Normally I talk about productivity, parenting or personal development, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy a good movie. 2018 has a been a pretty good year for movies, and if summer’s been an indication with Infinity War and Deadpool 2, we could be in for a treat this Halloween.
Last year saw It break all sorts of records and Jigsaw return to inflict cruel punishment on his victims. So to prepare for this year’s frights you might want to watch these ten make-your-skin-crawl flicks. They aren’t for the faint of hearted, but they will satisfy every thrill-seeker’s desire. Scared? Turn back now. But if you man enough…come inside…
SAW
The Descent is of the few horror movies my wife actually watched with her eyes open. Six women fight for their lives against flesh-eating subterranean creatures. What more could we ask for?
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No horror movie list can be complete without Saw. It is already the most successful horror franchise of all time and 2017 added number eight, Jigsaw. But it’s the original that shines. It’s graphic. It has a good storyline. The traps are ingenious. The deaths are gory. The Saw franchise has some clever twists, but the original has possibly the greatest ever.
28 DAYS LATER
The Walking Dead may be what millennials most think of when it comes to zombie flicks. With 17 million viewers turning in for the premiere of season 7 last year, it’s hard to argue with its popularity. But thank Danny Boyle for reigniting the zombie renaissance back in 2002 with his 28 Days Later. While the stars of the movie aren’t officially zombies, the “rage-infected” humans certainly breathed new life into the genre.
THE DESCENT
The Descent is of the few horror movies my wife actually watched with her eyes open. An atmospheric British adventure horror set in underground caves gives the movie a real sense of claustrophobia. Six women fight for their lives against flesh-eating subterranean creatures. What more could we ask for?
EVENT HORIZON
Event Horizon isn’t a movie that makes many top horror lists, but I remember heading to the theater to watch this sci-fi movie, only to find out it was sci-fi horror. Oops. Guess I shouldn’t have brought a date. The beginning oozes with the spookiness of a haunted house and later the movie turns into a fast-paced thrill horror ride. It’s aged well. The acting is believable. Not one to miss.
WRONG TURN
Some movies have scenes you can’t forget, and Wrong Turn certainly has that. A simple story set in the woods of West Virginia with six people who find themselves fighting for their lives against a family of horribly disfigured cannibalistic mountain men. This will have you seeing nightmares and never wanting to run out of gas in the forest.
THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
There are very few movies that make me want to throw up. The remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre did. While people questioned how Marcus Nispel would be able to improve on a classic of horror, he succeeded in every aspect. A great cast helped make this movie scarier and even more disturbing. This movie made my skin crawl.
CABIN IN THE WOODS
Cabin In The Woods is not your typical horror movie. For most of the movie, you’ll be wondering just what exactly is going on. It starts off with a simple premise: five friends find themselves fighting for their lives in a remote cabin in the woods. The truth is far scarier than you can imagine.
THE THING
The Omen and The Exorcist are two movies that make many horror lists, but they haven’t aged well. Watching them a few years ago, made me chuckle rather than shiver. The Thing, for a movie that is 35 years old, is nothing short of amazing and will make you wonder why can’t they make more movies like this. Great setting. Great story. ‘Nuff said.
MISERY
Only Stephen King, the master of horror himself, could succeed in turning a movie set almost entirely inside a snowed in cabin with two people into an absolute gem of a movie. More of a thriller than a horror, Misery has one of the most iconic scenes in horror movie history. A perfect movie to watch with a date if you want her to snuggle up to you.
THE MIST
The Shinning might be Stephen King’s most recognizable movie and It, his most famous book, but The Mist makes this list simply because of the unforgettable and disturbing ending. I personally didn’t think the movie was that good when I watched it the first time, but I couldn’t get the ending out of my mind. That says something.
Honorable Mention goes out to: The Eye (2002 Chinese/Thai version), Rec, Wolf Creek, Babadook, You’re Next, Don’t Breathe, The Canal, Ju-on: The Grudge and The Ring.
Photo by Jose Francisco Morales on Unsplash