Poetic Isolation

Another time of the year to bring fear and horror! It's almost Halloween! From costume parties to spooky candies, you are free to choose whatever fun you wanna have in the spookiest time of the year. Sadly, I don't think I will be able to attend any costume parties this year :( so in my case, I'll just drown myself in horror films to get that Halloween spirit!

I'm a forever fan of horror films. I think I've watched a hundred plus already? don't know, can't count them. From all of the horror films that I've watched, below are my top 15 horror films that scared the sh*t out of me once upon a time. Now I'm sharing them to you for this Halloween if you have nothing else to do on that spooky night.

1. Evil Dead (1981)

The Evil Dead is a 1979 recorded and 1981 American horror film written and directed by Sam Raimi and starring Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, and Betsy Baker. The Evil Dead focuses on five college students vacationing in an isolated cabin in a wooded area. After they find an audiotape that releases a legion of demons and spirits, members of the group suffer from demonic possession, leading to increasingly gory mayhem.

One of my all time classic film favorite! I think this one's so cool despite the fact that it was created more than two decades ago.This doesn't have a brilliant twist but for a 1981 film, the special effects are brilliant! The film was also portrayed well by very good actors and not to mention, the script! thumbs up for this one. This film actually has a remake (2013) which was also scary but still, I'd go for the 1981 edition.

2. The Shining (1980)

The Shining is a 1980 British-American psychological horror film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, co-written with novelist Diane Johnson, and starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, and Scatman Crothers. The film is based on Stephen King's novel of the same name. A writer, Jack Torrance, takes a job as an off-season caretaker at an isolated hotel. His young son possesses psychic abilities and is able to see things from the past and future, such as the ghosts who inhabit the hotel. Soon after settling in, the family is trapped in the hotel by a snowstorm, and Jack gradually becomes influenced by a supernatural presence; he descends into madness and attempts to murder his wife and son.

Also produced during the 80's, gosh, why do I always love things from the 80's? This film is truly a masterpiece. At first, I am only interested in reading the novel by King, but I wasn't able to get a copy of the book so I thought I'll just go check the film just to see how was it. I didn't regret watching the film. And I promise you won't too. ;)

3. Jeepers Creepers (2001)

Jeepers Creepers is a 2001 American horror film written and directed by Victor Salva. The movie takes its name from the 1938 song "Jeepers Creepers" which is featured in the film.The film chronicles a day in the life of two siblings, Trish (Gina Philips) and her brother Darry Jenner (Justin Long) on their way back home from college. As they drive through the Florida countryside, an old and rusty truck tries to run them off the road. After letting the vehicle pass them, they later see the same truck with a hulking man sliding what looks to be a body wrapped in blood stained sheets into a large pipe sticking out of the ground next to an old abandoned church.

There are some films that you shouldn't watch again. Jeepers Creepers is one of them.

4. Drag Me To Hell (2009)

Drag Me to Hell is a 2009 American horror film co-written and directed by Sam Raimi. The plot, written with his brother Ivan, focuses on loan officer Christine Brown (Alison Lohman), who tries to impress her boss by refusing to extend a loan to a gypsy woman by the name of Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver). In retaliation, Ganush places a curse on Christine that, after three days of escalating torment, will plunge her into the depths of Hell to burn for eternity.

The scariest thing about this film is that I have the same name as the protagonist in the film. This one gave me the chills though. Didn't sleep well after watching. Imagine a very sick person vomiting straight into your mouth while its wide open.

5. Art of the Devil 2 (2004)

A sequel in name only to a 2004 film (Khon len khong), this film is about a teacher, named Aajaan Panor (portrayed by Napakpapha Nakprasitte), who is humiliated by some students. She turns to black magic to exact revenge.

One word. GROSS.

6. Ju-on:The Grudge (2002)

Ju-on: The Grudge is a 2002 Japanese horror film written and directed by Takashi Shimizu. This film is the third installment in the Ju-on series and the first film to be theatrically released (the first two entries being direct-to-video productions).

Japanese films are Japanese films. Who would have thought a child so cute would turn out as a scary ghost? This had an American remake but go watch the Japanese version first.

7. The Ring (1998)

Ring (リング Ringu) is a 1998 Japanese horror film by Hideo Nakata, adapted from the novel Ring by Kōji Suzuki, which in turn draws on the Japanese folk tale Banchō Sarayashiki. The film stars Nanako Matsushima, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Rikiya Ōtaka as members of a divorced family. The film was later remade in the US as The Ring (2002). The film is the highest grossing horror film in Japan at 12 billion yen ($137.7 million) and is also considered the most frightening horror film in Japan according to a survey of Oricon.

Considered as the scariest Japanese film. If you haven't watched this, better find out why! ;)

8. Final Destination 1 (2000)

Final Destination is a 2000 American horror film directed by James Wong and the first installment of the Final Destination series. The screenplay was written by Glen Morgan, Wong and Jeffrey Reddick, based on a story by Reddick. The film stars Devon Sawa, Ali Larter, Kerr Smith and Tony Todd. Sawa portrays a teenager who "cheats death" after having a premonition of himself and others perishing in a plane explosion. He uses his premonition to save himself and a handful of other passengers, but is stalked by Death, which gradually takes the lives of the passengers who should have perished on the plane.

