Over the past few weeks here at Fangirlish we’ve been keeping it spooky. In preparation for Halloween, we have been giving you lists of some of our favorite scary/not so scary Halloween movies.
Me, I enjoy horror flicks, but I have a specific type. I like the kind that have a real plot behind them and that make you think. Over the past few years, I have seen my fair share of horror films that made me think, but I have also seen my fair share of horror films that left me asking: “what the hell did I just watch?”
That being said, here is my list of the twistiest horror films to check out this Halloween.
Homicidal (1961)
Synopsis: The brutal stabbing murder of a justice-of-the-peace sparks an investigation of dark family secrets in a sleepy small town in Southern California.
There are no words to describe how twisted this film is. I watched it last year with my mom, after she told me about it and all I can say is whoa. For a black and white film that was released in 1961, it was pretty scary. In fact, it was so scary for that time that there is actually a warning shown before the final scene. I was able to figure out the twist before it happened, which surprised my mom because the first time she watched it, she didn’t. I won’t say what it is because I highly recommend this one. It’s classic horror at its finest but without being cheesy.
Homicidal is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Synopsis: A boy who communicates with spirits seeks the help of a disheartened child psychologist.
I’m pretty sure by now almost everyone has seen The Sixth Sense but if you haven’t, I recommend giving it a go. By far one of my favorite twisty films and probably the first one I can recall watching. I have seen this M. Night Shyamalan film several times, but I still appreciate all the little hidden in plain sight clues leading up to the final twist at the end. Haley Joel Osment and Bruce Willis gave some very good performances in this film but I have to say one of the most incredible performances was Donnie Wahlberg, (Yes New Kids On The Block, Donnie Wahlberg) as Vincent Gray. He was totally unrecognizable and I did not realize it was him for years.
The Sixth Sense is available to stream on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Saw (2004)
Synopsis: Two strangers, who awaken in a room with no recollection of how they got there, soon discover they’re pawns in a deadly game perpetrated by a notorious serial killer.
Every single one of the Saw movies are twisted as hell, but I had to go with the first one because it’s where everything began. I’ll be honest, I was bored out of my mind when I watched this. I actually dozed off for a bit during the movie because let’s face it, watching two guys trapped inside of a locked room for 1hr and 43 minutes, is not that exciting. I will say this, I woke up right on time because the last few minutes of the film are the ultimate payoff.
Saw is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Hulu.
Orphan (2009)
Synopsis: A husband and wife who recently lost their baby adopt a 9 year-old girl who is not nearly as innocent as she claims to be.
Like the trailer says, “There’s something wrong with Esther.”
That is putting it mildly. Esther, played by Isabelle Fuhrman, has a pretty big secret. Now this is one twist I can say I did not figure out. It was totally unexpected. I won’t say more because spoilers but, WATCH IT!
Orphan is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
The Uninvited (2009)
Synopsis: Anna returns home after a stint in a mental hospital, but her recovery is jeopardized by her cruel stepmother and ghastly visions of her dead mother.
This is one of those movies that you re-watch to catch what you may have missed on the first go round. Anna, played by Emily Browning is still grieving the loss of her mother while adjusting to having a new stepmother played by Elizabeth Banks. Luckily, she has her older sister Alex (Arielle Kebbel) to get her through it all. Anna keeps having visions of her dead mother and she believes she is trying to warn her about her new stepmother and her motives. This film is not in your face horror, it’s more psychological. The twist is one you may or may not see coming.
The Uninvited is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Chain Letter (2010)
Synopsis: A maniac murders teens when they refuse to forward chain mail.
As if I didn’t hate chain letters enough already, someone decided to make a movie based on them and what happens when we break the chain by not forwarding it. Chain Letter is one of those indie horror flicks that don’t really end well for anyone involved. I don’t know what I was expecting when I watched this movie but the ending was definitely one I have never forgotten.
Chain Letter is available to stream on Tubi TV and Amazon Prime Video.
The Cabin In The Woods (2012)
Synopsis: Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin, where they get more than they bargained for, discovering the truth behind the cabin in the woods.
I am still mad at my sister for making me sit through this film. It was the biggest WTF did I just watch ever. I mean sure I enjoyed watching Chris Hemsworth and Jesse Williams because they are both hotties but geez, was this one a doozy. I can’t even begin to explain this one, all I know is that I will never go camping.
The Cabin In The Woods is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
What’s your favorite twisty horror film?
(All Synopsis are from IMDb.com)