My top 5 favorite horror films

5. Repulsion (1965) D. Roman Polanski  

Starring: Catherine Deneuve                                                  This is in my top 5 because of how unique it is from other horror films. It has minimal dialogue, filmed in black and white, and it's one of the most disturbing films I have ever seen. It's a nightmare about the descent to madness and also about sexual repression. You feel claustrophobic watching this film because the main character is feeding that feeling off onto the audience as she stays alone at her sister's home while she's on vacation. It's truly frightening. I previously mentioned that this film isn't your typical horror film. Something that I mean by that is that there isn't a constant scare; it has a subtle build up to her madness. If you aren't interested in films that don't always keep you on the edge of your seat with your mouth wide open, this isn't for you. However, it will make your skin crawl. Enjoy.

                                                                                                                             

4. The Orphanage (2007) D. Juan Antonio Bayona

Starring: Belén RuedaThe Orphanage is also a build up film. It doesn't constantly make you jump, but this Spanish flick is horrific. The atmosphere  alone is freaky. It's about a woman named Laura who reopends her childhood orphanage in hopes of restoring it. However, on the first day of the opening her sick child goes missing... after that the story unravels. Seems like your typical mystery horror film? Not quite. This one involves "imaginary" friends and a deep, dark past that Laura must face in order to find her son. Trust me, you don't want to leave this one out. Plus, it's produced by Guillermo Del Toro.. so CLEARLY it's good. :) 

This is the trailer incase you want to get a feel for it:

3. [REC] - D. Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza

Starring: Manuela Velasco

Remember that horrible American film called Quarantine? Well, it copied off of this Spanish film. Did you think Quarantine was terrible? That's because it is. However, regardless of how similar they are, [REC] shows Quarantine who's boss. This film is about a reporter who's following firemen to see how their jobs work. They get call about something being not quite right so they go to this apartment building not really thinking anything of it.. and we find out there some sort of an infection spreading. Once the outside world finds out, they get sealed in and aren't allowed out because they don't want it to leave the building. This contagious infection is horrifying. This film uses a hand held camera to magnify the thrill, and it works. This movie did have me at the edge of my seat, biting my nails, and shaking my leg.

2. 28 Days Later (2002)- D. Danny Boyle

 Starring: Cillian Murphey

This is another film about infection. I know, I know, second one on this list. I don't care. Movies about infection are apparently awesome, and that's that. This one is a little different though. The infection has already spread outside when the movie starts. The main character, Jim, wakes up in a hospital abandoned. Eventually he figures out what's going on when people who are no longer themselves start attacking him. Like [REC] this infection spreads through saliva and blood.. so it's highly contagious. This apocalyptic film follows the characters as they try to survive and figure out if there are any other survivors, and hopefully, a cure. 

Here's an trailer someone created that I thought was pretty good:

 

1. The Shining (1989) D. Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall.

Maybe he's just sleep deprived..

What did you expect? This is a classic horror film, and an amazing one at that. Apparently I like horror films about madness, not just infection. This is about underlying hatred and a hotel that can turn you mad. A family stays at a huge hotel to look after it during the winter time so that writer, Jack Torrance can work on his novel. The novel doesn't really progress... but other things do. The hotel unravels its evil persuasions.. what are they? You'll have to see for yourself.


What's this room 237 business? I guess you'll have to watch it to find out! Mwahaha.