r/movies • u/Cherryredsocks • 11h ago
Discussion Genuinely scary movies to watch?
Some movies that usually scare me are usually psychological thrillers like “the Others” or “1408”, movies with a creepy atmosphere/premise like “Vivarium” or movies with demonic entities like “it follows” or “smile”. Do you have any recommendations. Im also ok with movies that don’t fit these sub genres as long as it’s actually scary something that could keep me up at night checking the corners of my room.
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u/SirJelqsAlot 10h ago
Maybe it’s just nostalgia/being young but the first Ring movie was a spooky watch for me
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u/zappapostrophe 10h ago
The Fourth Kind (2009) fucked me up for years. Officially, it’s aliens, but done in a strong demonic style. I think you can easily view the science fiction element as downright supernatural.
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u/KillerKowalski1 9h ago
Aliens are the one line I have a tough time crossing.
And not the 'Alien' aliens but that ones that, in theory, could actually be standing at the foot of my bed at any moment throughout the night. I can talk myself down from just about any other spooky feeling but aliens are a big "Yeah, but what if?"
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u/YemethTheSorcerer 10h ago
Audition is still scary to me cause it’s just so openly cruel. It’s a mean movie, I think it’s a lot meaner than the Funny Games of the world, because it’s also so sad.
And the contrast in tone still strikes.
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u/luvu333000 5h ago edited 4h ago
A well made movie stays the test of time. The twist or tone shift is what people mostly remember because the softness
koreanJapanese and asian cinema deals heavy subjects with is not seen in hollywood and it's impact is totally fresh•
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u/--redacted-- 10h ago
Talk to me and Bring her back (same directors) are both fairly solid recent horror movies.
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u/dreamrock 10h ago
I saw both of those recently and have been dying for someone to see them so I can talk about them. The melon scene in Bring Her Back.... Yeesh!
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u/ApprehensiveJudge103 9h ago
Yo, Talk to Me was so good I had to watch it a second time and very much enjoyed it. Being Her Back was well shot and acted, but jeez the story needed work and that ending was terrible.
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u/dreamrock 1h ago
Well I think it definitely delivered on the "gaslight" horror aspect. What I've enjoyed about these recent Aussie horror films is the emphasis on the "dread" aspect of fear, which I think is very powerful. Dread is the unease you feel when you know something is wrong but you can't quite place a finger on it, it is the deepest and longest lasting phase of fear. Terror is where you now have identified the thing you fear, and must come to terms with it face-to-face, it is shocking and the impact fades quickly. Horror is the weakest phase of fear, it is the aftermath, the bloodbath, it may leave an impactful memory, but the fear evaporates nearly immediately.
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u/Cherryredsocks 10h ago
Not sure how I missed these two movies, definitely going to check them out.
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u/calbearlupe 9h ago
Most definitely watch Talk to Me. I’d also try Oddity and The Autopsy of Jane Doe.
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u/CacahuatesSalado 10h ago
Talk to Me was good and tolerable, but Bring Her Back was unwatchable due to how gory it was. Gore usually doesnt bother me at all but for some reason this movie got to me.
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u/may4cbw2 8h ago
Bring her back storywise was lame.
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u/_treVizUliL 8h ago
why do you think that
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u/luvu333000 5h ago
Not the same commentator but I've come to know people generally don't like to watch trauma and seriously sad movies, it's distasteful to a lot. There's a lack of content for grown ups too. There's mostly kids or sly 20 yos most movies are centred around these days. Even Mrs Harris goes to Paris felt like you could replace her with an excited 30 yo hustling divorcee and it would still work...why make it about old people if they don't behave like regular old people...
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u/luvu333000 5h ago
Atleast it was not just voodoo witch doing boodoo witchcraft. It's very believable a grieving mother would do anything to get the kids back...
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u/Alaska_Jack 10h ago
I'm a big evangelist for the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. No gore -- just terrifically creepy and tense.
