Screams and Shadows: Horror movies I’ve watched recently

I’ve been watching horror movies, which is the usual for me, but I feel like I’ve watched all of them now.  I don’t like “slasher” films, but anything with ghosts or possession I’m there for.  Psychological horror is good too, although it’s my second choice.  I’m out of English language films and it’s harder to watch subtitled because I actually have to pay attention.  Usually I’m cooking or working or crafting while I’m watching.  Here are some of the ones I’ve watched lately.

The Watchers – M. Night Shyamalan – I’m a fan of anything he does.  Not all of them are good, but all of them are fun to watch.  This was his usual level of weird and creepy with a few twists thrown in as well.

Under Paris (French) – So completely unlikely, but I still enjoyed it.  There is a shark in the Seine under Paris, and it wants to eat us all.  Sort of a cross between Jaws and Deep Blue Sea, both of which are family favorites with my kids and I.

The First Omen – The origins of Damien…except I had forgotten that Damien was adopted so I spent most of the movie confused.  In my defense, I saw the original The Omen about 20 years ago.

I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House – Slow and creepy.  There’s not really any action in this movie so if that’s what you’re looking for this isn’t for you.  A nurse is hired as a caregiver for an elderly horror author.  The nurse doesn’t read horror because she is easily scared, but becomes obsessed with her most famous book because the author keeps thinking the nurse is the main character.  Is it dementia or did the woman actually exist?  Is she still haunting the house?  Is the nurse’s imagination running away with her?  You’ll have to watch to decide for yourself. Coincidentally, I’m also watching The Golden Compass series with my youngest, and the lead actress in this movie plays Mrs. Coulter in the series.

The House at the End of the Street – This was an accidental re-watch.  I’ve seen it before but didn’t quite remember it until I was about a third of the way in.  I have a terrible memory for both books and movies, which means I can easily rewatch or reread something and not realize until it finally starts to sound familiar, usually about that far in.   I would not really have watched this twice on purpose.  It was good for one watch, but not worth two.  A mom and daughter move into a house and find out there had been a murder in the house next door.  A couple was murdered by their teenage daughter who then disappeared.  Her older brother, who had been sent to live with an aunt, now lives in the house he inherited.  Is the daughter dead?  Is she still out to kill?  Or is it something else entirely?

Up next will be Caddo Lake and Trap, both from (or at least associated with) M. Night Shyamalan.

I also have a list of Guillermo DelToro to catch up on or rewatch before Halloween.

More soon!

Lara