The best horror movies are the ones you don't understand.
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00:00Films are perfect for when you're after some surface-level entertainment.
00:03There is no simple pleasure quite as enjoyable as zoning out,
00:07laying back, and whacking on a movie that you don't have to pay full attention to,
00:11falling into some cheap laughs or easy scares for 90 minutes before getting on with your day.
00:16Sadly though, there will always come a time when shoveling in snacks to baseless scary
00:21movie installments loses its sheen, and we become hungry for something that Doritos
00:25and Anna Faris just can't provide. Upsetting, but true.
00:29Never fear though, as of course, there is a world of cinema out there that veers in
00:33exactly the opposite direction. Instead of bumbling through their runtime with little
00:37to offer than some shiny, entertaining images, these films pride themselves on
00:42offering an experience that dives deep into unknown territories, crafting immersive worlds,
00:47concepts, and mysteries for audiences to unravel time and time again.
00:52These might be even harder to find in the horror genre, but they do exist,
00:56creating truly unnerving pieces that improve with each watch as you comb
01:01over the clues they leave to reach mind-blowing finales.
01:05With that in mind then, I am The Bottomless Pit, that is Ash from WhatCulture,
01:10and these are 8 horror movies that get better the deeper you go.
01:138. Suspiria
01:15Known most recently by its 2018 remake, Suspiria is a cult classic of the genre from Dario Argento,
01:22and one so sumptuously shot and soundtracked that it is easy to see why it has had such a
01:27lasting presence on the horror community. Intertwining a rainbow of colour into a
01:31story about a ballet school, with a supernatural presence lurking in its walls,
01:35Suspiria is never forthcoming with its narrative, instead relying on suggestive
01:40shots and a drip-fed story to reach the conclusion that lead Susie Banyan
01:44is dealing with a coven of witches. This revelation doesn't come until
01:48late into the film, contextualising the events that we have just watched play out,
01:52like dogs turning aggressive, students getting dramatically murdered,
01:56and a strange breathy figure appearing in the night into something tangible,
02:00meaning it is ripe for re-watching as soon as you have gotten through its snappy runtime.
02:05Suspiria is classic yellow horror, and Argento's pinpoint vision for the film means that it is a
02:10joy to dig into all the little clues that craft a witchy hole. Inspired in part by a true story,
02:16as heard by the film's co-writer, Dario Nicolodi, and in part by the 1845 novel Suspiria
02:22De Profundis, the European influences that make up the story are ever-interesting to consume,
02:27and combined with his fairy tale inspirations, even more intriguing to attempt to piece together
02:33as you dig into Suspiria's vibe.
02:357. Black Swan
02:37Darren Aronofsky doesn't make basic movies. Whether it's Requiem for a Dream, Mother,
02:42or Noah, the director is known for his off-the-wall envisioning of life in an entirely
02:47new and uncomfortable way, bringing the darker aspects of his character's psyches to the
02:51forefront for a nightmarish ride. His horror efforts in Black Swan are where this talent
02:56for the macabre becomes most apparent, detailing one dancer's fall from grace as she works through
03:01a hallucinogenic struggle to become prima ballerina of Swan Lake.
03:05Diving into Black Swan provides a wealth of interesting dissections,
03:09playing off the representations of the White Swan that Natalie Portman's character embodies
03:13so well, and the Black Swan that she aspires to be able to connect with in the same way as
03:18Mila Kunis. Whether this is the death of innocence and welcoming of her budding sexuality, or perhaps
03:24the insinuation of abuse at her mother's hands is up to the audience to decide, with the film's
03:29mesmerizing interpretive qualities something to really get your teeth into. Black Swan's
03:34psychological edge and constant shifting between reality and imagination is one that makes it
03:39a difficult but rewarding watch, much like many other Aronofsky films too. In any case,
03:44it is one that only gets better the further you pick it apart, since you can be sure that
03:48everything the director has put in there has its own firm reasoning behind it.
