Tag: Psychological Horror
In a genre that is plagued by tired tropes and formulaic storylines, Tilman Singer’s 2024 horror masterpiece Cuckoo stands out as a visually stunning, fantastically portrayed piece of art. With its meticulous cinematography, vibrant colour palette, and evocative musical score, Cuckoo takes what could be a somewhat confusing and hard-to-get-into story and tells it masterfully
Our Happy Place is a gritty psychological thriller slash modern murder mystery written and directed by Paul Bickel. The film weaves in worries that could only be understood by major audiences in the post-COVID era. Raya (Raya Miles) plays a woman experiencing extreme isolation and loss of meaning within her own world. Now full-time carer
Director Oz Perkins (The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Gretel & Hansel) has carved a niche for himself as a purveyor of slow, dreamlike horror steeped in dread. Longlegs, his latest film, promises to be his most ambitious project yet: a serial killer procedural dripping with Satanic overtones, shot through a grainy 90s lens, and headlined by a
Chuck Wendig’s novel Black River Orchard (2023) is a truly modern, small-town horror, evoking the best of Stephen King while summoning dark, twisted, and disturbing imagery that makes this story genuinely terrifying to read. Set in Harrow, Pennsylvania, the Black River Orchard mostly follows the father-and-daughter team of Dan and Calla Paxson. Obsessed with restoring
As the holiday season approaches, many people look forward to cozy evenings by the fireplace dipping into the eggnog, and singing the Christmas classics. But holiday-themed horror movies offer a delightfully chilling alternative for those who crave a darker twist to their seasonal celebrations. These films take the joy and nostalgia of the holidays and
Inherit the Witch (2024), directed, co-written by, and starring Cradeaux Alexander, is an ambitious attempt at psychological horror through means of generational trauma. Filmed almost entirely with handheld cameras – sometimes for logical reasons, sometimes seemingly for effect – Inherit the Witch barrels between claustrophobic and agoraphobic, with most of the action taking place in
When the first trailer for the 2022 horror flick, Smile starring Sosie Bacon came out, I initially dismissed it as just another forgettable horror flick thanks to its generic title. But lo and behold, it was one of the best horror flicks to come out that year. Two years after the release of Parker Finn’s
As a review journalist, I don’t usually use trigger warnings. However, due to the incredibly immersive nature of The Shade (2023), I feel it necessary to warn viewers who are sensitive to the subject of suicide. If you or anyone you know are experiencing a mental health crisis, please dial 988 in Canada, or refer
The 2008 horror film The Strangers, written and directed by Bryan Bertino capitalizes on some of our most common fears: home invasion and random, unprovoked violence. It takes the minimalist, almost homemade look of horror films from the early 2000s and dials up the amount of tension and suspense, relying less on gore and more
Dagr (2024), by director Matthew Butler-Hart and produced by Fizz & Ginger Films, is the perfect found footage film: a labour of love from a small but incredibly talented creative team with a strong concept, Dagr is a film that stays with you long after the final screams. Thea and Louise are obnoxious wannabe internet