Everybody loves a good scare, right?! And what could be scarier than a haunted house, or a ghostly figure materializing from a the mist on an desolate country roadway? Paranormal/Supernatural Horror movies and tv shows have been favourably terrifying audiences since the genesis of film and television. And with good reason. Their formula is a tried and true succession. The supernatural, or the paranormal frightens us because it is the uncertain. It forces us to question the inevitable and often divides cultural and religious doctrines. Life after death, good versus evil, myth or reality.
The elements of these films are what disjoin us. Whether we believe in ghosts or not, the concept of a demonic spirit traumatizing a family in their home; the very place that they sleep, eat and spend the majority of their time, is to say the least, discomforting. It enrages us and unsettles us and, we view it with a magnitude of deeply personal investment. For those who consider the scriptures of Christian gospels to be of any merit, the mere consideration of the ‘rebirthing’ of the antichrist induces waves of trepidation and mania. Even us sceptics will endure such a narrative with a particular sense of unease. These films are entertaining and they are thought provoking. That’s why we love to watch them. There are so many fantastic examples within this sub genre and though not all are considered paragon, I have included a small handful of titles that are what I regard as “must-see” gemstones! Now, go and grab your blankie or your cat, hold them in front of you for protection and view the all of the following suggestions with horrifying delight.
The Conjuring (2013): Director James Wan has the extraordinary ability to convey mood through movement. He (or rather his cameramen) captures the voluminous shifts between volatile and static in such a way that you don’t even realize there are multiple cameras being used. The Conjuring was the first film released from the Conjuring collective universe that all feature, or mention Ed and Lorraine Warren the famous Demonologists who investigated some of the most notorious cases of demonic possession in America. The plot- The Perron family move into a home in Rhode Island in 1971 and with several nights of them settling, begin experiencing paranormal phenomenon. After several of the young daughters are terrorised, Carolyn Perron contacts the Warrens who conduct an investigation at the property. They learn that a witch who resided there sacrificed her baby to the devil then hung herself from a tree in the yard. The cast are outstanding and though the premise isn’t entirely an innovative one, it feels reinvigorated, due largely to it’s atmospheric potency. This film is genuinely scary and is a admirable frontrunner within the genre.
The Amityville Horror (2005): Those who know me are very familiar with my life-long fascination with the Amityville Horror story. I’ve read the books, watched interviews, documentaries, films and devoured all that I can about the notorious Ocean Drive dwelling. I chose the 2005 remake of the film because I think it’s a far superior production (something I don’t often agree to). For those who aren’t that knowledgeable of the story- A house in Long Island New York has been infamous for the spate of terrible deaths and supernatural occurrences since it first made the headlines in 1974. Ronald (Butch) DeFeo shot and killed his entire family as they slept in their beds in the early hours of November 13. His plea; that voices coerced him and an evil entity took over, controlling him. All family were found face down in there beds, questioning how it came to be that none had heard the rifle shots and fled from their beds. The house was shortly after sold to another family for an exceptional price due it’s tragic history. The Lutz family then became the centrepiece of the controversial narrative that this film is based on. Whether you are a believer of the sensationalised details of the story or not the content makes for very compelling viewing. The Lutz family experience terrors of unimaginable natures during their brief occupancy of the home, including George Lutz’s chilling transformation from ‘Mr nice guy’ into cruel and cold dictator; particularly with his eldest stepson Danny. The film befittingly depicts the junctures of complete terror the characters suffer, while it effectively builds the tense anticipation of the growing narrative. Whether you believe the story to be true or not, as a horror film the plot definitely satisfies the requirements of the genre and, is a chilling spectacle that completely persuades the viewer towards it’s feasibility.
The Exorcist (1973): There’s a very valid reason why William Friedkin’s masterpiece is repeatedly referred to as one of the greatest and most frightening films of all time. It is one of the greatest horror films of all time! The story is based on an actual case of a young boy sanctioned in a psychiatric hospital in 1949. Author William Peter Blatty changed and dramatized the narrative somewhat when he was unable to obtain all the information he needed to write a non fiction. The plot- A 12 year old girl is possessed by a demonic spirit and an exorcism is performed to rid her body of it. The exorcism is a harrowing, drawn-out ordeal causing the girl to suffer terrifying physical and mental violations during the entire process. The shocking subject matter was and still remains extremely controversial and during filming reports of the set being cursed began to escalate when several “incidents” involving cast and crew members happened. In 2000 the film was remastered and released as the ‘extended Director’s cut’ in cinemas. There aren’t a number of special effects in this movie so the driving force of it’s terror lies in the performances, particularly that of then 13 year old Linda Blair who portrayed Regan. Her transformation into a child under dominion of an evil force was as authentically disturbing as it was brilliant. The film is somewhat of a slow unfolding but that gradual incline is both deliberate and coercive, building to the moment when ‘all hell breaks loose’.
The Omen (1976): A film primarily about the rebirth of evil, The Omen was both revered and feared because of it’s content and the presentation of it. An American Ambassador and his wife living in Rome give birth to their first child. The child is stillborn and with it’s mother unaware, is replaced with another baby (offered by the hospital staff to the child’s father, Robert Thorn). As the child Damien begins to mature, he exhibits strange and often terrifying behaviours. Mrs Thorn grows wary and suspicious of her son when numerous “accidents” and deaths occur all while her Damien is close proximity to the tragedies. After some time it becomes very apparent that Damien Thorn is in fact the devil incarnate and must be destroyed. Obviously the film offended the Catholic masses and dually panicked those who surreptitiously watched it. Aside from that moral discord, the film also gained additional notoriety when a number of accidents, deaths and near deaths occurred involving cast and crew during and after the film’s production, leading to the film being dubbed ‘the most cursed movie ever made’. Whether this contributed to the mystique and the success of the film at the box office or not remains a contention. It is undeniable however, that The Omen, stands alongside it’s fellow cursed contenders Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist as one of the most chilling films of it’s generation.
The Curse of La Llorona (2019): Another member of The Conjuring franchise, The Curse of La Llorona is a film that was extremely underrated in my opinion. It’s a truly haunting experience that builds a little slow in places but it’s a deliberate restraint that absolutely pays off. The plot- A recently widowed social worker Anna (Linda Cardellini) encounters a case where she believes a woman is harming her children. The woman tells Anna that children are being hurt the ghost of La Llorona; a woman who drowned her own children in 1673 as an act of vengeance because her husband was cheating on her. Anna refuses to believe the ‘myth’ until her own children begin to display signs of abuse. Anna herself then becomes the subject of investigation. The film is visually engaging and hinges largely on the use of conventional horror tropes, acknowledging those of classic haunted house style nuances and many eerie moments. It is effective to say the least, especially as the ghostly figure emerges from within water puddles or her appearance is glimpsed in a reflective surface creating an ambience that is not only creepy, but auspicious. For the naysayers there are a modest amount of cliches, but the aren’t problematic and do not take away from what the film does right. Its a great movie with a solid narrative and is genuinely frightening.
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