I don't really like gore or slasher films :/ They don't gross me out, but they don't frighten me either. It's like they're trying to compensate with too much shock value. Though Battle Royale, while not at all scary, is pretty disturbing? It's more psychological though. I liked the book better.
Oh, you have got to try Pee Mak. It's a Thai comedy horror film that's not all that scary, actually, and more sweet and funny though sad. It also has Mario Maurer acting so ditzy and cute > /// >
That's a tall order right there, given the complete bollocks people tend to churn out then slap the 'Horror' label on, but I've got a couple suggestions (other than The Thing, as Windsong already mentioned: watch that shit).
Holy fuck Sam Neil looks so young in this Before he did the Resident Evil series, Paul W. S. Anderson actually managed to produce a pretty solid piece of sci-fi horror. It's not the best film I'm gonna rattle off, but I've always had a bit of a soft spot for it. I love the design aesthetic (SPACE SHIPS SHOULDN'T BE ALL SMOOTH AND PRETTY, DAMMIT) and the sense of foreboding it creates throughout.
Shot on a shoe-string budget by Danny Boyle and his partner-in-crime Alex Garland, 28 Days Later is one of the main films you can thank (or blame) for re-kindling the zombie apocalypse genre. Despite the low budget, it's a fucking beautiful movie; depressing yet sometimes hopeful (depending on the cut), thoughtful yet still fast-moving, and let's not forget pretty goddamn terrifying. Seriously, the infected are just that bit more scary than your standard shuffling Romero monster.
Most people don't really do body horror anymore. Luckily, the Soska Sisters aren't most people. American Mary is a curious wee slow-burner of a film, slowly ratcheting the tension up through the descent of its titular character Mary (played by an absolutely on-point Katharine Isabelle). It's ending seems rushed, but you can forgive it for the ride it takes you on getting there. Seriously, Soska Sisters? They're folks to be watching; with a good few horror flicks under their belts and a Painkiller Jane movie in the works, I reckon they're gonna be making some interesting shit in the future.
Don't be misled by the corny title and trailer: this movie is sheer fucking genius. Saying anything more than that would ruin it, however. Just, seriously. Fucking watch it, then let me know when you have so we can enthuse about how fucking great it is.
ORIGINAL AND BEST. ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES (especially ones starring Vince-fucking-Vaughn of all people).
Cos I mean, Stanley Kubrick needed to be on this list somewhere. Claustrophobic, increasingly disturbing and with Jack Nicholson doing what Jack Nicholson does best (ie. playing a fucking lunatic), this here is a modern horror masterpiece.
You cheeky scrublords can keep your Walking Dead malarkey. This right here is a proper zombie story. If you want to see where the genre really came into its own, look no further than the second (and best) entry to George Romero's 'The Dead' series.
And finally...
...we're talking great horror movies and no-one has mentioned Ridley Scott's absolute classic?
You all keep finding new and fascinating ways to disappoint me, you really do.
That's a tall order right there, given the complete bollocks people tend to churn out then slap the 'Horror' label on, but I've got a couple suggestions (other than The Thing, as Windsong already mentioned: watch that shit).
Holy fuck Sam Neil looks so young in this Before he did the Resident Evil series, Paul W. S. Anderson actually managed to produce a pretty solid piece of sci-fi horror. It's not the best film I'm gonna rattle off, but I've always had a bit of a soft spot for it. I love the design aesthetic (SPACE SHIPS SHOULDN'T BE ALL SMOOTH AND PRETTY, DAMMIT) and the sense of foreboding it creates throughout.
Shot on a shoe-string budget by Danny Boyle and his partner-in-crime Alex Garland, 28 Days Later is one of the main films you can thank (or blame) for re-kindling the zombie apocalypse genre. Despite the low budget, it's a fucking beautiful movie; depressing yet sometimes hopeful (depending on the cut), thoughtful yet still fast-moving, and let's not forget pretty goddamn terrifying. Seriously, the infected are just that bit more scary than your standard shuffling Romero monster.
Most people don't really do body horror anymore. Luckily, the Soska Sisters aren't most people. American Mary is a curious wee slow-burner of a film, slowly ratcheting the tension up through the descent of its titular character Mary (played by an absolutely on-point Katharine Isabelle). It's ending seems rushed, but you can forgive it for the ride it takes you on getting there. Seriously, Soska Sisters? They're folks to be watching; with a good few horror flicks under their belts and a Painkiller Jane movie in the works, I reckon they're gonna be making some interesting shit in the future.
Don't be misled by the corny title and trailer: this movie is sheer fucking genius. Saying anything more than that would ruin it, however. Just, seriously. Fucking watch it, then let me know when you have so we can enthuse about how fucking great it is.
ORIGINAL AND BEST. ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES (especially ones starring Vince-fucking-Vaughn of all people).
Cos I mean, Stanley Kubrick needed to be on this list somewhere. Claustrophobic, increasingly disturbing and with Jack Nicholson doing what Jack Nicholson does best (ie. playing a fucking lunatic), this here is a modern horror masterpiece.
You cheeky scrublords can keep your Walking Dead malarkey. This right here is a proper zombie story. If you want to see where the genre really came into its own, look no further than the second (and best) entry to George Romero's 'The Dead' series.
And finally...
...we're talking great horror movies and no-one has mentioned Ridley Scott's absolute classic?
You all keep finding new and fascinating ways to disappoint me, you really do.
Night is a damn great film. Proper subversive too, given who the main character turns out to be and then combined with the era it was shot in. But you can really trace the modern zombie movie to Dawn Of The Dead more than any of the other two (and I guess Romero's slightly more disappointing recent entries).
Lemme gather my thoughts and I can throw up some suggestions for horror films from Asia. Those guys know how to do horror a hell of a lot better than most western film-makers, you ask me.