This is a list of films rated 4-5 stars, along with franchises and series that are worthy on the whole, and therefore come highly recommended by DOTT.

#-A–B–C–D–E–F–G–H–I–J–K–L–M–N–O–P-Q-R–S–T–U–V–W–X–Y–Z

A

A Quiet Place trilogy
Released: 2018-present
Synopsis: Beginning with A Quiet Place, in which we follow a family’s experience in a world that has come to a standstill due to the invasion of an alien species, the franchise follows the Abbotts to their discovery of the aliens’ weakness in A Quiet Place Part II, and a prequel, A Quiet Place: Day One, which gives a bigger overview of the day the aliens came to Earth.
Verdict: A solid trilogy (thus-far) that puts a unique swing on the alien invasion trope, with plenty of humanity injected into an otherwise frightening world of silence and scares.
Read the full A Quiet Place, A Quiet Place Part II, A Quiet Place: Day One reviews.

Alien series
Released: 1979-present
Synopsis: Over the course of multiple films, space crews are hunted by Xenomorphs, parasitic alien creatures that rely on other lifeforms for their procreation. Anchored mostly by the character Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), the films delve into different stories about how characters survive, or succumb to, the Xenomorphs’ reign of terror.
Verdict: One of the longest-running series in cinema, Alien has its ups and downs as it progresses through prequels and sequels, but there’s a reason it keeps on going, and that is our innate addiction to the unknown, and the fear of it.
Check out DOTT’s Film Club – Alien and the full Alien: Romulus review.

American Psycho
Released: 2000
Director: Mary Harron, based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis
Synopsis: Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) leads a double life as an investment banker in New York City by day and a serial killer by night, until his apparent psychosis seems to catch up with him.
Verdict: A violent and disturbing film with plenty of dark comedy that will entertain, shock and disgust. Featuring excellent performances, particularly from Bale, and a lot of themes to mull over, this is one that you will need to be in the right frame of mind to watch, but watch you absolutely should. 4/5

Antichrist
Released: 2009
Director: Lars von Trier
Synopsis: After the death of their son, a grieving couple head to a cabin in the woods to sort through their emotions. Whilst their, the man, a therapist, begins to have strange visions, and the woman, who has a fear of nature, starts to become sexually violent toward the man.
Verdict: This film will not be to everyone’s taste (von Trier movies are generally rather polarising), but if you can stomach it, there’s a lot to be unpacked. There are many shocking scenes, and the horrifying physical and mental aspects are pushed to uncomfortable levels, making this a solid horror that will potentially leave you pondering what exactly it was all about. 4/5

B

Best Wishes to All (Japanese: みなに幸あれ)
Released: 2022
Director: Yûta Shimots
Synopsis: A young woman visits her grandparents in a rural town, and what she discovers at their house opens up a world of terror.
Verdict: An interesting look at how happiness sometimes requires the suffering of others, balanced well with body horror and the horror of waking up to the real world. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes Best Wishes to All review.

Bird Box
Released: 2018
Director: Susanne Bier
Synopsis: When an unseen force starts causing people to commit suicide, heavily pregnant Malore (Sandra Bullock) finds her way to a house with other people seeking refuge. As the strange phenomenon grows, Malorie and the group set out to find other survivors.
Verdict: Though not the most original in story, Bird Box’s characters and commitment to keeping the antagonistic force as an unseen entity both work very much toward its favour. Add on top of that a creeping score by the one and only Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and you have something that does breathe some fresh life into a story that contains themes that continue to be rehashed. 4/5
Read the full Bird Box review.

The Black Phone duology
Released: 2021/2025
Director: Scott Derrickson
Synopsis: Young Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) has psychic dreams that hint at the whereabouts of some missing children. When her own brother Finney (Mason Thames) is kidnapped, Gwen relies on her abilities to find him, in spite of their abusive father’s misgivings. In Black Phone 2, Gwen and Finn are haunted by Finn’s captor and delve into their family history to find out how to kill him for good.
Verdict: The short story by Joe Hill doesn’t give a whole lot away, and the first film just adds more characters to lengthen the plot rather than explore the supernatural side of the story (3/5). The second film adds more depth to the characters and further explores the the supernatural side. (4/5)
Read the Tiny Tapes The Black Phone and the full Black Phone 2 reviews.

