Hannibal (2001)

Hannibal is the amazing sequel to Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs, where Dr Hannibal Lectre (Anthony Hopkins) finds himself on the run from the FBI and an ex patient/victim of his, who is seeking his revenge for the disfigurement he suffered at the hands of Dr Lectre. Anthony Hopkins gives another incredible performance the a psychopathic but genius Dr Lectre who loves nothing more than to eat people. We all thought that no one could replace the performance of Jodie Foster in Silence of the Lambs, but casting directors certainly did well in choosing Julianne Moore who not only looks like her but also keeps the consistency and brillancy of, FBI Agent, Clarice Starling's character. As part of the Hannibal quadrilogy it has to be tense, gruesome and clever, and Hannibal certainly fulfills this criteria! Personally, I find the crazed disfigured pervert the most frightening - he definitely gets you on Hannibal's side! Gripping and disturbing - a must-see through and through!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHQSViS4uBs

The Grudge 2 (2006)

Just as, if not more, frightening then the first, The Grudge 2 is another good effort to make you shit yourself. This film sees the spread of the curse amongst different people who have come into contact with the house, one of them being Michelle Gellar's sister who tries to put a stop to it. Does she succeed? Let's face it, it's the grudge - so probably not! You see plenty more of the creepy girl and her son and, just like the first, there's many more jumpy and tense scenes which make you want to scream 'AAAAAAHHHHH SHE'S COMING!!'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fsOsguf0iA



The only annoyance that I would say with The Grudge films, is that when 'she' is coming, you really just want someone to kick her in the face. But I guess she is pretty fucking scary, and I don't really think I'd want my foot touching her.

I also don't advise watching The Grudge 3 as it really lets down the first two films. The scary girl is played by someone different and her makeup is done differently, so it feels really inconsistent, and it's just generally not as scary. Probably down to the fact that someone different directed it other than Takashi Shimizu.

The Grudge (2004)

Now this is one I can't watch alone! A young girl (Sarah Michelle Gellar) working as a carer at an agency in Japan goes to a house to take care of a demented, but harmless old woman. As the story goes on we find out that the house is cursed, with everyone who comes into contact with it dying at the hands of a creepy japanese duo; a girl and her young son. This film is ridiculously jumpy throughout. Even at times when you don't think anything is going to happen, it does! You're not even safe in bed! The worst has got to be the crippled crawl of the girl - I actually cannot watch it in my room alone and expect to sleep. I can promise you, once you watch this you will never ever forget the noise of the grudge! A 100% creep-fest!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMpg6BdHrkI

I might add that this is the English version of The Grudge. The Japanese verison, Ju-on, is pretty good too, I just find it difficult to watch a horror film with subtitles!

Gothika (2003)

Gothika is a good watch if the whole 'ghost' deal freaks you out. A doctor (Halle Berry) at a mental institution crashes her car on the way home from work trying to swerve to avoid a young girl standing in the middle of the road. When she wakes up she finds that she is a patient in the institution where she worked, accused of murdering her husband. Throughout the film she is haunted by the eerie ghost girl, who seems to want to communicate with her. Plenty of jumpy and tense moments lead up to the final disturbing twist. This is one to see if you enjoy good spooky storylines over gruesomeness!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0e8SfWvXdM

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

Like vampires? George Clooney? Quentin Tarantino? Gore? Comedy? Action? This most certainly has it all! A father, daughter and son are held hostage by two fugitive brothers (Clooney & Tarantino) who force the family to smuggle them into Mexico. They stop off at a seedy biker/stripper bar in the middle of nowhere, where the blood-thirsty action begins! The second half of the film is a surprising and exciting turn from the first half when you're following the fugitives risky getaway. If you want to laugh and scream at the same time, this is the horror flick to see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bBay_1dKK8

Friday 13th (1980)

Another 'must see' movie for horror buffs. Friday 13th is a typical crazed serial killer film with plenty of gore (for the 1980s). A group of new camp counsellors arrive at Camp Crystal Lake when it is re-opened after being closed down because a boy, named Jason Voorhees, drowned in the water many years before. Jason comes back to seek his revenge against the counsellors that neglected him so long ago with the help of an ice-hockey mask and a machete. The scariest part has to be 'the mother' - but you'll know what I mean when you see it. Worth checking out: a horror classic, and a fairly easy idea for a halloween costume.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCxuownGif0

