Flick ‘R Treat: Horror Movie List

By Geena Amurao & Patrick Marvin Daaca

It’s that time of the year again! Halloween is just around the corner which makes it the best time of the year for trick-or-treating and a horror movie marathon. We rounded up a list of horror films that will satisfy your need for something spooky. So grab your popcorn and date (optional), sit back, try to relax, and start the only cardio you will probably do this Halloween… if you dare. 

Halloween (1978) dir. John Carpenter
Halloween is a classic for a reason: the film basically invented half of the tropes
we see in the slasher genre today. The final girl, the seemingly indestructible killer, teens with raging hormones getting killed, you name it. For newbies, it’s about a serial killer who escapes a mental facility and returns to his hometown on—guess what—Halloween, hell-bent on capturing the heroine and killing anyone who gets in the way. The film was considered a sleeper hit, grossing 200 times more than its original budget. It also spawned many sequels, with another being produced for a release next year and Jamie Lee Curtis (Dean Munch from Scream Queens y’all!!) returning in her original role as ultimate final girl Laurie Strode.

The Babadook (2015) dir. Jennifer Kent
Two years before The Babadook became a gay icon and an internet meme in 2017, it was a little indie film that went on to become one of the most critically- acclaimed films during its release year. The movie centers on a recently widowed mother and her young son who, after reading a scary children’s book, discovers they’re being haunted by a sinister being called the Babadook. The film, like Under The Shadow, relies more on atmosphere and mood-setting to create a truly horrifying film. The film also contained symbolism and themes related to grief and depression so if you’re looking for a horror film that requires more thinking, this one is for you.

Shutter (2004) dir. Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom
Another Thai-made film; Shutter, the brainchild of Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom turned out to be a box office success garnering many positive reviews and several remakes. Very much deserving so as the actors and actresses, especially Achita Sikamana, who played Natre, gave justice to the horror film, imprinting her scenes and her face on the many minds of her viewers. Imagine having to go through your partner’s things and finding out that he isn’t what you thought out to be, is one of the many sides to Shutter. Shutter exceeded expectations when it came to jump scares and the depiction of the macabre, it also manages to hook the viewer from the start and hit the home run at the end. Let the screams go and the trust issues start, Shutter, will surely quench your craving for a good horror movie.

Under The Shadow (2016) dir. Babak Anvari
A film with a glaring social subtext perfect for woke Internet people, Under The
Shadow is one of those indie horror gems that doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares and will leave you with a dreadful feeling hours after watching it. The film is set against the backdrop of post-revolution and war-torn Tehran in the 1980s and focuses on a mother and daughter trapped in their apartment home when an evil presence starts to torment them. The film boasts a feminist script that’ll have you tweeting #CrushThePatriarchy and explores themes such as perceived inferiority of women and their restrictive roles in a male-controlled society.

The Healing (2012) dir. Chito S. Roño
A great movie by Chito S. Roño, The Healing surrounds the topic of faith healing, a mainstay in Filipino culture and its religious background. The movie centers on Seth, played by Vilma Santos, taking her friends to a faith healer for their ailments. However, day by day, each “healed” individuals showed an erratic change in behavior. The actors and the actresses, especially Vilma Santos’s performance mixed with scenes of gore and macabre were able to tie the film together and bring back the charm of Filipino horror. It’s a breath of fresh air in comparison with other Filipino movies, making it a cut above the rest. The Healing is full of disturbing scenes, impressive acting, and an excellent plot twist that’ll keep your eyes glued to screen till the very end.

Fragile: A Ghost Story (2005) dir. Jaime Balagueró
Spanish horror films are one of the scariest and often contain endings that will
leave you reeling, and Fragile is no exception. Although this one is lesser known compared to its fellow Spanish horror films like Pan’s Labyrinth and REC, Fragile takes the ghost genre to another level. The film centers on a nurse on her new job at a rundown hospital, who is forced to confront her fears while keeping the patients safe from random and mysterious attacks. Fragile is often scary (the climax gave me nightmares for days), but it also has a genuinely touching story to boot. The Sleeping Beauty storyline had me bawling my eyes out. You don’t have to worry about reading subtitles; the entire film is in English.