I love this film! Devon Sawa did a very good portrayal of his role. Final Destination had five 5 installments. All were good, but I highly recommend the first and the last. If you've watched the first, go watch all five.

9. The Road (2011)

The Road (stylized as The Яoad) is a 2011 Filipino psychological horror film directed byYam Laranas. The film was released in the Philippines by GMA Films on November 30, 2011 to positive reviews and moderate success. It was commercially released in the United States by Freestyle Releasing on May 11, 2012.

Normally I wouldn't watch Filipino horror films. Simply because they suck. Not being an expert here but I know when a film is good or not. With all those cliche lines and obvious special effects, you'd waste your time watching some of them. However, The Road is different, it's really scary! the plot, the storyline, the cinematography, you'd definitely share this with your friends. Laranas is really a btch for making this one. Maybe one good reason is because it doesn't dwell too much in drama like most other Filipino horror films do.

10. Conjuring (2013)

The Conjuring is a 2013 American supernatural horror film directed by James Wan.Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson star as Ed and Lorraine Warren who were American paranormal investigators and authors associated with prominent cases of haunting. Their reports inspired the Amityville Horror. The Warrens come to the assistance of the Perron family (Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor), who are experiencing increasingly disturbing events in their farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island in 1971.

I guess you've all heard about the intensity of this film? If you haven't, better pay your ignorance. I always love films directed by James Wan. It's always, shall I say, it's an epitome of a horror film. With its disturbing sounds and probing storylines, you're gonna die watching this film. lelz

11. Insidious (2011)

Insidious is a 2011 American supernatural horror film. Written by Leigh Whannell and directed by James Wan, the film features Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye, and Barbara Hershey in starring roles. The story centers on a couple whose son inexplicably enters a comatose state and becomes a vessel for ghosts in an astral dimension.

Another film by James Wan. With the ghosts' extreme makeup and (as always) bone chilling audiovisuals, Insidious is definitely a horror film worth watching. You might also wanna listen to the demon's song entitled Tiptoe Through the Window which is creepy AF.

12. Kutob (2005)

Kutob is a 2005 Filipino suspense horror film directed by Jose Javier Reyes; the title translates into "foreboding" in English. The film was a box office success in the Philippines, with both Reyes and Agustin also winning the Best Director and Best Actor awards respectively at the 2005 Metro Manila Film Festival; the film itself came third at the festival. The film contains elements of horror and the supernatural without being overtly of those genres, drawing comparisons in places to two US films; namely, Psycho and Carrie.

Another Filipino horror film that I really, really love. I don't know exactly but there was a time when Canary Films is constantly producing a horror film directed by Jose Javier Reyes and always with Rica Peralejo as the protagonist. I've watched them all and they were also really good. They're not one of the usual horror films in the Phillippine Cinema and Kutob is one of my favorites.

13. 1408 (2007)

1408 is a 2007 American psychological horror film based on the Stephen King short story of the same name directed by Swedish director Mikael Håfström, who earlier had directed the horror film Drowning Ghost.

The film follows Mike Enslin, an author who specializes in the horror genre. Mike's career is essentially based on investigating allegedly haunted houses, although his repeatedly unfruitful studies have left him disillusioned and pessimistic. Through an anonymous warning (via postcard), Mike eventually learns of the Dolphin Hotel in New York City, which houses the infamous "Room 1408". Interested yet skeptical, Mike decides to spend one night in the hotel although manager Olin (Jackson) warns him strongly against it. Mike has a series of bizarre experiences in the room.

I know this is supposed to be a horror film, but I was laughing the whole time watching this. This film drove me crazy. I love the story and how the events chill into my spine. This is just one of Stephen King's masterpiece.

14. The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a 2005 American courtroom drama horror film directed by Scott Derrickson and starring Laura Linney and Tom Wilkinson. The film is loosely based on the story of Anneliese Michel and follows a self-proclaimed agnostic who acts as defense counsel (Linney) representing parish priest (Wilkinson), accused by the state of negligent homicide after he performed an exorcism. The film, which largely takes place in a courtroom, depicts the events leading up to and including the exorcism through flashbacks.

This is one of the scariest shts I've watched. Needed time to get over about this, especially when I found it this was based one a true story. If you have the guts to watch this film, don't blink an eye on the horse barn scene! :D

15. Dead Silence (2007)

Dead Silence (originally titled Shhhh... and Silence, with alternate title suggestions such as The Doll and Mary Shaw) is a 2007 horror film, directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannell, the creators of Saw. The film stars Ryan Kwanten, Judith Roberts, Donnie Wahlberg, and Amber Valletta.

There's a reason why sometimes we have to shut our mouth. This film laid out one of the reasons why. shhhh..

Ghost coffee everyone? Okay so those are my 15 recommended films this Halloween. Comment below what's your favorite horror film. I'd probably go check it out ;) or how do you guys celebrate Halloween?

Based on the list, the best horror film director goes to......JAMES WAN! and the best horror story writer goes to....STEPHEN KING! I'm actually reading one of his books now :)) Good luck to me. lol