A common criticism of horror movies is that they are predictable and formulaic. This is very fair criticism as for the most part, horror movies usually follow a set arc depending on their sub-genre. For example, let’s look at the standard slasher movie. There’s a group of teenagers (each of them attached to a different character cliché) and for whatever reason there’s also a killer. One by one everyone dies, until only the sweet virtuous brunette is left. She fights the killer and stabs him and/or pushes him out a window but, plot twist, she only thinks she killed him. Cue sequel!
If you’re looking for something a little different for Halloween then one of these newer movies might be for you. Bonus: Several of them are on Netflix instant!
1. Hush
(On Netflix Instant)
Hush falls under the subgenre of home invasion. A woman who lives by herself must fight for her life against a deranged maniac who is trying to break into her home and murder her. The twist? The protagonist is deaf. It switches up the standard story by making her much more vulnerable, but it also makes her more resourceful and calculating than the standard horror protagonist. She's at a disadvantage, but she manages to be significantly braver and more clever than the standard home invasion horror victim. I recommend Hush to anyone who has ever been frustrated with the stupid decisions a horror movie protagonist has made.
2. Don’t Breathe
Don't Breathe technically also falls under the home invasion subgenre, but it completely turns the genre on its head. A group of amateur burglars break into the home of a wealthy blind veteran. Soon, they find themselves running for their lives when the blind man discovers he's not alone and resolves to fight to defend his home. It's a very different horror movie than anything I've ever seen because you're never quite sure who to root for. The protagonists did set out to rob a blind veteran so I couldn't root for them, but I didn't want to see the blind man brutally murder them either. This movie created almost unbearable tension with its many scenes of the protagonists standing completely still and silent while the antagonist felt his way around the room searching for them. If you don't mind not having a true good guy to root for, I recommend Don't Breathe for its unique storyline and high tension scares.
3. It Follows
It Follows absolutely stole my heart. This movie takes the famous "Having sex in a horror movie is a death sentence" trope and runs with it in a creative and self-aware way. After sleeping with her new boyfriend for the first time, the protagonist of It Follows finds herself stalked by a supernatural entity. Yup, it's a supernatural, deadly STD. The great thing about It Follows is just how creative the "It" is. There's never been an antagonist like "It" in a horror movie before. "Its" MO and approach is something completely new to the genre, and I love that the writers never try to delve into why exactly "It" exists. "It" just does, and you should be very afraid. I highly recommend this movie to college students especially, because the protagonists are college students too!
4. Starry Eyes
(On Netflix Instant)
Starry Eyes is the story of a quiet, introverted young actress whose ambition leads her to a run in with a powerful production company that is definitely a cult. Starry Eyes is a psychological horror movie that made me feel like I needed a shower when I was done with it. Starry Eyes is brutal to its innocent protagonist, and it is definitely the hardest to watch out of all of the movies on the list. I was absolutely horrified by the events of this movie and deeply impressed by the way Starry Eyes so expertly manipulated my preconceived ideas of how the "Virtuous young woman" character should be treated. If you're looking for something to disturb you and make you feel sick to your stomach, I recommend Starry Eyes.
5. You’re Next
(On Netflix Instant)
The only true slasher film on this list, "You're Next" tells the tale of an upper-class family who reunites for dinner to celebrate an anniversary. Of course, during this get-together people start dying violent deaths, and the family realizes they are under attack by a group of masked killers. Here's the fun part. Erin, the plus one of one of the sons of the family, was raised in the Australian Outback by a doomsday prepper. She fights back with traps and a strong survival instinct, and by the end of the ordeal, the killers are more afraid of her than she is of them. It's as awesome as it sounds. Recommended for those who want some girl power with their gore.
6. Pontypool
(On Netflix Instant)
The town of Pontypool becomes infected with a deadly virus that is spread through speech. No, not by being close to someone who's infected, by the words themselves. For some reason, hearing certain words turns people into rage-blind monsters, and the protagonist is stuck in a tiny radio booth while this is all going on. Make no mistake, "Pontypool" isn't a zombie movie. All the mad, crazed creatures are 100 percent human, which I personally believe makes them more frightening. All that needs to happen in order to turn a regular person into a mindless killer is them hearing the wrong word. I recommend "Pontypool" to anyone who is looking for a fresh take on rage virus horror flicks.
If you're a jaded horror fan, hopefully, one of my recommendations reinvigorates your interest in the genre! Happy Halloween, and stay spooky!
