Posts Tagged ‘Prince of Darkness (1987 film)’

13 Movies to Watch for Spooky Season 2026

Posted: August 12, 2026 in Review, Scary Stuff
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We’re under a hundred days till Halloween, so I think we can safely say it’s spooky season. And that means it’s time to start putting together our viewing lists for spooky season. So, as I’ve done for the past several years, I’ve made a list of films to check out in the lead up to Halloween. There’s a mix of old and new, well-known and lesser-known, on this list, and in no particular order (except for maybe the first three). Hopefully you find something here worth watching this Halloween season.

Caveat (2020)
Damian McCarthy has made a name for himself with his horror movies, which are all original stories set in a shared universe where, as YouTuber Ryan Hollinger puts it, “the supernatural intrudes on the natural world.” This was the first of his feature films. Caveat follows an amnesiac man who is hired to watch a man’s adult niece for a few days. The only problem is, the niece lives on a deserted island, and the amnesiac man has to wear a harness keeping him in the house and from getting too close to the niece, who has some serious mental health issues. Against his better judgment, he puts on the harness, knowing he won’t be able to take it off by himself. And soon he learns that he and the nurse aren’t alone in the house.

The story does take some suspension of disbelief (especially considering the thing with the harness). However, it is a moody and atmospheric Gothic horror piece with a spooky mystery and some really good scares. Plus, it begins McCarthy’s shared universe, with its set of tropes that can be seen in each of the movies he’s put out since. Watching them in order, you really see the polishing of his style and storytelling prowess, and you get to enjoy some good horror films while you’re at it.

Speaking of which…

Oddity (2024)
The follow up to Caveat, Damian McCarthy’s sophomore venture follows a blind medium. One year after her sister was brutally murdered, the medium goes to stay with her sister’s husband. With his girlfriend. At the house where the medium’s sister was horribly murdered. But she’s not coming alone. She’s coming with a strange, wooden golem which her mother supposedly got from a witch. And a dark secret given to her by her powers.

To say the least, you can see how McCarthy has grown as a writer and filmmaker through this film. Not only is the story smoother and easier to believe, but it is just frightening throughout. The golem makes for a terrifying image, and the constant game of cat-and-mouse the medium has going on with those around her as she really makes you think about what happened the night her sister was killed. I am so looking forward to watching this one again, and that should be enough to tell you how good it is.

Hokum (2026)
The final and most recent Damian McCarthy film, Hokum takes all the hallmarks and horror of his style and ramps it up to 11. In this film, an American writer goes to an inn deep within the Irish woods to spread his parents’ ashes. However, after someone he’s indebted to goes missing at the hotel, the writer returns to solve the mystery behind their disappearance…and gets a lot more in the bargain.

I went into the theater with high expectations for this one, and I came away more than satisfied. And while the tropes and Easter eggs that McCarthy is known for show up everywhere and are expected, they do not diminish the terror or immersion at all. Plus, there are still plenty of twists I did not see coming. Oh, and Adam Scott does an amazing job as the acerbic, misanthropic writer, who is carrying way more baggage than he lets on. Definitely put this one at the top of your list.

Good Boy (2025)
You’ve probably heard of this one. The film told through the point-of-view of a dog?

Indy, a Novia Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, moves with his sickly owner to the latter’s grandfather’s old house in the country. There, he becomes aware of a presence in the house. A dark phantom that seems to have it out for his owner. But Indy is just a dog. Will he be able to save them both?

Director Ben Leonberg spent three years making this film with Indy, who is his real life dog. Because, obviously, you have to approach working with a regular dog differently than you would with an actor. However, the results paid off. Using all sorts of mood-setting filmmaking techniques, we get not only a very atmospheric and frightening horror film, but an emotive character in Indy. I saw it in theaters, and was struck by how much it hit me in the feels. It’s a definitely a film, even if you’re just curious, that I encourage you to check out.