Blade trilogy
Released: 1998-2004
Synopsis: Blade (Wesley Snipes), a dhampir (not quite a full vampire) and vampire hunter, hunts the creatures that killed his mother. Alongside fellow vampire hunter Whistler (Kris Kristofferson), he puts himself in the firing line when pure-blood and bitten vampires are at war, when a mutation in vampires threatens both humans and vampires, and when the most infamous vampire of all is resurrected.
Verdict: While the third film of the trilogy is much more lacking than the previous two, the overall Blade trilogy is epic comic book fun and provides plenty of horror and gore as vampires prey on humans, and vampires fight each other. Snipes is fantastic in the lead role, and we can only hope and pray for another film after his reprisal in Deadpool & Wolverine.

The Blair Witch Project
Released: 1999
Directors: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez
Synopsis: A group of student filmmakers embark on the creation of a documentary film about a myth known as the Blair Witch, and upon their eventual disappearance, the footage they shot is found and compiled in a bid to find out exactly what they found and what happened to them.
Verdict: A groundbreaking horror that very much revived the ‘hand-held’ style of filming and storytelling, It continues to terrify audiences, with its lack of score, frightening atmosphere and masterful shocks and scares. Many have attempted to do justice to the found-footage framework, but not so well as the OG. 4/5

The Blob
Released: 1958
Director: Irvin Yeaworth
Synopsis: In Steve McQueen’s leading role debut, a small gelatinous blob comes down to Earth and slowly begins to attack people, appearing to consume them. As it does, it dramatically grows in size. Two teenagers attempt to warn people, but struggle to get anyone to believe them before it’s too late.
Verdict: As a kid, this film was terrifying. As an adult, it still holds up pretty well, with great performances and quiet moments of suspense balanced well with shock and horror. Most of the terror happens in the final 20 minutes, but taking its time isn’t necessarily a bad thing. 4/5

The Borderlands (US: Final Prayer)
Released: 2013
Director: Elliot Goldner
Synopsis: A group of three men consisting of a sceptical religious brother, a tech expert and a priest are sent to Devon in the English West Country to investigate supernatural occurrences eminating from an old church that has recently reopened, the apparent location of a “miracle”.
Verdict: This film gets off to a bit of a slow start, though the casual shots of apparently empty interior and exterior locations work well to build tension. There are elements of films such as The Omen and The Blair Witch Project that make it ever so creepy, and although the story itself might be a little up and down, the terrifying ending is one of the best film pay-offs ever. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes The Borderlands review.

Braindead (US: Dead Alive)
Released: 1992
Director: Peter Jackson
Synopsis: When his overbearing mother is bitten by a rat-monkey hybrid creature and turns into a zombie, Lionel (Timothy Balme) finds himself trying to survive in the middle of an outbreak along with love interest Paquita (Diana Peñalver).
Verdict: This early work of Peter Jackson, he of Lord of the Rings, has absolutely nothing in common with his later fantasy work bar one thing: his clear commitment to bringing something visually alive for audiences. Content-wise, it’s hilarious, gory, and a perfect B-horror-type film, and it certainly has that classic New Zealand-vibe of not taking itself too seriously. 4/5

Bride of Frankenstein
Released: 1935
Director: James Whale
Synopsis: Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive), found alive after the events of Frankenstein, has grown wary in his quest to create life and thus abandons his experiments. Soon, he is convinced by his old mentor to begin again, and after further threats from the Monster (Boris Karloff), his original creation who also survived, he complies, and works on creating a mate for the Monster.
Verdict: This sequel is, surprisingly, decent. It’s perhaps a little less horrific and even less to do with the Bride herself, and focuses more on the Monster’s story and his evolving intelligence, as well as the continuing quest of men to play God. One particular scene with Henry’s mentor Doctor Pretorius and his little creations is a technological marvel for the time, and overall many modern filmmakers could learn a lesson or two from this solid sequel. 4/5

Brightburn
Released: 2019
Director: David Yarovesky
Synopsis: In a story that throws that of Superman on its head, a childless couple in Kansas find a baby in a crashed spaceship and take him in as their own. As the boy grows to puberty he discovers he has powers, but his intentions are far from good, showing that he doesn’t believe in truth, justice or the American way.
Verdict: Brightburn has a slightly unoriginal story, however the directions the plot takes often makes up for it, along with a commentary not only on the human condition, but the current state of affairs in many places around the world. 4/5
Read the full Brightburn review.

