I like exciting, suspenseful stuff. A chilling ghostly narrative that makes me want to prowl under my couch is always welcome. On the other hand, I don’t get much out of a film that is gory and violent just to be gory and violent. I like stories in which the main character undergoes some kind of metamorphosis as a result of the challenges they face. I need something more than jump scares. With that being said, here are five horror movies with amazing plots and character metamorphoses to keep you clinging to your seats.
Poltergeist (1982)
Horror movies are my cup of tea because they usually begin with a seemingly mundane premise. Poltergeist succeeds in doing so with its first few minutes of everyday small-town life. Father is chilling with his mates as the children throw punches at one another and behave like, well, children while mom cooks spaghetti and meatballs in the kitchen. The film’s signature score by Spielberg swings the vibe from upbeat and cheerful to tense and disturbing. It’s not a really terrifying film, but it can sure hold its own. The movie follows the story of a cheerful and joyous family who encounters spirits who at first appear to be friendly and docile. However, once they have the family’s confidence, they proceed to torment them, eventually abducting Carol Anne, one of the kids of the Bowen family.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
“The Blair Witch Project” is, no doubt, one of the most celebrated horror movies of all time. This found-footage movie follows the story of aspiring filmmakers Josh, Heather, and Mike, who one day decide to make a film on the unusual and terrible past of the hamlet of Burkittsville (previously Blair) when they begin to experience supernatural phenomena at night. Their situation worsens as the nights go on, and they venture deeper into the woods. Tired and confused, the group wandered all day aimlessly, unable to determine their whereabouts or find a way out. The situation takes a darker turn as they start blaming each other for the mess.
The Shining (1980)
This 1980 masterpiece, helmed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Jack Nicholson and Shelly Duvall, has broken more box office records than I can remember. “The Shining” is perfect in every way; the movie’s dark palette conveys a feeling of alienation and repression. It seems like every shot has some splash of garish red to set off the otherwise dark tones and hint at the horror or bloodshed at hand. The narrative charts the protagonist’s downward spiral towards madness. The event is put in motion by the resort’s seclusion, but it is Jack’s frailty and the chasm in the family’s bond that ultimately lead to catastrophe. Jack, who has failed at everything he’s tried so far in his professional life, is struggling with low self-esteem and is ready to regain his composure. If people question his abilities or get in his way, he grows defensive.
Misery (1990)
Inspired by Stephen King’s novella of the same name, this cinematic masterpiece puts the audience into the shoes of a struggling writer named Paul, who gets stuck in a snowstorm and is taken hostage by an admirer. This strange admirer is a vicious sociopath and devotes the next several weeks to tormenting her beloved writer. Even though the movie is three decades old, it still manages to thrill audiences because it preys on our basic fears. We loathe the thought of being abandoned and helpless. Being confined in an enclosed space, such as a cabin or chamber, might be plenty frightening, but to have the same sense of confinement inside one’s own body will keep you up at night. The camerawork does a fantastic job of making us feel as constrained as the protagonist feels in the entire movie.
The Lighthouse (2019)
“The Lighthouse,” starring Robert Pattinson and William Defoe, holds a special place in my cinephile heart, and that’s why I won’t spoil the movie for you. To be honest, to experience this movie is like entering a trance. We have expertly whisked away to the universe Robert Eggers invents for his masterpieces. The movie is brilliantly confusing, and since we have been provided with no clear explanations, it is up to us to reflect on all we have seen and make sense of it on our own. This may be frustrating if you want everything to be neatly wound up with clear resolutions, but I appreciate that the directors do not belittle the audience. They believe in our ability to reason and dig conclusions for ourselves. William Defoe has devoted one of the best portrayals of his career. He uses a sailor-like lingo that makes him seem authentic but also like a throwback to another era. Pattinson is just as amazing. As Winslow, Robert presents a demeanor of casual coolness to cover up the hostility that seeps out of him gradually throughout the course of the movie.
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