9 Horror Films to Get You in the (Spooky) Mood

I still have a lot to learn about myself.

What I like, what I dislike, my personal style, my writing style — life is, after all, an ever-evolving cycle of discovery. To be honest, I would struggle to tell you exactly who I (Lexie) am, but as of today (August 3, 2021), I'm sure it would read something like this:

Blonde. Sassy. Dry-humored. Writer. Horror movie fanatic.

That last little bit...that's my ultimate identifier, I suppose.

You see, recently I did the math and realized I watch, on average, 160 horror films a year.

That's almost an entire week of every year dedicated entirely to slasher flicks, "torture porn" (not my phrase of choice, alas...), bone-chilling thrillers, international ghostie films — I like (and watch) it all.

(^^ Peep me on my way to any and all horror film festivals or conventions)

Horror films have been a love and (unexpected) comfort of mine since I can remember. But I'll reminisce on my horror-watching glory days some other time.

Today, I want to share 9 of my favorite horror films with y'all. And no, we're not talkin' Halloween, The Blair Witch Project, Friday the 13th, or Alien.

Those films are child's play (pun 100% intended).

Now, without any further ado...it's time to give ya what you came for.

Here are 9 of my favorite horror films:

1. His House

This film has it all for me — fantastic script, excellent premise, a haunted house, a great twist, body horror...the list goes on! I remember feeling actual terror throughout the duration of this film...quickening pulse, cold sweats.

His House takes an ongoing, real-life horror (war-torn South Sudan & the refugee crisis) and ups the ante even further. If you're a fan of Get Out or Us, you won't be disappointed.

But don't take my word for it. Here's an excerpt from Odie Henderson (rogerebert.com) review of the film:

The special effects here are genuinely unsettling. There are the expected jump scares, but they’re just appetizers for what happens after they goose us. The metaphors for drowning are evident, but there are also visions of zombie-like creatures and the sea witch itself. Though this isn’t very gory, the intensity level is impressive in the haunting scenes, so much so that, at one point, I caught myself watching through my fingers.

I couldn't agree more.

His House will leave you looking at the world, and your relationship to it, a little differently.

2. Lake Mongo

The pit of dread I feel in my stomach as I write this...here we go!

An Australian, documentary-style horror film from 2010, Lake Mungo is a slow burn that will leave you heartbroken and completely unnerved by the end.

The acting performances our impeccable — I had to remind myself several times that this was not a real documentary.

In an effort to not give anything away (it's best to go in blind with this one), I'll leave you with this:

Lake Mungo is low-budget filmmaking at its finest. Forget about Paranormal Activity, Lake Mungo is (IMO) the ultimate low-budget horror film.

Leave it to the Aussies, eh?

3. Tigers are Not Afraid

This one has The Orphanage vibes for me. Guillermo del Toro anyone?

Speaking of del Toro (my personal favorite director and filmmaker):

It’s not surprising that Guillermo del Toro has been a vocal advocate for Issa López’s “Tigers Are Not Afraid.” The film was clearly deeply influenced by Del Toro’s “The Devil’s Backbone” and “Pan’s Labyrinth,” which merge fantasy and supernatural elements with real-life horrors. In those films, and López’s, the real monsters are flesh and blood. They carry guns and victimize the innocent. At its best, López’s movie has that del Toro signature style, and she also proves herself a deft director of children, another element she shares in common with the Oscar winner.

-Brian Tallerico, rogerebert.com

This Mexican horror film will make you laugh, sob, and scream all at the same time. Talk about a rollercoaster of emotion. A rollercoaster I would gladly ride again and again.

It's damn near perfection. The child actors are remarkable and like His House, the real-life horror aspect of this film will rip at your heart, your guts — it makes it impossible to look away from the sheer terror millions of Mexican women and children live with every single day.

This film is important and terrifying. What's not to love?

4. House of the Devil

Right off the bat, the aesthetic of this film is **chef's kiss**

I mean, come on, it was made in 2009, but if it didn't have Greta Gerwig (director of 2019's Little Women) in it I could swear it was a classic 80s horror flick.

Occasionally cheesy? A bit predictable? Totally. I don't know about you, but sometimes that's all I want in a horror film.

I live for the cheese, the camp, the atmosphere.

