aster has this short film that made me so uncomfortable and anxious and i had the worst fucking time, it’s very well made, it’s called the strange thing about the johnsons
The Binding rattles around in my skull every now and then. Not anything specific about it either, more the atmosphere and tension? It's just...in there, whispering.
I’ll 100% have to check my Shudder when I go home tomorrow. There was one movie that was a thinly veiled metaphor for Dementia and it still haunts me to this day- but I can’t remember the name!!
I think it got to me bc I take care of old folks with such problems, but it was really good.
The Presence (2010). It wasn't scary per say but if you've ever had a paranormal experience, it leaves you wondering about what all was actually in there with you.
That's one of mine too. I watched it on a stormy night and it did not help my nerves in the least🤣. It almost made me feel like I was on the ship as well
Darkness Falls, Dreamcatcher (steven kings), first alien movie, the hills have eyes, V/H/S, Paranormal Activity, hellraiser, the ring, blood: the last vampire, vampire hunter D, wrong turn, district 9, the messengers, dark water
random mention, rob zombies devils rejects (comedy??)
I’m sure you’ve possibly seen it, but since the festive season is coming up, Black Christmas. I only watched it for the first time lately (while working my way through @mikemuncer.bsky.social’s excellent podcast) and now it’s a firm favourite. 🎄
Just make sure you get the correct movie. I accidentally rented Changeling (2008 - without the "the") first since someone recommended it ages ago and boy was that not the experience I anticipated. The Changeling was a great ghost story though I second that recommendation.
The original Halloween TERRIFIED me. Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth did terrified me too, both for different reasons. Can’t recommend these two films enough!
John Carpenter’s The Thing gets an honorable mention!:)
Noroi (known also as Noroi, the curse) scared me rigid, Kairo has one shot in particular that's DEEPLY haunting, and Rigor Mortis, 2014, really got under my skin in parts
WHEN EVIL LURKS affected me in a way most horror doesn't. COME TRUE and SUITABLE FLESH also hit on very specific and similar fears, although I'd say they only scared me after the fact, as I dwelled on the ideas.
If you haven’t seen it, I recommend The Love Object (2003). It stars Desmond Harrington from Ghost Ship (another favorite of mine). It isn’t overly scary , but the horror is how the ending hits you so viscerally.
Disclaimer/warming: Strong sexual themes, includes stalking behavior, objectification
Ok, so not the scariest I've seen, but I have to recommend it based on needing to Google what "goblincore" was after reading your bio. 😆 Have you seen "Hagazussa"?
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (original made-for-TV movie, NOT to be confused with the TV series Are You Afraid of the Dark) deserves a place in the pantheon of iconic horror movies despite its relative obscurity.
I saw the Guillermo Del Toro remake, the original turned up on a recommendations list and I thought "why not give it a try?" I'm SO glad I did. I sing its praises to anyone who's a horror fan.
And It Follows was much more discomfiting the second and third time I watched it, because you start scanning the background for the monster constantly. It builds the paranoia in a really simple and effective way.
I can really recommend his "Book of Blood" series. A huge variety of stories with some real gems. A couple of which were made into movies. That reminds me of another one I need to suggest: Dread
Two nights ago I saw "Santo in the Vengeance of the Mummy", it was super fun, but I hear this is not the best of his huge catalog of films -- I take it this is your favorite of them all, yes?
There’s also “El Santo contra las mujeres vampiro” “El Santo en el Museo de Cera” and also “El Santo contra los Zombis” and many more. The quality is questionable but all of them are really fun…
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Also: When A Stranger Calls (1979) Silence of the Lambs (1991) & Se7en (1995).
It has Barbara Steele 🖤
and a few other scream queens appear in minor roles, too.
The Czech stop-motion Alice in Wonderland
Devil's Rejects - is one that creeps me out because it i something that could happen IRL
Threads - Not horror but is haunting.
Inside (2007)
Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)
The Strangers (2008)
Speak No Evil (2022)
Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
Session 9, lake mungo, the autopsy of Jane doe, Moroni the curse, satans slaves and its sequel, exhuma, oddity, daddy’s head
So was St Johns Wort.
J-Horror is pretty terrifying
I didn’t know that.
https://screenrant.com/1408-ending-explained-all-versions/
It's a masterpiece of slow build horror, with one of the best jump scares ever.
The Ring (and the og Ringu) didn’t necessarily haunt me, but left me very intrigued and just fascinated by the whole story.
https://youtu.be/1XPOkSzdJCk?si=UbQLVp76OlR_9pzH
https://www.amazon.com/Quatermass-Pit-Blu-ray-Andrew-Keir/dp/B07NNMJK3J/ref=pd_bxgy_thbs_d_sccl_1/130-4693325-1928005?pd_rd_w=joo64&content-id=amzn1.sym.53b72ea0-a439-4b9d-9319-7c2ee5c88973&pf_rd_p=53b72ea0-a439-4b9d-9319-7c2ee5c88973&pf_rd_r=65HCEEG5T8XHR47FGMD5&pd_rd_wg=dYZGB&pd_rd_r=64a6ee24-1e9e-44fd-a0f5-1d0c567d2bc8&pd_rd_i=B07NNMJK3J&psc=1
•Let's Scare Jessica to Death
•The Reflecting Skin
•The Wind
It's a gut wrenching story that's really stuck with me since childhood, though.
OXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Blair Witch did a number on me when it first came out...
An oldie but a goodie!
But the scariest and most haunting/scarring movie I've seen is definitely Threads (though that's not a horror movie in the normal sense).
The Mothman Prophecies, The Autopsy of Jane Doe
The Wind (2018)
Enys Men (2023)
The Devil’s Bath (2024)
Knocking (2021)
These are all film I’ve seen recently that haunted me for awhile after watching- most of these are more subtle psychological horror which ends up sticking with me longer.
The Green Inferno made me a vegetarian for a few weeks.
And Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The Donald Sutherland one; I haven't seen the others.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qei7UP4BQU
Also The Descent.
Scared me heavily when I was six years old. 55 years ago.
(Sidebar, re: A Serbian Film... Someone asked me if I'd seen it. Having worked as a translator in the Balkans, I blinked and said "Yes, I've seen many Serbian films. Which one?" They clarified. I wiki'd before watching. I just... no.)
I rewatched it last month and can proudly say that I've overcame my fear after all these years.
I hate that people do that. I don't think its funny to try to trick people into watching stuff like that
The Autopsy of Jane Doe.
I recently watched The Thing (1980s) for the first time, and whew. I had absorbed most of the plot thru cultural osmosis, but watching it was good and creepy (and SO gross. Practical sfx >>> CGI)
Clinging to my soul a bit.
Probably wouldn't even phase me now, but I wasn't ready for it
Vintage one is Deathline (UK title) or Raw Meat (US title)
The Devil's Backbone / El Espinazo del Diablo
Invasion of the Body Snatchers, 1978 version
Both gave me nightmares, which rarely happens. Creepy tension that sticks in my brain.
Lovely, Dark, and Deep (2023)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIY_YLq1tAc
I was trying to find a Korean Horror series that got to me.
I stopped watching it. So I will poke around.👍
Korean Horror is the only way to give me a scare.
I made it, but there’s a piece of me still in that movie just shaking.
I’m proud of you for the 20.
I think it got to me bc I take care of old folks with such problems, but it was really good.
The sound design more than anything has haunted me since I was 10 years old, and I love a scifi horror
random mention, rob zombies devils rejects (comedy??)
sorry many hehe
John Carpenter’s The Thing gets an honorable mention!:)
Horror In The High Desert
Disclaimer/warming: Strong sexual themes, includes stalking behavior, objectification
Possum (2018) - I think it's on Shudder and maybe Tubi? Traumatized my horror-loving friend so watch out if you have triggers to mind.
The Wolf House (2018) - I don't think it's streaming anywhere atm but it's haunting for sure.
That one was brilliantly filmed, IMHO.
So much fun, but it keeps pulling my thoughts back to the premise.
I need to.
I had no idea what it was when I watched it, but I thought it was great.
The pacing on that one is impeccable.
Also, this gif is handy on a regular basis.