The list…
Comedic Horror Films:
Thinner (I watched this movie as a kid and was morbidly engrossed. The concept fascinated me and it is still a favorite of mine.)
Happy Death Day (I thought this series would be lame, but when I finally watched it, I loved it!)
Zombieland (This is one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen.)
Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (Duh.)
Drag Me To Hell (This movies is so wonderful. It’s an awesome depiction of poetic justice.)
The Cabin in the Woods (This movie was fun for me. I felt like there was some room for debate on which characters fit into the roles provided in the film. I liked the concept of leaving that open so that we can form our own opinion.)
Trick ‘r Treat (This was my favorite scary movie of all time for so long. As a kid it scared me, but it also impressed me and kept me interested. Today I think it’s one of the most interesting concepts I’ve seen in horror.)
Slasher Films:
Scream (My absolute favorite franchise ever! I love the characters and the mockery of it’s own genre. This movie is full of plot twists and irony. I fell like it captures the senselessness of murder and mania. It just makes it even better that this movie is so self-aware. The sequels are great, but Scream 2 is just depressing.)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (As someone who struggled with sleep and insomnia, this franchise hit home for me. I really loved the concept, and I grew to love the series even more when we learned the backstory for Freddy.)
Halloween (A lot of people like to pick and choose which Halloween movies they like. Obviously, some are better than others, but I love them all. To me, Halloween is just a classic, and while the writing can be sub-par, you always know what to expect from Michael, regardless of who is wearing the mask.)
I Know What You Did Last Summer (Another classic, I really loved this one for sentimental reasons. Sarah Michelle Geller and Freddie Prinze Jr. will always be part of Mystery Inc. in my eyes.)
Wrong Turn (Growing up in rural areas made me understand the fear of this franchise. What could happen and who could be waiting down the wrong path out in the middle of nowhere. That has always been a scary concept to me.)
The Purge (This franchise had to grow on me a bit. I wasn’t a fan initially, until I really saw the message in the movies. I grew to love them and enjoy them for the surface level horror, a well as the political ideas behind them.)
Paranormal/Supernatural:
THIR13EN GHOSTS (This is my favorite standalone horror film (it also helps that another member of the mystery gang is in this one). The idea of people harnessing supernatural energy was very cool to me. I loved the plot twists and real sacrifice that we saw watching this movie. There aren’t many really great movies in this genre that focus on family, so this one is special.)
The Haunting (This movie got across some pretty cool ideas and scares while remaining largely light and upbeat. I love the cast and the fact that you can see the literary influences.)
The Others (This movie is one of the first plot-twist-endings I remember seeing. You should watch it.)
Doctor Sleep (All I can say is, “Wow.” I was blown away by this movie. I absolutely loved the way they presented the story and the concepts. It is beautifully done.)
The Shining (Another classic, this movie really borders on psychological for me. I love the exploration into the effects of addiction. It’s an amazing movie if you are looking for something full of jump-scares, but it’s also equally great as an allegorical movie.)
1408 (This movie was trippy. It kind of blew my mind).
The Grudge (I watched these movies as a child and I have always been a fan. The real concept of how trauma can linger in a physical space really captured me. As an added bonus, the characters are creepy as heck.)
Pet Cemetery (This movie is such an amazing depiction of grief and what that can do to a person. It is such a heartbreaking story, but it is so valuable. I loved both the original and the remake.)
Case 39 (This movie will scare anyone.)
The Sixth Sense (Another classic with another twist ending. If you haven’t already seen it, what are you doing with your life?)
The Skeleton Key (So, this movie is a really compelling concept. The cast is so amazing, and the story falls together perfectly. You have to check it out.)
Underworld (I used to go to work with my dad after he picked me up from school, and I would hang out and watch these movies.)
Amityville (I really enjoyed the remake of this movie. I’ve done some research into the story that has inspired these movies, but I appreciate how the films deviate from the supposed “true accounts.”)
A Haunting in Connecticut (This movie is terrifying. It is one of the few movies that has genuinely made me uncomfortable and given me a somewhat lasting sense of fear.)
House on Haunted Hill (The concept is beautiful. Watch the 1959 version with Vincent Price. It is basically the Clue of the horror genre.)
Psychological:
It (The exploration of childhood trauma in this book and film is so unique. I really love the allegorical side of this story.)
Se7en (This movie shocked me. I loved the concept and the ending really stays with you. Fun fact: The producers wanted to alter the ending of the film, but Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt said that they would refuse to promote the movie if the ending was changed.)
Silence of the Lambs (Another classic. If psychology or criminology is of any interest to you you’ve probably already seen it.)
Us (I was blown away by this film. I made sure to see it in theaters and I was not disappointed. I love the references and real-world application of everything in this film. The way that so much of the message in the movie manages to come into the spotlight is awesome!)
Rear Window (I loved this concept ever since I first watched the film. It felt like something that could really happen to anyone. I think that is really unique.)
The Orphan (I will never forget this movie. It is so freaking creepy.)
Survival:
28 Days Later (This is my favorite zombie movie ever. I am so picky about how zombies are portrayed. I am really drawn to the rules in horror, and I feel like this movie does well to stick to that.)
Saw (These movies, mainly Saw II - Saw IV, were the first movies (of any genre) that I remember being emotionally invested in. The storyline revolving around Donnie Wahlberg’s character and his son really caught my interest, and I rstill like the franchise even though they gave that storyline a lazy ending… Maybe it was a “realistic” ending. The point is I didn’t like how that plot ended, but that’s just me.)
Final Destination (This movies makes me paranoid on escalators. To this day whenever I step onto one, I hear and see the consequences of that replayed in my head. Aside form that, however, this is one of my all time favorite franchises. The topic of fate vs. free will, will always hold my attention.)
Resident Evil (This movies is just so kick-butt. The whole franchise is. 10/10.)
Frozen (Not the Disney movie. This movie is all about the reasons that I will never go skiing.)
The Descent (I love this movie. The series (foreign and domestic) is amazing. I felt like I was really on the edge of my seat while watching these.)