Horror movies come out every year. Their concepts are often overdone and so each movie can seem just like the last. Check out these three movies that are ahead of the game.
1. Hush
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This movie features leading lady Kate Siegel playing deaf writer Maddie who lives alone in the country. When an odd stranger appears outside her house, Maddie has to use what she knows to out-smart her stalker. While "lone woman trapped in house by deranged man" movies aren't all that rare, this movie's excellent treatment and characterization of Maddie portrays her not as a "helpless deaf person," but rather a cunning and independent woman who doesn't need to be able to hear her stalker to beat him at his own game.
2. The Babadook
The Babadook's main characters, Amelia and her son Samuel (played by Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman), struggle with the crushing emotional difficulty of having lost a loved one. This movie is a stellar piece about guilt and the effect it can have on relationships, particularly in regards to single parents and their children. While the movie does not explicitly mention it, I also find Samuel to be a good representation of an autistic child in media, showing the loving yet often stressful relationship between Samuel and his mother.
3. 13 Sins
13 Sins is one of my favorite movies, and for good reason. This movie features Mark Webber as Elliot Brindle, a down-on-his-luck guy who's struggling to provide financially for his family. When he gets a call on a cell phone that isn't his, Brindle is invited to play a sick game that could save him from financial ruin. The movie is interesting and very well thought-out emotionally, and it also features an autistic adult character, Michael (played by Devon Graye), who is treated very realistically as an adult who can make his own decisions. Horror movies aren't exactly known for their respectful treatment of autistic persons, so this movie stands out in its realistic character design, as well as for the unique (if twisted) challenges that Brindle faces.
