Halloween season will reach its peak, of course, on the 31st of October which means we can sit back and stick on some of our favourite horror movies for a week or two.
Now, horror movies can obviously be watched all-year round, but the spooky season inspires us to give classics like The Exorcist, The Omen and Halloween another viewing.
But, there are plenty of hidden gems that have come out in cinemas or on streaming platforms over the past few years, and MovieMeter has put together a list of 10 that you may want to donate your time to.
SPEAK NO EVIL
This Danish/Dutch offering centres around two families who meet on holiday and have such a pleasant time, the latter invites the former to their cabin for a weekend together.
Things are off from the beginning as the Dutch family, including their son, who cannot speak, begin to act in strange ways. From the food they cook, to the weird meal at a local restaurant which leads to a drunken drive home, the Danish family are always on the cusp of leaving, but never quite do.
What happens next seems inevitable and yet is even more shocking and disturbing than you could possibly comprehend, in such a way you’ll sit in the dark contemplating what you’ve just watched.
Key Moment: THAT scene in the car.
THE SADNESS
Some people may understandably not be ready for a COVID-inspired horror film yet, but even if you are, you might not be ready for the ultra-violence within Taiwanese shock flick The Sadness.
A disease has mutated to turn the infected into murderous, sadistic lunatics who are only interested in fulfilling their most putrid desires. Think 28 Days Later on acid, in what is comfortably one of the most violent features ever put on film.
It will not be for everyone, even if it’s intertwined with some hilarious comedic elements, and the nature of some of the kills will cause the most hardcore of gore fans to cringe. But for something quite like nothing you’ve ever seen before, The Sadness delivers on most counts.
Key Moment: The train bloodbath.
VHS 94
The anthology series VHS is a decade old now and has had varying levels of success. There are generally three or four individual segments in each part, and the hit rate is better in some rather than others; VHS 99, which was released in time for Halloween, is by far the weakest of the series so far.
But VHS 94 is the underrated gem of the series, with each individual element standing on its own and well worth the watch. From the story of an underground cult, to a scene in a funeral home, and a barely-feasible augmented human slaughterfest, the stories are well-rounded and complete in their own way, something that some compendiums fail to manage.
Key Moment: The empty coffin.
BARBARIAN
This film has been a surprise hit in US cinemas and the most important factor is to learn absolutely nothing about it before going to see it. Avoid everything… the trailer, or any reviews, spoiler or otherwise, and you’ll be in for a treat.
The film is essentially a mish-mash of genres which flip and flop throughout the runtime until the ending which is…. We’ve said too much. Just watch.
Key Moment: The first cut.
MAD GOD
For something completely different, check out legendary puppeteer Phil Tippett’s incredible stop-motion opus that has been three decades in the making.
Every single scene is designed painstakingly using puppetry from the man who created the universes in Star Wars and Jurassic Park and the result is a horror experience arguably unlike anything that’s ever been made.
Key Moment: The first time you see the animation.
THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE
Even the premise of The Autopsy of Jane Doe is enough to send shivers down the spine. A father and son team of coroners conduct an autopsy on an unidentified female and things start to get seriously weird. This one has Brian Cox to give it some prestige and the Scot is superb as a man of science who suddenly needs to confront the supernatural.
It takes an unexpected direction, too, as Tommy and Austin end up having to make some heartbreaking decisions.
Key Moment: The girlfriend's return.
BLOOD RED SKY
One of 2021's craziest movies is undoubtedly Blood Red Sky, a joint British-German production which focuses on a young mother who must take her son on a transatlantic flight that is taken over by terrorists. Where is the horror element, you say? Well, it just so happens that the mother has been curbing her true nature as a bloodthirsty vampire as she strives to protect her son and conceal her alter ego.
When she unleashes her true self on the flight, all hell breaks loose. But, this is by no means a spatter-fest and nothing more - there is an honest, warming relationship between the mother and son that feels so real.
Key Moment: One vampire becomes two.
HELLBENDER
Hellbender touches on a number of issues such as abuse, isolation and nature versus nurture. Izzy is a young teen who lives alone with her mother in solitude, banned from socialising or even seeing other human beings due to an alleged disease that would prove fatal. A chance meeting with someone in the woods leads Izzy to rebel, and she subsequently delves deep into her family's history of witchraft.
Crucially, she finds herself in the process. This one provides a cracking change of direction as to who the real villain of the piece is.
Key Moment: The lair is found.
WATCHER
Another horror movie that focuses on isolation is Watcher, starring scream queen Maika Monroe. Julia has moved to Budapest to be close to her Hungarian boyfriend. As she doesn't know the language, the customs, or the city, she begins to feel alone and out of place, and to make matters worse, she can see one of her neighbours staring into her apartment every single night. Meanwhile, headless women are turning up in the neighbourhood...
It is such a simple premise yet such an effective one that targets the human fear of being watched by a stranger for no reason.
Key Moment: The wave from across the street. Confirmation.
YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER
This highly effective Irish horror-thriller includes a magnificent performance from Hazel Doupe. She plays Char, a young teenager whose mother goes missing and returns very, very different. In some ways, her mother has actually returned with improved aspects of her personality, but one thing is for sure - something happened to her in those hours she left the house.
This one is all about atmosphere, from the council estate to the family home to the town itself. It is a bleak affair.
There is a teenage bullying storyline thrown in for good measure just to make the viewer that bit more uncomfortable.
Key Moment: Mother's reflection.
Related Movie
Hellbender
Horror
2021 • 86 minutes
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