Horror movies with a malevolent/brooding atmosphere?

[jamestiger150]

Hi all!

Looking for recommendations for horror/spooky movies with a brooding/creepy atmosphere rather than gorey stuff. I like the 1970s 'Salem's Lot' adaptation and 'It Follows' for example. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Oh yes, this is a good one. The Serpent and the Rainbow has a similar atmosphere too.

It’s streaming (or was) on BFI Player.

Thanks 😊

It's been a long while since I.watched it, and it's not supernatural, but the original Cape Fear with Gregory Peck is very tense and unsettling.

I love Midsommar but it's not for everyone. Couple of very disturbing scenes in it. My best friend hasn't forgiven me for suggesting we watch it 🤣

Hand of course the original Wicker Man is in a similar vein and even better. One of my favourite films of all time!

The skeleton key, really creepy.

Oh yes, I forgot about that one! The ending, when it all falls into place and you realise what's been going on all those years 😱

I need to watch that again. I wasn't too taken with it the first time around but some films are definitely worth revisiting...

Under the Shadow is very good (it's an Iranian film, not gory at all).

For me, Hellraiser is the best horror movie of all time, though a bit on the gory side. The first time I saw it, Pinhead was simply terrifying. Also some of the Japanese horror movies: The Ring and The Grudge.

It Follows

Love Angel Heart. Also Jacobs Ladder.

The US remake of The Ring is creepier than the first I think. More backstory.

I quite like Flatliners too although it's more potentially scary than actually frightening. Well shot.

Hereditary

Skeleton Key as a PP mentioned is a good shout.

Will also recommend Apostle on Netflix.

Heretic was great.
Hugh Grant's performance was absolutely chilling.

Yes, this is terrifying!

Also a microbudget British film called The Borderlands. Not gory (except the end) but properly shit me up.

Thanks for your recommendations everyone!

The Wicker Man - the proper 70s one. Truly chilling.

The Shining, obvs. The OG of ‘pit of the stomach unease’ horror films.

and more recently, The Witch - beautifully shot, pretty historically accurate and really creepy

Agree about Borderlands. The ending is absolutely terrifying.

Agree re the 70s Wicker Man. At the end you think someone will save the day yet...

Stay away from the Nicolas Cage remake - NOT THE BEES!

It also has moments of humour in it, which is rare for a horror film! (See also the brilliant Severance - the film, not the TV series)

Barbarian: free on 4 atm

no cancel that, it's rubbish imo

The original 'Haunting' with Claire Bloom. It's terrifying.