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.