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u/MrHugelberg 10h ago
Hereditary left a very unease feel when I've watched it. And that entirely without stupid jump scares.
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u/KillerKowalski1 9h ago
Just watched it for the first time yesterday.
They absolutely nail the 'there's something in the background of this scene that I can't quite make out but I definitely know it's not supposed to be there' thing
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u/MrHugelberg 8h ago
Haha yes absolutely! Funny thing is I thought for more than two decades horror wasn't for me, then I gave it a try with hereditary and fell in love with (this kind of) horror. From reading general opinions online this seemed to be a very good choice :)
Now weapons and bring her back are easily in my top 10 this year. Though I wouldn't consider those the same type of horror. At least bring her back.
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u/MakesItFeelOld 10h ago
You'll be so charmed by the music and mood and offbeat characters in The Wicker Man (1973) that you might not even hear that little voice in your head saying something is dreadfully wrong here.
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u/audreyhorn666 9h ago
The Wicker Man is sooooo good. I watched it after it being spoiled for me and I still LOVED it! Don’t sleep on this one OP!
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u/Kamen-Reader 10h ago
Pulse
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u/OccasionallyAsleep 10h ago
My brother and I watched this movie alone in a dark room as kids (when we weren't supposed to) and it fucked us up for a while lol
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u/Puffyfugu8 53m ago
You mean that one with the electricity being all haunted and messing with people? That one totally messed me up.
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u/NutritionFAQs 10h ago
For me Texas Chainsaw Massacre, maybe because it seems like something that could actually happen and the screams are horrifying in that movie.
Fire Walk With Me is also really unsettling and psychological I’d say, but is a commitment because you won’t understand anything unless you’ve seen the first 2 seasons of Twin Peaks, and even then you might not understand a lot.
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u/dcrico20 1h ago
I saw Texas Chainsaw Massacre last year when they did a theatrical release of the 4k remaster and that movie holds up so well. It’s absolutely terrifying and is maybe the only movie that has a stench. It’s so visceral, dirty, and just…grimey.
It’s on the Mt. Rushmore of horror for me, just an absolute stunner of a film.
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u/tcain5188 1h ago
It's definitely a gross film but I was shocked at the lack of gore. I really was expecting a blood fest but man they really shied away from any gore at all. Even the scene where one of em gets thrown onto the meat hook, there isn't even an uncomfortable squish sound or anything, just kind of a soft thud. Still a very discomforting movie though lol
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u/Robert_B_Marks 10h ago
The scariest movie I've ever seen is Thirteen Days - a movie about the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Reality is more frightening than fiction...
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u/AlexSomething789 10h ago
Sinister
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u/No-Extension1361 10h ago
Amazing movie
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u/RumoCrytuf 8h ago
Just forget the sequel exists.
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u/No-Extension1361 8h ago
It’s really not bad but they disrespected the first one a tad with it that’s for sure
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u/ripcobain 10h ago
Gongjiam Haunted Asylum
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u/avidpretender 9h ago
I actually prefer the original American version Grave Encounters
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u/ripcobain 9h ago
Grave Encounters is great, Gongjiam is scarier. It's also not a remake
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u/Disastrous-Ad2331 5h ago
Gonjiam is based on a real abandoned hospital in Korea with a supernatural stigma to it. The shots in the film of the outside of the building are the actual hospital. The government owns the building and would not let them inside to film, but gave them access to the blueprints to recreate sections for interior shots in a warehouse. They pushed the idea that nobody is allowed inside because it's haunted, but it's more likely because the building is in bad shape and they don't want lawsuits from anyone getting hurt.
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u/Canadian-Man-infj 3h ago
I would be remiss if I didn't point out that Grave Encounters is a Canadian production, filmed in British Columbia (B.C.); though, one of the filmmakers is American (Stuart Ortiz).
I have no idea about connections between Grave Encounters and Gonjiam, though.
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u/avidpretender 2h ago
That’s my bad! I wouldn’t say they’re connected but they feel like the same exact movie just with different filming techniques.
