Ari Aster directed Hereditary, which is undoubtedly one of the most memorable horror films to be released in recent years. It is a shame that the film received less attention and praise than Get Out and It.
The film was enjoyable to watch. As tensions rise among family members, you start to see the dark consequences and begin to visualize them in your head. Yet, the tragedy that strikes this family leaves you stunned. It seems like the situation could get worse. The beginning of a family drama quickly becomes a nightmare that haunts you for many years.
Because I am a huge Hereditary fan, I put together a list of films similar to it for you.
The Witch
The Witch takes audiences back to the era of black magic, possession, and witchcraft in 1630. Family members often blame one another when they find themselves in the midst of supernatural energies. Their youngest son mysteriously vanishes. The blame is then placed on their oldest daughter, which leads them further down the path to chaos.
Although there aren’t many jump scares, the movie has a slow buildup of tension that makes each scene terrifying. The traditional approach of slowly building up tension and then unleashing a series of shocking twists in frighteningly slow fashion is used by the movie. Even for horror fans who are not averse to the genre, The Witch’s final moments are awe-inspiring.
This movie is ambiguous, and leaves the door open to many possible explanations. Take a friend along to watch the movie and discuss what you think.
The Babadook
This story is about a single mother who has to cope with the loss of her husband. She doesn’t believe her son when he claims that monsters lurk around every corner of her house. She soon discovers there is more to her son’s story than meets his eye.
The Babadook doesn’t focus on delivering cheap jump scares. It focuses on the horrible things in life, such as loneliness, grief, depression. These emotions are combined with horror to create a frightening cocktail.
Oscar-worthy was Essie Davis’s portrayal of a single, perhaps-deluded mom. Her portrayal of single motherhood was a joy to watch.
One of the most memorable horror films of 2014 was The Babadook. The movie explores the real side of horror, giving the audience plenty to think about.
The Blackcoat’s Daughter
Two young girls spend winter break at an isolated prep school. While they wait for their parents, they accidentally summon a demonic entity.
The Blackcoat’s Daughter doesn’t rely on traditional horror tropes to scare its audience. It cleverly raises the paranoia and dread despite all of the horror elements. This is a unique horror movie that requires you to pay attention to every detail. You won’t be able to see the horrific murders and carnage that are happening if you don’t.
The movie alternates between two timelines and eventually converges into an epic final scene. Surprisingly the timelines are not mentioned anywhere in the film. You need to be careful and find all the pieces.
The Blackcoat’s Daughter, in general, is a terrifying experience that will keep your attention on every turn. Although it won’t make your head spin or cause you to shudder in fear and watch your back, this wonderful mixture of horror and suspense is sure to keep your attention for a while.
Rosemary’s Baby
This is what I consider real horror. Mia Farrow’s depiction of a paranoid and potentially deranged mother is both evocative and terrifying. Rosemary and her husband are an ordinary couple who move into a new apartment in order to lead a peaceful and quiet life. They are instead surrounded by strange neighbors who may have plans for their baby. This only makes matters worse.
It is amazing to see how a movie that has been around for over 50 years still holds up and remains relevant. The movie’s acting and plotlines are so disturbing, even the most skeptical of people can be unhinged.
The movie is based on a novel by the same title, but it takes a different approach to storytelling thanks to Robert Polanski’s expert direction. He is the director behind movies like Chinatown or The Pianist. Even if the book is familiar, Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby will surprise you.
The Other
Strange events happen when a widowed mother moves into a new home with her photosensitive children. She believes that other people are living in the house. When she confronts the reality of her world, her world is turned upside down. She acknowledges her past and recollects her dark past.
It is so simple in the beginning. You just don’t know what you are doing when an unexpected twist surprises you. This entire story is on the brink of disaster. It is amazing how it can change the pace and direction on a dime. You are in for a thrilling twist that is the best of its type.
This movie is a masterpiece, and the lack of Hollywood-style special effects does not hinder it. It proves the opposite.
The Conjuring
It happens that I find it twice as frightening to watch movies that are “based on a true story”. The film’s plot revolves around a haunted farmhouse with its inhabitants. Two paranormal investigators go inside to gain a better understanding and help the family.
The Conjuring is not Wan’s previous films. Instead, it uses a calm approach to scare the audience. He finally gets rid of his “torture porndirector” tag. It might be difficult to adjust to his new light-gore style if you are coming off his previous movies (the Saw series). The buildup is well worth it as it leads to a frightening conclusion.
