If you can get ahold of a Netflix account, whether it be your mom’s or your roommate’s, here are a few horror movie suggestions to get you in the mood for Halloween.
Oculus
Hands down one of the best and scariest movies on Netflix. Starring Karen Gillan from “Doctor Who” and Brenton Twaites, “Oculus” is a story about a sister and a brother who confront an evil and sentient mirror responsible for the deaths of their parents. There is a lot to enjoy about this movie, and I found the scariest parts to be in the flashback sequences, when the main characters had to deal with the psychological collapse of their parents as children.
What I love most about this movie is the ingenuity of Gillan’s character. She’s a force to be reckoned with in the film, and unlike many characters in the horror genre, she is active in the story. Rather than passively allowing the haunting to happen to her, she fights back with resourcefulness and a vengeance. “Oculus” is a gem amongst the bunch, for sure.
The Babadook
After the sudden death of her husband, a mother, Essie Davis, and her hyperactive son, Noah Wiseman, struggle to return to normal life. This is disrupted when the pair is continually visited by a demonic-boogieman, called “The Babadook.”
If for no other reason, watch this movie for the artistry. The film begins with a breathtaking shot of Essie Davis falling from a void and onto a bed in slow motion. This sets the tone for one of the most disturbing yet beautiful films on Netflix. There is a lot to take away from this movie, and the creature of “The Babadook” may represent more than it seems at first.
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
It is the only Iranian-western vampire film I know of, and it may be the only one we’ll ever need. Filmed entirely in black and white and directed by Ana Lily Amirpour, “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” is engaging, haunting and provocative.
The plot follows a girl, who happens to be a vampire, and a boy searching for meaning and purpose in a ghost town. It’s a strange kind of a love story, one that includes murder and drug cartels. I wouldn’t necessarily classify this movie as “horror,” but if you don’t mind a little bit of blood this can be a sweet romantic film.
Tucker and Dale vs. Evil
It’s stupid. If you go into the movie knowing that much, you’ll actually really enjoy it. “Tucker and Dale” may be a less serious parody of the horror genre than “Cabin in the Woods,” but it is every bit as enjoyable.
The story follows two bumbling country-boys living in the woods who come across a group of hapless college students. The college students, convinced that Tucker and Dale are trying to kill them, end up dying one by one in creative and gory ways while trying to escape.
Netflix is full of many more great horror movies that I haven’t mentioned yet (i.e. “Rosemary’s Baby,” “Dark Skies,” “Scream”), and if you are looking for a thrill leading up to Halloween, browsing the horror section may be your best bet.