Hold tight, it’s Friday the 13th
FRIDAY THE 13TH: TODAY’S THE DAY – FROM GHOSTS TO BLOOD AND SPINE-CHILLING MONTAGES
From possessed kids to houses that come alive and also, make sure you have a clean underwear handy – you’ll need it.
Sure, Halloween is supposed to be a scary day but if you’re really superstitions, today is the worst of all. Friday the 13th has many connections that all lean towards the negative, or death – If you avoid black cats, broken mirrors and walking underneath ladders.
While the day is considered unlucky, its connection with cinematic scares started in 1980 with the release of Friday the 13th,a film that defined the slasher genre and also created one of the first horror franchises. If you want to celebrate the day, from the safety of your couch, here are the most unmissable horror films to enjoy.
info
Friday the 13th (the original) You have to start with this classic slasher about a group of unsuspecting camp counselors hacked to death in a frighteningly fun way. It defined the slasher genre of the ’80s, and is literally about bad luck. The film also follows the classic slasher paradigms, bad guys die first, and the innocent girl gets spared (or does she?).
The Babadook
In 2014, the horror genre was flipped on its head with the release of this Australian horror about grief. It’s a metaphor-rich, but scary as hell film about a mother dealing with the loss of her husband. It’s one of the best modern horror films.
Audition
This Japanese film delivers stomach-churning scares thanks to its slow-burning plot where a single man uses video-dating to start a relationship with a woman with a very, erm, unsettling past. It is a masterful suspense film, that really locks you in once the story gets going.
The Exorcist This classic possession film has been named the scariest movie of all time. Although it has aged a little (we’ve just gotten used to really good CGI), it remains an incredible film that fills you with more and more dread as the story progresses.
The Hills Have Eyes (2006
remake) It probably won’t feature on many similar lists but thanks to its gore-porn angle, this is one hell of a ride when an unsuspecting family gets slowly picked off one by one by a group of mutants in the middle of the dessert. Expect gallons of blood, body parts flying at you and a very unhappy ending.
The VVitch
This isn’t your typical horror film. In fact, this is the Shakespeare of horror thanks to its period-drama take on superstition during 1630 America. Although it is not about gore or jump-scares, it’s the idea of self-fulfilling prophesy (and Satan) that delivers the uneasiness you will feel.
Monster House
And you thought child-friendly horror does not exist? Well, it does thanks to this wonderful animation flick about a house transforming into a monster. Parents and kids can enjoy light scares, but also relish in a very heartfelt ending. It’s on Netflix.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
(Original) Let’s just put it this way: this film was banned in SA. Yes, it was considered that immoral. When a group of friends calls for help on a desolate farm, they get more than they bargained for when when they meet Leatherface.
Rosemary’s Baby
Combining rape, devil worship and suspense, this is an extremely watchable horror that slowly builds up to an epic ending that will stay with you for years.
It Follows
This is a film where someone has to have sex with someone to pass a curse where someone follows you but about someone that always follows you.
Aliens
Although its predeccessor Alien should also be on this list,
Aliens is one of the rare times in cinema history when a sequal is better than the original. Set in deep space with an alien with acid spit hunting down military men, it is an incredibly addictive horror-suspense film.
The Conjuring
The Conjuring Universe has already expanded to include two Annabelle films, as well as the upcoming The Nun, but the original remains a fright fest.
The Shining
Based on a Steven King novel, it is one of Stanley Kubrick’s best films. Jack becomes less dull and more murderous. Expect ghosts, blood and spine-chilling montages.
Human Centipede
The scary here is how truly screwed up humans can be, especially when they’re medical geniuses. Be warned, it is scary and gross but really something you need to experience.