Bring Her Back
Release date: 2025
Directors: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
Synopsis: A brother and sister discover some strange things at the home of their foster mother.
Verdict: In spite of a slightly unoriginal story, the Philippou brothers prove their mettle by creating another horror film that is almost as horrific and gruesome as their debut (Talk to Me). 4/5
Read the full Bring Her Back review.

C

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (German: Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari)
Released: 1920
Director: Robert Wiene
Synopsis: This early work of German expressionism follows the story of a warped hypnotist who brainwashes a man that suffers with a sleepwalking condition in order to commit murders.
Verdict: A fantastic and enduring film that proves we don’t need modern technology to create a classic. With amazing set designs and costumes, it has had a clear surrealist influence on cinema as a whole in the last 100 years. It is hard to find an original amongst all the dubbed or soundtracked versions, with some being far more jarring and reprehensible than others, but as it was originally a silent film, it is perfectly easy to watch with the sound off. 4/5

The Cabin in the Woods
Released: 2012
Director: Drew Goddard
Synopsis: A group of college students head for a getaway to an old cabin in the woods, a cabin that, unknown to them, is under surveillance by technicians who will unleash all kinds of hell upon them.
Verdict: With plenty of laughs, horror and gore thanks to the writing of Joss Whedon and Goddard, this film takes many horror tropes and turns them on their head with the infused humour. You won’t know whether to be grossed out or tickled pink red. 4/5

The Call (Korean: 콜 )
Released: 2020
Director: Lee Chung-hyun
Synopsis: When a landline phone rings in 2019, Seo-yeon (Park Shin-hye) picks up and speaks to Young-sook (Jeon Jong-seo), an abused previous tenant of the house calling from 1999. Young-sook helps out Seo-yeon to improve Seo-yeon’s future, but when Young-sook becomes envious, things start to take a dark turn.
Verdict: A unique story, The Call takes twists and turns that, while a little predictable at times, are able to shock and enthrall audiences. It builds well with great pacing and is held afloat by interesting characters. Jeon Jong-seo puts in an especially menacing performance as the young and disturbed Young-sook. 4/5

Chronicle
Released: 2012
Director: Josh Trank
Synopsis: Three very different high school students form a bond when they gain telekinetic powers after encountering a strange object in a cave. They start to mess about with their powers, until one of them starts to take things too far.
Verdict: As most horror films of found footage framing are geared towards an adult audience, this one works well for a younger audience who want to become familiar with this subgenre. It’s mild with the frights but has plenty of thrills and suspense and adds depth to the lives of each of the three lead teens. The CGI leaves a lot to be desired, being not particularly convincing, but that can be forgiven for a film from 2012. The climax is decent and the performances are excellent, particularly from Dane DeHaan. 4/5

Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Released: 1977
Director: Stephen Spielberg
Synopsis: Roy (Richard Dreyfuss) has an encounter with a UFO, as does single mother Jillian (Melinda Dillon), and it’s not long before authorities begin to catch on, too. When Roy and Jillian have visions of the same mountain, they both head there in the hope of finding some answers.
Verdict: With decent VFX, solid and at times hilarious performances, an epic and iconic John Williams score and a well-paced build-up, this Spielberg-written-and-directed feature is one of the all-time great alien movies for a reason. 4/5

Cloverfield series
Released: 2008-present
Synopsis: Over the course of three films, Manhattan is attacked by a huge monster and smaller, much more lethal creatures; some people attempt to hide while lying to others about what is really going on; and we are presented with the origin of the creatures.
Verdict: The series begins strong with the found-footage style Cloverfield, continues to impress with the more psychologically disturbing 10 Cloverfield Lane, but then takes a nosedive with The Cloverfield Paradox. The premise is good but has not been the strongest in execution. There is a chance for that to change in the upcoming fourth instalment.