The Exorcist (1973)

I'd be very surprised if you hadn't heard of this film. It's surprising how many people haven't actually seen it - except for famous bits like the 'crawling down the stairs'. Basically, a girl plays around with a ouija board a bit and subsequently becomes possessed by the devil. The story follows her mother's struggle to get her little girl back to normal. Parts of this film would be considered sick and extremely disturbing, even by todays standards, leaving you in no doubt of why it was banned. The track 'Tubular Bells' by Michael Oldfield is an eerie tune that will send tingles down your spine every time you hear it after seeing this. A classic king of horror - if you're a horror buff it's mandatory that you see it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZNSPUkPb4w&NR=1

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

The fact that this film is based upon a true story is what makes it terrifying. The film is presented via the court case that took place investigating the cause of Emily's death. Her priest was accused of neglect, while he claimed she had been possessed by demons. More realistic than 'The Exorcist', the way Emily moves, acts and speaks when she is possessed is extremely disturbing. If possession is one of your fears, you'll definitely credit this as a horror. You can also listen to real recordings of the exorcism on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0I3SAizRbk

Eden Lake (2009)

This has to be up there with my favourite films of all time. More of a gruesome thriller than a horror, a couple go camping and are terrorised by a gang of teen yobs from the nearby town. Scenes of torture are incredibly disturbing. What makes this film so frightening is that things like this have actually happened; for example the James Bulger case and the more recent Doncaster attacks. Reports in recent years about the growing yob culture further fuel the fear created by this film. The gang of youths have a very believeable group dynamic and the ending is both brilliant and terrible - undoubtedly a MUST SEE film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6j3K4MmOKs

Don't Say a Word (2001)

Not so much a horror film as a thriller, but still disturbing in parts. A psychiatrist's (Michael Douglas) daughter is kidnapped by a group of men (Sean Bean) who threaten to kill her unless he can get a disturbed mental patient to tell him a number that only she knows. Parts in the mental hospital are slightly disturbing, and Sean Bean gives an excellent performance as the ruthless 'bad guy'. A good crime-thriller through and through.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV-eFMgSOAw

Dog Soldiers (2002)

This one is definitely for the lads! A team of soldiers go into the British countryside for training when some of their team become horrifically injured, and they don't need to be told that something isn't quite right. They soon find themselves on a wild-dog chase where they're fighting for their lives, using all the skills their short military careers have taught them. Pretty gory in parts and riddled with lad/football humour without becoming a 'comedy'. It's brilliant!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_0Ej5N-hFQ

The Devil's Rejects (2005)

This is another one of Rob Zombie's masterpieces, and sequel to the cult film 'House of 1000 Corpses'. It's just as good as the first film and continues the story of a hick family who enjoy torturing and killing innocent people. If you liked the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, you'll like this film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSOm_okHzgY

The Dentist (1996)

Did you used to be scared of going to get your teeth checked? Terrified of fillings? Even if you aren't, this film is truly cringing and it's extremely difficult to watch it all with open eyes. A successful dentist goes nuts after he catches his wife having an affair with the pool man. He goes on a rampage destroying the mouths of his patients. The torture can't be described as anything other than horrific - a good one if you like gore!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc5q4mnqIJw

The Descent (2005)

The Descent is generally rated highly as a horror film. Particularly amongst those who are claustrophobic, like a chase and like hot girls. A group of extreme-sport girls go caving to find they're not alone. They're hunted by a pack of feral inhabitants, who have adapted to the darkness of the caves. The suspense 'makes it'. The only thing I would say, is that it takes a while for anything to happen - but arguably the dramatic change in atmosphere adds to the impact of the 'scary' bits. Although I haven't seen it, I have heard good things about 'The Descent 2' - so that may be one to look out for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5I1q4KhKNU

Creep (2004)