Starry Eyes (2014)
An aspiring actress who is having the worst luck finding roles auditions for a part in a horror movie by a storied and powerful production company. She thinks this role could lead to her getting the fame she has always desired, but that fame may come at a price. One that may be too much for her to pay.

When I first saw this movie several years ago, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. However, in the years since, I’ve thought about it a lot and how it explored the dark side of Hollywood and the Hollywood dream. I will warn you, it does go into topics of self-harm and the “casting couch,” so you may not want to watch if that triggers you. However, I think in the wake of #MeToo and further exposure of the toxic side of Hollywood, it remains relevant and should be worth a watch. I know I’ll see it this spooky season.

The Ugly Stepsister (2025)
In this dark, updated take on Cinderella from Norway, we focus on Elvira, the eldest of the two stepsisters in the original fairy tale. After Cinderella’s father dies and the family is left impoverished, Elvira’s does the usual thing of making Cinderella a servant…and then starts putting Elvira through primitive and ghastly beauty treatments to get her ready for the prince’s ball. How far will Elvira go for the prince? And, in the end, will the price be too much to pay?

The cult reputation this film has received since it released is well-deserved. I saw it in theaters at the only local theater that seemed to be playing it, and I have not squirmed in my seat like that in a long, long time. The body horror was par excellence, and the production values were incredible, making you feel truly immersed in the world of the story. I will caution you, this is the kind of thing you would not want to watch if you’re very squeamish. However, if that’s not an issue, you’ll probably recognize The Ugly Stepsister as the genius it is.

Coherence (2013)
A dinner between friends gets weird. And at first, it’s the normal weird. There’s tensions between them, unspoken grudges, and sleeping dogs that won’t be left to sleep. But then a passing comet changes things. Suddenly, alternate realities appear all over the place. Doubles show up. And soon, no one is sure where their home is or who they’re talking with as they deal with all the possibilities of the multiverse.

This ambitious film was made on only fifty thousand dollars, but you wouldn’t know it if you saw it. It feels very professional, and is incredibly well told for such a bizarre story. A very Twilight Zone-esque tale about alternate realities and what happens when they collide.

Speaking of which, I have a very distinct memory of this film starring Natalie Dormer as the lead. However, the last I looked up this film, an actress named Emily Foxler (now Baldoni, since she married) was playing the lead. Did I slide into another universe? The universe may never know.

Odd Thomas (2013)
Based on the first book in Dean Koontz’s beloved book series and starring the late and great Anton Yelchin, the movie follows Odd Thomas, a fry cook in a small town who happens to see ghosts. When he does, he tries to help…even if it means going up against dangerous criminals in his small town. Which happens a lot.

One day, however, Odd gets a premonition of something terrible about to happen. Something worse than anything Odd has come up against. Something that threatens not just him, but all his loved ones. And he’s going to have to work hard to save them.

I loved the original books when I read them, and the movie, which faithfully adapts the first book, is fantastic. Yelchin is great as Odd, and everyone’s clearly having a great time making and putting their all into the film. Plus, the thrills are great and the special effects are well done. I’m looking forward to watching this one again this spooky season.

Glorious (2022)
A man on the verge of a breakdown stops at a rest stop to get drunk and cry over recent troubles in his relationship. However, when he goes into the men’s room, he not only gets stuck in there, he finds himself stuck in there with another person. Well, not another person. More like a cosmic entity hiding inside one of the stalls. And now, the man is about to get up in an event of cosmic proportions. All while trapped in a men’s room at a rest stop on the highway!

Oh God, this film was bizarre in all the best ways! A great balance between cosmic horror and horror comedy, watching it felt like being on a rollercoaster in some of the best ways. Great twists, terrifying visuals, lots of laughs, and JK Simmons as the voice of the cosmic entity. If you watch it, I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Undertone (2025)
Evy Babic is a podcaster currently caring for her comatose mother. She and her friend Justin run the undertone podcast, a horror podcast exploring all sorts of spooky phenomenon. Evy tends to be the skeptic, while Justin is the big believer. One day, Justin is sent a strange email containing a series of cryptic recordings. As they listen to the recordings, they find themselves trapped in something supernatural. And it’s coming for Evy.