Coco
Released: 2017
Directors: Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina
Synopsis: Young music lover and aspiring musician Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) keeps his guitar playing a secret from his music-loathing family, until on the Day of the Dead he finds himself in the Land of the Dead and searching for his great-great-grandfather, in the hopes that he can help him to convince the family that music is not the evil thing they believe it to be.
Verdict: Coco is a vibrant film that celebrates life, death and music in a way that is enjoyable and inspiring. It has wonderful songs that adults and children alike can enjoy, and the emotional journey of Miguel and his family underscores the excitement of celebrating the Day of the Dead. 4/5

Corpse Bride
Released: 2005
Directors: Tim Burton, Mike Johnson
Synopsis: Victor (Johnny Depp) is soon to marry the lovely Victoria (Emily Watson), and so he works on practicing his wedding vows. However, his unfortunate decision to rehearse his vows at the unmarked grave of Emily (Helena Bonham Carter), a murdered bride, results in her resurrection and the misunderstanding that his vows were intended for her. Victor has to find his way back to Victoria and to help Emily back to her rest.
Verdict: Another excellent stop-motion production from Tim Burton, Corpse Bride is full of the filmmaker’s classic gothic vibe that creates a dark atmosphere for a pretty dark story. Nevertheless, it is an easy watch for kids with minimal frights, perfect for fans of Coraline and The Nightmare Before Christmas. 4/5

Creature From the Black Lagoon
Released: 1954
Director: Jack Arnold
Synopsis: On an expedition to the Amazon, scientists come across a violent amphibious humanoid creature – dubbed “Gill-man” – in the waters. As they try to make their way back home, the creature becomes more violent and seeks to abduct one of them.
Verdict: Arnold does a fantastic job of keeping things interesting with the various settings and use of light to enhance the picture (possibly in part due to the fact it was originally released in 3D, which at the time it was just falling out of popularity in the 50s). The costuming, while a little dated now, still works to make the creature a figure of terror, particularly with brief shots of its hand creeping out of the water or through a window. A classic that is absolutely worth your time. 4/5

The Crow
Released: 1994
Director: Alex Proyas, based on the graphic novel
Synopsis: In a violent and crime-heavy Detroit, rock musician Eric Draven (Brandon Lee) and his girlfriend are brutally attacked and murdered by a gang of thugs. One year later, Eric returns from the dead to exact revenge on their murderers.
Verdict: A disturbingly dark yet extremely satisfying story, The Crow features amazing performances, an excellent soundtrack and an atmosphere thick with vengeance. Sadly this was to be Lee’s final film, due to his death caused by an accident on set, and it is as revered now as it was then, in part for the legacy Lee left in his final work. 4/5

D

The Day the Earth Stood Still
Released: 1951
Director: Robert Wise
Synopsis: During the Cold War, at the time of the nuclear arms race, a humanoid alien arrives on Earth to warn humans of their impending doom if they don’t come to peaceful terms, as they will be deemed a threat to other planets in the future.
Verdict: A timeless film, the message of The Day the Earth Stood Still sadly still resonates today. Its horror stems from the threat of humans exterminating themselves rather than the threat of extinction from extraterrestrials. The alien Klaatu delivers his message with an balance of matter-of-fact and haste, mostly thanks to Michael Rennie’s performance. Klaatu’s interactions with the boy Bobby also lends the film some innocence. Based on the short story Farewell to the Master by Harry Bates, the film deviates a lot to add depth and resonance. 5/5

Delicatessen (French)
Released: 1991
Director: Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Synopsis: In a dystopian world, the tenents of an apartment building subsist on the rare offering of meat from the delicatessen below. When a young man rolls into town and falls for the deli butcher’s daughter, the status quo begins to unravel.
Verdict: A truly unique film, Delicatessen takes a more light-hearted stance on the dystopian cannibalistic trope. A mix of lighter and even rather touching scenes balance well with the bleak, dark humour. Wonderfully shot and edited with interesting angles and a yellowy hue to drive home its post-apocalyptic setting, and superbly performed. 4/5

District 9
Released: 2009
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Synopsis: In 1982, over a million aliens become stranded on Earth in Johannesburg, South Africa. Over the following decades, the aliens barely survive in a make-shift camp that quickly becomes slum-like. When Wikus (Sharlto Copley) is ordered to help move the aliens to a new camp, he unintentionally becomes involved in their plight to leave Earth.
Verdict: A fantastic premise that mirrors many of our own real problems revolving around immigration and racism. The characters are interesting, aliens included, the story is solid and is framed well in its documentary style, with a mix of interviews, news footage, CCTV and found footage. 4/5

