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Horror Movies That Scare Me, and I'm a Paranormal Investigator
11
items These movies come from all around the world and range in sub-genre, including found footage and psychological horror.
Sections
4
Japanese Horror
American Horror
Canadian Horror
Thai Horror
Japanese Horror
Truly a J-horror gem, but it's highly underrated. The ending will get under your skin, I guarantee.
Pulse (2001) - IMDb
Battle Royale is one of the most well-crafted survival horror films out there. It pushed so many boundaries when it came out. The cast is stacked, and the scares are plenty!
Battle Royale (2000) - IMDb
The very first Ju-On film is kind of the epitome of J-horror. The scares don't jump right in your face - they creep up on you.
Watch Ju-on: The Grudge
American Horror
Session 9 is utterly eerie, and the fear comes from how the tension builds over time. I had to watch it twice to ‘get’ it, and it is a movie that has stayed with me. It even influenced my Master's thesis!
Session 9 (2001) - IMDb
Spoiler: The dog doesn't die! Indy the dog is one of the best horror actors out there, and the emotions that this film brings up made me hug my dog a bit harder. (Sorry, Stella, ha ha!)
Good Boy (2025)
I know Kubrick was really hard on his actors, especially Shelly, but man, this movie is a classic. The book is even scarier, in my opinion, but the film captures that sense of isolation and helplessness.
The Shining (1980)
Did you think the found footage sub-genre ran out of steam? I did, too, until this one came along in 2022. It has some great comedic moments but is also definitely horror.
Deadstream
This is what hooked me on horror. I saw this film when it was in theaters, when I was a kid, and it made me want to make movies alone in the woods. Also, the town of Burkitsville is reportedly haunted in real life!
Watch The Blair Witch Project
The best adaptation of Shirley Jackson's novel, in my opinion. I mean, I only used that book as part of my Master's thesis… Anyway, this stellar black-and-white film from 1963 delivers horror in a way that is truly psychological.
The Haunting (1963) - IMDb
Canadian Horror
Spoof-ish of Ghost Adventures? Definitely. Extremely well-done? Yep. But my advice? Skip the sequel. Just watch this as a standalone. It's so much better that way.
Grave Encounters (2011) - IMDb
Thai Horror
This film really put Thai horror on the international map when it was released. It is eerie, spiritual, and riveting until the end.
Shutter | Rotten Tomatoes