03:526. Psycho
03:54Of course, no list on horror movies that build up their own fascinating mythos to dive into
03:59would be complete without Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. One of the granddaddies of the slasher
04:04genre and a perfectly constructed scarefest, it has long been hailed by film students the
04:09world over that have had to pick through its meticulously pieced together shots,
04:13revealing thematic undercurrents that are easy to miss when it is so easy to become
04:17wrapped up in Psycho's plot. Psycho is the story of Marion Crane on the run, at least initially,
04:22stealing a huge sum of money and stopping off at the Bates Motel as she makes her way out of town.
04:27Unfortunately for her, Norman Bates and his mother aren't very hospitable owners,
04:31resulting in Marion's death and the consequent search by her family and friends for the missing
04:35woman. As the narrative unfolds with each twist and turn, Hitchcock drops sneaky clues that give
04:40way to the true nature of the characters he has created on screen, such as Norman's predatory
04:45bird collection giving way to his true intentions and Marion's penchant for mirrors to reflect her
04:50duplicitous personality. Spotting all these moments becomes half the joy of picking through
04:55such a seminal movie, since it always feels that there is something new no matter how many times
05:00one can watch it, and that is why it remains such a masterpiece to this day.
05:045. Us
05:06Much in the same vein as Get Out, Jordan Peele's second movie, and testament to the power of his
05:11laser-focused horror, Us, hides its true intentions under layers of symbolism.
05:16Telling the story of a family accosted by their own doppelgangers as they holiday in Santa Cruz,
05:21Peele's ability to tell a scary story that overlays far more intense and deeper societal
05:26issues is the work of an artist, elevating what would be a good horror movie, by any standards,
05:31to new and scary heights. Going deeper into Us reveals Peele is folding in a story of the
05:37underclass, utilising the tethered as underground representations of those in poverty who are
05:42oppressed and then cut off from the world, vying for their time in the sun, quite literally.
05:47Mixing in themes of class, privilege, and ignorance into what is already an intense
05:52horror home invasion makes it all the more interesting. But he doesn't stop there.
05:56Peele is also an avid cinephile, and works hard to incorporate his love of film into
06:01his work at every point possible. Borrowing from B-movie classics like C.H.U.D. or Chud,
06:06which appears at the start of the film as an indication of what is to come,
06:10cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers, anyone, to long-loved masterpieces like The
06:14Shining, which breathes life into the creepy, murderous twins, his work is peppered so heavily
06:20with knowing not that it will have any film lover whipping their head around uncontrollably.
06:24It's a joy to dig into, and far too easy to find oneself lost in the minute details of its
06:29construct rather than the overarching film itself with multiple watches.
06:344. Shaun of the Dead
06:36What appears on the surface as simple, dumb fun, Shaun of the Dead is the bonkers horror
06:42comedy that imbues its story with plenty of fun extras for avid fans to unpack.
06:46Meaning you get the movie that keeps on giving, should you ever want to try and get to the bottom
06:50of its bountiful easter eggs. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's Love Child marks the start of the
06:56Cornetto trilogy, with this initial instalment telling the simple tale of two losers trying
07:00to survive the zombie apocalypse and rescue their friends and family in the process.
07:04The whole film is the launching point for a masterclass in horror history,
07:09with famous horror directors and actors hidden throughout name tags and restaurant titles,
07:13and George A. Romero's Living Dead series aped to no end as lines are recycled in Shaun of the
07:18Dead's new context. Expert attention to detail is also paid to every unfolding plot point on screen.
