cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/6176443
My wife and I love to binge watch scary movies in October. Looking for stuff that’s truly scary and not just gore. Watcha got?
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Looking for stuff that’s truly scary and not just gore
1. Hereditary (2018) - Still one of the most unnerving things I’ve ever seen. Does NOT rely on gore and has only maybe 30 seconds of blood in the entire thing. The horror of it comes from the skill of the storytelling and only at the end did I realize how many little things were said throughout the movie.
2. It Follows (2014) - Unique and does an incredible job of making you constantly check the background for potential danger. Did not scar me like Hereditary did but instead offers a very fun version of anxiety for its runtime if that makes any sense. The first is a must-see. Skip the sequel.
3. The Ritual (2017) - Brings some of that Lovecraftian style horror. One of those movies that just creeps you out and brings that fear of the unknown in style, yet brings out that primal survival instinct at the same time.
4. The Others (2001) - Just a damn good ghost story. I won’t say anything else to avoid spoiling it.
5. Nope (2022) - I’ll say that there are a lot of layers going on here. This is probably better recommended for movie nerds that love intertwining story themes, characters and backgrounds that serve as a foil to the main plot, a slow buildup of details that culminate into an expertly told story, and an emphasis on sound design and symbolism.
Honorable Mention: Coherence (2013) - I know, I know. It’s not a horror movie. But that existential dread, that fear of the unknown, that feeling that makes you panic, it’s all there. This is a sci-fi puzzle movie somewhat like Primer so I’ll say the dread and terror is not in itself horror. That said, it’s a creepy watch and I’ll always recommend it as a good palette cleanser after something like Hereditary traumatizes you or after binging fun, dumb classic horror style stuff.
Solid list, I can attest to all of these except coherence, which I haven’t seen yet. OP should watch some of these!!
Coherence is great! You should give it a watch.
Event Horizon (1997). Traumatized me as a child, still scary af to an adult.
Very underrated!
Alot of gore though, lol
Cabin in the Woods is fun, also Tucker and Dale vs. Evil
Officer we’re having a doozy of a day!
Alan Tudyk is a remarkably underrated actor. lol That movie is hilarious.
If you’re a fan of his work, I’d highly recommend Resident Alien. Not really a horror at all, it’s more of a sci-fi/comedy/drama but it’s excellent.
Just wanted to say thanks for this recommendation! I started watching it and I’m really loving it so far.
One of his best roles so far IMO
The VVitch is one of the few movies I’ve found truly scary. Not a ton actually happens, but the movie leverages its isolated and dreary setting to the max.
Yeah it is slow in places but is genuinely creepy and unsettling.
Creepy and unsettling = my jam
Ravenous (1999) Really good take on the skinwalker myth that tries to stay genuine to the actual cultural signifigance that it has in naive american mythology. Its a story of tragic desperation giving way to insatiable hunger and the act of harming+killing another human during to keep yourself alive times of intense starvation tainting a persons spirit and mind. Not big spoopy deer monster.
he poughkeepsie tapes is the only horror movie I’ve ever had to turn off, it was just too depressingly real even knowing its fictional. Only for true horror nuts who get off on the depressing non-schlocky kind of horror.
Midsomar was a good one buy it was really popular so you mightve seen it
Hubbie Holloween isn’t horror but a fun holloween themed comedy to watch as a palette clenser
I watched Ravenous when I was pretty young and I was so scared I’ve never seen it again since. Maybe I’ll give it another watch more than 2 decades later.
Really have to watch Poughkeepsie Tapes at some point, keep hearing crazy stuff about it!!!
Some older films can get creepy without gore. Check out the French film Diabolique (1955) or Wait until Dark (1967) with Catherine Hepburn.
Some Halloween movies that are just on my fun list: The Stuff (1985), The Stepfather (1987), Hider in the House (1989), and the Blob (1988).
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt12749596/
Host.
It’s a pandemic movie, and it was EXTREMELY well done. Not “well done for a pandemic movie” but “holy shit that’s an excellent movie, period”. And SCARY. Not just gore, there’s actually very little of that, it just ramps the atmosphere up perfectly.
IMO, the first Scary Movie was the best. Badum tss
Ok, I’ll find the way out…
Removed by mod
I hate hate hate the first Scary Movie, the “comedy” was too obvious for me.
But I got talked into watching the second one despite thinking I would hate it, and I found that one hilarious.
Well, you’re probably forgetting the law that the second movie can never be better than the first.
But seriously, the first one fit right into my teenage sense of humor. I don’t think I could laugh at any of the movies today.
Edit: Language
Same. lol As a kid, the first 3 movies were hilarious to me. Now, not so much. But I really appreciate them for what they were back in the day.
I don’t know, I think parodies might be immune to that law. It’s very hard to keep the second act of a 3 part story interesting, but making something funny that’s ripping off something else probably doesn’t have that same limitation
(That wasn’t really meant seriously)
Thank you for the clarification, honestly I was aware but one of my favorite things to do is to respond to a non-serious post with a serious answer.
Not in a condescending way, of course. For some reason it brings me great joy.
In my opinion, this explanation makes you very likeable.
I hated that they made a parody based on a parody.
heeelllloooo ciinndddy
The Shining - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shining_(film)
We went to see the opera based on the book this past weekend. It was fun!
The Green Room
Leftist punk rock band plays in a nazi bar and opens up with the song “Fuck Off Nazi Punks”. But it gets worse when they witness a murder and get trapped in a room and have to get out.
Pretty realistic movie you wouldn’t even expect to go to horror. With a great Patrick Stewart as the leader of the Nazis.
I feel like this movie doesn’t get enough love, but Dark Skies (2013) is a really great all around scary movie.
There’s also all the A24 movies that have come out obviously (Hereditary, Witch, Midsommar). They released Talk to Me this year too which I thought was really good.
A24 has been putting out some great stuff.
They really have.
Scary Movie (2000)
I think “A Tale of Two Sisters” is incredibly underrated, really great Korean ghost story. Acting is top notch, solid scares, and beautiful cinematography. Highly recommended!!
