SW looks at Halloween horrors
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Tony Jaa will act in the upcoming action film Fast and Furious 7.
By Tatat Bunnag
With Halloween hitting on October 31, some may decide to stay at home to watch a spooky movie rather that going out to party and trick or treat. While most film fans know the classic horror movies like The Exorcist, The Shining, Friday the 13th and Night of the Living Dead, it’s easy to forget that there have also been some top-quality chillers made in more recent times.
With that in mind, Student Weekly decided to compile a list of some of the scariest films of the past decade — top horror flicks that have set the standard for the next generation of morbid movie makers. Here are six frightening films that you can enjoy with your friends this Halloween.
The Descent (2005)
The Descent is a creepy British horror film by English director Neil Marshall, who became famous with his low-budget werewolf movie Dog Soldiers in 2002.
The Descent is about a spelunking trip with six female friends that goes wrong when they get trapped in a deep cave that turns out to be the gateway to hell. The women soon realise that they are also being attacked by some horrifying, flesh-eating creatures.
Viewers will spend 99 minutes biting their nails wondering if any of the friends will get out alive.
The Orphanage (2007)
This was the debut feature film from Spanish director J.A. Bayona, made with help from his director friend Guillermo del Toro. The Orphanage is a fine horror film with a melancholic and terrifying atmosphere.
The film tells the chilling supernatural story of Laura, a woman who discovers dark and horrific secrets after returning to her childhood orphanage. She is also desperately trying to rescue her missing son from the nightmare of her past.
The Orphanage is devoid of the usual special effects seen in most horror films. Instead, the film uses simple techniques with a complex and intelligent story that manages to creep out the audience.
Let the Right One In (2008)
Forget all the boring teen vampire flicks you’ve seen before — this Swedish film from 2008 was hailed as a fresh start for the genre by critics upon its release.
The story concerns the relationship between a young vampire and her human friend, which turns out to be sweet and touching, as well as completely terrifying. With powerful storytelling and some intense, disturbing scenes, Let the Right One In has an amazing atmosphere. But don’t confuse it with the inferior US remake with the same title — the original is definitely the best.
Paranormal Activity (2009)
While it’s probably best to ignore the sequels that came after it, the first and original Paranormal Activity is a truly scary movie. Like the pioneering low-budget horror hit The Blair Witch Project (1999), Paranormal Activity is a spooky found-footage genre film.
Paranormal Activity is about a couple whose house is haunted by things that go bump in the night. But loud noises and unexplained happenings are just the beginning.
This film is a great example of how sometimes what you don’t see is more terrifying that what you do. You will sleep with the lights on for a week after watching this film!
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
American filmmaker Sam Raimi has been one of the top cult film directors ever since he stunned the horror world with his low-budget debut The Evil Dead back in 1981. After working on the blockbuster Spider-Man trilogy, Raimi decided to return to his favourite genre for the first time in 17 years with Drag Me to Hell.
Drag Me to Hell is a horror film with a touch of dark comedy. It proved that the director hadn’t lost his knack for creating unique, big screen scares. The film is about a young loan officer (Alison Lohman) who finds herself on the receiving end of a vengeful gypsy curse. It’s perfect viewing for those who are interested in witchcraft, curses and the demons.
The Conjuring (2013)
The Conjuring is the latest film from James Wan, an Australian director who is well-known for his previous films Saw and Insidious.
Based on a true story, The Conjuring, follows the lives of a ghost-busting couple who help a family to remove a demonic presence from their new home. The directing and cinematography in this film were inspired by classic ‘70s horror movies, allowing viewers to relate to the family and experience the horror as they experience it.
The Conjuring is just the kind of movie you need to put you in the mood for a horror Halloween.
Vocabulary
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morbid (adj): expressing a strong interesting in unpleasant things
creepy (adj): strange in a way that makes you feel nervous
spelunking (n): the sport or activity of going into caves under the ground
melancholic (adj): feeling or expressing sadness
chilling (adj): frightening, usually because it is connected with something violent or cruel
orphanage (n): a home for children whose parents are dead
devoid (adj): completely lacking something
inferior (adj): not as good as something else
unexplained (adj): for which the reason or cause is not known
curse (n): a word or phrase that is believed to have magic power to make something bad happenIdiom
trick or treat: a phrase said by children who visit people’s houses at Halloween and threaten to play tricks on people who do not give them candy
