Horror Films for Everyone

It's Halloween and we couldn't be more excited. Some have their costumes ready and a party to go to, but if you are not one for parties and are thinking of staying in, then consider getting into the spirit by watching some great horror films guaranteed to keep you up all night.

When it comes to horror films there are many sub-genres and degrees of fright, so we here at CairoScene have decided to break it down into different categories, depending on the viewer's age and interests. 

If you are looking for an artistic, Indie horror flick we recommend:

Thirst (2009)

This film is just one of the many great Park Chen Wook films (Old Boy, Vengeance Trilogy). Although it is in Korean, if you are able to find a subtitled version, it is worth the watch as most of this director's films are essentially eye candy. Thirst is about a failed medical experiment that turns a priest into a vampire, which in turn forces him to abandon is ascetic ways. Not only is this a scary film, but it is also a love story.

Dead Snow (2009)

The only thing scarier than zombies are perhaps Nazi zombies and this film is filled with them giving it a humourist twist. Really there isn't much to say after Nazi zombies, so if that doesn't pique your interests then don't bother.

 
Ginger Snaps (2000)

This is a low budget Indie film that quickly became a cult classic. It is about two death-obsessed sisters who are outcasts that have to deal with the fact that one of them has been bitten by a deadly werewolf. Creatively shot, this film will have you thinking that you too could make a good movie without it costing a fortune.

 Cube (1997)

This film is essentially one gigantic mind fuck that involves seven complete strangers, with varying personalities, trapped within what seems to be an endless Kafka-esque maze containing creatively deadly traps. One could argue that this film inspired the Saw series, but with one distinct difference: this is actually good.

 Let the Right One In (2008)

This is a Swedish film that was so good that they made American version of it. It is about an overlooked boy who is bullied, but finds love and revenge with a peculiar girl that turns out to be a vampire. Well shot and well worth the watch.

If you want to get the kids into the Halloween spirit without giving them nightmares forever then we recommend checking out these suggestions:

Frankenweenie (2012)

This Tim Burton animation is about a science experiment that bring back to life young Victor's beloved dog, Sparky, only to be faced with unintended monstrous consequences.

Monster, Inc (2001) or University (2013)

Even if you are an adult this Pixar animation is worth the watch and comes jam-packed with plenty of laughs, which is great for kids who want to see monsters with none of the nightmares. The films is about Monsters generating power for their city by scaring children in a different dimension.

Gremlins (1984)

A boy inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet that unleashes hordes of mischievous monsters on a small town. This may scare children a little bit but it is a classic and, at the end of the day, was popular with kids because of the mischief caused by the monsters.

Coraline (2009)

This animated film is all about an adventurous girl that finds another world that is a strangely idealised version of her frustrating home, but with more sinister secrets. There are a lot scary images but it's an excellent film and is appropriate for kids who have reached the double digits in age.

Here is a list of the classics we suggest for anyone that prefers to watch films that are widely considered as the best in the horror genre:

The Shining

This Stanley Kubrick flick is a prime example of how to make a film scary without investing all your time in trying to gross people out with gore. From start to finish, this film about a family isolated in a off-season hotel will have you feel tense all the way through. Simply put, it is a masterpiece.

The Exorcist (1973)

This film is an exercise on how to make a scary movie without using computers. It is about a little girl being possessed by Satan with the scariest results. Everything about this film is eerie, from the soundtrack to the way it was shot, and is guaranteed to leave many with nightmares.

The Thing (1982)

A thrilling film about scientists in the Antarctic, the protagonists are confronted by a shape shifting alien that assumes the appearance of the people it kills. Another classic example of how to make a thrilling scary movie without over the top computer graphics.

Braindead (1992)

Before The Lord of the Rings, director Peter Jackson created a zombie film that is now a cult classic. If you are looking for classic gore this is the way to go, as every zombie killed is done in a pretty creative way. The best is the use of a lawn mower to take care of a swarm. It's bad but oh-so-good all at the same time.

Honestly there is way too many films to list that are worth watching. These are just a few suggestions that hopefully you haven't seen yet. Obviously there are a lot of other quality Halloween flicks that we have excluded but it doesn't mean they are bad, it just means that you probably have seen it already.