This page is a catalog of horror movies that I like, which aren't many. I tend to like movies for the potential that a storyline or set of characters has, regardless of if it's actually a good storyline. It's weird, I know. Anyways, here are some stories that I like either on their on merit, or for the potential that they could have had.
If you know me in real life, I'm sure you're already groaning and begging me not to talk about this show/book. But oh well, because I'm going to. I really, really love this story. It's essentially a murder mystery, but it also goes into detail about family trauma and familial relationships, and I just feel like it has much more depth to it than your usual thriller or murder mystery story. Also, Amy Adams as Camille is incredible. Patricia Clarkson did such a good job as Adora that I actually can't stand to see her in other roles, because I see her and immediately think of Adora and how horrible of a person that character was. In other words, there are so amazing actors in this mini-series. The book is incredible as well, although it's a lot darker and much more vulgar than the show, so I actually don't love the book as much as I love the mini-series. Every single actor in the show did an incredible job of bringing their respective characters to life, and the author actually worked with the script writers, so all of the small changes that were made in the adaptation were done with her approval (and honestly, I think this is one of those rare cases where the plot improves with adaptional changes).
Occasionally I listen to the soundtrack when I'm driving and I have a bit of a Camille moment.
House of Wax
If you've never seen this movie before, then prepare to witness the campiest, most early 2000s horror movie you've ever seen. And no, it isn't done in a comedic way. It takes itself 100% seriously, which honestly makes it so much better. A basic run down of the plot is this: group of college kids on their way to a football game in Baton Rouge decide to take a detour on the backroads because the interstate is at a stand still. They decide to camp overnight in an empty field, and during the night a stranger cuts the fan belt on one of the two cars. So, now they need a new fan belt. They hitch a ride with a (sadly) very stereotypical "redneck" guy, who drops them off in Ambrose, a decrepit town seemingly missing from all maps, both physical and digital. Long story short, the town only has two inhabitants. They proceed to murder the group and turn them all into wax sculptures as a tribute to their abusive mother who started the wax museum years ago. However, the final girl Carly and her twin brother escape. The End, roll credits.
It's so ridiculous and it's my favorite horror movie by far. The concept is so interesting to me, and honestly I could write an entire paper on how I believe that House of Wax and Sharp Objects are fundamentally the same storyline told through the respective perspectives of both genders. Seriously, I'm not kidding about writing a paper. I have that much to say about the idea.
Anyways, I adore this movie and I recommend it if you're looking for a goofy early 2000s horror movie. There is gore though, obviously, and it's a "serious" movie so it isn't trying to be silly or come off as a comedy. Also, Paris Hilton stars in it, so there's that.
Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark
Oh man, the love I have for the side characters in this movie....
I love this story for the potential that it's plotline has. Basically, it's a pre-teen's horror movie, so it's pretty tame in most regards. BUT, the backstory behind the main ghost that haunts the main characters is SOOO dark and it would have made for a great gothic horror standalone, honestly. Actually, I'm rewriting this story to work as a Gothic Horror/Allegorical story. I'll spare you all the entire plot summary, but the backstory is this: in the 1890s, the Bellows family owns a successful paper mill in Pennsylvania. Their only daughter Sarah has albinism, so "naturally" they keep her hidden away from the world (booooo). When the paper mill leaks mercury into the local river and poisons the townspeople, the family blames Sarah, claiming that she murdered the children through black magic. Somehow the town believes them, and the family throws Sarah to the metaphorical wolves. She later dies in a mental asylum under the care of her older brother. The movie is murky on if it was self inflicted or if she was actually murdered in order to silence her.
Yeah.....and that entire plotline is only shown for about 3 minutes out of the whole runtime. The rest of the movie is about a group of kids in 1969 trying to solve the mystery of Sarah Bellows and her "magical" book that brings scary stories to life. I wish the movie had focused solely on the Bellows family and on Sarah's life, but alas it didn't.
....and that's why I'm going to rewrite the story to give the gothic horror elements the attention that they deserve.
*cough* *insert self promotional link to my own writing here* *cough*