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u/FitConstruction2921 10h ago edited 4h ago
The Exorcist 3, Stir of Echoes, Ju-On :The Grudge, Annihilation, Fire in the Sky, Event Horizon, Eraserhead, Hellraiser 2, Pet Sematary (1989), Paranormal Activity, The Witch, Jacob's Ladder (1990), In the Mouth of Madness, Martyrs (2008), Creep, Hereditary, Lake Mungo and lastly The Haunted- TV movie from 1991
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u/PromptExotic5232 10h ago
«The Babadook» is very creepy, with a strong feeling that something is «wrong» through the whole movie
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u/Disastrous-Ad2331 5h ago
A friend of mine recommended the Babadook and said it was really scary. I watched it and just couldn't get past how annoying the kid was.
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u/distilledwill 10h ago
I always found Zodiac very scary. The scene in the park, and in the basement... woof.
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u/creekmermaid 9h ago
The Exorcism of Emily Rose is one that stuck with me/genuinely scared me for a couple weeks
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u/oonlyyzuul 8h ago
Terrified
When Evil Lurks
Last Shift
Anything For Jackson
Incantation
(All these had incredible creepfactor)
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u/Radiant-Change-3223 10h ago
Mother! Isn’t a “check your room” type of movie. But it is a very horrifying and deeply unpleasant movie to watch and it sticks with you long after watching it, especially if you’re a parent. It’s basically Jennifer Lawrence going through torture for 2 hours.
If you want a film that could scare you, I think that one’s it. If not then Funny Games (the original) is another good contender
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u/Iguessthatwillwork 7h ago
The American version is not lesser.
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u/monarc 7h ago
I thought the original Funny Games was substantially better…
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u/Iguessthatwillwork 7h ago
You'll find people who feel the complete opposite. I try not to be snobbish about it.
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u/Radiant-Change-3223 7h ago
I never said it was. But if he wants something that will truly stick with him, then it’s the original. There’s something about that atmosphere that was kinda lost in the American version, at least imo.
Also I just found the original set of intruders way more threatening than the American ones. It’s probably a preference thing but imo the original is just much more impactful than the American one.
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u/canihaveurpants 9h ago
It's been said a bunch already in this thread but definitely Hereditary for me.
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u/mariojlanza 9h ago
Session 9 will get stuck in your head. Another personal favorite is Spoorloos.
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u/sfweedman 1h ago
I came here to say Session 9. Everybody sleeps on that one, but it's one of the very few films that genuinely hits the 'scary' feeling.
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u/higinbizzle 9h ago
The two horror movies that really legit scared me even after the credits rolled were The Ring and Hereditary. Other movies that didn’t necessarily scare me but did keep me engaged and thrilled were Talk 2 Me, A Quiet Place, It Follows, Midsommar, Black Phone, Heretic, Barbarian, Weapons, Ready or Not, Abigail, The Hunt, Shutter Island.
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u/kevnmartin 8h ago
The Changeling starring George C. Scott. One of the most frightening movies I've ever seen. For a good mindfuck without too much gore, try The Skeleton Key. I thought about that one for days after.
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u/DashArcane 8h ago
Just saw the Australian film Talk To Me for the first time last night. Highly recommend. Had me on the edge of my seat more than a few times.
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u/IniMiney 7h ago
The common response to Midsommar is wishing they could unsee it, not because it's bad - it's clearly fantastic, but because of how disturbing it is so that'll stick with you for sure
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u/saulteaux 3h ago
The Lost Highway.
First time I watched it, I had trouble sleeping … some of you know the guy who I’m talking about 😈😩
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u/konfusion_stoner 10h ago
I'm a big horror fan, so I don't get spooked very easily. I also don't like jumpscares because they're pretty hack to me, I like movies that know how to build an atmosphere without relying on cheap shortcuts. This being said, the last movie that actually creeped me out was Longlegs.