This film first started getting attention due to a very effective marketing campaign. However, when I saw the film, it was the real deal! The use of sound, open spaces, light and darkness, and lack of other people in the film really show Evy’s isolation (literal and figurative), and that helps with the atmosphere. A feeling of paranoia builds as you watch the film and events unfold, making you wonder how much is real and how much is in Evy’s head. If you give it a watch, you should watch it on as large a screen as possible and in the dark. Trust me, it’s the most effective that way.

Poltergeist (1982)
A classic of the genre, Poltergeist follows a family living in a recently-built California planned community. At first, everything seems fine. They’re living the American Dream. But then strange occurrences happen around the home. Chairs moving on their own, lights turning on and off, a tree coming to life and attacking the family’s son. It culminates with the family’s youngest daughter being taken hostage. And only with help will the family get her back.

Forty years later, this film is still as terrifying now as it was then. The special effects have aged well, the emotion the family members feel come across as genuine, and the climax is something to behold (especially considering those were real corpses). As for whether the curse on the movie is real…well, I’ll let you decide on that one.

Bugonia (2025)
A pharmaceuticals CEO, played by Emma Stone, is kidnapped by a pair of cousins and held hostage on the family farm. The cousins believe the CEO is a representative of an alien race experimenting and controlling the human race. But not everything is as it seems. Neither with the cousins, or with the pharmaceutical exec. And the result of this kidnapping plot will have implications for the whole human race.

This Oscar-nominated film, which is based on a South Korean sci-fi film, has been marketed as a black comedy, but I disagree with that label. Yes, there are plenty of funny moments, but they are overshadowed by some seriously messed up moments. Plus, I have never seen a comedy where a full on torture scene was part of the plot. No, it’s a science fiction horror film with some comedic moments and plenty of cat-and-mouse psychological play. And once you watch it, it’ll stay with you for ages to come.

Prince of Darkness (1987)
The Vatican becomes aware that a prophecy is about to come true: Satan, who has been trapped inside an ancient container for many thousands of years, is about to awaken, break out, and cause the Apocalypse. A priest goes to the local university’s science departments, asking them to help prove the prophecy is coming true. As one would expect, when they lock themselves inside the church to study the container, shit hits the fan.

One of John Carpenter’s underrated gems, Prince of Darkness isn’t perfect by any means. But it is a unique viewing experience. The films knows what kind of horror movie it wants to be and goes into it whole hog. Plus, how it explores religion, science, and cosmology is just really interesting to me. It gets you to think, which I love. Honestly, it’s one of my favorite horror films, despite its flaws. And if you see it, I think you’ll understand why.

So, there you are. My thirteen recommendations for spooky season in 2026. A mix of old and new, famous and not-so-famous. All will surely enhance your spooky season viewing this year.

But tell me, what movies are you going to watch this year? Are there any you’d add to this list? And what do you think of the movies on this list? Let’s discuss.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. Until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and only 81 days till Halloween!

13 Films to Watch for Spooky Season 2024

Posted: September 9, 2024 in Review, Scary Stuff
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As we’ve entered September, horror fans have started celebrating spooky season. Because as we all know, spooky season starts as soon as the stores start putting up stock, and a few stores already have. And since we’re all thinking about what movies to watch, I’m putting out another list of films you can consider for this year.

I’ve tried to come up with a good mix of well-known and lesser-known films, as well as a good mix of older and newer films. So, hopefully there’s something here that will appeal to every horror fan out there. Enjoy, and let me know if you’re familiar with any of these films or if there are any I should check out myself. The more films we share, the better!

