It’s spooky month once again, and fans of all things scary are about to have a blast. The month is defined by trick-or-treat, spooky decorations, dressing up and watching some new or classic movies that will scare the daylights out of you. Of course, as the years have passed, audiences have come to let different types of content into the mix, but the most favourite continues to be the ones that will scare you out of your skin!
These scariest horror movies that will make you scream will be great entertainment for those who like to watch media that is not too reliant on the jumpscare factor but is still entertaining. This list has 5 movies that you might have forgotten, but they haven’t forgotten you! They will creep up behind you when you least expect it and give you a fright for the ages with their tight storytelling, amazing cinematography and scares that come out of nowhere. Some of these movies have been made and remade over the years, but they remain the cornerstone of frightening media even today, so get ready to be properly spooked!
5 Scariest Horror Movies That Will Make You Scream
The Silence of the Lambs (1999)
A cult classic in every sense of the term, this movie redefined what it means to be spooked by not just shocking sequences but also amazing acting. Starring Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster in lead roles, this creepy horror-thriller slowly increases the intensity of thrill, and every line of the movie matters in one way or another. Each and every character who is introduced works into the story in some way to increase the pressure of solving a shocking and horrifying case. While Clarice’s interactions with Hannibal Lecter are heart-pounding, the story’s overarching narrative is equally palpable and leaves you shocked with wonder.
Directed by Jonathan Demme, this horror-thriller is based on Thomas Harris’s 1988 novel of the same name and follows young FBI trainee Clarice Sterling as she joins hands with dangerous cannibal Dr. Hannibal Lecter to stop serial killer Buffalo Bill from committing heinous murders. While doing so, she forms a surprising connection with the cannibalistic serial killer who will change her life forever.
It is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Host (2020)
For jumpscare lovers, Host taps into a fear in our hearts that left the world stuck inside the house. Although laden with predictable scares, the movie is very cleverly made and uses the only means of communication from the pandemic times to the forefront. The Zoom meeting becoming the hot spot for demonic possession is a horrifying thing to even think about, especially during the pandemic when most people were stuck at home alone. The sheer loneliness and the reality of no one coming to your rescue if you get into trouble is probably enough to scare anyone out there.
This screenlife supernatural horror movie is directed by Rob Savage and stars Haley Bishop, Jemma Moore, Emma Louise Webb, Radina Drandova and Caroline Ward. The story follows a group of friends who indulge in a seance to tide over the boredom of the pandemic. However, what starts off as something fun soon turns into a life-or-death situation wherein everyone is on the verge of death at the hands of a malevolent spirit who will stop at nothing in order to get what it wants.
The film is streaming on Shudder.
The Innocents (2021)
This Norwegian horror film is as atmospheric as it is intensely psychotic. However, in spite of being a supernatural horror movie, it never delves into the usual tropes or cliches and instead leans heavily on creating a maddening atmosphere of dread and shock. There’s a ton of animal abuse in the movie, so fair warning for those who might not want to see “innocents” torturing innocents. The shock will linger on as you finish the show, and the stellar performances from the young actors are truly worth marvelling at. The film’s clever juxtaposition of watching children, who are inherently touted as pure, perform heinous activities is absolutely jarring, and you can’t help but find your jaw on the floor!
Written and directed by Eskil Vogt, the film stars Rakel Lenora Fløttum, Alva Brynsmo Ramstad, Sam Ashraf, Mina Yasmin Bremseth, Asheim Ellen, Dorrit Petersen, Morten Svartveit, Kadra Yusuf and Lisa Tønne and follows a group of kids who share their mysterious powers during playtime when the adults are looking. In the quest to understand these surprising powers, they perform some shocking actions that will make anyone question the validity of children being called innocent.
The Wailing (2016)
There’s something so vehemently disturbing about The Wailing that you can’t help but think about it over and over again long after its ending. Although it’s a long movie, it never really feels too heavy on the viewer, and every time you watch it, the Korean horror film feels different. The tense atmosphere and an almost impossible situation will weigh heavy on your psyche as you watch a father desperately trying to save his daughter’s life as well as that of the villagers. The gripping and heavy atmosphere and the twisted plotline will leave you terrified of what’s to come, and you can’t help but watch it again in order to understand what just happened!
Written and directed by Na Hong-jin, this horror film stars Kwak Do-won, Hwang Jung-min and Chun Woo-hee and follows a policeman in a small village who tries to save his village people from murdering their families after a stranger’s arrival triggers a mysterious disease. However, this sickness is anything but that, and soon, he learns that there are forces at play that don’t want him to succeed in his quest to rid his people of this horrible curse. As he tries to understand who is good and who is evil, things take a turn for the worse, and he ends up battling something much bigger than himself.
The film is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Suspiria (1977)
Suspiria is a fever dream of a movie that will make you question everything about life but also keep you glued to the screen, watching insanity unfold. Of course, squeamish audiences will find it impossible to sit through, but for those who want to see something more than your normal fare of horror movies, this one will prove to be a gore-infused and horrific watch. The cinematography and the set pieces are also absolutely wonderful, and all these things working together feel stunning to watch.
Dario Argento’s supernatural horror film is based on Thomas De Quincey’s 1845 essay Suspiria de Profundis and stars Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé and others. The movie follows Harper’s character Suzy Bannion, an American ballet student who, upon transferring to a prestigious academy in Germany, realises that things are not what they seem. As days progress and more and more people start to end up dead, she slowly realises that the academy is a front of something much more sinister.
Suspiria is streaming for free on MX Player, and you can watch the 2018 remake on Amazon Prime Video.
Did you like our list of scariest horror movies? Tell us in the comments below what your favourite movie is!
Also Read: 5 Korean Thriller Movies That Will Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat