to think most "scary" movies aren't scary, they're just sick/gross? Where are the really well-made, genuinely scary films?

[Greensleeves]

I love a really scary, spooky movie, and so does DH. But all too frequently we are disappointed. Blood and guts/green vomit/rotted corpses/gunge do NOT make a scary movie! The ones that have scared the living shit out of me and stayed with me for years are films like the original The Woman In Black and The Others - no blood or gunk to speak of, just really well-written, well-paced menace and mystery and great characters.

Yes, this is a stealth request for recommendations

I second the rec for ‘It Follows’. It’s genuinely unsettling.

Following for ideas but OP the nun was poor tbh i watched it last week and not scary imo.Sorry!

Agree with lots mentioned already. Japanese horror is generally big on atmosphere. Ring, Dark Water, The Ghost. Onibaba is an old Japanese horror that I think is genuinely terrifying.

The Autopsy Of Jane Doe is a good American one. I liked Insidious as well although admittedly that's a bit gory.

Carnival of Souls is truly disturbing.

I like it best when they cut and your mind fills in the blanks, but because they do it well you come away thinking you've seen much more than you have. And the bit that you've supplied is the truly scary bit, because nothing is as scary as what scares you personally, so getting you to supply it does the trick.

All the ones above do this.

The nun is terrible op! Be glad you didn't waste any money.
Hush and don't breathe are pretty good imo, not scary scary and not gory but a good few jumps.
The strangers isn't too bad, though they made a second one and that's quite poor.
Wolves at the door
You're next
Kill list is one that has stayed with me as it makes no fucking sense seriously, watch it online and if you figure it out without ever saying WTF, pm me

I really liked It Follows. Fantastic sense of dread.

So many good Spanish horror films. The skin I Live In is seriously dark. Julia’s Eyes is another psychological horror that’s worth a watch.

Ooh hangman is good.
A quiet place isn't too bad

The REC series is good as well - also Spanish.

I like Let The Right One In too (the original) - very emotionally rich although not exactly horrific.

I love Horror...to watch and read!!! I thought The Orginal Woman in Black was terrifying!!! You can rate a good horror by needing supervision in the toilet !!!!!

I like the Insidious films, Conjuring 1 and 2.

The exorcism of Emily rose- very scary!!

Don’t Look Now

Guillermo del Toro’s works both as producer and director often genuinely gripping and terrifying

The Australian kind I won’t say the name off because you really shouldn’t watch it.

El secreto de sus ojos

The Road and No County for Old Men both genuinely horrifying.

I tend to find things grounded in (historical)/reality the most terrifying. The evil that is around us.

I really enjoyed sinister. I also still love poltergeist (the 80s one).

The Thing is a splatter fest.
The Shining is scary and not too gory.
The Grudge is scary. I won't watch it again!
The Conjuring was good but the second film was crap.
The original Poltergeist.

The original (subtitled) version of The Vanishing. Not the Sandra Bullock & Keifer Sutherland version though, it's rubbish by comparison.

I enjoy horror films but ones with a twist (Saw 1),
But psychological thrillers are the ones that get my heart racing (Hand that Rocks the Cradle, Orphan).

Haven't seen it yet but a film called 'The Boy' 2016 has been advertised and that looks right up my street, maybe you as well?

It is showing on Netflix now, literally just about to watch it.

Ooh yes Hangman is really creepy and I’m not easily scared!

IT terrified me but I was about 10 when I watched it!

The most disturbing horror I’ve seen is the French version of Martyrs - but it’s not for the faint hearted and it’s the only film I’ve actually thought I’d have to turn off near the end.

michonnes the boy is good - but very weird!!

Another one that was quite spooky was When a stranger calls but I must be in the minority because it got pretty shit reviews!

I know it's probably classed as torture porn in some respects but wolf creek was soooo terrifying to me! Can't see it again ever!

@bumblenbean
Thanks for the tip
will report back once finished :)

I like a horror film with a twist you don't see coming. They are a bit gross/gory in places but I think the twist makes it weird and actually quite likeable.

There was one I saw recently, about two teens who went to visit their grandparents - The Visit I think? And Orphan is odd too.

Others I can think of right now include Hide and Seek with Robert De Niro and Dakota Fanning and Insidious.

Rosemarys Baby

You see nothing and it shits you up

Nocturnal Animals, currently on Netflix is one of the most disturbing films I've seen in years , but not a horror

Second Skin I Live In

More straightforward horror I enjoyed Girl With All The Gifts

I second Cronos and Carnival of Souls. Another great one is Mimic.

English horror movies are crap, imo. Japanese and Spanish horror movies are my favourites. The Orphanage is fantastic.

Attack the block is a good British horror imo. But yes we don't really have a strong tradition for it. I mean, I do feel affection for the old Hammers but they're shonky.