The Devil’s Backbone (Spanish: El espinazo del diablo)
Released: 2001
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Synopsis: As the Spanish Civil War comes to and end, a young boy ends up in an orphanage where he makes friends and enermies. On top of that, the boy comes to find out about another boy who had disappeared and possibly haunts the orphanage.
Verdict: With its creepy setting, subplots surrounding the politics in Spain at the time and twisty story, this is one of del Toro’s great early features that sets a tone for his future work (even linking to one or two of his other films). The characters bring a depth to what could otherwise have been just another ghost story. 4/5

Doctor Sleep
Released: 2019
Director: Mike Flanagan
Synopsis: Thirty-one years after the events of The Shining, Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) is a homeless alcoholic, trying to escape his memories and suppress his supernatural abilities. Danny is contacted through supernatural means by a young girl who is being hunted for her abilities. Together they come up with a plan that involves delving into Danny’s dark childhood.
Verdict: Doctor Sleep has a steady plot that rises to a satisfying boiling point. There are aspects of the Stephen King novel that have been left out, and they’re aspects that would have been good to see but would not have made sense in a film tied in with Kubrick’s The Shining universe. 4/5
Read the full Doctor Sleep review.

Dog Soldiers
Released: 2002
Director: Neil Marshall
Synopsis: A group of soldiers head to the Scottish Highlands for a training exercise. As they are hunted by unknowns attackers, they comes to realise the training area contains more than they were training for: werewolves.
Verdict: A super fun horror film with great performances, excellent visual effects/costuming/animatronics and a wonderfully dark atmosphere. Possibly one of the greatest horror films of the final era of true VFX. 4/5

Dracula
Released: 1931
Director: Tod Browning
Synopsis: When lawyer Renfield travels off to Transylvania to meet Count Dracula, he succumbs to the Count’s will and assists him in moving to England, where Dracula preys on innocent victims.
Verdict: These days this style of film won’t be for everyone, but anyone who can appreciate the classic art style and original performance of Bela Lugosi will get much enjoyment from it. The black and white cinematography, including the calculated lighting effects, lends itself to an atmospheric creepshow, and the skulking actions and intense accent of Lugosi indeed make for a classic horror romp. 4/5

Drag Me to Hell
Released: 2009
Director: Sam Raimi
Synopsis: Loan officer Christine (Alison Lohman) denies an old woman a loan, so the woman apparently puts a curse on her. As strange things begin to happen to Christine, she seeks the services of a psychic to help save her soul from potentially going to hell.
Verdict: Equal parts hilarious and horrifying, this entire film slaps of Sam Raimi, so if you enjoy the likes of Evil Dead, you will certainly find some fun and entertainment with this offering. How the actors were able to get through some of these scenes may remain a mystery, but fortunately for us they did, so we can be creeped and grossed out while laughing our asses off. 4/5

E

The Endless
Released: 2017
Director: Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead
Synopsis: Long after they escaped a cult, two brothers return to it, only to suspect that perhaps the cult’s teachings may be more accurate and believable than they once thought due to the multiple strange events they experience.
Verdict: Quite a dialogue-heavy film, The Endless chooses suspense and intrigue over cheap thrills and jump scares, which works in its favour. The chemistry between the lead actors and the relationship between the brothers, particularly the banter, increases the audience’s ability to suspend their disbelief and makes the strange occurrences that much more creepy. It’s paced well and the suspense builds gradually to a decent payoff. 4/5

Eraserhead
Released: 1977
Director: David Lynch
Synopsis: In this surrealist film set in a desolate world, Henry (Jack Nance) becomes responsible for a child that is supposedly his, but it is extremely deformed, hardly human at all.
Verdict: This body horror is what you make of it, but don’t go into it expecting anything straightforward. For me, there was a lot of emotion to be felt within its dreamlike design, and it somehow resonated with me. That’s not the case for everyone, so as mentioned, make of it what you will. 4/5