To appease those particular cravings, I turn to The House of the Devil. Nothing new or groundbreaking with this storyline or plot, but it's a highly enjoyable watch every single time.

If you're down for more of a "classic" take on horror, this film is for you!

5. Host

Short, sweet, and absolutely horrifying.

This was the first film I saw that acknowledged and took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. In that way, it was comforting right off the bat. Throughout the entire film, the characters deal with the exact same set of circumstances as we, the viewers.

This helped to establish a sense of familiarity...a sense of "holy shit, what's happening to them could happen to me — they're living in the same world with the same issues and obstacles."

I watched this one two days in a row because I truly couldn't get enough. It's a film that you want to share with everyone around you so you can see their reactions and witness them feel the same fear. Bonding, if you will, in a time where "bonding" felt almost impossible.

For me, what makes this film is the acting — for a group of unknown actors, this film has A-grade performances. I bought every minute of it.

Give it a watch — it's only 57 minutes!

6. I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House

“A house with a death in it can never again be bought or sold by the living. It can only be borrowed by the ghosts who have stayed behind.”

Talk about a goosebump-inducing opening line!

This film will not be everyone's cup of tea, and frankly, that's one of the reasons why I love it.

Absolutely gorgeous, atmospheric, poetic... the entire script and its dialogue read as a beautiful, haunting Sylvia Plath poem.

The horror is exceptionally subtle and nuanced — the imagery is dreamy yet unsettling. If you're willing to try something different and voyage away from traditional "horror," please give this film a shot.

I can guarantee it'll be unlike anything you've ever seen and it will, for better or worse, haunt you long after.

7. Creep

Fair warning: Mark Duplass is one of my favorite actors, so I could be biased (but I think you'll come to realize it's really just that good).

Creep is one of the most interesting films I've watched — the fear is palpable right off the bat, but the humor?

Unexpected and completely offputting. You don't know whether you should laugh, run away screaming, or a delightful little mixture of both.

I never knew where this movie would go and I absolutely love that.

The Guardian wrote a wonderful review of the flick and this particular excerpt is a great explanation of why this film is so impactful and horrifying:

A lot of genre film-makers lazily assume that violence and gore will scare people the most but it never seems to work that way. Atmosphere, dread and the power of suggestion are much more disturbing and this underseen movie deftly uses all three to palm-sweating effect.

While you're at it, be sure to watch Creep 2, as well. The sequel was almost better than the original. Y'all know that's rarely, if ever, the case.

8. The Dark and the Wicked

As the credits started to roll for The Dark and the Wicked, I looked to my partner and said, "I don't think I've ever felt more depressed in my entire life."

Now, I'm prone to hyperbole, but I stand by this statement upon rewatching the trailer.

The vibe of this film is evil, the tone is violent and uncomfortable.

To be honest, it's everything I could ever ask for in a horror movie. The scene with the brother and his family...you have to see it to believe it.

The dread consumes you with this one. You were warned.

9. Marrowbone

This star-studded film immediately reminded me of one of my tried-and-true favorites, The Others, so right off the bat, I was completely sold.

What officially sealed the deal? The film's breathtakingly unexpected ending.

Seriously, I still haven't picked my jaw up off the floor.

I loved the original concept and premise of this story...the gothic essence it exudes with every shot, every line, and every cut will leave you speechless.

It's a beautiful film, an enchanting script — for me, this film was damn near perfect from start to finish. Thankfully, I'm not the only one who thinks so. The Verge had a great article on the film that perfectly summed up my thoughts:

It’s one of the year’s most immaculately crafted movies, and it’s the kind of story that keeps dodging convention right up to the final shot. It fits neatly into the Gothic genre, but it innovates within it at the same time. Given what a minimal release it’s gotten, and how little notice critics have given it, the movie itself feels like a well-kept secret. It’s just one that deserves to be much more widely known.

***

I hope you enjoyed this list! For me, horror isn't just a film genre, it's an underappreciated and underrepresented art form. I love engaging with and meeting others who feel the same way.

If you liked this list, or if you check out a few of these films and you'd like to discuss your opinions, give me a shout-out on my writing Instagram account (@thewritlass) or my personal account (@lexierobbins13). I love hearing from other like-minded film viewers!

Also, if you're able to leave a tip, I sure would appreciate it.