YellowBrickRoad (2010)
In 1940, a small New Hampshire town up and walked north along an unmarked trail into the unexplored woods. Half were found dead, and the other half were never found. In modern day, a film crew tries to figure out the mystery of the disappeared townsfolk, including following the townspeople on the route they went. A route with a stone marker bearing the legend “YELLOWBRICKROAD.”

This move is an unsung gem. It’s a surreal and psychological piece of rural horror that takes the isolation and interpersonal conflicts of The Blair Witch Project and ups the ante by 100%. It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is certainly going to be an interesting watch, no matter what.

Antrum (2018)
A film-within-a-film, Antrum is a documentary about…Antrum, a supposedly cursed film said to be the deadliest film in history. The documentary crew manage to get a rare copy of the film, and, for the first time, show it to the public. What proceeds is a horrifying trip through hell which will leave you wondering if you’ll survive to see the morning.

I love horror mockumentaries, and this one is one of the best I’ve seen. It starts out as a documentary, showcasing the history of the film, before showing us the actual film. And it all feels damn realistic, to the point you could almost believe there’s a cursed film called Antrum and you’re really watching it. In fact, my sister and I saw it together and wondered if we would survive after watching it! As you can see, we did, but it still made us believe a little.

Peeping Tom (1960)
This proto-slasher follows a shy young man who works as a cameraman and spends his free time killing women while recording their deaths. It’s a slow-burn psychological horror that really lets you get to know its main character. I’m honestly surprised it hasn’t been remade, because we’re so obsessed with recording everything. Anyway, I would totally check this out if you’re interested. It’s not as bloody and horrifying as other horror films, but it is fascinating and at times quite tense.

The Dark and the Wicked (2020)
A pair of siblings return to the family farm when it appears their father is on death’s door. However, events unfold that show that something sinister at the farm. And it’s after the family. It’s a very dark and nihilistic film, and while some will be annoyed by certain aspects of the film, such as how the characters react to the supernatural presence, it is still a very chilling film. If you’re looking for something very morbid and grim, this film is for you.

The Void (2016)
After finding an injured man on the side of the road, a sheriff’s deputy and several other townsfolk find themselves under siege at the local hospital, menaced not just by a mysterious cult, but by monsters hidden within the hospital hallways. For those who love cosmic horror, this is one of the best I’ve seen in years. The special effects and creature designs bring to mind both The Thing and Color Out of Space, and the story is a terrifying thrill ride. It’s a movie that gets better with every viewing, and I highly recommend it if you want to scare yourself silly this Halloween.

Late Night with the Devil (2023)
In the 1970s, a struggling late night show host brings the lone survivor of a Satanic cult and the therapist working with her onto the show for a Halloween special. As you can imagine, shit eventually hits the fan. When this film got its limited theatrical run earlier this year, people were raving about it and even called it the best horror film of 2024. While I wouldn’t call it that, I would say it’s quite scary and a well-done film. I’m actually planning on watching it again myself as soon as my copy comes in from the library.

(I should warn you, though, a couple of images from the film utilize AI. It’s only three, but I know a lot of people feel strongly about AI, so I figured you should know.)

When Evil Lurks (2023)
In a world where demons physically manifest like diseases and can infect everyone around the possessed, a pair of brothers try to protect their families when an infected individual goes missing and the disease starts to spread around the tiny village.

Some have called this the best horror film of 2023, and I can see why it was called that. Besides having a neat twist on the concept of demonic possession, this Argentinian horror film has plenty of tension and scary moments that keep you on the edge of your seat. Give it a watch and see for yourself.

Stopmotion (2023)
A stopmotion animation artist is assisting her demanding mother in completing her last film. When the latter becomes gravely ill, the artist tries to make her own film, only to find herself spiraling into Hell.

