10 GREAT HORROR / THRILLER MOVIES

Finding a good horror or thriller can be difficult with so many flops in the two genres. We thought we’d make it easy for you and help you avoid the not-so-good films by compiling a list of our favourite scary movies.

1. Get Out (2017)

Released in 2017, Jordan Peele’s intense thriller Get Out is sure to leave you wanting more from this genius director. This film follows a couple as they embark on a weekend getaway to meet the parents. Realising that his girlfriend’s family is not as perfect as they seem, Chris must figure out a way to escape his new hell. Filled with twists and turns, this film definitely deserves the 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes

2. Raw (2016)

Raw is a French-Belgian film that follows a young girl beginning her transition to university, where she will study as a veterinarian. Everyone in Justine’s family is also a vet, as well as a vegetarian, however once a hazing ritual forces Justine to eat raw rabbit kidneys, she uncovers an insatiable appetite for flesh – and not just the animal kind. First premiering at a film festival, Raw has shocked audiences with its gory content since its release, and is definitely not for the faint of heart.

3. Orphan (2009)

Ten years after its initial release, Orphan is just as creepy and uncomfortable as ever. Following a family whom decide to adopt a young girl, Orphan has many twists and turns that will leave you wigged out and looking over your shoulder. Once the family begins to see the cracks in the child’s angelic exterior, they release they are in grave danger. This film features amazing performances by both the child and adult actors and was co-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio.

4. Train to Busan (2016)

Our second foreign film on the list, Train to Busan is a Korean movie following a number of passengers that become trapped on a train on their way to South Korea. Doesn’t sound too bad right? How about when I tell you that this occurs during a zombie outbreak. An exceptional film that not only scares the living crap out of you, but also emotionally invests you into the characters, which heightens the audience’s interest.

5. It (2017)

Adapted from Stephen King’s well-known novel, It follows a group of children as they embark on an adventure to battle the ancient, evil creature that emerges from the sewers every 27 years to prey on the town’s children. Set over the course of one terrifying summer, the first chapter of It is truly heart stopping and you get to know the main characters, as well as learn about the dangerous shape-shifter, whom often takes the form of a murderous clown.

6. Room (2015)

This slow-paced thriller/drama follows a young woman and her son, Jack, whom have been held captive for years in a small room. Born in captivity, Jack had never been outside before, until one day, when they escape. Room is a heartbreaking story that highlights the effect of such crimes on the victims, as the two attempt to settle back into society after being in their own prison for so long.

7. Hereditary (2018)

When a death in the Graham family begins to unravel a web of family secrets and history, the family are plunged into an inherited fate they cannot escape. That is all I’m going to say for this one as I believe it is best going into it not knowing too much! But I will say that the visuals and cinematography is amazing, and the sound effects are sure to leave you squirming in your seat.

8. It Follows (2014)

A sexually transmitted demon may sound like a joke but…that’s basically what It Follows is about. When a teenager sleeps with her new boyfriend, she learns of a new fatal curse where a slow-paced demon follows her everywhere, she goes with the goal to kill her. Shapeshifting into friends and strangers, the entity will not stop until the curse is passed onto someone else. There is a constant feeling of dread and panic in this film, which will leave you paranoid and super uncomfortable when thinking about it months later.

9. A Quiet Place (2018)

How scary can a movie directed by The Office’s John Krasinski be? The answer is very scary. A Quiet Place follows Krasinski’s character, his wife, played by Emily Blunt (coincidentally, his real-life wife), and their children after Earth has been taken over by mysterious creatures. If you make even a whisper of a sound, the creatures will hunt you and kill you within the blink of an eye. A story of survival, A Quiet Place shows the determination of parents to keep their children safe, while simultaneously leaving the audience too scared and tense to even breath

10. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

Finishing this list off on a lighter note, this 2011 horror comedy takes all the cliché horror movie tropes and melds them into one; a group of teenagers set off on a road trip to a remote cabin where they fall victim to a family of killer zombies. However, there is more at play than it seems as the teenagers become pieces in a pre-orchestrated game with a sinister twist. 

INDOOR PLANTS THAT ARE EASY TO KEEP ALIVE

If you are anything like me, you can understand the struggle of keeping a plant alive, and the guilt that comes after it mysteriously dies. And so, I saved us all the trouble and compiled a list of plants that are a bit harder to kill, that can also live indoors!

1. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is a funky looking plant that can live in small pots, with moderately dry soil, and lots of sun light. Besides being a nice decorative item, Aloe Vera plants can also be used to sooth sunburn, which is especially convenient now that Australian summer is getting closer and closer!

2. Peace Lily

Peace Lilies are beautifully leafy plants with flowers that normally bloom in summer (although they sometimes can bloom randomly throughout the year). This plant can grow up to 6 feet tall, and require low to bright light, and damp soil – an easy recipe for a pretty plant!

3. Snake Plant

A super tolerant plant from the succulent family, the Snake Plant can handle neglect (phew!) but does thrive when under good care. Said to be great for beginners, the Snake Plant needs low to bright light to survive, and dry-ish soil.