Coming Soon (2008) dir. Sophon Sakdapisit
If you want nightmares for days, then this is for you. Coming Soon, directed by Sophon Sakdapisit exhibited an original concept with filmception (film within a film) and showed mastery in utilizing sound effects (which adds to the jump scare factor). The film centers on Shane, played by Chantavit Dhanasevi, a movie projectionist that found himself in debt, resorts to bootlegging the latest horror movie with his friend, he is then plunged into something supernatural when he finds his missing friend’s camcorder and a footage of his friend frightened from something unseen. Add the scary sound effects and Shomba’s face (A BIG NOPE), you’ll be a paranoid mess by the time you end this movie. Ready your blankets and hug your friends, Shomba is out to get you.

Trick ‘r Treat (2007) dir. Michael Dougherty
You might have seen this movie already; cable channels often broadcast
Trick ‘r Treat as part of their Halloween lineup. But the horror anthology deserves a spot on this list for its ridiculously good premise: five interwoven stories all occurring during the last day of October, and each one exploring a different kind of Halloween legend. Even if our country doesn’t really celebrate Halloween, it should be a required viewing on such a night where everything scary is celebrated. It’s scary, thrilling, and brainlessly fun so casual moviegoers should totally enjoy this movie.

Ju-on: The Grudge (2002) dir. Shimizu Takashi
Here’s a movie that will perpetually stay on any horror fan’s watch list and anyone’s staple go-to horror movie. It centers on a family’s grizzly murder, which led to a curse that consumes the lives of anyone who enters their home. The film is a good starter for any person wanting to get on the horror movie train; it has a great storyline, good visual effects, and the lingering creepiness that any viewer would want. The Grudge shows a creepy aura rather than the staple of jump scares like other horror films. From Kayako’s face and voice down to Toshio sitting in the corner, the movie will haunt you for days on end.

The Eye or Gin Gwai (2002) dir. The Pang Brothers
The Eye is a Hong Kong – Singaporean made film directed by the Pang brothers. The Eye is about a blind girl named Mun that went through a cornea replacement surgery, the surgery was successful though she’s now able to see things that she’s not supposed to. A bit of warning though, this movie is immensely horrifying. Not only the jump scares were detailed but even the environment of the movie got me shook; scary apartments, creepy elevators, and even the sound effects are enough to scare the crap out of you. The film is sure to end with you wheezing and tired from all the screaming. The Pang Brothers delivered a memorable horror movie, a perfect movie for Halloween.

Scream (1996) dir. Wes Craven
Another classic slasher film, Scream created a fresh twist on the genre with a script that was so meta that characters were aware of horror movie tropes and made many references to other classic horror movies. Scream is about a group of high schoolers getting picked off one-by-one by a killer who likes horror movies way too much. The film was also unique for casting already established actors like Drew Barrymore (pre-Charlie’s Angels), Courtney Cox (Monica Geller from Friends duh), and Skeet Ulrich (before he became Jughead Jones’ uber-hot dad in Riverdale). Although the film may not be that scary for moviegoers with a penchant for jump scares, horror movie buffs will certainly enjoy this one for its witty and often funny screenplay.

Wishing Stairs (2003) dir.  Yun Jae-yeon
Here’s a movie for all the K-movie fans out there! Wishing Stairs is the third installation of the Whispering Corridors film set. The film stars Song Ji-hyo who plays Jin-Sung and Park Han-byul who plays So-Hee, as two best friends that are both vying for a spot in a Russian ballet school. Wishing stairs isn’t like its predecessors but it shows a lot of promise; mixed with the themes of supernatural and the likes of urban legends. The film is able to entice its viewers with its well-made storyline and script, haunting scenery, good acting, and a plot twist at the end will keep you on your toes (Pun Intended). Wishing Stairs isn’t just a horror movie that is meant to scare you, it also makes you think about your own times of desperation and jealousy. How about that, a movie that scares you and makes you realize your mistakes. WIN.

List also on Letterboxd.

Art by Arianne German, Hans Pierce Verano, Gail Louisse Reyes, Luis Macalinao Banados, Renzo Hipolito