Getty Images
For those who want to approach Halloween in style, here is a list of ten great movies that any horror fan should consider this season.
Accessibility
LL A- A+ ◐
October 1st officially opens the season for horror movies: Halloween. For fans of this genre, platforms range from atmospheric mysteries to classic serial killers and suspense thrillers. For those who want to approach Halloween in style, here is a list of ten great movies that any horror fan should consider this season.
Hereditary (2018) – Netflix
The Legacy, directed by Ari Aster, is one of the most influential horror films of recent years, known for its suffocating atmosphere and deep approach to grief and legacy. The plot follows the Graham family after the death of the matriarch, when strange and terrifying events begin to occur, revealing dark secrets that haunt their generations.
Also read
Mother Annie (Toni Collette) tries to deal with her own loss and trauma, while her son Peter (Alex Wolff) is tormented by supernatural forces. The film mixes psychological horror with the supernatural, creating an increasing tension that becomes almost unbearable. Not relying on easy scares, Hereditary builds the horror slowly, using the fear of unknown and hidden family connections to deliver one of the most disturbing endings in contemporary cinema.
Ouija: The Spirit Game (2014) – Netflix
“Ouija: The Spirit Game” explores the intense desire to communicate with the departed – to connect, for the last time, with a loved one who has left this world. The story is about Laine (Olivia Cooke) and her group of friends, who try to communicate with their friend Debbie (Shelley Hennig) after her tragic and sudden death – and, as expected in a good horror film, things go wrong out quickly. take control of a terrifying territory after they unknowingly awaken a dark, vengeful spirit.
As Laine and her friends fight for their lives, they discover disturbing secrets about the board’s history and the evil entity they sought. While many modern horror films tend to go overboard with style, Stiles White’s Ouija wins points for adopting a traditional horror style, relying heavily on dark visions and scary settings to build tension, as like to use classic images of bad houses, such as creaking floors, hidden rooms and disturbing portraits. This film checks all the right boxes for horror lovers.
Reindeer and Sombra (2016) – Netflix
Isolation and claustrophobia are recurring themes on this list, and few films capture this energy as well as Babak Anvari’s “Under the Shadow,” a psychological horror set in post-revolutionary, wartime Tehran. between Iran and Iraq. The story follows Shideh (Narges Rashidi), a medical student who decides to stay in the city with her young daughter, Dorsa (Avin Manshadi), as the war intensifies. While her husband, Iraj (
Neighbors, including a mute boy, warn of djinns – supernatural entities that can possess people and steal their most valuable possessions. As Shideh struggles psychologically with the evils inside and outside his home, “Under the Shadow” serves as a chilling commentary on war and social repression in post-revolutionary Iran: the “djinn” not only represents domestic fear, but also the political and cultural forces that most suppress the independence of people like Shideh.
Psycho (1960) – Telecine
It would be wrong to make a list of the best horror movies on Netflix and not include “Psycho”, which could be Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece. This film has one of the most interesting structures ever seen, which is divided into two parts, and the first part follows Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), a secretary who imperiously steals US$40,000 (R$224,000) from her employer and flees from city. During her escape, Marion books a room at the mysterious Bates Motel, run by Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), a polite but nervous man.
From there… well, those lucky enough not to have seen one of the greatest horror films of all time is not to blame, but things take an unexpected turn in the second half of the film, as people wonder what which actually happens at the Bates. Motel and in the troubled mind of its owner. Norman’s famous quote, “We all go crazy sometimes,” could not be more appropriate for this subversive film that shocked audiences in 1960. To this day, ”Psycho” remains relevant, with its black and white cinematography, tense editing and an iconic soundtrack.
Pearl (2022) - Prime Video (rental)
Few things about the cinema have made me as happy in recent years as the return of Ti West, who gave us one of the best modern reviews of Hollywood and the quest for fame with his epic horror trilogy: “ X”, “Pearl” and “MaXXXine.” For this list, the highlight goes to the middle film, which serves as an introduction to the entire series. This piece of psychological horror focuses on the title character, a young woman named Pearl (Mia Goth), who lives on a remote farm in Texas in 1918.
A talented actress, Pearl feels trapped by her isolated lifestyle, where she is forced to care for her paralyzed father (Matthew Sunderland) under the strict watch of her mother, Ruth (Tandi Wright), and her husband, Howard (David Corenswet) ). which is in the First World War. When Pearl hears about an audition, she jumps at the chance, sparking a romance with a local projectionist (David Corenswet) in the process. Isolation begins to affect Pearl’s sanity, leading to a series of violent conflicts that show how too much ambition can get the worst of people.
