By: Miurel Zamora, Contributing Writer
Even though this Halloween season is over, there is always time to get scared from the comfort of your own home. Here are five scary movies that will give you the chills.
The storyline of the movie Hush was first written during a dinner date in 2014 by Mike Flanagan and Kate Siegel. (Photo Credit: Pop Sugar)
The first movie on this list is “Hush”, which was released in 2016. The film is about a woman named Maddie, a Deaf writer who lives a solitary life in the woods. A man with a mask tries to kill her and, due to her disability, she is a vulnerable target. The killer enjoys playing a cat-and-mouse game with Maddie, and tortures her with uncertainty. Maddie must fight against the killer and use her other senses to escape from him. This movie is perfect for people who are into thriller movies, but not so much into horrifying scenes. The film starred John Gallagher Jr. and Kate Siegel, and was written by Mike Flanagan and Kate Siegel. There was originally worries over how a horror movie could represent a deaf protagonist, but Flanagan both researched and hired a deaf consultant to work with. The film received nominations at BloodGuts UK Horror Awards, Fangoria Chainsaw Awards, Fright Meter Award, Rondo Hattin Classic Horror Awards, and iHorror Awards. “Hush” is available on Netflix, and it is perfect to enjoy a great time with friends.
Texas Chainsaw 3D was scheduled to be released in 2012; however, the movie was delayed due to competition from movies like Silent Hill: Revelation, Paranormal Activity 4, Taken 2, and Argo. (Photo Credit: IMBD)
The second movie you should watch is “Texas Chainsaw,” which was originally titled “Texas Chainsaw 3D” and released in 2013. This film is about the Sawyer family, accused of the disappearance of many people in Texas. The vigilantes from the town decided to burn down the homestead and kill the family—at least, that is what they thought. After many years, a young woman called Heather Miller finds out she inherited family property and decides to visit. However, the monster found on her property took the lives of the people around the town. This film is a new version of the original movie from 1974 named “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” Inspired by the true story of Ed Gein, a staple figure for many classic horror movies, this movie is one of the scariest ones. The new version from 2013 has better cinematography, but it brings back memories from the original version in 1974 and has dramatic chase scenes. Alexandra Daddario played Heather Miller, Dan Yeager played Leatherface, John Luessenhop directed, and Carl Mazzocone was the producer. This film is now available on Pluto TV, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and YouTube.
Mike Flanagan often referred to Before I Wake as a “supernatural drama film” rather than a “horror movie”. (Photo Credit: Google Play)
Another scary movie that’ll have you on the edge of your seat is “Before I Wake” from 2016. The film tells the story of an 8-year-old boy named Cody, who was adopted by a married couple named Jessie and Mark. As time passes by, the couple finds out their child is having trouble sleeping and tries to stay awake constantly. A series of supernatural events invade the home of Jessie and Mark as they try to uncover the truth behind Cody—before the worst happens. This movie has amazing special effects, a mind-blowing storyline, and the plot twists and turns will amaze you. The film stars Jacob Tremblay as Cody, Kate Bosworth as Jesse, and Thomas Jane as Mark. The film was directed and written by Mike Flanagan, and it is now available on Netflix.
The case of Estefania Gutierrez Lazaro is one of the few with an actual police report in Spain. This inspired the producer Paco Plaza and decided to make a film that captivated the horrific events of the family. (Photo Credit: Vocal Media)
The fourth movie you should watch from this list is “Veronica”, a 2017 horror movie. The film narrates the story of a 15-year-old girl named Veronica who attempts to contact her father’s spirit through the Ouija board. However, the spirit she contacted was far away from being her father’s, and instead, she experienced demonic possessions. Based on the tragic story of Estefania Gutierrez Lazaro, a young girl who died suddenly after events involving a Ouija board. This movie is both intriguing and suspenseful, with undeniably realistic effects. Sandra Escacena played Veronica, and the film was directed by Paco Plaza. The film was produced in Spain, and it was nominated for the Goya Awards in 2018 for Best Film, Sound, Director, and New Actress. Veronica is now available on Netflix and it has been well accepted by many horror movie fans.
The Silence of the Lambs is based on a book of the same name written by Thomas Harris. The character Hannibal Lecter was inspired by a convicted killer from a prison in Mexico. Buffalo Bill was also inspired by Ed Gein, a real serial killer. (Photo Credit: Pinterest)
The last movie from this list is “The Silence of The Lambs”, a classic from 1991. This film is about a young FBI trainee named Clarice Starling, who is tracing the steps of a serial killer called Buffalo Bill. This antagonist both tortures and kills his victims, who mostly consist of young women. Clarice is assigned to interview another serial killer, a former psychologist and cannibal named Dr. Hannibal Lecter, in an attempt to gather more information about Buffalo Bill. This plan, however, backfires with interesting twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This film is one of the most renowned thriller movies, with amazing cinematography and storyline. In this film, Jodie Foster played Clarice, Anthony Hopkins played Hannibal Lecter, and Ted Levine played Buffalo Bill; it was directed by Jonathan Demme and written by Thomas Harris. This film was nominated for multiple Academy awards and won five Oscars, and is now available on Amazon Prime, Netflix, Vudu, iTunes, YouTube, and Google Play Movies.
Scary movies can open a new world of uncertainty and supernatural events. Many people experience similar situations, and horror movies can draw them in. These movies, inspired by true stories, can cause more fear than fictional stories. Even as time passes by, scary movies can get more realistic, but there is nothing knocking the classics.
The first horror movie ever was made in 1896, and it was less than 3 minutes long. However, this opened the door to a new genre that has been evolving ever since.
