One of the greatest mysteries of life is death. Or, more specifically, the afterlife. With countless reported hauntings from around the world, it’s hard not to be terrified at the thought of ghosts and ghouls. It’s no wonder that cinema has always been fascinated with these supernatural entities. So, here’s a list of the very, very best Ghostly Thrillers and mysteries that will send a shiver down your spine and raise questions in your head.
If you think another film should also be on this list, leave a comment below!
1) THE PACT (Nicholas McCarthy, 2012)
Out on DVD on the 1st October, THE PACT is one of the most chilling ghostly thrillers you’ll ever see. Based on the director’s earlier short of the same name, this film tells of Annie (played by Caity Lotz, star of Mad Men) who, after the death of her mother, visits her childhood home. However, something isn’t quite right. Soon enough, terrifying supernatural things begin to happen, pointing to a sinister secret hidden deep within the house. If you like your films with an icy chill, then this is an absolute must see.
2) THE OTHERS (Alejandro Amenábar, 2001)
Featuring the incredible talents of Nicole Kidman and ex-Doctor, Christopher Eccleston, The Others is among the best of this genre. With its thrilling tension and jawdroppingly climatic conclusion, if this doesn’t scare you, nothing will!
3) THE SIXTH SENSE (M. Night Shyamalan, 1999)
“I see dead people!” If you haven’t seen The Sixth Sense yet or have no idea what it is about, congratulations, you must be the only human on this planet that hasn’t! This M. Night Shyamalan masterpiece placed him firmly on the map of movie history and remains his strongest film yet (which admittedly isn’t saying much, based on his most recent work!). If you’ve yet to see this, shame on you!
4) WHAT LIES BENEATH (Robert Zemeckis, 2000)
Yet another ghostly thriller from around the turn of the millennium ! Staring Harrison Ford alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, this chiller thriller questions whether there really is a haunting or the resident is just loosing her mind! What do you think? Watch to find out!
5) THE ORPHANAGE (Juan Antonio Bayona, 2007)
The Spanish have long produced some of the most memorable horror films of all time. From the Blind Dead series to the [REC] franchise, there’s no doubt that Spain is responsible for some seriously scary movies. The Orphanage is no exception! Creepy kids and ghostly goings on? Now, that’s a recipe for a great thriller!
6) THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (Stuart Rosenberg, 1979)
Based upon the most infamous haunted house, The Amityville Horror is a classic film of the ghost genre. With it’s slow-burning, eerie pace which continues to build and build before erupting into a barrage of screams and terror, the film launched a whole series of cash-in movies that stepped away from the truth with each film. With about 10 follow up films (including sequels and remakes), none of these have come as close to the sheer terror of the original.
7) THE DEVIL’S BACKBONE ( Guillermo del Toro, 2001)
From everyone’s favourite Spanish director comes this entry on the list. This ghostly horror remains among del Toro’s greatest movies, competing closely with Pan’s Labyrinth. Creepy, spooky and all together, just plain scary!
8 ) THE WOMAN IN BLACK (James Watkins, 2012)
Hammer Horror is well and truly back! After dying off in the 80s, the greatest UK Horror studio has risen from the graves once again to petrify audiences around the world. Based upon a classic ghost story and hit theatre production, The Woman In Black shows Hammer at their strongest yet with promise that they’ll continue to deliver the goods just like their golden age during the 60s/70s. An attempt for Daniel Radcliffe to break away from his Potter image, he manages to shed that wizard skin and packs a strong performance in this gothic ghost thriller.
9) INSIDIOUS (James Wan, 2010)
The film that sent audiences screaming like mad upon its initial release has a great 80′s feel to it. Taking influence from classics including Poltergeist, The Amityville Horror and even A Nightmare On Elm Street, this hugely popular horror blockbuster fought ferociously with Paranormal Activitiy 2 as the scariest film of 2010.
10) THE INNOCENTS (Jack Clayton, 1961)
Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for this masterpiece of a movie has just entered the list. The Innoncents remains one of the greatest horrors of all time and is always a favourite of horror movie countdowns. If you’ve yet to see it, I urge you to check it out – if you think you can handle it…
11) WHITE NOISE (Geoffrey Sax, 2005)
With Michael Keaton in the lead role, this creepy thriller tells of a recently widowed man who becomes obsessed with communicating with his dead wife through the static of television. Inspired by a popular paranormal myth, this will leave you fearing the unholy shivering of black and grey specs on your TV screen forever more.
12) GHOST (Jerry Zucker, 1990)
Although this award winning movie is slightly different to the others listed, it is none the less very well deserving of a place on here. A romantically emotional roller-coaster that blends scares, humour and thrills perfectly. If you manage to get to the end of this film without shedding a tear you are officially ‘ard!
13) STIR OF ECHOES (David Koepp, 1999)
Everyone loves a bit of Bacon! After being hypnotised, Tom (Kevin Bacon) begins to see the spooky ghost of a young girl, with a terrifying secret. Kevin Bacon is fantastic in this underated movie which is based upon a tale written by a key thriller/horror author, Mr. Richard Matheson.
THE PACT IS OUT ON DVD AND BLU-RAY FROM THE 1ST OCTOBER, 2012! PRE-ORDER YOURS HERE TODAY.
