Horror Movies to Watch: Part 3 of 4

Horror Movies to Watch

Part III: The Psychological

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We now venture into the realm of the thrilling, the intense, the psychologically jarring. What do I mean by psychological? I mean more than one thing when referring to these psychological horror movies. In some cases, the movies can be driven by characters in strange, often obsessive and violent psychological states, and in others, the movies simply mess with your mind. In this series, however, I make sure to note the distinction between a thriller and a horror movie; while the following five movies are all in their respective ways thrilling, they all also have the ability to freeze us in horror, sort of in a Hannibal Lecter kind of way.

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Peeping Tom

Dir. Michael Powell (1960)

This masterpiece, released just a month before the immortal Psycho, is often compared to the latter film because of the way both films portrayed psychopathic killers like never before. Here we have a man who videotapes prostitutes as he murders them. Powell, already famous for his unique style of storytelling, creates an intriguing look into a serial killer's psychology as he continues his murderous run and flees from the police.

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Psycho

Dir. Alfred Hitchcock (1960)

Psycho is of course famous for the "shower scene," where the supposed "heroine" is killed off just a third of the way through in a scene that initially shocked the world but is now so well known that to us it's no surprise at all. We learn that the real "main character" is Norman Bates, a real psycho killer who is one of the most intriguing and chilling characters in movie history.

*****

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Dir. Robert Aldrich (1962)

Here's a movie that has a solid plot but is mostly carried by incredibly brilliant acting. In Baby Jane, we follow the story of two sisters. One is a famous actress but now a paraplegic after an "accident." The other is a Vaudeville has-been, is jealous of her sister's success, and then proceeds to torture her sister for most of the film. This movie is perhaps lesser known than some other horror classics, but it is a must-see.

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Don't Look Now

Dir. Nicolas Roeg (1973)

Does the image of a girl in a bright red raincoat sound familiar? It's so well-known, but not many have heard of this movie, where it originates. Anyway, here's a mind trip where we follow a couple whose daughter has recently died. The wife is drawn to some strange psychic sisters while the husband chases what seems to be his dead child. This all builds up to a crazy conclusion.

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Jacob's Ladder

Dir. Adrian Lyne (1990)

This may fall more under the category of thriller and definitely does give you a huge adrenaline rush, but it is certainly quite freaky as well. The film revolves largely around the testing of a drug that creates hallucinations and increases aggression - in a Vietnam War setting. Appropriately, the feel of the film is quite hallucinogenic and definitely very intense. While the other movies listed here are carried more by acting, Jacob's Ladder is carried by its visual effects, which are intense but not gratuitous.

*****

Stay tuned for the final installment

of this series, Part IV: The Excessive