Tag: Supernatural
The Fortunes of Olivia Richmond
Like the very best gothics, this story keeps you reading fervently to the very end, with plot twists to keep you up late into the night.
Inherit the Witch
For a few rare moments it all comes together for something approaching chilling, but the finished results are lacking.
V/H/S/99
A gritty, bitty car crash into memory lane that impressively stitches its eclecticism together like a grotesque mixtape.
Lunacy
As a carefully cultivated horror story that resonates in the fear-laden recesses of modern life, Lunacy is a book to savour.
The Deep House
A suffocating rollercoaster that breathes new life into an enervated subgenre, trapping us into a nightmare that refuses to let go.
Lingering
A psychological depth that pushes the meaning of ‘haunting’, urging readers to question the origins and nature of evil.
Father of Flies
Unreliable characters in an ethereal setting drive this powerful parable on disintegrating families and stolen childhood.
Amulet
With an allegory that seethes on its underbelly, Amulet is a disturbing and enigmatic picture that reflects a strikingly bleak view.
Jakob’s Wife
Hallmarks of the vampire genre coupled with a small-town America backdrop challenge patriarchal institutions.
Itsy Bitsy
Occasionally eerie but doesn’t surprise us with any unique quirks that make it more than a one-dimensional creature feature.
Castle Rock
A compelling plot explores Stephen King’s core themes while creating something truly unique with his mammoth bibliography.
Demon
Darkly absurd humour, with a deeply unsettling score and cinematography that bolster the portentous atmosphere of dread.
We Go On
A fascinating central premise strongly evokes The Twilight Zone, the focused script ensuring an insular, intimate atmosphere.
Under the Shadow
A triumphant debut effort which offers unique tension and poignancy and isn’t afraid to confront uncomfortable cultural realities.
Blair Witch
Dream team Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett bring an unusually hit-and-miss affair that nevertheless delivers in a frenetic final act.
Ghost Stories of an Antiquary
Cuts to the core of the horror without ever diluting or compromising M. R. James’ carefully woven plots. Recommended for die-hard enthusiasts.
Lucifer (TV Series)
Featuring the Devil in his most vanilla of forms, horror fans will be left wanting; Lucifer is disappointingly sparse on strong imagery.
Some Kind of Hate
Beautifully filmed, with a bleak karmic mantra that makes for a frequently intense viewing experience.
Curtain
Gleefully absurd, a gonzo sense of humour ensures that Curtain is a disarmingly compelling and bizarro genre gem.
Backtrack
With a tenuously linked story that lacks supernatural finesse, Backtrack is confused, and a tiresome experience.
The Messenger
A missed opportunity for exploration of the relationship between mental illness and the supernatural.
An Evening of Irish Horror
With their ingenious recreations of radio productions from a bygone era, the troupe afford us a glimpse into the past.
Unhallowed Ground
A wealth of interesting ideas remain undeveloped, while rudimentary direction fails to make the most of the moody location.
Wake Up, Maggie
An audacious effort that should be given praise for its unrepentant Maggie, portrayed with fearless honesty and confidence.
The Sleeping Room
At times the film feels rather muddled, but atmospheric tension and taut pacing ensure it remains compelling.
Afterimages
Serves as a neat, interesting introduction to Asian folklore that allows some playing with storytelling techniques.
The Haunting of Black Wood
A carefully constructed and deliberately vague set-up that milks every ounce of tension, with twists coming thick and fast.
FrightFest: The Sleeping Room
A half-baked, ambitious ending, but the film is effectively creepy and satisfyingly lensed, its shocks permeated with a melancholy calm.
FrightFest: All Cheerleaders Die
Not a bad parody of 90s high-school horror, but its deliberate clichés fall short.
The Quiet Ones
A script crying for a horror backbone is frustratingly weak for the most part, its tedious jump-scares no substitute.
Ghost Stories
The promised 'extreme shock and tension' is a baffling assurance; what we have here is far from a true horror production.
The Complex
Atmospheric and beautifully shot, it may not take any original paths, but should appeal to admirers of Japanese horror cinema.
My Amityville Horror
My Amityville Horror poses many questions, but by the film’s conclusion, very few have actually been answered.
Insidious: Chapter 2
Although the plot loses some of its intrigue, Wan superbly distracts us with his talent to make the audience feel constantly unsettled.
FrightFest: The Paranormal Diaries – Clophill
One hell of a dull time, with nothing other than repetitive speculation to lull one to sleep.
FrightFest: Haunter
Showcases a great deal of devil in its detail, with a tight-knit, metaphysical framework that may require multiple viewings.
The Fallow Field
That rarest of films, one that genuinely keeps you guessing to culminate in some palpable tension come the third act.
The Night Child
As the epitome of seventies B-movie charm, it boasts the strong elements of enjoyable kitsch that one would hope for.
The Pact
Juxtaposes the supernatural with real-life threat, whilst holding a very strong point in maintenance of mystery.
A Night in the Woods
A taut atmosphere is effectively created, emphasised by drip-feeding of subplot, with one particular twist genuinely surprising.
The Possession
The exorcism makes a refreshing change in not being Bible-based, but this is strictly Hollywood horror by numbers.
Absentia
Will keep you guessing, until all possibilities for explanation are eventually tied together in an excellent balance of subplot.
Grave Encounters
It's pure pantomime and about a decade too late, but with the lights down and sound up there's fun to be had.
Seance: The Summoning
Despite the potentially ominous setting, this is a lethargic outing augmented by lifeless direction and a leaden script.
The Innkeepers
It's only really for specific moments that The Innkeepers very obviously feels like a horror film, yet it is effectively creepy.
The Amityville Haunting
Cliches abound, as does overkill, while the characters are irritating. And yet, a wound-up tension is impressed without noticing.
Skew
Found footage is a tricky subgenre to add an original concept to and Skew makes a good attempt. But it's not enough.
666: The Prophecy
You would almost expect tongue planted firmly in cheek, yet this sagging clod of a movie takes itself quite seriously.
A Ghostly Pushover
One week on since fun and games at a paranormal investigation… Perhaps it's safe to talk about it now. Perhaps it's not.