Horror recommendation

Wailin

I watched Veronica recently on netflix and thoroughly enjoyed it for a run of the mill horror. Very hard to find a decent one and I've seen most of the 'decent' ones but Veronica was a nice surprise since I never heard of it. So I'd be interested to hear some recommended horrors both old and new.

Fysh

Beyond Verónica, what horror films have you liked or disliked, and why? The more we know about your tastes the better the suggestions we can offer

I really like psychological horror that builds tension and atmosphere with a focus on character, so I have enjoyed the likes of It Follows, The Babadook, The Witch, Under The Shadow, Thelma, Raw, Berberian Sound Studio, American Mary, Excision, Antiviral and Citadel. For "bigger" films with a more varied tone, I also rated the IT remake and Train To Busan (but generally I find big-budget horror doesn't really work for me).

For lower-budget films on streaming services like Netflix I thought that The Void, Yellowbrickroad, The Triangle, The Circle and The Exam - with the latter two being particularly effective in that they are pretty much "group of characters trapped in a room" films, relying therefore on the script and performances to draw you in.

BorneTobyWilde

I must watch. I like a good horror.

Wailin

Never enjoyed IT surprisingly. And I love King and some of his better adaptations like The Shining, Carrie, Misery etc. Some of the better horrors of recent times I enjoyed include The Conjuring (although thought the sequel was poor), It Follows, The Babadook as mentioned.

I suppose my favourite type of horror movie would be those that leave your imagination scare you, not a fan of shock horror/slasher movies they are laughable at best. Probably going to get slated but I enjoyed the first Paranormal Activity...

Slydice

Wailin wrote: »

Never enjoyed IT surprisingly. And I love King and some of his better adaptations like The Shining, Carrie, Misery etc. Some of the better horrors of recent times I enjoyed include The Conjuring (although thought the sequel was poor), It Follows, The Babadook as mentioned.

I suppose my favourite type of horror movie would be those that leave your imagination scare you, not a fan of shock horror/slasher movies they are laughable at best. Probably going to get slated but I enjoyed the first Paranormal Activity...

Have you seen the original of the Japanese film Ju-on: The Grudge?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ju-on:_The_Grudge

Wailin

Yeah have seen those, and The Ring originals and remakes.

claresmurf

The Descent is the scariest movie I have ever seen, I think it's worth a watch.

Wailin

claresmurf wrote: »

The Descent is the scariest movie I have ever seen, I think it's worth a watch.

Seen that too! I've seen most if them being a horror fan. But it's nice to come across a surprise like Veronica where I never heard of it but enjoyed it.

Basq

The director of Veronica also made [REC].. probably my favourite horror of recent years (well, 2007).

Can't recommend that enough!

gargargar

As mentioned above The descent and Triangle are good horrors on Netflix. Triangle has a bit more than just horror to it.

Check our a french move called Martyrs if you just want to scare the sh*t out of yourself.

Barack Obama

It Comes at Nigreat was great. I really, really enjoyed Don't Breathe (there is a bit in the middle that'll make you spit out your tea!). Lights Out was fun. I really liked 10 Cloverfield Lane as well.

If you like foreign films, Train to Busan, The Wailing and The Host are all excellent.

Captain Red Beard

gargargar wrote: »

As mentioned above The descent and Triangle are good horrors on Netflix. Triangle has a bit more than just horror to it.

Check our a french move called Martyrs if you just want to scare the sh*t out of yourself.

I was waiting for someone to mention Martyrs. A woefully bad film, badly acted, terrible plot, nothing more there an excuse to show some brutal violence.

Fysh

Captain Red Beard wrote: »

I was waiting for someone to mention Martyrs. A woefully bad film, badly acted, terrible plot, nothing more there an excuse to show some brutal violence.

....or, from another perspective, a harrowing film which, unlike many Anglophone horrors of the last few decades, actually has a thematically interesting reason for its violent and gory content.

For a genre in which entire franchises exist based on terrible plots, terrible acting and a central premise of "immortal serial killers vs teenage stereotypes", Martyrs seems an odd one to single out as "woefully bad".

To be honest, there are a small but growing number of effective and disturbing horror films coming out of France over the last few years. Raw is a recent highlight to my mind, alongside others like Ils, A l'interieur and Martyrs. I'm in two minds about Switchblade Romance in that it was fairly effective for the most part, then goes for one of the most dunderheaded twists I've seen in a horror film.