Event Horizon
Released: 1997
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Synopsis: When a missing ship, the Event Horizon, suddenly reappears in orbit around Neptune, a crew are sent on a rescue mission, but they soon come to find that the ship has brought back much more than they think.
Verdict: Although Event Horizon‘s influences are clear (Alien, Hellraiser, etc), it manages to combine science and religion to create something unique. It’s horrific (not as horrific as the original director’s cut, apparently) yet has moments of humour, the VFX and costuming/prosthetics are excellent, and it utilises suspense and fear of the unknown very well. This film wasn’t the summer hit it was supposed to be, but certainly has a cult following of its own now. 4/5

The Evil Dead trilogy
Released: 1981-1992
Synopsis: Starting with 1981’s The Evil Dead, the series begins with the opening of a demonic book and the playing of a demonic tape, then all literal hell breaks lose. 1982’s Evil Dead II sees the series’ anchor character Ash (Bruce Campbell) go through almost the same events as the previous film, and 1992’s Army of Darkness sees Ash fight with demons, both in our time and far in the past.
Verdict: If you’re down for some intense gore and terrifying hell creatures, this is for you, particularly if you want some added comedy/B-movie-style horror. The visual effects add an extra gross-factor to what is already a pretty gruesome series, and though most of the stories are nothing new now, the execution of it was done in such a unique way for the time, paving the way for many a horror film in the future.

Evil Dead duology
Released: 2013
Director: Fede Alvarez
Synopsis: This remake sees five friends head to a remote cabin in the woods, where they find the Book of the Dead. They mess around with it and end up summoning some demons and putting their lives in danger,
Verdict: Evil Dead really is a great remake. It is heavy on the gore and the frights and loses the tongue-in-cheek comedy from the original to make it more appealing to a more serious audience. There is a lesser sequel, Evil Dead Rise, that loses a lot of what made this film so great, but it’s worth a watch if you want to continue with the series.

Exhuma (Korean: 파묘)
Released: 2024
Director: Jang Jae-hyn
Synopsis: Shaman Hwa-rim (Kim Go-eun) and her protégé Bong-gil (Lee Do-hyun) team up with Feng shui master Sang-deok (Choi Min-sik) and mortician Yong-geun (Yoo Hae-jin) to rid a family of an ancestor’s murderous spirit.
Verdict: This film not only features Decent creeps with an interesting plot that involves much of Korea’s turbulent history and incorporates traditional shamanistic rituals. Practical effects are deftly used to keep things as realistically frightening as possible, and the performances are top-notch. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes Exhuma review.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Released: 2005
Director: Scott Derrickson
Synopsis: After the death of a young girl, Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter), a priest is arrested and put on trial for her murder after performing an exorcism on her. However, after much evidence is produced in the priest’s favour, the trial isn’t as straight-forward as it seems.
Verdict: A solid horror film, Emily Rose has some shocking scenes and does a great job of brining together sciene and religion in an effort to come to a conclusion as to what really happened to Emily Rose. Carpenter also puts in a fantastic, and at times terrifying, performance. 4/5

The Exorcist
Released: 1973
Director: William Friedkin
Synopsis: A young girl, Regan (Linda Blair) and her mother move into a new house while her mother works on a movie. Shortly after, Regan begins to show violent tendencies, and her mother is convinced she is possessed. Priest Merrin (Max von Sydow) is called to the house to perform an exorcism, but it’s not as straight-forward as it sounds.
Verdict: A tour-de-force in horror filmmaking, The Exorcist has an enduring legacy as one of the greatest fright fests of all time. Not only that, but its story holds strong amongst the terror of Regan’s possession. There are sequels and prequels and probably more to come, but none hold a candle to the very first film. 4/5

eXistenZ
Released: 1999
Director: David Cronenberg
Synopsis: A game designer is hunted down whilst playing her own virtual reality game, a game that is run through an organic pod that is biologically connected to the human body, and an amateur gamer is the only one who can help her stay alive.
Verdict: One of Cronenberg’s best films, eXistenZ mixes multiple genres to make something very unique about gaming VR before VR was a real thing in the game world. It’s unpredictable and culminates with a great twist. Jude Law’s American accent leaves a lot to be desire, and it does verge on a little too confusing on occasion, but it’s a fun ride through and gory and shocking world, never really knowing if it’s the real world or not (Inceptioning before Inception was a thing). 4/5

