6 Infinitely Rewatchable Horrors That Never Fail to Terrify Me
Are you tired of boring horror and searching for a movie that can genuinely scare you? These films have proven themselves worthy of multiple viewings, even if it means sacrificing your peace of mind. Again.
It's really no secret that I'm absolutely in love with the horror genre. I don't mind a slasher, a psychological thriller or even a found footage horror. I'll take anything that can make me scared.
Yet there are certain movies that make me shaky to the point that even after rewatching them time and time again, it doesn't get easier for me. It's definitely a toxic relationship that I can't quite let go of.
These 6 films always make me question my decision-making every time I hit play, knowing full well what's coming. Yet like a moth to a flame, I keep coming back for more.
The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016): Medical Examination Gone Wrong
Trapped in a morgue with a corpse that might not be as dead as it seems.
The story follows a father-son coroner duo who receive a pristine corpse with no apparent cause of death. As they dig deeper (literally and figuratively), they find increasingly impossible things that science cannot explain.
I've made the mistake of suggesting this movie for group movie nights more times than I want to admit. You'd think having company would make it less scary, but this film has a special talent for creating an atmosphere so filled with dread that even a full room feels suffocatingly lonely. Whether I'm watching it solo or with friends who are no longer speaking to me, the effect remains the same, and it's pure terror.
You can find the extremely claustrophobic The Autopsy of Jane Doe on Fandango at Home, Amazon Video or Apple TV+.
The Ring (2002) Ruined Phone Calls & TVs forever
Gore Verbinski will mess with your head. He knows very well how to create paranoia.
Following a journalist investigating a mysterious videotape linked to unexplainable deaths, this American remake of the Japanese classic created the most terrifying mystery that never fails to scare the living hell out of me.
This one is particularly special because it was my introduction to horror. The way I discovered it matches the film so perfectly it's almost funny (almost). A friend showed it to me just like in the movie, they needed to pass down the cassette. And here I am, I guess, spreading the curse further.
Just talking about this got my TV looking at me very strange. So without further ado, you can watch The Ring now on Hoopla completely free of charge.
Midsommar (2019): Daylight Horror
It may not scare you the same way The Ring will, but it’ll definitely leave you disturbed and terrified.
Following a group of friends who visit a remote Swedish village during its midsummer festival, the film slowly unfolds into a psychedelic nightmare, cult rituals and manipulation.
With every rewatch, I discover new details that make my skin crawl. This bright setting only amplifies the horror and creates a disturbing contrast that sinks deep into your psyche.
Midsommar is available on Fandango at Home, Amazon Video and Apple TV+. But maybe plan something lighthearted afterward. You're going to need it.
Sinister (2012): The Footage From Hell
If Sinister taught me anything, it's that unknown Super 8 tapes should stay in their boxes, preferably buried underground.
The story follows a true-crime writer who moves his family into a house where he discovers a box of Super 8 films that document a series of horrific murders.
My first viewing was a bad decision on my part. I was alone in the middle of the night with hours of darkness ahead. Even now, knowing every jump scare and plot twist, the tension remains unbearable. The home movies within the movie are particularly effective at creating lasting psychological damage.
You can find it on HBO Max, Fandango at Home, Amazon Video, and Apple TV+. And maybe watch it with the lights on and definitely not at 2 AM like I did.
As Above, So Below (2014): Underground Nightmare
Found footage horror might not be for everyone and I can see why. But I highly encourage you to watch this one.
The film follows a team of explorers venturing into the infamous Paris catacombs, where they encounter much more than ancient bones. As they go further, they all are forced to face their personal demons.
It pains me to see it buried under bad reviews and a poor 29% on Rotten Tomatoes. Don't let that score fool you, however. The use of actual catacombs is absolutely insane and is not talked about enough.
Definitely check this one out. As Above, So Below is available on Fandango at Home, Amazon Video and Apple TV+. Give this one some love.
The Conjuring ( 2013): The Tension Is Rising
Horrors that are based on true events are the most terrifying. The rational part of me tells that the movie is 95% fiction, yet the rest screams “what if it's real?” every time I watch it.
The Conjuring follows the Perron family who moved into a haunted farmhouse and the paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren who try to help them.
James Wan is great at building tension and this time around he really shows it off. That's why it makes it so scary for me. It doesn't rush into the scares, but rather lets them marinate, building up the tension until you're practically begging for a release. And when the jump scares hit, they are actually good.
You can catch The Conjuring on HBO Max and Apple TV+. Maybe watch it at a friend's place.
