I am someone who says they hate horror yet all my favourite films are horror films. This is because I have a very specific type of film I love. I don’t particularly like to be scared, I don’t like harrowing gloomy horror, I don’t like jump scares. i dont like extreme violence (when it’s realistic, I don’t mind silly gore). I have no interest in watching kids get their heads smashed in or whatever. I LOVE a good concept, I love highly stylish and stylised films, good set design and costumes. I love when things just feel a bit like…weird and off centre? With that in mind here are a few of my favourite films (they’re all horror but they’re also just the best films). I’ve also attached a link to my list on letterboxd, it’s not just horror but like all films that to me feel like high concept weirdness? It’s a vibe thing šŸ¤·šŸ»ā€ā™€ļø Sci-fi horror: Annihilation Donnie Darko Under the Skin The Substance (i am partial to a silly body horror) A Cure for Wellness (this one also fits under Gothic Horror too) Get Out (also has moments of horror comedy) Horror comedy: Jennifer’s Body (probably my all time favourite film) what we do in the Shadows The Love Witch Cabin in the Woods Fresh Gothic Horror: Bones and All Byzantium Crimson Peak Only Lovers Left Alive (I would argue this isnt even a horror at all but its a vampire film so I guess it counts) Then these are a few others that still (to me) have the same vibe but I can’t categorise them as easily: Shirley (possibly gothic?) The green knight (isn’t quite a horror but has horror elements) Promising young Woman (has horror comedy elements but is also just far too painful to be a comedy) Nightmare Alley (also probably gothic?) Horse Girl (quite similar to Donnie Darko imo, but plays more on the insanity route to be called a sci-fi) Parasite (this is called a comedy but like…is it really?!) Saltburn (also kind of gothic kind of comedy) Two honorary mentions I will say that might deviate a little is It Follows (which does have some jump scares and is genuinely terrifying but is high concept and weird vibey enough for me to love it) and Midsommar (which has a lot more intense violence than I usually enjoy but is again great concept and isn’t dark and jumpy).
recommendation image
Oct 28, 2024

Comments (0)

Make an account to reply.
No comments yet

Related Recs

šŸŽƒ
Honestly I could go on forever but these are the first ones I could think of… a related post should display below this one with some of my other horror recommendations * Ernest Scared Stupid… very goofy. you can actually watch it in its entirety on YouTube… Eartha Kitt is in it… * Scooby Doo and the Witch’s Ghost; Scooby Doo on Zombie Island; Scooby Doo and the Ghoul School — i was obsessed with Scooby Doo as a kid and these still hold up… * Return to Oz — this movie is so fucked up and underrated. starring THORA BIRCH * The Craft; Ginger Snaps — obviously. Listing these together as they’re both angsty teen movies * American Mary — so iconic and very gory * The Autopsy of Jane Doe — so scary!!! * Red Rooms — creepiest movie I’ve seen all year but not in the way you might think… * Malignant — best movie * Suspiria remake and original — tbh i prefer the remake but the original is a vibe * Oddity — fun and atmospheric * Cure — meditative, deeply unsettling, even hypnotic one could say… * Sleepy Hollow — incredible gothic Halloween vibes * Strange Darling — FINALLY just released to streaming today I haven’t seen it but I’m including it on this list on a provisional basis because I’ve heard amazing things * The Others — Nicole Kidman spooky period ghost film šŸ˜ * Vampire’s Kiss — he’s a vampire!! * Resident Evil Village — not a movie but I know you play games and this one is so silly and fun * 🚨 UMM also the Silent Hill 2 remake is coming out next week 🚨
Oct 2, 2024
😱
I’m still watching them even tho October is over wtf??? I just can’t get enough. Recent greats include: Noroi: The Curse (2005) - Found footage… the climax is so good. Great for fans of ghost/demon stuff. Pulse (2001) - One of my favourite horror movies ever. Worms its way into your being. Some truly terrifying, iconic scenes and imagery, not to mention quite prescient in its message re: online connectivity and society. Really can’t sing its praises enough! Ju-On: The Grudge (2002) - A classic!!! Still hits. Quintessential haunted house domestic strife ghost story. Toshio šŸ˜¢šŸˆā€ā¬› Audition (1999) - Probably my least favourite of this batch. Not for the squeamish. Still worth a watch if only for its feminist social commentary. GonJiam: Haunted Asylum (2018) - OK this one is admittedly kinda hokey but it’s based off a REAL location and the jump scares are amazing!! Some truly spine-tingling moments. Not recommended just before bed lol 😬 (Also found footage)
Nov 22, 2024
🩸
which I had shared with friends last October and I thought I saved it somewhere in my Notes app but it’s lost in the ether :( I’m a huge horror fan and former obsessive. I’ll recommend just a few: Tod Browning’s Freaks (1932) — watched this on TCM the morning before my like tenth birthday party and it rocked my world forever… sad and disturbing The Others (2001) — gorgeous gothic atmospheric soooo creepy and Nicole Kidman is a vision Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992) — details the last days of a troubled beautiful teenage girl named Laura Palmer… heartbreaking examination of traumatic cycles and evil forces. I would recommend that you watch the show first though šŸ¤“ Barbarian (2022) — this goes against like everything you said you wanted but I have to put it on here because it’s so scary and expertly paced and filled me with dread but it’s also hilarious! It has to be my favorite recently released horror movie
Apr 24, 2024

Top Recs from @mouse

recommendation image
⛪
I am by no means traditionally religious, but I fully understand how being in the presence of beautiful stained glass can feel like being with god. ALWAYS stop off at a church on the way if you think it might have good stained glass. The bluebells in the bottom right corner of this made me loose my breath for a moment.
1d ago
recommendation image
🧺
No better high than this
Apr 14, 2025
recommendation image
šŸ’Œ
I used to be envious of people who had ā€œMySpace friendsā€ or ā€œtumblr friendsā€. Now I have PI.FYI friends. Thank you capyboppy for your lovely letter and this illustration of a capybara and a mouse with fruit on our heads, it made me weirdly emotional ā¤ļø
Jun 11, 2024