I’m not normally a fan of horror stories where the whole premise is “the horror is the main character’s spiral into mental illness.” However, this film is quite captivating in how it melds stopmotion animation and real life storytelling to give us a frightening film with some seriously disturbing imagery. Warning you now: have a strong stomach before you go in to watch this one.

Night of the Demon (1957)
A psychologist comes to England for a convention, only to learn that one of his esteemed colleagues has died and a so-called magician and cult leader is claiming his magic is responsible. Along with the deceased professor’s niece, the psychologist investigates the magician and his cult, and along the way learns that there may be more to the magician’s claims of magical power than just trickery and suggestible followers.

While it’s an older film, it’s quite influential in showing the demon multiple times throughout the film (quite unusual for the time), and many horror fans and creators, including Stephen King, have cited it as an influence. Just don’t watch its shortened American version, Curse of the Demon, because the original is the one to watch.

Land of the Dead (2005)
Set in the same universe as Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead, Land of the Dead takes place decades after the undead have taken over the world. Pittsburgh has become a last bastion for humanity, with the wealthy living in a magnificent luxury skyscraper and the poor living in slums. However, when one zombie, nicknamed Big Daddy, begins leading his kind to the city after a supply raid ruins his territory, it sets off a chain of events that will forever change the city.

Fun fact: this was the first time in the film series the word “zombie” was actually used for the zombies! Up until now, the terms used were “ghouls” or “undead.” Besides that, the film’s quite thrilling, with plenty of horror and action to satisfy fans. Give it a watch, especially if you’ve seen the first two films in the series (I would skip Day of the Dead, the third film).

Other fun fact: I’ve met Eugene Clark, the actor who played Big Daddy, and he was very nice. He even let me take a photo with him, which you can find on my Instagram.

In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
An insurance investigator goes to a small town to try and locate a horror author whose work is considered so terrifying, people have actually gone crazy from reading it. What happens there, however, will not only change him forever, but the world as well.

The last film in John Carpenter’s Apocalypse trilogy (the first two being The Thing and my own favorite, Prince of Darkness), this film has grown quite the cult following due to its meta-narrative and exploration of cosmic horror. It’s not perfect, but it’s a fun and at times quite scary movie with lots of great imagery and cool ideas involving what it’s like to live in a fiction story. By the end, you’ll want to read Sutter Cane’s work as well. No matter what it does to your sanity.

The Empty Man (2020)
In the 1990s in the nation of Bhutan, a group of American tourists discover a cave, which leads to terrifying events on a mountaintop. Twenty-three years later, a former police officer is asked by a friend to find her missing daughter, and finds himself wrapped in a cult with ties to the tourists in Bhutan.

This movie is almost hypnotic in how it draws you in, and it is both terrifying and…dare I say this? It’s satisfying. It’s that good, and I’m honestly sad that it’s rarely available on any streaming service I actually have access to (and never on DVD or Blu-Ray). Anyway, it’s a great horror film, so check it out if you trust my word.

Pontypool (2008)
In a small Canadian town, a radio host and his team are working in the middle of a blizzard when they get reports of riots and horrifying deaths happening elsewhere in town. As time goes on, a strange sort of apocalypse starts to occur in the town. An apocalypse based around language.

I first saw this in college and loved it. I saw it again recently, and, while there are some aspects about the ending I dislike/don’t buy, it still holds up very well. It’s a very tense and freaky film with a great concept at its heart, so if you’re looking for a fun twist on the zombie apocalypse, I highly recommend this one.

And those are my recommendations, my Followers of Fear. But tell me, Followers of Fear, have you seen any of these films? What did you think? And what are you watching this season? Anything you would add to this list? Let’s discuss.

Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night, pleasant nightmares, and only 52 days till Halloween! Get the Headless Horseman’s horse ready for him at once!

What Do My Favorite Horror Movies Say About Me?

Posted: August 30, 2022 in Reflections, Scary Stuff
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My favorite films surrounding my remote control.

