From serial killers to supernatural monsters, horror movies are typically not easy on the eyes, but that doesn't necessarily mean they can't be visually enjoyable. Ever since the genre emerged, horror movies were some of the most visually stunning, as they often heavily rely on editing and camerawork to reach its intent. The 20th century gave us masterpieces, such as Suspiria (1977), The Shining (1980), and Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979). The 21st century is equally teeming with horror gems that are a real painful pleasure to watch.
The intensity of colors, brightness or darkness, set designs, and cinematography all play a major part in how we respond to what is happening on the big screen. It's these elements that are crucial to horror movies. Based on how they are filmed, they will either be raved about for decades or will instantly be disregarded as a flop.
Trouble Every Day (2001)
The controversial Trouble Every Day follows a scientist. Shane Brown, and his wife to a honeymoon in Paris - or so it seems. Mr. Brown is actually in to find Dr. Léo Sémeneau and his wife Coré who is unwell, to say the least. Léo keeps her locked up and every time she escapes, she goes out seducing and murdering men.
This divisive movie leaves nothing to the imagination. There is a whole lot of violence, namely biting and scratching. It might not sound like a lot to digest, but it is.
Hereditary (2018)
Annie is a middle-aged mother of two whose secretive mother just died, and as it later turns out, was involved in a Satanic cult. As is typical for Ari Astor's movies, Hereditary doesn't resort to jump scares. It's a slow-burn of a movie and it makes one feel very uncomfortable. It deals with family relations, which makes the experience even more personal and emotional.
Those who pay close attention will notice that the ending is foreshadowed throughout the entire movie. The true beauty (and horror) of Hereditary lies in how the story slowly unfolds rather than what the story is.
It Follows (2015)
It Follows introduced one of the weirdest curses ever in the history of horror: the only way to it on is to have sex with somebody. Afterward, the mysterious shape-shifting entity follows the new victim. It is eerily slow and unstoppable. The characters in the movie decide to put an end to the curse and confront it. How hard can it be since it moves so slowly? The premise might be ridiculous and so is the screenplay at times, but the movie is shot in a creative, visually intriguing way.
It's the way the embodied curse slowly creeps towards the camera that stands out the most. The plot most likely won't give you nightmares, but thanks to the unsettling cinematography, it will leave an uncomfortable feeling seething in your guts for quite a while.
Goodnight Mommy (2015)
Inseparable twins welcome their mom back home after reconstructive surgery. Since she is wrapped in bandages, it takes the boys a while to notice that something is afoot. Is the person who came home really their mommy or a complete stranger? She used to be kind and loving, but she turned cold.
The atmosphere is just as unfriendly as the mother from the very beginning. The twins are also creepy. They play in unsettling ways and spend time in graveyards and old bunkers. They are by no means helpless victims here: what kind of a child would put a cockroach on his visibly disturbed mother?
A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014)
Even the biggest vampire movie fans often overlook A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, a black-and-white feminist western with a young Iranian vampire girl as the main protagonist. It's not as scary as other movies on the list: you might find it incredibly entertaining. It is shot like a beautiful, evasive, and creepy dream.
Not only is it pleasant to watch, the score beautifully accompanies the story. As always, the director Ana Lily Amirpour carefully selected the soundtrack to add to the overall atmosphere of this cool black-and-white delight.
The Orphanage (2007)
J. A. Bayona's first movie, The Orphanage, is a story about Laura, a woman who comes back to her old orphanage with her 7-year-old son and husband to re-open it as a facility for disabled children. The little boy tells his mother that he befriended a boy named Tomas and draws a child with a sack over his head. And creepy ghost children with sacks on their heads typically mean no good news.
The Orphanage opened at Cannes in 2007 and received a 10-minute standing ovation. The director was assisted by Guillermo del Toro, the genius behind some of the most famous visually striking movies.
Antichrist (2009)
Lars Von Trier's horror movies typically involve undertones of psychological thrillers, and so does the visually disturbing Antichrist. An unnamed couple who is mourning their son's tragic death goes to a cabin in the woods to recover. He is a psychiatrist, trying to get her to face her grief and fears. In the aftermath of her son's death, she was hospitalized.
As expected, the retreat doesn't go as planned. To say that she becomes violent is a serious understatement. A major theme that brought Lars Von Trier some controversy is the theme of women: was the wife born evil or is she just severely misunderstood? Be that as it may, but she definitely loves perpetuating sexual violence as well as being on the receiving end of it.
A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
Good luck trying to watch A Tale Of Two Sisters without looking away or covering your face with hands. This masterpiece was the first Korean movie that was screened in the States and it remains one of the greatest Asian horror movies. It's about two sisters - the older one just got released from a mental institution and feels very protective of her younger sister - whose father re-married, so they now have to deal with a cold stepmother. Their mother died and is haunting the house where they all live.
If you (dare to) watch closely, you will pick up on visual hints that foreshadow what happens in the end when all the dots beautifully connect. The journey will definitely send chills down your spine on several occasions.
Let the Right One In (2008)
Romance and horror mix in this Swedish vampire movie, one of the best from Scandinavia. Let The Right One In is a story about an unlikely friendship by a bullied, shy boy Oskar and his new neighbor Eli, a curiously pale girl who just moved in with an older man. It received numerous accolades, honoring both the cast as well as the director Thomas Alfredson.
Even though it's a vampire movie, the fact is merely implied. The cinematography is bleak, cold, realistic: as is the world of the two lonely main protagonists.
Midsommar (2019)
One of the most unforgettable Midsommar is a must-watch not only because of its compelling occult plot but because of its outstanding cinematography. The bright, vivid colors and idyllic setting makes one think they are watching a fairy tale, but the tale just keeps getting darker and darker. The premise is pretty straight-forward: five outsiders their Swedish friend to visit a folklore festival of the Harga, a secluded community.
At several points in the movie, the main characters (as well as the rest of the Harga) take psychedelic substances. As their visual field starts warping, so does the camera, taking the viewer on a trip right with them. At other times, it's unsettling in its realism. Want to see what happens when a person jumps to his death from a cliff close up? Go watch Midsommar.
