Of all the horror subgenres, the ghost movie is perhaps one of the most popular. However, ghost movies are also extremely different from slashers, monster movies, or thrillers.
A ghost movie is, honestly, kind of somber. The haunted souls that linger in homes or follow specific individuals around are likely there for a reason. Perhaps they have unfinished business, seek vengeance, or are simply trapped in a space they no longer understand.
Ultimately, ghosts are an essential component of Halloween, and there are plenty of excellent films that explore the reasonings behind hauntings. While there are truly too many great films to include all of them, I have compiled a list that represents the different manifestations of the perfect ghost story.
The Haunting (1963)
The Haunting is probably the most classic of all of the classic ghost films. Eleanor (Julie Harris) joins Theo (Claire Bloom) and Luke (Russ Tamblyn) as test subjects in Dr. Markway’s (Richard Johnson) study of the supernatural in the infamous Hill House. However, when the paranormal activity picks up, the house itself singles out a terrified Eleanor as its victim.
Based on Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, Robert Wise’s film (not to be mistaken for its disappointing 1999 remake) makes the best of its practical effects and eerie atmosphere. Even the most seasoned horror fan will feel a prickle of fear in the film’s most dramatic sequences. Harris sells Eleanor’s spiral of paraonia, and keeps us invested in this simple ghost story that has deep psychological roots.
His House (2020)
This instant classic presents ghostly tropes as metaphors for trauma, violence, and guilt. Rial (Wunmi Mosaku) and Bol (Sope Dirisu) are South Sudan refugees taking shelter in England, but the reception is far from welcoming. As they face racism in their new community and mourn the recent loss of their daughter, they also sense an evil lurking in their dilapidated government-appointed home.
His House walks a fine line between devastating and terrifying - the paranormal activity in their home rivals the likes of established classics like The Shining and Insidious. Fortunately, Remi Weekes does not sacrifice the scares for the sake of the heartbreaking storyline, or vice versa, which makes it stand out amongst other films that have tried and failed to rise to that same level. His House does not offer easy answers, and it will keep you thinking long after it ends.
The Others (2001)
The Others was one of several ghost films in the early 2000s that redefined the genre. Grace (Nicole Kidman), a religiously rigid mother, struggles to care for her two children (Alaina Mann and James Bentley) in their isolated mansion. The children‘s sudden illness, a sensitivity to all light, restricts their activity, so the family is claustrophobically cooped up together when unexplainable events suggest ghostly inhabitants.
Alejandro Amenábar’s film is a slow burn, but the scares are worth the wait. The pale, sickly children are like ghosts themselves, haunting their mother in the dusty old halls, which is only made worse when the real paranormal activity escalates. The film captures the slow slip into unreality with chilling effect, leading to the film’s shocking (and perfectly ghostly) conclusion.
ParaNorman (2012)
It’s only fair to have a kid-friendly ghost film on the list, and ParaNorman holds up as a satisfying watch for audiences of all ages. Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee) can talk to the many ghosts that exist all around him, making him the pariah of his town. However, he must use his ability to help save the same town that mocks him when an ancient witch’s curse comes true.
ParaNorman is delightfully macabre, and something that will appeal to young horror fans. It has a wicked sense of humor, and the unique stop-motion animation style adds to that humor and the underlying horror tropes perfectly. It’s The Sixth Sense meets Coraline, and the resulting film is the perfect cozy ghost story to spend time with this Halloween.
The Ring (2002)
While many may (rightly) prefer the original Ringu, I’ve always had a soft spot for the uniquely American ghost story that kicked off about a decade’s worth of Japanese horror remakes. Rachel (Naomi Watts), a journalist and a struggling single mother, stumbles across a dangerous video tape. According to the urban legend, which turns out to be disturbingly accurate, anyone who views the tape dies seven days later.
The Ring is part ghost story, with opening and closing sequences so scary that they traumatized several generations of teenagers, and part investigative journalism drama. The mystery around the tape is compelling, and Watts grounds the film as the troubled woman desperate to unravel it. Samara (and her predecessor, Sadako) is a troublesome villain, as we sympathize with her backstory and fear her revenge.
Talk To Me (2022)
While many of the films on this list are more subtle, slow ghost stories, Talk To Me is anything but. When a group of teens discover a ceramic hand that allows them to speak to the dead, grieving Mia (Sophia Wilde) cannot resist the temptation to use it. While at first she tries to contact her deceased mother, she eventually becomes addicted to the thrill of reaching out to the other side.
Talk To Me is a wild, no-holds-barred debut for directors Michael and Danny Philippou. Their depiction of the afterlife is bloody, painful, and screaming, which directly parallels the deep grief that Mia is struggling with (effectively portrayed by Wilde in a difficult role). The creepy ritualistic hand is striking, and helps set the tone that anything is possible as Mia spirals deeper into the madness of its power.
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