Fysh

Some more atmospheric horror films - The Orphanage, The Devil's Backbone, Tésis, La Habitación del Niño, and Sleep Tight are all very good Spanish-language horror films.

Liam McPoyle

Captain Red Beard wrote: »

I was waiting for someone to mention Martyrs. A woefully bad film, badly acted, terrible plot, nothing more there an excuse to show some brutal violence.

You are wrong.

gargargar

Captain Red Beard wrote: »

A woefully bad film, badly acted, terrible plot, nothing more there an excuse to show some brutal violence.

It is definitely a polarising movie. People naturally have a gut reaction to movies containing torture, but as Fysh said, there was a narrative reason contained in the movie for it in this case.

/Back on to the thread ...

If you didn't see Antchrist its worth checking. While it can be slow I found it very disturbing.

Another enjoyable one was 'As above so below'

+1 on Train to Busan too.

Wailin

Thanks for the recommedations guys, few there I've never heard of, particularly the foreign ones.

Started Annihilation last night, although not really a horror, more sci fi, found it a turgid affair and gave up after 70 min. On netflix so I can just continue as I want to see how it ends.

drake70

"The Haunting", the original from 1963 is quite good
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057129/?ref_=nv_sr_7

Banjaxed82

claresmurf wrote: »

The Descent is the scariest movie I have ever seen, I think it's worth a watch.

I concur. Probably the best horror film I've ever seen (in the cinema). Was genuinely cacking myself watching it. Don't know how it holds up on TV though.

RockDesk

You've probably seen it, but I really like The Others.

Have you watched Sinister OP? I'm getting to the stage now where I'm finding it hard to be really spooked by a horror film but Sinister had me terrified. I also find old fashioned frights like The Omen do the trick.

Basq

^ Agreed.. Sinister is a belter..

Snake Plisken

Tobe Hooper’s 1979 adaptation of Salem’s Lot still stands up as a decent horror and adaptation of one of Kings best Novels.

PauloConn

Basq wrote: »

^ Agreed.. Sinister is a belter..

Sinister was good alright.
I thought Insidious was good, had m freaked out for weeks after watching it

Also liked the new IT film as well

Wailin

Saw Sinister but I must rewatch, didn't think much of it first time around. Just didn't give it much attention. The Descent is a great horror, watched it on it's release. Deserves a second viewing.

Drumpot

Trying to find “Ravenous” to watch again. It’s a 1999 Movie with Guy Pearce as a shamed war Veteran and Robert Carlisle as a delightedly horrible villain who dials it up past crazy levels of sinister wickedness!!!

When I originally watched it I absolutely loved it. It’s extremely slow at times , very quirky and won’t be for everyone.

I’m
Listening to the soundtrack , love some of the songs which I believe was made in collaboration with Damon Alburn.

Dublinandy2

Drumpot wrote: »

Trying to find “Ravenous” to watch again. It’s a 1999 Movie with Guy Pearce as a shamed war Veteran and Robert Carlisle as a delightedly horrible villain who dials it up past crazy levels of sinister wickedness!!!

When I originally watched it I absolutely loved it. It’s extremely slow at times , very quirky and won’t be for everyone.

I’m
Listening to the soundtrack , love some of the songs which I believe was made in collaboration with Damon Alburn.

It's on either netflix or amazon prime, have seen it on one or the other recently.

dubstarr

Is it just me who thought Veronica was ****e.Wasnt scary at all.

I find with a lot of films lately,the idea starts out good but it just loses the plot so it can have a sequel.

Drumpot

Dublinandy2 wrote: »

It's on either netflix or amazon prime, have seen it on one or the other recently.

Thanking you. Hope I enjoy it as much as I remember it!

fmpisces

dubstarr wrote: »

Is it just me who thought Veronica was ****e.Wasnt scary at all.

I find with a lot of films lately,the idea starts out good but it just loses the plot so it can have a sequel.

I thought the exact same to be honest. I was bitterly disappointed as Rotten Tomatoes had dubbed it "the scariest horror movie since The Exorcist" - which I love - but for me Veronica just did not compare.

OK OP well here's some horrors I love:

Insidious (all of them)
The Collector
The Collection (sequel to above)
The Crucifixion
House on Willow Street
The Possession
Exeter (shown on Sky 319 Horror Channel from time to time)
Laid to Rest
Chromeskull: Laid to Rest 2 (sequel to above) and apparently a 3rd movie is currently in development for release this year.