You know, this may not be the biggest issue in my life. And it may not be the meaningful thing I could write about on this blog. But you know, it’s something I find myself pondering from time to time. What do my Top 6 Favorite Horror Movies say about me and my interests?

(It used to be 7, but I realized while making my list that while I enjoyed the film, it wasn’t something I would gladly watch again and again and again, just say the word go. Also, my tastes change over time, so this list could look very different in ten or even five years, as well as grow or shrink.)

But what does it say about me that I enjoy these particular films? What about them draws me to them? I tried to figure it out by listing them and then listing what I liked about them. Here are the films in question:

Perfect Blue (1997)
Based on the novel by Yoshikazu Takeuchi and directed by Satoshi Kon, Mima Kirigoe is a J-Pop idol who is forced by her agency to transition into acting. This and a violent stalker sends Mima into a violent psychological down-spiral, one which may very well claim her life.

  • One of the few good examples of anime horror I’ve come across in my life. The art style is also excellent, where characters and scenes are animated with a sense of realism rather than the usual anime exaggerations. This gives the horror a certain sense of realism that you wouldn’t normally find in anime.
  • The movie works to make you question, along with Mima, every moment of reality. What is real, what isn’t, what’s a dream, what’s part of Mima’s TV drama and what’s her actual life. It’s all up for debate throughout the movie, with the use of color, quiet scenes vs acting and dancing scenes, and repetition of events making you feel the disorientation Mima feels. All leading up to a final third with a horrific twist.

Color Out of Space (2020)
Starring Nicholas Cage and based on the novella by HP Lovecraft (one of my favorites by him, BTW), a meteor falls in a small West Virginia farm, giving off an odd color that can’t really be categorized. Soon after, strange events start happening on the farm, changing the plant life, the family, and reality itself. All leading to a devastating conclusion.

  • Ask most film critics, it’s one of the best HP Lovecraft/Lovecraftian horror adaptations ever made.
  • The film’s very misleading, at first playing up Cage’s penchant for odd acting and adding in plenty of comedy. Later on, however, Cage’s performance goes from funny to sinister, and the humor vanishes as the number of scary events occur and build, filling with you with dread.
  • The mix of practical effects and CGI is well done, with the latter only being employed as absolutely needed and the former being used enough to make fans of The Thing proud. This allows for the final scenes to be really horrifying, even when chock-full of CGI.
  • Just watch the cutting board and alpacas in the barn scenes. You’ll be scarred for life.

Overlord (2018)
During the D-Day invasion, a small troop of American soldiers sneak into a French town to take out the Nazi’s radio tower, preventing the Nazis from calling for help. What follows is a harrowing ride through hell as the team confronts not just Nazis and the horrors of war, but deadly experiments that may end up changing the tide of the war.

  • Despite being a “Nazi zombie” film, which is usually silly or played for laughs, this film plays it much more seriously. The zombies are almost a secondary feature of the film. The real emphasis is on how war scars and changes you, how horrible the drive to win can make a person, and how war brings out the depravity in all of us. When the zombies are on screen, they’re used sparingly, only to heighten the horror and the stakes.
  • During the scenes where the protagonist explores the laboratory, the emphasis on mood and atmosphere creates a powerful dread of what’s around every corner, under every sheet. If you’ve ever seen or played the game Outlast, it often feels like you’re in the middle of that game, and that is a terrifying thought to have.

Sleepaway Camp (1983)
As a young girl, Angela sees her father and brother killed in an accident on a lake adjacent to Camp Arawak. Years later as a teen, Angela and her cousin Ricky go as campers, only for a strange series of deaths to ruin the summer fun. And in the center of it all, Angela seems to be a fixture.