07:24In fact, each progression of the story is earmarked with foreshadowing that can be
07:28found hidden throughout the movie, with clues tucked into everything from background posters
07:33to the main cast's dialogue, as Frost's Ed unveils exactly how everything will play out
07:37from his big plan in the opening. Edgar Wright's love letter to the genre is one that becomes a
07:43straight easter egg hunt the more you rummage through its shot list, with each discovery even
07:47more hilariously attentive than the last. 3. Midsommar
07:52Just like Jordan Peele, Ari Aster is another horror director that has recently released his
07:56sophomore effort out into the world to a burning inferno of critical praise and fan hype. He's
08:02taken his work into a new direction post-hereditary, but retains all of his intense, painterly style,
08:08of course imbuing it with some trademark slow-burning dread that culminates into an ending
08:13that isn't easily forgotten. Midsommar depicts Danny and a boyfriend Christian as they take a
08:17trip to Sweden with his friends, attempting to salvage a relationship that is strained by Danny's
08:22grief at having tragically lost her family. Considering it is a hefty two and a half hours
08:27of movie to get through, there is plenty to go deeper with after your first watch of Midsommar.
08:32Inspired by actual Swedish cults and a plethora of mysterious folklore, looking into the themes
08:37that Aster uncovers with his movie provides a wealth of creepy reading material to get through,
08:42that only intensifies the strangeness we experience on screen tenfold.
08:46Digging into Aster's narrative also reveals heaps of symbolism, with mirrors and symmetry
08:50defining shots to reflect the duality of life, death, good and evil these characters are working
08:55through. Even the crazy bear ending is shown through symbols before we actually get to it,
09:00with Pelle, the friend that takes them all to Sweden, sitting in front of a giant bear picture
09:04as he discusses Danny joining them on the trip. There are loads of tiny moments like this to catch
09:10as the film plays out.
09:112. The Cabin in the Woods
09:13Essentially Evil Dead turned up to 11, The Cabin in the Woods sees a group of stereotypical
09:18teenagers, a rambunctious jock, a promiscuous bimbo, an intelligent nerd, a ridiculous stoner,
09:24and a shy virgin head out to the titular cabin for a weekend away. Only, instead of a weekend
09:30of fun, the group are accosted by a zombie redneck torture family that have been awoken
09:34by messing with a book in the basement, meaning they get slowly picked off in increasingly violent
09:40ways. The premise is one that is all too familiar, or at least it appears so, until a government
09:44agency is discovered to be controlling the group behind the scenes in order to maintain a pact with
09:49ancient gods that threaten to wipe out the planet if not appeased. You know, your average stakes then.
09:55What makes The Cabin in the Woods so brilliant is that this agency adds another layer to just
09:59about every horror movie out there in existence. Instead of horror films being an effort in
10:04creating the most gruesome entertainment possible, this movie gives meaning to the sadism,
10:09and explains why tropes are so common in a genre that has room to be so experimental,
10:13becoming a wider theory that sprinkles a healthy dose of fun throughout the film experience as a
10:18whole, combined with the countless references to horror film greats that make for some good
10:22old fashioned scavenger hunting with the pause button, and The Cabin in the Woods holds a tale
10:27that only gets better the more you bury into it.
10:301. Triangle
10:32A science fiction horror movie that will tap dance on your synapses and send your brain into
10:37overdrive, Triangle is a film that dresses itself up as a simple lost at sea narrative,
10:42selling itself on a group that gets caught in a storm whilst yachting and have to jump ship
10:46onto an abandoned cruise liner that by chance is passing by. Jess and her friends soon then
10:51find themselves victims of a mysterious murderer, and learn that floating atop their capsized yacht
10:56is a far preferable fate to whatever is happening aboard the new found ship.
11:01As it turns out, this is not your average spooky story, since the ship doesn't subscribe
11:05to any normal experience of space and time. Instead, Jess has become party to a time loop,
11:11forced into a self-fulfilling prophecy where she kills her friends over and over again
11:15in an attempt to break free of its consequences. On first watch, Triangle is a tangled mess of
11:20timelines that is difficult to prise apart. There's exact doubles, jumping forward and
11:25backward in the narrative, and heaps of death that doesn't quite make sense until you have
11:29seen all the way through. Even then, the precise nature of the loop is still a tricky one to
11:33understand in its entirety, requiring multiple rewatches to get to grips with it before you
11:38can dive into the theories of its causation. Triangle is like horror's answer to Primer.
11:43The more you dig, the deeper you go, and the more crossed wires you find along the way.