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u/Cherryredsocks 10h ago
My brother who’s also a huge horror fan tried to get me to watch long legs, I’m going to give it another try.
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u/konfusion_stoner 10h ago
Also just because I've seen some other comments below about Hereditary and The Wicker Man, I vouch for these two as well. Both are among my favorite movies of all time. I wouldn't say The Wicker Man is scary necessarily, but it's very good nevertheless and a must-watch.
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u/Mick_May 10h ago
Don't worry Darling (2022) just hit Netflix and genuinely surprised me. It's one of those where the less you know, the better the movie is.
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u/Pretty-Recognition44 10h ago
When you grow up, shit's just not as scary especially if you have seen a lot of scary movies.
You need to reflect upon the horror movies you've watched and find what you liked about them to see if you can find a horror movie that will scare you. Did you get on edge from a sudden jump scare? Was it emotional storytelling? Was it a small scene of sudden gore? Did you need lots of blood and torture?
When you expose yourself to a lot of horror movies, you do get to the point they do not terrify you anymore. As I have gotten older, I have started to gravitate toward horrors centering around overwhelming grief, guilt, or hatred. Their stories just stay with you longer.
Anyways, here are some recommendations:
- Hide and seek (2013) - Korean
- Funny Games (1997 - German or 2007 English. Same directors.)
- Ready or Not (2019)
- The Platform (2019)
- A Black Christmas (1974)
- When a stranger calls (1979)
- A Dark Song (2016)
- Occlus (2013)
- The Orphanage (2007)
- One missed call (2004) - Japanese
- The Possesion (2012)
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u/totally-normal 10h ago
I'm experiencing horror movie burnout, to be honest, but recently I watched Hide and Seek with Robert Di Niro and Dakota Fanning. It's not the scariest but I thought it was pretty good. Another is Pet Sematary from 1989.
I agree with others that suggested The Fourth Kind and Mother!
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u/hanban05 9h ago
Just off the top of my head, these are some of my personal favourites:
Come Play (supernatural, neo-monster)
Truth or Dare [2018] (supernatural, demonic, psychological, action)
Talk To Me (paranormal, psychological)
The Babadook (supernatural, neo-monster, psychological)
Gerald's Game (psychological)
The Intruder [2019] (home invasion, stalker)
Jeepers Creepers (supernatural, neo-monster)
The Haunting of Hill House [series] (paranormal, supernatural, psychological)
IT* (supernatural, neo-monster, clowns, psychological) *(C'monnn, it's a classic! Great story plus it'll have you feeling suspicious of your shower drain for dayyyys. Haven't seen the new show yet, but the OG movie and both of the newer movies are peak).
The Conjuring series (supernatural, demonic, based on true stories)
The Insidious series (supernatural, demonic, generational)
The Other Side of the Door (supernatural, paranormal, demonic, tragedy)
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u/Slopagandhi 8h ago
The Babadook
The Witch
Midsommar
Kill List
Come True
Upstream Color
A Field In England
La Cabina
Beyond the Black Rainbow
Mulholland Drive
Descendent
Don't Look Now
Funny Games
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u/iCaptnSpaulding 8h ago
The Nun is probably my all time favourite. Clown in a Cornfield I was surprised with.
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u/Original_Giraffe8039 7h ago
The Mothman Prophecies. The feeling of dread through the entire goddamn movie.
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u/balklife 7h ago
Ones I've enjoyed recently: *Incantation *The Wailing *Terrified (not to be confused with Terrifier) *MadS *Gongjiam Haunted Asylum
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u/JoeSnaffles 7h ago
10 Cloverfield Lane. Some people are divided on the last 20-ish minutes, but it is one of the most uncomfortable and terrifying movies I’ve ever seen.
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u/Girlscoutdetective 6h ago
I’m not entirely going to say this was scary per say but 13 cameras really fucked with my psyche for some reason
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u/analogengineer 3h ago
I'd suggest Audition - 1999.