Creep is creepy. Set in the London Underground, a young woman gets locked in when the station she is at closes, and becomes hunted by an ugly, deformed, gollum-like creature - and you get to see plenty of him. He's twisted and animalistic, and parts of the film are extremely disturbing and gorey. There are some tortuous of this film that are unforgettable and difficult to watch - and if you take a look you'll see why.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZUzM_p6a1k

The Crazies (2010)

This is a good 'horror' film if you don't like mentally ill people. Personally, they scare the crap out of me. A small town gets 'infected' with crazy people - some are harmless, some are in for the kill. The victims suffer enemies from both sides - the 'crazies' and the forces trying to keep the infection in quarantine. Generally a good horror film, with lots of suspense, but I feel a better job could have been done with the 'crazies'; they could have been weirder. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvB_9LiIIno&feature=channel

The Children (2008)

Kids can be sadistic little buggers, and they more than live up to their name in this film. Two families meet up to spend Christmas together, when the children start acting strangely. It turns into an ugly round of adults vs. kids as the latter try to murder the former. Throughout the whole film you're shouting 'Just kick the little fuckers in the face!' A 'grrrr' kind of film because you feel the adults should be able to lay the fuck into the little shits, but the suspense is pretty good throughout! Personally, I believe it's the parents own fault for disciplining them with 'time-out' rather than giving them a good clip around the ear! :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOrcIyvW5Rk

Beetlejuice (1988)

I would not, and neither would most, call this a horror film as such; it's more a dark, comic, typical Tim Burton film with eerie elements to it. However, I would say it is a truly brilliant creation - I've been watching it since I was a kid. A couple, who die in a car crash, attempt to scare off the people occupying their house with the help of another ghost, Beetlejuice, who claims to be able to 'exorcise' the living. This film gives a funny but dark take on what happens when we die - and Alec Baldwin looks young and thin! It's won an oscar and a load of other awards so I guess it's not just me that thinks it's awesome!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FmiA7gGnvY

Arachnophobia (1990)

In short - if you're scared of spiders this is DEFINITELY the film for you. A small town becomes infested with poisonous spiders and Jeff Daniels takes them awn!! The uncontrollable and dangerous infestation reminds you a lot of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds; they're inescapable and hell-bent on biting you. Very intense and jumpy - the trailer makes this film seem far tamer than it actually is - particularly if you're arachnophobic!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aQ6vg3JB2U

30 Days of Night (2007)

It's been a while since we've seen a GOOD vampire film - none of that Twilight sparkley shit. This one is particularly good in the way the vampires are portrayed - pretty fucking ugly with decaying teeth and nails, and creepy eyes. Nothing like Interview with a Vampire where you wouldn't mind Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise having a nibble! A pack of them descend upon a town in the arctic circle, where once a year there is 30 days of darkness, allowing them to raid the town to quench their blood-thirst. Survivors, including Josh Hartnett, attempt to hide throughout the month until the sun comes up, giving you survival-suspense seekers a thrill. Moderately gruesome and jumpy; it's worth a watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdvv4bbNFgM&feature=related

28 Weeks Later (2007)

The successor to '28 Days Later'; if you liked the first one you'll most definitely like this! The 'infected' are back in abundance and gruesomeness. Britain has been quarantined from the first outbreak and they start to release people slowly back into the community until, inevitably, a relapse occurs. Robert Carlyle gives a brilliant performance as usual. It's as if the first film was discovered as a hit and they then decided to invest a bitta dosh into it and get some good actors and more gore! I preferred this one to the first. The ending makes you think 'aaaahhh for fucks sake!' and leaves way for a sequel, which I believe is being released in 2010 - '28 months later'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj4O8StY4eE

28 Days Later (2002)

More of a 'disease'/'infection' film than a zombie film. The infection spreads throughout the UK and makes the victims violent, rapid and animalistic. This is a great film, especially if you like a survival/chase story line, and the idea that an infection of this kind could happen. The music associated with this film, 'In the House - In a Heartbeat' by John Murphy, is an awesome track in itself and relates well to the devastation and violence in the film. The only fault, which is rectified by its successor, is that you don't see as much of the 'infected' as you might like (the camera is very much used to encourage the audience to empathise with the victims by running away and not showing much of the 'infected')- although what you do see is pretty terrifying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBZnuUZIbBQ