PSA: Horror Movie Recommendations

The Order -- That's right. The Order, with Heath Ledger and that guy from the TV show Sliders. It's creepy and has explicit theological underpinnings based in the idea of the "sin eater," an idea that's scary enough without an evil pope and asking dying hanged men for the secrets of the universe. Luckily, The Order has all of those things plus Shannyn Sossamon.

Battle Royale (Japanese) -- This is the only movie I've ever shut off when I was alone...twice. The uncanny first seven minutes or so creep me out as much as anything I've seen, but then give way to a kind of melodrama that nonetheless causes you to wonder what you would care about if you were about to die. While "wow, those Japanese are really weird and worried about population control issues" is a valid interpretation, there is more to get out of it than just that, if you can get past the uncanny beginning and soap-operatic follow-up.

Gremlins -- Cute fuzzy things will eat you from the toilet (Gremlins 2, but you get the point), and one gets microwaved. Enough said.

House of Sand and Fog -- This is one of those movies that most people think isn't horror, but that I think might be more horrific than most slasher flicks. Jennifer Connolly is good, but of course Ben Kingsley is better.

Psycho -- If you don't know the twist at the end, it's excellent; if you do know the twist, it's still excellent. For a Hitchcock runner-up starring Jimmy Stewart and featuring a much more philosophical take on murder that withstands multiple, multiple viewings, try Rope.

American Psycho -- Full of sex and gore, the real chill in this movie comes at the end. This recommendation is my concession to slasher-flick lovers, though again, it's got a philosophical flair. Whatever you do, do not watch the sequel.

Grindhouse (Planet Terror, Deathproof) -- Both of these movies are very, very well done, and should be seen by anyone who appreciates other Quentin Tarantino films (Kill Bill, for instance). They should also be seen by anyone who likes zombies or car chases.


That's all I can think of for now, but I'm sure I'll remember others. Leave your recommendations in the comments, too.