Movie Picks: Horror/Thriller

I can’t say that Horror/Thriller films are generally my first choice when looking for a movie to watch. That being said, I have watched a good handful of titles, trying to get myself to become more knowledgeable about the genre. By watching some that have not exactly been my cup of tea as well as some that have really stuck with me and kept me thinking, I found out that I tend to prefer a more psychological thriller or suspense based narrative over a gory or jump scare heavy one. Films of this genre that contain deeper meaning and look to do more than just scare the viewer really intrigue me and keep me slightly apprehensive yet excited to watch new horror/thriller films. These are a few titles that I have enjoyed in the horror/thriller genre:

Midsommar (2019)

There was an extremely unsettling and uncomfortable quality and tone to this film which was conveyed really well by the cinematography, plot, dialogue, and actors. I think this film is a great example of the right way to construct and utilize a slowly developing plot to further emphasize the unease that should be felt by the audience in response to what is taking place on screen.

The Shining (1980)

The unknown force driving the main conflict in this film makes it incredibly engaging and captivating. There are a couple jump scares, but overall this film relied on a feeling of unease to keep the viewer on the edge of their seat.

It (2017)

This film had a really good balance of a coming of age type comedy film and a horror film which made it more watchable for me. I loved all of the characters and was very interested in following along with their adventure. The creepy aspects of the story line were well placed and not too heavy handed which I really appreciated.

Se7en (1995)

I love detective shows and books so that was my entrance point for this film. It is an extremely dark and gripping thriller and even though it does have moments of gore, I was so engaged in the characters journey of solving the puzzle behind the murders.