Horror films excel at evoking such terror within us — a craft they have perfected over generations, from timeless classics to contemporary masterpieces that resonate instantaneously. These films linger in our minds because they possess the art of keeping us perched on the edge of our seats while sending chills down our spines.
The Exorcist (1973)
One of the most well-known horror films ever made, it tells the tale of a visiting actress in Washington, D.C., who discovers grave and alarming changes in her 12-year-old daughter’s behavior and physical appearance. On the other hand, as he deals with his mother’s terminal illness, a young priest at Georgetown University, which is close by, starts to question his religion. And an aged, feeble priest realises that a confrontation with a long-standing demonic foe is imperative.
The Shining (1980)
Jack Torrance, a recovering alcoholic and promising playwright, takes his wife Wendy and their precocious son Danny to the remote Overlook Hotel in Colorado, which is buried in snow, after accepting a position as an off-season caretaker. However, Jack is unable to pursue a new writing career due to writer’s block. But everything has its proper time. The manager needs to give Jack a thorough tour first. After that, Danny talks with Mr. Hallorann, the ageing chef at the institute, regarding unusual psychic abilities. The child is also cautioned by the enigmatic staff member about the vacant rooms in the vast hotel. More specifically, room 237 is forbidden. All great and good, but Jack is slowly becoming insane. After all, the family is imprisoned in a silent, massive facility battered by never-ending snowstorms due to unexplained incidents and terrifying visions. And now, Jack’s mind is filled with constant voices.
Halloween (1978)
Halloween is the night and the year is 1963. When police arrive at 43 Lampkin Lane, they find that Judith Myers, 15, has been fatally stabbed by her 6-year-old brother, Michael. Myers emerges from institutionalization the night before Halloween, having been there for fifteen years. Except for Myers’ psychiatrist, Dr. Loomis, nobody knows what will happen on October 31, 1978, or wants to find out. He is aware that Michael is returning to Haddonfield, but many others won’t know until it is too late.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
The narrative takes place at Elm Street, Nancy Thompson and her pals Tina Grey, Rod Lane, and Glen Lantz are haunted by a mutilated murderer named Fred Krueger in their dreams. Nancy has to be quick on her feet because Fred is going for each of them one by one. Who is going to save you while he has you asleep? The film has a very interesting plot and keeps the audience hooked till the end.
Psycho (1960)
Marion Crane, a Phoenix office worker, is tired of being treated unfairly by life. She must meet her partner Sam during lunch breaks, and their marriage is prohibited as Sam must pay alimony, which takes up the majority of his income. One Friday, Marion’s boss entrusts her with forty thousand dollars. With the idea of taking the money and making a fresh start, Marion leaves town and makes his way to Sam’s California business. She comes into the Bates Motel after pulling off the main highway, exhausted from the long drive and trapped in a storm. Norman, a reserved young man who runs the motel, appears to be under his mother’s influence.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
The story begins when Five teenagers drive past an abattoir, pick up and quickly drop off a sinister hitchhiker, stop at a roadside petrol station to enjoy some delicious home-cured meat and eventually arrive at the old family home. There, they are thrust into an endless nightmare where they encounter a family of cannibals who more than make up for their lack of social skills with power tools. All of this is on their way to visit their grandfather’s grave, which appears to have been ritualistically desecrated.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Leading lady Jodie Foster plays Clarice Starling, a standout pupil at the FBI’s training school. Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) requests that Clarice speak with Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a violent psychopath and brilliant psychiatrist who is currently serving a life sentence in prison for a number of murder and cannibalism-related offences. Crawford thinks that Starling, being a pretty young lady, might be the lure that draws Lecter in order to gain information about a case. This film is a perfect example of the thrilling horror genre. The film has also gained so much praise worldwide.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
While visiting their father’s grave at a secluded cemetery, Barbra and Johnny are unexpectedly attacked by zombies. After escaping, Barbra seeks safety in what appears to be an abandoned farm house. Ben arrives shortly after her, having stopped at the house to get petrol. Ben tries his best to lock the doors and windows, but everything around them is overrun by wandering dead. The news tales about creatures coming back to life are depressing. When Barbra and Ben learn that Harry, Helen, and Karen Cooper, along with a young couple named Tom and Judy, are among the five individuals holed up in the basement, they are shocked. Disagreements arise very instantly because Harry Cooper wants to be in command. Given that their situation deteriorates, their chances of surviving the night lessen minute by minute.
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
In an attempt to establish a family, Rosemary Woodhouse, a young Catholic housewife, moves into The Bramford in New York City with her failed actor husband Guy. The building is well-known and full of creepy tales of strange residents and horrific incidents. The young couple soon becomes friends with the quirky next-door neighbours, Roman and Minnie Castevet, and Rosemary soon becomes pregnant. But when the new mother finds herself deliberately isolated from her social group, worrying signs of a dark, well-thought-out plot begin to surface, shrouding shy Rosemary in mistrust and mental anguish. But why is everyone willing to lend a hand so conveniently? Mostly, why is Guy putting up with it?
Get Out (2017)
Chris spends the weekend with his girlfriend Rose at her parents’ house upstate. Chris initially interprets the family’s overly accommodating actions as anxious attempts to handle their daughter’s interracial romance, but as the weekend goes on, he learns a series of startling revelations that finally lead him to the truth, which he could never have predicted. A trivia about this movie is that Daniel Kaluuya was given the lead role on the spot after nailing his audition. Writer, co-producer, and director Jordan Peele said Kaluuya did about five takes of a key scene, in which his character needs to cry, and each was so perfect that the single tear came down at the exact same time for each take.