Who else had their mind blown by this moment in the film?
  • This is a rather unique 80’s slasher. For one thing, the campers are all played by actual teens and tweens, rather than adults pretending to be teens. Coupled with the teens language and behavior, it often reminds me of my own camping days, except less Jewish and more murder-y.
  • There are also prolonged periods between (admittedly inventive) kills, which allows you to really get to know the characters and remind you that these are just kids. This makes each instance of death even more shocking and brutal than it would be if they were in your face one after the other.
  • The twist in this movie is rather famous and forces the viewer to recontextualize everything in a new light. I won’t say what happens, but ooh boy, it’s not the sort of thing you could do today. I’d be interested to see how a remake handles this twist and reworks it for a modern audience. Also, I wish there was a novelization for this movie, because it would be great.

The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)
A medical student is filming a documentary about an older woman’s battle with dementia. While out at her country home, however, it becomes increasingly clear that this woman is dealing with something else besides dementia: a dark presence has come for Deborah Logan, and it’ll use her to accomplish its sinister goals.

  • Both a found footage and a possession movie, the take on the latter is very unique, both in the victim of possession and who/what is doing the possessing. However, since this is a film about a woman with dementia, it misleads you at first so that you don’t know if what you’re experiencing is really supernatural at first. And when it becomes clear that something supernatural is happening, it becomes both terrifying and tragic.
  • Did I mention this film is terrifying? Not just for anyone whose relatives have experienced dementia (and I’ve heard from people that that’s a form of terror in and of itself), but just as a horror movie it is terrifying. From dark and claustrophobic scenes in an abandoned mine to strange happenings in the house and one bloody scene that freaked me the hell out, this is not a film you want to watch with the lights out.

Prince of Darkness (1987)
A Catholic priest discovers an ancient artifact in the basement of an abandoned church that points to the fulfillment of an obscure end-of-world prophecy. Needing to prove it to the world, the priest enlists the help of several prominent professors from a local university and their grad/PhD students to help quantify this strange, evil miracle. As you can guess, shit really hits the fan.

  • One of John Carpenter’s lesser known masterpieces (which I think is a damn shame), the film has a unique take on God and Satan that feels more at home in a UFO cult, but works really well here. It also has some interesting ideas and themes to explore, such as the nature of evil, the relationship between religion and science, and even an allegory for the AIDS epidemic, which was at a peak when this film was made.
  • Also, while not the scariest thing ever, it is pretty damn creepy and has some truly great moments of horror.

So, there you go. These are my favorite horror films right now. And I struggle to find a unifying theme about why I elevate them above all others. Half of them are from the last decade, two from the 1980s, and one from the 1990s. They all place a lot of emphasis on psychological horror, but how and how much varies from film to film. Only two of them are adaptations of anything. No similar genres, directors or writers, different themes are explored in each one, and I own copies of all of them on DVD or Blu-Ray.

Maybe it’s just that they stick in my head more than others, or that they impressed me in some way that other horror films haven’t. Perhaps they’re the kind of stories I wish I’d wrote, or I like thinking of what I’d do with the material. Wait, no, it’s not that. I think that with every horror film.

If nothing else, I’ll be able to discuss films like Perfect Blue and Prince of Darkness with more people.

Well, maybe you’ll help me find some insight. If nothing else, there’s a chance you’ll be curious enough to see these films if you haven’t watched them before, or give them another watch if you have. You may even notice something I don’t.

You may even make some of them part of your Halloween watchlist this year (63 days till Halloween at the time of this writing). And if you do, I also recommend adding Carnival of Souls (1962), Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988), Rosemary’s Baby (1968), As Above, So Below (2014), The Void (2017), both versions of The Fly (1958 and 1986), the 2013 remake of Carrie, It (2017), and Freaky (2020). All make great additions to your Halloween viewing lineup. Not to mention all the movies coming out starting next month. I’m getting chills just thinking about it!

Anyway, this has been a long post and it’s getting late. I’m going to end it here and call it a night. Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night and pleasant nightmares!

What are your thoughts on these films? Did you notice anything I didn’t? What are your favorite horror films that you recommend to everyone?