Recommend the Best Psychological Horror Films

[Brickcups]

South Korean film A Tale of Two Sisters (Janghwa, Hongryeon)

I love that movie! You could always try other Korean movies like Awake(aka "Return" in korean) Black House, Memories of Murder.

Then there's the good old revenge trilogy by Bak Chan Ook. (not sure if they count, and i figure you've watched them based on your list of movies) Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Old Boy and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance are always a good watch.

 

[quiet_samurai]

Event Horizon
Dark City
Jacob's Ladder

 

[Insomniaku]

A Clockwork Orange

 

[BKtheKITTY]

"The Last Broadcast". An independent horror film that saw a major theatrical release.
THIS is the movie that started the "Camcorder Horror" Trend (Blair Witch, REC, etc).

To date this is the only one that gets it right, IMHO. The best part? The whole thing is on YouTube! Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvkw6C4qThM

DUDE you're not recommending REC? Fair enough Quarantine can go to hell, but REC was fantastic! Maybe not the most intellectual film, but it didn't rely on gore, nor things leaping at you... The whole thing was just down and out scary, watch it, OP! =3

 

[SyphonX]

Why Quarantine instead of [Rec]? [Rec] was way better, and Quarantine was merely a Hollywood clone cash-in, just like they do with all the eastern horrors.

 

[Zand88]

The Blair Witch Project is still the best of all the mockumentary horror films. It is
much scarier than Paranormal Activity.
Jacob's Ladder
Don't Look Now
Audition (the first hour of it, anyway.. still worth a look, as long as you don't look it up)
The Wicker Man (only the original)
The Ring
May (it becomes a slasher at the end, but the rest of it is good.)
Rosemary's Baby
The Orphanage
Three.. Extremes (particularly, Box and Dumplings)
The House of the Devil

 

[hittite]

"You're Invited to Mary-Kate and Ashley's Slumber Party"

This straight-to-video classic has been proven to completely destroy the brains of those who watch it and is an effective anti-zombie weapon.

(yes, this is a joke)

 

[Caligulove]

The Descent is pretty good, especially if claustrophobic, as in preference in horror...
that and... shit most of mine have been taken by other posters. [REC] is great, too. Quarentine was the remake over here, but I think there was something scarier about the Spanish original... I like it better

I WILL say that. if youre looking for SUSPENSE and the best Thriller ever! That really makes you bite your nails... REAR WINDOW. God, I love that movie

 

[xDarc]

I think "Taking Lives" from 2004 is a good psychological thriller. I've never seen it. But every time I used to see it at the video store... I couldn't help but think that if you blocked out angelina jolie's face- it looked like some steamy man love was going on. See what I'm talking about?

[http://img269.imageshack.us/i/lives.jpg/]


So anything that messes with your head that much must be great as far as mind fuck movies go. The box says it's also a thriller, in addition to "sexy," so there ya go. As I side note, I hate these movies. Give me dope smokers, skinny dippers, monsters and slashers. Long live the 80's cheese.

 

[Woem]

1/ Das Experiment. The original German version please, not the American "The Experiment" remake.
2/ [REC]. The original Spanish version please, not the American "Quarantine" remake.

 

[Roxilla84]

The original 1951 film called Thing from Another World is more suspenseful and less gory than the 1982 version - and it is very much a commentary on McCarthyism. It's worth a look if you want a decent horror flick from the golden age of films.

 

[Roxilla84]

Thanks Escapists! I'm surprised (pleasantly) that a lot of films I have seen and loved have been suggested here (Session 9, Se7en, Pet Sematary, Jacob's Ladder, Event Horizon, The Thing, etc.) - it makes me love you forum posters even more. That said, I think there were about fifteen films suggested that I haven't seen that are now on my list. Thank you all SO MUCH - I really appreciate it!!!

 

[Roxilla84]

Try:
"The Shining" by Stanley Kubrick.

You win, this thread is over.

OP:John Carpenter's 'The Thing' is a rare pyschological horror movie that has aliens.

No, you win.

Seriously. One of the greatest horror movies ever. I've heard the original black and white is good too, but this is one of my favorite movies (not just horror)

And as for a mindfuck movie, Eraserhead gives me the heebie jeebies.

I mean seriously, what the fuck is wrong with that baby?

AHHHHHHHH I can't even whole turkeys anymore!!!

 

[Roxilla84]

if you're a guy, dont watch audition.
you'll never date again.
Jacob's Ladder has always been (in my opinion) the scariest movie ever, with my fav horror movie being John Carpenter's The Thing from 1981 (with Kurt Russell).
But ...
If you want something different ...
Try a modern urban fable, set in conventions NOT of a horror movie. A movie where the characters are all normal people, with great dreams ...
but their addictions and escapism gets a hold of them and their dreams turn into the most horrifying of nightmares.
It's one of the finest, most stylish examples of great filmmaking ...
but I PROMISE it will leave you feeling like you just got sucker punched int he gut.
REQUIEM FOR A DREAM
by Darren Arronofsky

Oh god that movie... that movie wasn't just psychological horror, it was money in the bank for therapists everywhere...

 

[ErictheRed1989]

Donny Darko if it hasn't been said already.

 

[Roxilla84]

I would humbly suggest the 1997 Canadian film "Cube." I wouldn't wanna give too much away, but it's dark, brooding, and suspenseful.

Don't "humbly" suggest it. Cube is one of the best films to ever come out of Canada. Great suggestion.

 

[Wildrow12]

"The Last Broadcast". An independent horror film that saw a major theatrical release.
THIS is the movie that started the "Camcorder Horror" Trend (Blair Witch, REC, etc).

To date this is the only one that gets it right, IMHO. The best part? The whole thing is on YouTube! Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvkw6C4qThM

DUDE you're not recommending REC? Fair enough Quarantine can go to hell, but REC was fantastic! Maybe not the most intellectual film, but it didn't rely on gore, nor things leaping at you... The whole thing was just down and out scary, watch it, OP! =3

REC was okay, but I just didn't find it scary. I attribute this to two major factors:

1. The pacing was kind of predictable and the movie telegraphed it's moves. I just wasn't surprised or shocked for most of it.

2. This is going to sound weird, and it's really just a personal quirk of mine but....I am rarely able to get scared in movies where the spoken dialog is in my native tongue (Spanish). Weird, huh?

But you are right, REC might be worth a shot for the OP. I just think that TLB was a more gripping kind of horror movie.