I could probably rattle off a load more, BTW if anyone has any recommendations for horror movies with loads of gore, thrills or anything on possession/exorcisms feel free to mention!

gargargar

Another good one which slipped under the radar was The Innkeepers.

Snake Plisken

Event Horizon is another good scary horror

dubstarr

Snake Plisken wrote: »

Event Horizon is another good scary horror

No thats crap as well.

mrcheez

The Ritual was a good one released recently. Also The Witch is a classic. I guess forest-based horror always gets me.

I didn't find Veronica scary at all unfortunately


Autopsy of Jane Doe is superb.

mrcheez

just saw The Descent...holy crap that was bad acting. Thoroughly dislikable characters, couldnt wait for them all to perish. This was the 2005 film, is there a newer version everyone is raving about?

Wailin

mrcheez wrote: »

just saw The Descent...holy crap that was bad acting. Thoroughly dislikable characters, couldnt wait for them all to perish. This was the 2005 film, is there a newer version everyone is raving about?

Yeah that's the one. Decent enough on it's release but probably not holding up very well. Didn't that director do Dog Soldiers as well?

fmpisces

mrcheez wrote: »

just saw The Descent...holy crap that was bad acting. Thoroughly dislikable characters, couldnt wait for them all to perish. This was the 2005 film, is there a newer version everyone is raving about?

There is indeed, released in 2009.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1073105/?ref_=nv_sr_3

*snip*

johnny_ultimate

Mod note: Folks, just a reminder about the charter rules re: illegal downloads. If you want to recommend a source for a film, please use the legitimate services

Wailin

fmpisces wrote: »

There is indeed, released in 2009.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1073105/?ref_=nv_sr_3

*snip*

Yes that's the sequel. All the previous posters are on about the original. The sequel was rubbish!

Fysh

Takashi Miike's Audition is well worth a watch if you're into foreign film. You're best going into it blind; it's a film that keeps its cards close to its chest for much of its running time but it is well worth the investment. In terms of streaming, it looks like it's on Shudder.

In a very different vein, Shinya Tsukamoto's The Iron Man is a magnificently disorienting dose of black & white industrial body horror that will probably leave you reeling on first watch, but if you enjoyed the likes of Cronenbrrg's Videodrome or The Fly you have to watch it.

David Lynch's Eraserhead is another distinctly weird black & white feature worth checking out - it's not really horrific as such, but there's a profoundly unsettling dread and oddness shot through the whole thing that makes it worth watching. Don't expect it to make too much sense though, it is a David Lynch film after all.

Lastly, a double bill suggestion for you - firstly, The Transfiguration is a haunting story about a black teenager whose obsession with vampires is compounded by his social isolation and rocky family circumstances. It's...not a feelgood film, even by the standard of horror films. Secondly, Byzantium is an evocative vampire story set in Brighton, with the visual flourish you'd expect from a Neil Jordan film, telling the story of a mother and daughter (both vampires) from the Napoleonic wars through to the present day.

Joeface

The orphanage
Amityville (not the original that is awful the remake)
Cronos

mrcheez

+1 for Audition.

Liam McPoyle

A couple of extreme titles that I'd recommend for those not of a nervous disposition.

Daddy's Little Girl

Standard revenge tale that is as / more brutal than anything I've ever seen. High impact body horror is the beat description I've read for it.

American Guinea Pig : Bloodshock

Nightmarish black and white tale of a guy being tortured for most of the movie in order to harvest a particular hormone / enzyme the body only produces in times of extreme physical trauma.

Atroz

Part found footage / part police horror from Mexico. Rough as they come.

mrcheez

"Seed" is pretty extreme. The hammer scene is disturbing. Also has disturbing footage of actual animal cruelty at the start so you have been warned.

rtron

Just watched pyewaket it was decent enough.

Charlie19

Suprised You're Next didn't get a mention.

It Follows is another good one.

Barack Obama

Watched Jigsaw over the weekend. Was a big fan of Saw (but the follow-ups did drop off) and wasn't expecting too much from this.

Actually really enjoyed it!!

Justgrimes

Outpost

Wailin

While on the topic of horrors, read The Terror by Dan Simmons a few months back. Just came across a trailer for the tv series based on the book...first 2 episodes are out. Anyone watch them yet? Production looks very good in the Penny Dreadful type of ambience.