October is the designated spooky month of the year, and to prepare for Halloween, which is right around the corner, scary movies are a must. Here’s a list of six of the scariest films that will leave you wanting to sleep with the light on, brought to you by someone who is not easily scared. There are no spoilers in this list! So you can find out about the horrors for yourself.
1. Hereditary (2018)
Ari Aster’s first long film took the breath away from viewers, as well as their sleep for at least a night. The story follows the Graham family while they deal with the loss of a not so dear grandmother, whilst strange and disturbing occurrences haunt its members. It stars Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, and Gabriel Byrne. It’s available to stream on Amazon Prime, and you can watch the trailer here.
2. The Conjuring (2013)
The first part of The Conjuring Cinematic Universe, directed by James Wan, has become a modern classic, guaranteed to scare your socks off. Set in 1971, and based on real life events, the film tells the story of how Ed and Lorraine Warren, a couple of paranormal investigators, try to help the Perron family, which is terrorized by demonic forces. The movie has the participation of Vera Farmiga and Patrick Williams as the Warrens, with Lily Taylor and Ron Livingston as the heads of the Perron crew. You can stream it on Amazon Prime, and check out the trailer here.
3. The Platform (2019)
Originally named El Hoyo (The Hole), this Spanish film promises a horror experience like no other. Directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, the movie presents a vertical prison with one cell per floor, in a building with infinite levels, in which two people have to live in for a month. But there’s a catch: they have two minutes per day to eat what they can get, from a singular food platform. Tomorrow is not promised for the people who have to stay in The Hole. The film has the performances of Ivan Massagué, Zorion Eguileor, and Antonia San Juan. The Platform is a Netflix original, and you can watch the trailer here.
4. Us (2019)
After the success of his first film Get Out (2017), Jordan Peele brought Us into the movie theaters (figuratively and not), exposing a sinister new reality. The plot follows the Wilson family being terrorized by murderous strangers that wear their same faces, during what was supposed to be a relaxing summer vacation. The movie stars Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke, as well as Elizabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker. You can stream it on HBO Max, and can check out the trailer here.
5. Suspiria (2018)
Based on the 1977 classic with the same name, Suspiria presents a female centric horror initiative, capable of terrifying whoever watches it. Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the film introduces the story of Susie Bannon, an American ballerina that follows her dream of being part of a prestigious dance company in Germany, unaware of the darkness that resides in it. The Amazon original has the performances of Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Chloë Grace Moretz and Mia Goth. Watch the trailer here.
6. The Skin I Live In (2011)
Translated from its original name in spanish (La Piel Que Habito), this European film uses psychological terror as a weapon against the viewers. Directed by Pedro Almodóvar, the movie displays the story of scientist Dr. Robert Ledgard, who’s trying to create the most perfectly impenetrable synthethic skin, while using a mysterious young woman as his guinea pig. Starring Antonio Banderas and Elena Anaya, The Skin I Live In is a must watch. You can watch the movie on Netflix, and check its trailer here.