As on Earth as in Hell (2014) – Prime Video (rental)
A list of the scariest horror movies wouldn’t be complete without a “found footage” movie, right? So why not draw attention to one of the best in the genre of the last decade: “As on Earth and in Hell”. Directed by John Erick Dowdle, this dark thriller follows Scarlett (Perdita Weeks), a scholar determined to find the legendary treasure that gives eternal life, the philosopher’s stone. After a breakthrough in Iran, she enlists the help of her ex-boyfriend, George (Ben Feldman), and her cameraman, Benji (Edwin Hodge), to delve into the forbidden catacombs of Paris – where everything falls apart. , as expected. .
One of the most claustrophobic and unsettling films of recent years, this labyrinthine plunge into the depths of the Earth offers a complete sensory experience, making the catacombs as terrifying as possible, with the setting as a metaphor for a journey of the characters through. his own fault and regret.
Main video
Of all the films on this list, “The Lament” has by far generated the most resistance. At first, it seemed too long, unfocused and lacking in intense emotion. However, after years of thought, discussion and reviews, The Wailing can be recognized as one of the best South Korean horror films. The story takes place in a small village in South Korea where a strange disease begins to spread, causing victims to violently attack their own families.
The main character, clumsy policeman Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won), tries to stop the outbreak when his daughter, Hyo-jin (Kim Hwan-hee), is suddenly possessed. Jong-goo is suspicious of a mysterious Japanese man (Jun Kunimura) who recently moved to the area and must decide whether to trust a mysterious white woman (Chun Woo-hee) or a shaman named Il-gwang ( Hwang Jung-min ) to save his daughter. The horror of “An Cumha” stands out for its incredible atmosphere, for its ability to build a sense of horror through mystery and lack of understanding.
Alone (2020) - Main Video
Many of the best modern horror films are overlooked because they are minimalistic. This cat-and-mouse thriller, in particular, derives all its true horror from a visually restrained approach, with an emphasis on physical and psychological isolation. Directed by Jon Hyams, ”Alone” follows Jessica (Jules Willcox), a woman dealing with the recent loss of her husband. To pull herself together and start over, she decides to take a road trip and, while driving down a remote mountain road, she encounters a menacing man (Marc Menchaca) in a Jeep, who tries to run her off the road ( à la Duel, from Steven Spielberg).
Despite their attempts to escape, their paths continue to cross through this tense portrayal of crushing isolation, which uses the inescapable presence of death as a symbol of the grieving process. This effective no-frills horror story allows the tension to build slowly, prioritizing atmosphere and suspense over unnecessary complexities.
Perfection (2018) – Netflix
Directed by Richard Shephard, this psychological horror thriller revolves around Charlotte (Allison Williams), a musical prodigy who suddenly stops playing the cello to care for her sick mother. Years later, she reconnects with her prestigious academy and quickly begins a romance with Lizzie (Logan Browning), the school’s new cellist star.
However, when the two go on a journey through the Chinese countryside… things change dramatically. In what could be considered the best body horror film of the last decade, “The Perfection” uses disturbing and visceral imagery to depict the psychological (and, as it turns out, physical) impact of trauma and manipulation, showing how powerful figures use manipulation. and discipline to exercise its oppressive power. The final sequence of this amazing horror film is one of the most memorable endings of recent years.
Survivors (2014) – Main Video
The last space on this list is reserved for a survival thriller that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Directed by Adam MacDonald, “Survivors” follows a young couple, Alex (Jeff Roop) and Jenn (Missy Peregrym), who go on a camping trip in a remote Canadian forest, only to be mauled by a deadly black bear. Although it is not a film to be found, it stands out for capturing the raw and unmitigated realism of this genre
The film does not romanticize nature, but presents it as uncaring – a trait shared by many great horror villains, such as Michael Myers – where even a simple mistake, such as the map that leave behind. The sudden and brutal attacks of the bear, a force of nature, are as terrifying as the classic killers of the genre could imagine.
Dangerous rivalry with a new star pupil named Lizzy (Logan Browning). As Charlotte becomes obsessed with regaining her former status, the competition between the two women escalates in increasingly twisted and horrific ways. “Perfection” dives into themes of ambition, sacrifice, and the lengths one will go to achieve greatness, all while delivering shocking twists that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. With its blend of psychological tension and body horror, this film challenges perceptions of perfection and the destructive nature of envy.