If you’re trying to set up a trap to catch me, put in a good horror movie, some snacks, a warm blanket, and my partner, and you’ll have no problem catching me. The fun of watching a scary movie is seeing what twisted images people come up with!
Of course, I’m talking about the scariest of the scary—the kind that has you turning on at least one light to comfort you through the rest. The past couple of years have been surprisingly good for horror, whether it’s more creepy, down-to-earth stories or supernatural. Either way, these are especially good when you have a friend to watch, too.
Longlegs
Stream Longlegs on Hulu and Disney+
I’ve seen plenty of movies where Nicolas Cage gives an awesome performance as some bizarre character, but I never thought I’d walk away from a film thinking Cage could also be terrifyingly scary. The intense energy he puts into his roles actually makes his demeanor unsettling in a way that triggers my fight-or-flight, especially with the entire getup. To further tap into fear itself, Longlegs also blends some supernatural elements and the occult.
Maika Monroe’s performance here is also worth mentioning, as she is also, strangely, unsettling herself as Lee Harker. Being both seemingly clairvoyant and possibly connected to Longlegs, Lee is socially awkward, yet exceedingly good at her job as an FBI agent. It draws her towards these, at most times, oppressively small rooms with less-than-stellar lighting that makes you do double-takes with anything that looks even remotely strange in the background. And now I have a fear of dolls, which I have Longlegs to thank for.
Talk to Me
Stream Talk to Me on HBO Max or rent on Amazon
With so many unsettling horror movies out there, like Climax and The Invitation, I wasn’t sure how I would feel when I first saw Talk To Me. What I experienced was a completely off-the-rock possession story that dove deep into grief. When Mia has the chance to possibly make contact with the dead using an embalmed hand, she takes the chance but inadvertently comes into contact with her recently deceased mother.
Like every good A24 movie, Talk to Me has plenty of disturbing imagery, all of which Mia is constantly bombarded with. The spirits she sees are pretty grotesque, usually marked by what killed them, like a more serious version of Beetlejuice. But what put Talk to Me so high on my personal favorite horror movies of all time was its ending—the kind of horror movie ending that scares you the longer you think about it.
Don’t Move
Stream Don’t Move on Netflix
Don’t Move is much more down-to-earth than Evil Dead Rise or Talk to Me, but the focus here is paranormal and realistic. It fuels that paranoia and fear of crossing paths with strangers in the middle of nowhere, and what those people might do if they thought they could get away with it. Don’t Move is a good old-fashioned survival movie with a unique twist: What if you met a stranger and they managed to paralyze you in some way?
That premise alone is anxiety-inducing. It’s one thing to get some bad vibes from a stranger, but to be paralyzed, too? And Richard was incredibly kind to Iris at the start, who was on the verge of suicide. To go to great lengths to save someone’s life, only so you could take it yourself, is some next-level evil that heightens the suspense of the movie as Iris tries to find clever ways of escaping.
Skinamarink
Stream Skinamarink on Tubi or AMC+
If I had to choose which of these horror movies got under my skin the most, Skinamarink is easily in the top two. Not to mention making you feel just as disoriented as the poor children, who endure increasing levels of paranormal activity that starts with whispers and moves on to missing windows, missing doors, parents MIA, and a creature that hides in the dark.
Skinamarink is not your average paranormal movie, though. It feels absolutely oppressive throughout the entire film, in large part by the house being nearly pitch black the entire time. And you really feel for these kids as they try to stick together, avoid listening to the voices that speak from the shadows, and try to survive long enough for their dad to get back. Skinamarink, without a doubt, feeds on your fear of the dark, so sleep with one eye open!
I won’t make fun of you if you sleep with the lights on tonight
Not only should you have a blanket and a friend, but I also highly recommend having a stuffed toy for good measure. You never know when you’ll need protection because at some point you’ll fall asleep, and that’s when these horror movies will visit you in Dreamland. Of course, if you’d rather have an easier time sleeping, but still want to indulge in the macabre, go watch some short horror films instead!
