Supernatural thrillers usually deal in mystery, psychological tension, slow-burn narratives, and complex performances.
With this in mind, this list looks at some of the must-watch moviesin this subgenre.
They range from classic ghost stories to macabre modern masterpieces, all sure to give the viewer goosebumps.
Image via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
FromDon’t Look NowtoThe Sixth Sense, all of these films are iconic for a reason.
As a result, while dated in some ways,The Hauntingis still effective and worth checking out.
It may be of particular interest to fans ofMike Flanagan’s TV show drawing on the same source material.
Image via Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Only the soul is immortal.
The tone is grim and the shadows are all-consuming, taking visual cues from classic noir.
The characters are similarly dark and damaged, most of all the morally conflicted Angel.
Dr. John Markway, an anthropologist fascinated by psychic phenomena, assembles a small team to investigate the eerie Hill House, notorious for its tragic and violent history. Among the group are Eleanor, a fragile woman with a troubled past; Theodora, a mysterious and perceptive artist; and Luke, the skeptical future heir of the mansion. As they delve deeper into the house’s dark secrets, supernatural occurrences escalate, challenging their sanity and pushing Eleanor to the brink.
But the investigation takes an unexpected and somber turn.
When mysterious servants arrive and strange occurrences escalate, Grace begins to suspect that her family is not alone.
This is an artful horror, boasting sumptuous cinematography and a gorgeously eerie score.
His handling of psychological tension and slow-burning terror is very much on display.
Finally, Kidman’s believable performance holds it all together.
“The Sixth Sense’s mega-success has given it a larger-than-life feel (something compounded by the rest ofM.
The movie would’ve failed completely if not for his grounded, layered performance.
The script is far above your average ghost story, earning Shyamalan an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
It treats the character complexly.
Image via Tri-Star Pictures.
They are real people rather than simply plot devices.
The cinematography is also terrific, combining meticulous framing, assured camerawork, and rich shadows.
The movie features a twist ending that has become iconic in pop culture.
This cult classic is a chilling meditation on grief and the supernatural, wrapped in a haunting mystery.
The movie engages intelligently with these real-world horrors, and it still hits hard today.
Friedkin uses this pulpy premise to craft a visceral, deeply human story of faith and redemption.
Finally, the scares are creative and intense, particularly Regan’s head-spinning and the infamous ‘spider walk’.
4’Hereditary' (2018)
Directed by Ari Aster
“She isnt gone.”
It’s a worthy heir to the likes ofThe ExorcistandRosemary’s Baby.
Image via Warner Bros
Fans should check out Aster’s similarly macabre, brilliant short films.
Their lives take a terrifying turn when they discover a mysterious pop-up book about a sinister creature.
As the entitys presence becomes increasingly real, Amelias grip on reality begins to slip.
In 1945, immediately following the end of Second World War, a woman who lives with her two photosensitive children on her darkened old family estate in the Channel Islands becomes convinced that the home is haunted.
Emotional depth isThe Babdook’s strength.
This makes the frights hit all the harder.
It helps that the monster is creatively designed; simple, striking, and very, very creepy.
Several sequels and remakes have followed, but none comes close to this version’s raw, talismanic power.
The family is soon placed in grave danger as the hotel sinks its dark influence into Jack.
The Shiningfires on all cylinders, from the acting to the cinematography and set designs.
Then there are the morbid, disturbing visuals, like the desiccated ghost woman Jack encounters in the bathroom.
Here,Stanley Kubrick’s dark genius runs riot, resulting in a supernatural thriller for the ages.
NEXT:10 Great Horror Movies Recommended by Mike Flanagan
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense is a psychological thriller about a young boy who can see and communicate with ghosts. Bruce Willis as Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist who tries to help Cole, played by Haley Joel Osment, while grappling with his own personal demons. The movie features a twist ending that has become iconic in pop culture.
Image via Paramount
A married couple grieving the recent death of their young daughter are in Venice when they encounter two elderly sisters, one of whom is psychic and brings a warning from beyond.
Image via Warner Bros.
When a young girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.
Image via A24
When her mentally ill mother passes away, Annie, her husband, son, and daughter all mourn her loss. The family turn to different means to handle their grief, including Annie and her daughter both flirting with the supernatural. They each begin to have disturbing, otherworldly experiences linked to the sinister secrets and emotional trauma that have been passed through the generations of their family.
Image via Umbrella Entertainment
Image via United Artists
Image via Warner Bros.
A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future.