4. Parlor Palm

Parlor Palms are a nice way to spice up your house with its large, regal leaves, and put into a nice pot, can add a nice flare to any room. Growing up to 8 feet tall, Parlor Palms can live with less light than most palms but do need evenly moist soil to thrive.

5. Anthurium

Also known as the flamingo flower when blooming, Anthurium give off bright colour for eight plus weeks a year, with flowers that are usually red. These flowers typically last a while when cut, which is also incredibly convenient. However, note that the leaves contain toxic sap, so pets and children should be kept away in order to avoid them ingesting it. This plant does not need any direct sunlight, so you won’t feel bad if you forget to put it on a window sill in the morning but does require evenly damp soil.

6. Fiddle Leaf Fig

This vibrantly green plant will be sure to brighten up any room inside your house and look beautiful in boldly coloured pots. They are also quite tough and can adapt to most bright locations save for direct sunlight. They need a lot of water to survive in hotter seasons, but that amount can be tapered during winter.

7. Peperomia

Peperomia plants are extremely affordable and a super cute decoration for your house! This waxy plant does well in humid conditions and can even survive under florescent lights. What’s also great about these plants is that they have the ability to hold a lot of water in their leaves and stem, so they can be abandoned for a couple weeks and still be fine!

8. English Ivy

English Ivy is a beautiful climbing plant that looks amazing draped on bookshelves and fireplaces. Super easy to maintain, English Ivy can be watered freely during growth. The soil should be kept damp during winter, and for enhanced plant performance, can be fertilised with liquid fertiliser.

9. Calathea

Calathea plants, also known as ‘prayer plants’ are incredibly unique, with purple, pink, red, and green leaves that have a beautiful pattern. Not only are they pretty, but quite easy to maintain; they must be kept moist and should avoid bright sunlight.

10. Ponytail Palm

Another pretty palm that would look great in a decorative pot, the Ponytail Palm is slow-growing and enjoys a lot of sunlight. And best of all, it doesn’t require much water to thrive!

11.  Kalanchoe

The Kalanchoe is a type of succulent with brilliantly bright flowers that takes very little care. Being a succulent, this plant retains a lot of its water, so doesn’t need to be watered often, and can also survive colder temperatures, but does prefer dry climates.

12. Philodendron

Philodendron’s grow broad leaves that look very trendy inside houses as decoration, that add a bit of liveliness to the room. This plant thrives in low light and doesn’t need to be watered more than once a week.

4 STEPS TO AN ECO-FRIENDLY LIFESTYLE

The way I see it, we live on this beautiful planet for free, so we should be doing everything we can to sustain it. If we want to enjoy the natural fruits and veggies, the sunrises and sunsets, the mountains and oceans; looking after this planet is the least we can do. Climate change and its negative effects has been of great concern over the last years and when you start to understand what is going on, it can be a bit overwhelming. In today’s age, we all need to get involved in positive action, as climate change is global, influencing all of us. So, if you’re feeling a bit clueless but want to help, here’s a beginners guide to being more eco-friendly!

1. LEARN

In order to make a change it is essential you open yourself up to the facts of what is happening to our planet. We must be educated in order to see and make a positive impact. Let’s be real, the current global status is a total catastrophe which, will ultimately affect us, our children and grandchildren. But we are the ones with the power and resources to stop climate change!

If you are interested in getting informed about the damaging affects we as humans are having and the ways we can stop climate change in its tracks, here are some very useful sources: Australian Academy of Science, WWF and Earth Day Network.

2. TAKE INDIVIDUAL ACTION

Climate change is an ever-increasing global threat and thus, requires global reforms which, can only be implemented by international governments. For the majority, individuals can be responsible for their demeanour, however, governments hold the control to introduce laws and legislations which, require companies and individuals to act sustainably.

Our current efforts are ultimately not enough to meet our target of 1.5C of warming. We need to do more. We need to treat our daily actions as little things adding up which, either contributes to supporting positive change or which, continues on our current catastrophic trajectory.

"By reducing your consumption of animal protein by half, you can cut your diet's carbon footprint by more than 40%"

3. CREATE A RIPPLE EFFECT

Creating positive change in our current state is vital. All of us have the power to influence those around us. It can be as simple as bringing your reusable coffee ‘keep cup’ to work or uni, as an act as simple as this can inspire those around you to purchase one too. In simple, we must lead by example, be proud of your sustainable swaps! Share your knowledge with friends and family, making them aware of the easy daily changes they can make in creating a positive future for us all. It doesn’t matter where you start, we are all in this together and it is crucial we take care of this beautiful planet.

4. LET'S GET POLITICAL

Individual action is pivotal as one of the most effective methods to slow down climate change is to help those who will fight against it in the parliamentary sector. By doing this it shows politicians we can and want to change. This may mean voting for politicians and legislation which, aid against the harmful and somewhat life threatening effects of climate change. Getting involved politically can be as simple as signing a petition. You can get in involved in changes in your local area i.e supporting campaigns to introduce composting bins. If policies change then that leads to larger scale positive impacts to support the planet. Major corporations who produce the majority of our waste and pollution have to make switches and become more accountable for their actions.

Every single one of us needs to take positive action as we are vastly running out of time - support the change and embrace the inconvenience! It doesn’t matter how big or small your action is, what matters is that your taking on positive action.