Horror movies have been deeply rooted in our culture and have been celebrated throughout the years. On Halloween, one source of fear has been lacking in recent years, and that source is none other than the movies meant to strike fear into our hearts. It hasn’t always been like that, though. Here are RoundUp’s suggestions for what frights to see this year.
2000s: The Strangers (2008)
The Strangers is a movie that asks the question: “What if your paranoia was not just paranoia?” It’s a classic horror movie that takes a more grounded approach to horror, displaying a couple staying in a summer home, which is broken into by murderous home invaders who take delight in tormenting them. Together, the two couples must utilize every resource at their disposal to try to survive against the torment that the three invaders have set for them. The Strangers effectively utilizes multiple horror elements in a single scene. The film uses some of the scariest soundtracks I’ve ever heard in a movie, and combined with the element of slow, dreadful horror, it is a must-watch and is surprisingly underrated when it comes to horror movies from the 2000s.
2010s: Sinister (2012)
Sinister is a fantastic horror movie that blends slow-burning horror with the terrifying use of VHS tapes and a truly horrific, scary villain. Critics and fans alike herald it as one of the scariest horror films of all time. Sinister is about a bestselling author who hasn’t found success in a very long time, so he decides to move into a new home, which holds dark secrets. He finds a VHS tape that contains the murders of families who had previously lived at the house, and he begins to realize that he may be the next target. Sinister does a great job of slowly easing the viewer into the movie’s scary elements, utilizing unusual things that disappear quickly, all the way to full-on jump scares and grim scenes. Sinister is one of the best horror films to watch, and it is a must-see for all lovers of the genre..
2020s: Longlegs (2024)
Longlegs is a highly underrated film. Many people who watch horror movies like to pass Longlegs up, but I highly recommend it. The film is about an FBI director who is looking
into a string of family murders and has centered it around one disturbing individual: Longlegs. The film uses a perfect blend of paranoia and disturbing situations, culminating in a masterpiece of horror and a truly haunting piece of cinema that will haunt viewers after they watch it. The strongest tool that the movie utilizes is the very powerful acting of Nicholas Cage, his portrayal of the very disturbing Longlegs, and how truly disturbed an individual he is. The acting and the surprisingly good cinematography of the film. The cinematography is surprisingly very well, showing a truly dark and depressing atmosphere to better portray the movie well. Overall, Longlegs is a film that will keep you disturbed for an entire week, which is how you can tell it’s a great horror film.
