Hi all!

Welcome to spooky season! I thought we should start with horror films, because they are the most iconic and recognised by all. If you’re new to horror, start with my list below. Here are my ten favourite scary movies of all time. Let’s get into it!

1.) IT (Part 1 & 2) 

I actually wrote an entire post about why I believe IT is the greatest horror film of all time. You can check that out here. I love the original with Tim Curry too but the modern adaptation gives us a lot more.

Set in the fictional town of Derry, Maine, a group of boys and one girl come together to face their fears and confront the darkness in their own personal lives. Pennywise is not actually a clown, but rather an entity (an IT), that manifests itself in the form of whatever scares a person most. It reappears in Derry every 27 years, to feed off evil. The film is set in two parts. The Losers Club (as they are known) are children in Part 1 and adults in Part 2. This coming-of-age story sees boys become men and a girl become a woman, through shared experiences and traumatic events.

2.) The Shining 

This is a horror classic. If you haven’t seen it yet, now is the time! Stephen King actually hates the Stanley Kubrik adaptation, because it is quite unfaithful to the book. However, I am able to appreciate the movie for what it is. I first saw The Shining as a teenager and it never left my thoughts.

The story follows ‘family man’ Jack Torrance, who is offered a job as a winter caretaker at the remote Overlook Hotel in Colorado. When he arrives with his wife and psychic son Danny, he soon realises the isolation is enough to make him go crazy; not to mention, the paranormal darkness moving through the halls and rooms. Before long, Jack is filled with a homicidal urge to kill his family and with not a guest in sight, nobody is around to hear them scream.

3.) Coraline 

HONOURABLE MENTION: THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Believe it or not, this animated film is a horror. It’s also a book. Both are equally creepy and dark. I love it so much, I actually own the soundtrack, which I listen to when I want to relax. The atmosphere and score is surprisingly soothing.

When Coraline’s workaholic parents move into a weird neighbourhood, with strange neighbours, she finds herself resenting their lack of attention. One evening, she discovers a portal in her home, taking her to an alternate reality, where her parents let her do whatever she wants. They call themselves Other Mother and Other Father. They look exactly the same, except for the big black buttons in place of their eyes. As Coraline spends more time in this ‘better’ world, she is given the opportunity to stay, but only if she sews buttons on her own eyes. When she refuses, Coraline begins to realise what a horrible mistake she made, but by then, it’s too late.

4.) The Silence of the Lambs 

I saw The Silence of the Lambs for the first time this year. It instantly became a new favourite. Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins slayed their performances.

Clarice Starling, a top FBI agent, is asked to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter (a brilliant psychiatrist, with a penchant for cannibalism), to gain insight into the whereabouts of a psycho serial killer named Buffalo Bill. Hannibal enjoys taunting and questioning Clarice about her own past. However, when given an opportunity, escapes the mental institution. Despite his disgusting way of life and perverted fascination with Clarice, she’s able to use his teachings to pursue the killer.

5.) Secret Window 

This film has one of the best twist endings. It is based off a short story by Stephen King. I believe it’s extremely underrated and deserves more recognition.

While in the process of an ugly divorce, famous writer, Mort Rainey, relocates to a remote cabin in New York. Not long after he is settled, a farmer named John Shooter, shows up and accuses him of plagiarising his work. At first, Mort ignores the accusations, but Shooter refuses to leave matters alone. As the story progresses, we watch Shooter’s quest for vengeance escalate, whilst Mort fights against him, both physically and mentally.  

6.) Misery 

What’s this? Another Stephen King adaptation? I cannot get enough of them! In this story, the horror lies not in the paranormal, but the psyche of the human mind. Kathy Bates deserved her Academy Award and then some!

When beloved novelist, Paul Sheldon, gets involved in a car crash, he is taken in by former nurse, Annie Wilkes. Annie just happens to be Paul’s biggest fan. Due to his inability to move, Paul begins working on his latest novel, but when Annie learns he plans to kill off her favourite character, she begins to get violent, manipulative and obsessive. If you’ve seen the iconic scene, you know.

7.) The Ring 

For me, a good horror movie has to have a quality story. The Ring has exactly that. Just to clarify, I am discussing the American remake. I love Ringu too. 

The story of poor Samara and how she came to be a tormented spirit, is actually quite heart-wrenching. Rachel Keller, an investigative journalist, is the only person committed to settling Samara’s wrath. Having watched the tape, Rachel is aware that unless she solves the mystery, she’ll die in seven days. This prompts her to visit Samara’s former home, which leads to a horrifying realisation about the little girl’s mother. 

8.) Final Destination 1, 2 & 3 

Final Destination: the only film where death is the villain. I had to include the first three, because I can’t choose between them. These movies are so much fun and perfect to watch with a group of friends.

Each film follows the same formula. Right before a tragic accident is set to occur, one of the characters has a premonition, forcing them to change destiny. Unfortunately, because they have cheated fate, this sets off a chain of events, resulting in them being picked off one by one in the most gruesome, bloody sequences. If you’ve seen the third film, you’ll never look at a tanning bed the same way again! 

9.) Saw 

My best friend and I became obsessed with the original Saw as teenagers. We watched it so many times, we began quoting the lines. It’s iconic. It also has a twist ending, that will make you gasp out loud.

Two men wake up in a bathroom, chained to pipes, with no recollection of how they got there. Lying next to them is a cassette-tape recorder. As it begins to play, the victims realise they have been captured by a serial killer named Jigsaw, who challenges them to a game. In order to survive, they need to complete his perverse puzzles. Through flashbacks, we discover that these men are actually prisoners for a reason and are not so innocent.

10.) Get Out 

Last, but certainly not least, I have to share my undying love for Jordan Peele’s, Get Out. I’ve seen it a couple of times now and cannot get enough.

When protagonist, Chris, is invited to meet his girlfriend’s parents for the weekend, he sees it as an opportunity to take the next step in their relationship. However, when they arrive, Chris notices the family are overly-accommodating, to the point of disturbing. As the weekend progresses, he makes some horrifying discoveries, leading him to a truth he couldn’t have possibly imagined. There is a lot of important commentary on race, as it is directed by a person of colour. Please support it!

I hope you liked my list! Please share your favourite horror films below. Thanks for reading! 

Peace & Love xoxo