F

The Fly
Released: 1958
Director: Kurt Neumann
Synopsis: A newly widowed woman, Hélène (Patricia Owens), makes a phone call to tell a family friend that she has just murdered her husband. As the police investigate and interview the woman, they come to find that her husband was a scientist in the process of inventing a transporter, and when he tried to experiment with it, something went terribly wrong.
Verdict: Who knew a 1950s film about a man turning into a fly could be so good? The story is paced very well, the build-up done nicely to culiminate in a shocking and twisted end, and the performances are very good, played as seriously as Michael Caine with Muppets. 4/5

The Fly
Released: 1986
Director: David Cronenberg
Synopsis: Eccentric scientist Seth (Jeff Goldblum) invents telepods to transport live things. Growing impatient, Seth uses himself as a test subject after successfully transporting a live baboon. However, unbeknownst to Seth (but knownst to us), a common housefly also transports with Seth, causing serious repercussions.
Verdict: Another excellent film from Cronenberg that is further renowned for Goldblum’s balanced tongue-in-cheek yet engaging performance. The Fly fully embodies Cronenberg’s penchant for body horror and a fictional story that is fully rooted in realistic themes. Entertaining, shocking and very well designed, this film is truly special in the body horror and sci-fi genres. 4/5

Frankenstein
Released: 1931
Director: James Whale
Synopsis: Dr. Frankenstein decides to play god and reanimate a body thrown together with multiple body parts from different corpses in order to create the Monster. Without someone to guide him, the misunderstood Monster terrorises the locals until they set out to hunt him down.
Verdict: A horror classic that stands the test of time, if only for its brutal nature and dark tones (in both its visuals and its story) and the famous make-up on Boris Karloff. Staying more or less true to Mary Shelley’s famous novel, there’s a lot to be terrified of in this movie, and a lot to enjoy in its 1930s style. 4/5

Frankenstein (Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein)
Released: 1994
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Synopsis: Victor Frankenstein (Kenneth Branagh) is hounded by the Creature (Robert DeNiro) he created and abandoned, discovering that playing God isn’t what he thought it would be.
Verdict: An excellent adaptation of the classic story with terrific performances and stunning (though at times horrifying) imagery, set designs, visual effects and make up. Almost like a stage play at times, it’s incredibly immersive and will leave you with more existential questions than answers. 4/5

Frankenstein
Released: 2025
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Synopsis: Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) becomes infamous for his work in reanimation, to the point where he is commissioned by arms dealer Henrich Harlander (Christoph Waltz) to speed up the process and reanimate a full body, resulting in the ‘birth’ of his Creature (Jacob Elordi). Victor comes to see his creation as an imperfect specimen, an abomination that must not be allowed to live.
Verdict: Fantastical but grounded in reality, subtle in some respects, overt in others, del Toro’s career has led up to this film, and it has totally been worth the wait, with astounding performances, terrifying visuals and incredible emotional depth. Pure gothic brilliance. 4.5/5
Read the full Frankenstein (2025) review.

G

Ghostwatch
Released: 1992
Director: Lesley Manning
Synopsis: A mockumentary-style film that was aired on BBC 1 on Halloween night of 1992, Ghostwatch frightened a generation of audiences with its realistic news report style. It follows a “live” attempt to capture paranormal activity in an average English home, but those involved unwittingly release an great evil upon the public.
Verdict: If you have seen Late Night with the Devil, Ghostwatch will seem familiar, as it was certainly influenced by this TV film. If you haven’t seen Late Night, try to watch this first. It’s actually a criminally underrated and semi-forgotten film that deserves a resurgence, as it builds the fear well and has a great claustrophobic feel in a standard English cul-de-sac-style home. 4/5

H

Hellraiser series
Released: 1987-2022
Synopsis: Thanks to the discovery of a puzzle box known colloquially as the Lament Configuration, humans discover a hell dimension that is home to Cenobites. Some humans seek out this dimension to indulge in its rumoured pleasures, while others are haunted by what they witness.
Verdict: One of the best horror series out there, Hellraiser plays unapologetically with common fears of what constitutes ‘hell’, namely pain and unending fear. The Cenobites are fearsome demons, as are the people who seek them out. The series starts off very well in its inaugural film, and the gore and body horror that is introduced is kept at a relatively high level throughout the series, even if the quality of the ’87 original has not been easily replicated over the years.
Check out DOTT’s Film Club – Hellraiser.