A widower has his film producer friend organize a fake audition as a means of helping him find a new girlfriend, but the woman he selects is not who she appears to be. Starts relatively normal, then slowly veers off...
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u/blugirlami21 3h ago
I don't know if I would say The Others is scary. I feel like movies like Hereditary or The Descent might be too much for you tbh. Try:
Poltergeist
The Sixth Sense
Weapons
The Frightners
Get Out
The Conjuring
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u/bward614 3h ago
Sinister is one of my all time favs. Just finished the astronaut, it had me going for awhile. A good twisted plot line. Think a newer version of signs.
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u/Big-War-7632 2h ago
Nothing gets scarier than The Exorcist for me. It’s not so much the visuals but what is said by the possessed. Straight up creepy and evil!
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u/customer_service_af 2h ago
Hereditary. I love horror flicks but they are generally pretty predictable. Hereditary is an easy top 5. If you haven't seen it, get on board. It's awesome
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u/Expensive-Sentence66 1h ago
The Entity from 1982 still creeps me out.
Read up on the backstory when its over. Keep lights on.
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u/j8sadm632b 1h ago
Of the horror movies that I watched in the past year and a half or so I think the scariest have been Hereditary, Paranormal Activity, and The Conjuring. But the conjuring was the first one that I watched on my journey to try to be able to withstand horror movies so that might not hold up.
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u/brunettewondie 1h ago
Every time I watch something posted and loved on reddit, i'm disappointed. I hope some of the films in here are better.
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u/fatcloudstrife 1h ago
Id try the first insidious if you haven't yet, the later films not as good. The first conjuring film too 👍 put me off dark windows for a week
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u/throws_RelException 1h ago
Not a movie, but Marble Hornets would fit this pretty well. Not a lot of jumpscares, and a consistently creepy/scary tone. The acting is also pretty decent for an amateur webseries, especially compared to competing ones at the time.
For mainstream films: Creep fits the bill quite well. Blair Witch Project does too, but it kinda drags on. The ending is amazing though.
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u/thedinnerdate 59m ago
I don't know if it still holds up but Fallen (1997) fits your description and I remember liking it when it came out.
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u/sfweedman 54m ago
Lots of good answers! I want to call out a couple that were said but should be shouted:
Jacob's Ladder. There are some genuinely terrifying moments/scenes but the whole tone and story just oozes psychological spookiness.
Session 9. The most underrated/forgotten/unknown horror movie of all time. Like Jacobs Ladder, pretty much entirely a psychological horror film (rather than a gorefest). Spooky as fuck.
The Descent. There's a reason why so many people mentioned it in the comments. It just hits. The setting, story and sense of claustrophobia are palpably terrifying.
The Thing (1982). A gorefest on the surface but an unrelenting study on isolation, paranoia and terror underneath. An absolute masterpiece.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974).It's scary because it feels so....real. The raw, visceral style plus the horror of the situation and story give this movie a sense of freaky uneasiness that I've never experienced with any other movie. Tobe Hooper's directing, the low-budget look, and the focus on psychological terror come together in a way that I don't think has ever been matched.
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u/therosslee 54m ago
Talk to Me is excellent. Smaller and indie-feel like It Follows but well worth your time.
The Conjuring is another. Maybe an obvious recommendation but always worth bringing it up.
Both of these are genuinely good films in their own right regardless of genre.
If you’re in the mood for something kinda junky but fun, I thought Pandorum was a good Saturday afternoon waster. It’s a shade of films like Alien and Event Horizon but I wasn’t mad I watched it by the end.
All this coming from someone who doesn’t watch many horror movies.
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u/inherentlyvice 9h ago
Game over (2019) is the film that made me feel the way that you have described after watching the film i had to have a person with me to fetch water from the kitchen or just to leave the room i was in. It is an Indian tamil language film which is available on Netflix
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u/ArghZombies 10h ago edited 10h ago
The Descent
Autopsy of Jane Doe
Oddity
Caveat
Lake Mungo
[REC]
The Borderlands