11 Psychological Horror Movies
It seems that we like to submit to fear, as long as we are in a controlled situation, out of danger, where it is more of an adrenaline rush than terror itself. The cinema is a good way for this; thus, the horror cinema arises, which has many aspects. On the other hand, the truth is that horror films, despite its huge legion of followers, are not usually very well received by critics.
Today I will focus on its most psychological branch and will take a short journey through the history of cinema.
Early 20th century
Film pioneer George Méliès made the first horror film in history, Le manoir du diable (1896). From here, countless more titles would appear.
1. The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari (1920)
It is a German silent film, the pinnacle of German expressionism. For many, it is the first horror feature film and is currently considered a cult film. The film is inspired by several real cases of murder that occurred in Hamburg ; in the film, these murders will go hand in hand with a peculiar character and his strange slave. The decoration and the expressionist settings through which it moves us deserve special attention. Along the same lines, Germany left us other horror classics like M, the vampire from Düsseldorf (1931).
2. Freaks (1932)
American film set in a circus of freaks, people with malformations that, at the beginning of the 20th century, were exposed as attractions. The plot revolves around revenge and murder, the participation of actors who really suffered from these malformations deserves special mention.
In this period, the fascination for monsters led many directors to adapt literary works such as Frankenstein (1931) or Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) and praised actors such as Bela Lugosi in their portrayal of Dracula.
Second half of the 20th century
We are talking about a period of change. In the 60s, black and white predominated, psychological terror; from the 70’s, there will be a before and after in horror movies.
3. Psychosis (1960)
The 60s were marked by films where the supernatural barely existed, where the weight fell purely on the actors and, thus, we have titles like What became of Baby Jane? (1962) or The Birds (1963).
We couldn’t talk about horror movies without mentioning the great master Alfred Hitchcock and his film Psycho , hailed as one of the best horror movies of all time. The creepy Bates Motel, the shower scene, Norman Bates and his mysterious mother create an atmosphere worthy of the master of suspense. Psychological terror in its purest form, without the need for special effects or “tomato sauce”.
4. Rosemary’s baby (1968)
Starring a young Mia Farrow and directed by Roman Polanski, it is yet another example of how important it is to seduce our minds, to envelop ourselves in an atmosphere of agony and anguish every time we see Rosemary and her strange neighbors. The film, totally groundbreaking for its time, was shot in the Dakota Building, where John Lennon was assassinated and where Manson and his “family” tried to prevent filming shortly before the murder of Polanski’s wife. Without a doubt, a film shrouded in mystery that leaves us all speechless.
5. The Exorcist (1973)
Her rudimentary special effects, her green vomit and the scars that little Regan wore, make her a pioneer of her time. Currently, it seems that it causes us more laughter than fear, but it marked a before and after in horror movies ; it’s a classic that reinvented a genre.
6. The Shining (1980)
The 70s and 80s saw the flowering of science fiction that merged with terror, giving rise to films such as Alien, the eighth passenger (1979). There was also a furor for adapting Stephen King novels, well, we have Carrie (1976) and, of course, The Shining .
Who can forget the mythical Overlook Hotel, the winding road, or the ravings of Jack Torrance? Without a doubt, one of the greats of all time that came from the hand of a genius, Stanley Kubrick.
90s and 2000s
The abuse of special effects begins to wreak havoc on horror magic. Hundreds of films of a paranormal nature are produced, including sagas, but most of dubious quality and with little success among critics.
Era of remakes of Japanese films such as The Ring (2002), the gore with Saw (2004) and a long list of films of demonic children and ghosts. However, we can also rescue some films that appeal more to suspense and psychological.
7 . Misery (1990)
Claustrophobic, obsessive and tension-laden adaptation of a Stephen King play , it earned Kathy Bates her Oscar for best actress. The fascination for the novels of the famous writer Paul Sheldon lead nurse Annie Wilkes to obsession and, as a consequence, the kidnapping of the novelist. Without a doubt, a must-see of terror, where a disturbing Kathy Bates stands out.
The fascination for King continued and he gave us films like 1408 (2007), which is highly undervalued, but which recovers that psychological terror to which I appeal in this article; hypnotic and also claustrophobic, I think it also deserved its place. King does not go out of style, recently, the adaptation of It (2017) was released; personally, I’ll stick with the version starring Tim Curry in 1990.
8. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
How to forget Hannibal Lecter? A highly intelligent psychopath who is capable of manipulating whoever he wants. Anthony Hopkins dazzled with his performance, as did his partner Jodie Foster, so it is not surprising that both were awarded an Oscar. Unmissable thriller to investigate the minds of murderers and cannibalism.
9. The Others (2001)
A Spanish director, Alejandro Amenábar, and an outstanding Nicole Kidman gave us this jewel of 21st century suspense. In an old, mysterious mansion, isolated and shrouded in fog, very strange things happen, we could be before another movie of paranormal appearances, but this is not the case in The Others. The scares are suggested and the lack of light due to the photosensitivity of the children that inhabit the mansion provides us with a gloomy atmosphere where nothing is what it seems.
2010 – Present
The line of the previous period is followed, titles such as The Warren File (2013), Insidious (2010) or The Babadook (2014), and the Paranormal Activity films monopolize the lists of horror films of our era. Almost all of them have formed sagas that have a large audience.
Some of them have interesting proposals, but most fall into excess makeup, effects and easy scare. These are films that attract the attention of the public, but not the critics, and it is that, probably, we are facing a very forced terror that ends up tiring.
I have rescued two films of this era that, really, do not correspond to terror, but to suspense; but the psychological game they play is far more terrifying than any demonic possession.
10. Black Swan (2010)
Natalie Portman’s performance in a ballet setting, eating disorders, schizophrenia and hallucinations stands out. A film that, without a doubt, leaves us thinking and envelops us in an intriguing atmosphere, full of metaphors and that gives rise to numerous interpretations.
11. Shutter Island (2010)
A film by one of the great directors of the 20th and 21st centuries, Martin Scorsese, and starring the acclaimed Leonardo DiCaprio, it has an exceptional cast including Ben Kingsley and Mark Ruffalo. Set in the 50s, it is very close to the film noir of the early twentieth century. The location, an island where a mental institution is located, will immerse us in the horrors of the human mind and in practices such as lobotomy. What is true on Shutter Island? What is hidden behind that institution? Without a doubt, a great contemporary suspense.
