Whether it is at MJR, Megaplex or other theaters, you’re going to find audiences lining up to see horror films. And why not since this decade has seen a renaissance in the genre with outstanding movies like The Conjuring, The Babadook, It and Get Out, earning critical acclaim and become major box office draws.
That trend has continued in 2018 with a slew of top notch horror flicks. There was a lot to choose from but these really stood out.
1. A Quiet Place
The planet has been overrun by deadly creatures, blind but with incredible hearing which they use to sense and kill prey. A family must try and survive, but how long can they last in a world of silence?
A Quiet Place has earned critical acclaim and raves from audiences alike for its thrills, tension and scares. The film, which stars Emily Blunt, is a must watch for any horror movie fan and is an instant genre classic.
2. Annihilation
Scientists have been called together to explore a shimmering field that manifested out of nowhere. As they travel into it, all sorts of unsettling things and events occur. Some will categorize Annihilation as sci-fi but there’s no question there is a strong horror element to it.
What makes Annihilation stand out is its mind bending twist at the end, and the visuals are spectacular too. Directed by Alex Garland of Deux Ex Machina, Annihilation stars Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Tessa Thompson.
3. Hereditary
You’ve probably seen the creepy trailer but there is more to it than that. The film generated a lot of positive feedback at SXSW and Cannes and deservedly so as it is creepy, disturbing and flat out scary.
Hereditary is about a family that uncovers some unpleasant things following the passing of the matriarch. The horrors escalate and they’ll scare you in ways that few films can match. What’s even more amazing is this is Ari Aster’s directorial debut.
4. The Ritual
The plot sounds like rehash of every horror film: four friends go into the woods, find a shack and decide to spend the night there. Naturally all sorts of horrible, terrifying things happen. But don’t let the generic setup fool you as The Ritual is exceptionally good.
Directed by David Bruckner, The Ritual has plenty of scares, good acting, and it’s clearly been shot by a director who knows what he’s doing. The Ritual also offers a bit of suspense that will keep you guessing.
5. Insidious: The Last Key
One of the problems with most horror franchises is the movies diminish in quality, but Insidious is an exception. The movie focuses on Elise Rayner and why she started investigating the paranormal.
The movie benefits from some really creepy flashback scenes as well as another excellent performance from Lin Shayne. The fourth entry in the Insidious franchise is well worth the watch.
6. Winchester
Based on the true story of the Winchester Mystery House, the film’s premise is that of the “skeptic investigates haunted house”, in this case a doctor who’’s been to evaluate Sarah Winchester’s mental state.
Of course we know that the good doctor – played by Jason Clarke – is wrong and there are supernatural goings on in the house. But the way the events unfold in Winchester is what makes it a good watch.
7. Ghost Stories
This is a horror anthology based on a stage play and it’s an excellent adaptation by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman. The film centers on a skeptical paranormal investigator who investigates three cases.
While his goal is to debunk the three, things don’t turn out as planned. Each story works great on its own, but they’re threaded very well together. Definitely one of the finer horror films to come out of the UK in recent memory.
8. Marrowbone
Directed by Sergio Sanchez, who wrote the outstanding The Orphanage in 2007, the Marrowbone tells the story of four siblings living in a large house by themselves after the death of their mother.
There is an obnoxious banker who’s eyeing the property, and there seems to be something nasty hiding in the basement. The directorial debut of Sanchez shows he’s just as good at directing as writing.
9. The Strangers: Prey at Night
The sequel to the original hit ups the ante in terms of scares and thrills. The plot hasn’t changed much as we’ve got psychos terrorizing the folks inside a trailer. It sounds routine but there’s plenty here to scare and entertain you. The Strangers: Prey at Night doesn’t pull any punches especially the last act so hang on.
Conclusion
Horror movies have gotten a bad rap for being cheap, but as the list above shows, you can make a quality low budget film, scare people but without sacrificing quality. So if you’re in the mood for some scares, these are the movies to watch.
