I love movies and have always been a huge horror fan. There is just something so intriguing to me about the genre. The gorier, more nightmare-inducing a movie is, the better. Here is a list of 10 of my favorite horror films- in no particular order.
- The Strangers (2008)
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This film is about a couple expecting a relaxing weekend in a vacation home, who are terrorized by a trio of masked individuals throughout the night. It stars Scott Speedman, who I loved on the show Felicity, and Liv Tyler. This film will make you super paranoid. Although the home invasion trope is cliché, this film executes it in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat and leaves you wondering.
- Orphan (2009)
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This is one of the first horror films I remember watching. It is about a family who adopts a young girl named Esther, who turns out not to be who they thought she was, as she starts to exhibit eerie and inappropriate behavior. It is unlike anything I’ve seen before, with several unexpected plot twists and an extremely clever ending.
- I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
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This is an all-time favorite of mine. It is such a classic. This movie is just so good, in all its cliché glory. I love it because it is simple, fun, and has an iconic cast. The book is also awesome. Also, if you watch this film, you will better understand the most iconic episode of Boy Meets World, the Halloween episode called “And Then There Was Shawn,” where Jennifer Love-Hewitt makes a cameo.
- Truth or Dare (2017)
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This movie was released a year prior to the Blumhouse movie of the same name (with Tyler Posey in it), and is so much better in my opinion. The plot is self-explanatory, eight college students stay in a haunted house and play a game of truth or dare that goes wrong. There are elements of mystery, suspense, and shock. It was less cheesy than the 2018 film of the same name, and was very creative.
- Would You Rather (2010)
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A movie that will haunt me for the rest of my life. This film is about a girl named Iris who participates in a sadistic game of Would You Rather in an attempt to win money to help take care of her brother who has cancer. It is uncomfortable to watch, and it will make you mad, but it is still a great watch. I am a huge fan of films that take innocent games and turn them into something sinister, just like this one as well as Truth or Dare. This movie is so intense, and the gore is definitely hard to watch, but it is great.
- The Loved Ones (2010)
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Just thinking about this Australian horror film makes me cringe. It is very well done, but the gore in it is so intense even though it is not always seen, that I haven’t forgotten about it. It is about a boy named Trent who rejects a promposal from a girl named Lola, who then kidnaps him and tortures him at her own twisted “prom” in her home. If you can handle gore similar to the Saw films, this movie is one of the best of the genre. It is unique, has many twists and turns, and the actors have cool Australian accents.
- When A Stranger Calls (2006)
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This tells the story of a babysitter who is terrorized by an unknown caller who keeps calling to ask about the kids. It is very well done. I found it a little slow at first, but once the action started, my eyes were glued to the screen and I was yelling at the characters because I was so entranced in what was happening. I also like the fact that this film is based on an urban legend. As a kid I used to see urban legends deep in the comments on YouTube videos. The story of the babysitter constantly getting a call from an unknown man asking “have you checked the children?” always freaked me out, and it was really cool to see it in movie form.
- Green Room (2010)
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This film is wild. It stars the late Anton Yelchin, as well as Alia Shawkat from my favorite show Arrested Development. It is about a rock band that gets trapped in a secluded venue after witnessing an act of violence. This film has so many twists and turns that hit you when you least expect it, and the gore is minimal but disturbing.
- Ready or Not (2019)
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First, I just need to say that I love Adam Brody and he will always be Seth Cohen to me. This is definitely one of the most well-known films on this list, but how could I not include it because… Adam Brody? Next, this film is crazy and will keep you on the edge of your seat. The plot is an interesting concept that is fun and smart. Although this film was not scary in the slightest, it was suspenseful to me since I always hated playing hide and seek because of the fear that came with hiding from others. This film takes that up a notch and makes it terrifying. I really enjoyed this film.
- Cabin Fever (2002)
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Rider Strong, who plays Shawn Hunter on Boy Meets World, is in this film, which should be enough to convince you to watch it. It follows a group of college students who fall victim to a gross flesh-eating virus. The reason why I enjoyed this film is because it had some comedic elements, such as the scene where the shopkeeper’s son yells “PANCAKES!” It was just so random and funny. There is not too much gore in this movie, but some scenes are definitely out there. It is an old film that has been remade several times, but nothing compares to the original.
I could list many more horror films. I have seen more than I can count, but these are the most interesting ones that I always re-watch and that I don’t think most people will know (excluding Ready or Not.) I absolutely love finding new horror films. I don’t know why I like them so much, but they are so cool. I’m not scared easily because from studying acting, I’ve learned so much about what happens behind the scenes that I know it’s not real… or is it?