The Haunting
Released: 1963
Director: Robert Wise
Synopsis: A doctor who studies the paranormal invites a small group of people to Hill House, an infamously haunted house that once belonged to an apparently cursed man. The four experience strange phenomena in the house, with Eleanor (Julie Harris) being particularly fascinated by the house, its history and its current supernatural occupants.
Verdict: At the time, this film wasn’t a huge hit, but it did succeed in frightening many audiences. In comparison to today’s horror films, it is too dialogue-heavy and low on the scares, however it was rather expertly made. Its cinematography and build in frights are really quite a lesson in filmmaking, and best of all, it stays mostly true to Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House novel. 4/5

Hereditary
Released: 2018
Director: Ari Aster
Synopsis: Annie (Toni Collette) reveals her tense relationship with her mysterious mother, and she worries about her daughter, who spends a lot of time alone, observing and drawing. When her son is invited to a party, Annie insists his sister accompany him, and things take a serious turn, causing Annie to dive into a perceived madness that scares her family.
Verdict: Aster’s ability to create tension in this story is, frankly, second to none. A particular incident occurs and it’s generally a tension-creating cliché, but it builds well from one genuine, understated view. If there is one downside to the story, however, it’s that it isn’t the most original. 4/5
Read the full Hereditary review.

The Host (Korean: 괴물 )
Released: 2006
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Synopsis: When some chemicals are leaked into the Han River, it affects the fish and animals, resulting in some monstrous abominations rising and attacking people. When Gang-du’s (Song Kang-ho) daughter is taken by a creature, he resolves to find her, while avoiding the authorities that want to silence him.
Verdict: A superb monster film that has some excellent cinematography and creature design. Strong performances and eerie set designs also make for a decent horror viewing. 4/5

The House of the Devil
Released: 2009
Director: Ti West
Synopsis: A young woman takes a babysitting job out in the sticks, but she soon finds out that she has been lured there for other sinister reasons.
Verdict: Ti West, creator of the X series, uses 16mm film effectively to give this film a genuine 80s B-movie feel, featuring a good blend of 80s horror tropes along with some fantastic visuals and framing in his direction and cinematography. Also has great pacing, even without a lot of action until the third act. 4/5

Huesera: The Bone Woman (Spanish: Huesera)
Released: 2022
Director: Michelle Garza Cervera
Synopsis: Excited at the prospect of becoming a mother, Valeria (Natalia Solián) soon finds her pregnancy threatened by dark forces.
Verdict: With themes of women’s mental health and the pressure to have children, a subplot of traditional medicines and healing and subtle yet effective horror, this is a solid all-rounder that should probably be avoided by new/expectant mothers. 4/5
Read the TIny Tapes Huesera: The Bone Woman review.

Hush
Released: 2016
Director: Mike Flanagan
Synopsis: Maddie (Kate Siegel), a deaf and mute writer, has retreated to a house in the woods to focus on her latest novel. In near-total isolation, she spends a night under attack from a killer who terrorises her before trying to enter her house.
Verdict: Usually these breaking-and-entering slasher films follow a similar formula, rarely straying from the path and thus becoming overly predictable and, frankly, boring. Fortunately, Hush differs not only in the situation of the protagonist, but in the way Flanagan has utilised sound and cinematography to make the film visually and audibly engaging and thrilling. Siegel is fantastic as Maddie, and truthfully, you can’t generally go wrong with a Flanagan-Siegel (a real-life married couple) collaboration. 4/5

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I Am Legend
Released: 2007
Director: Francis Lawrence
Synopsis: After a virus that was meant to cure cancer hits the world in a devastating capacity, LTC Robert Neville (Will Smith) is alone in New York City, apparently the last human alive due to his immunity to the virus, and he is working on a cure. However, other than his loyal dog, Neville is not alone in the night time.
Verdict: What really gives this not-so-original story its legs and overall longevity is Will Smith’s performance. Essentially a one-man show for the majority, he proves his acting chops with a range of emotions, even when performing opposite mannequins (you read that right). It’s not a particularly terrifying watch, but you will want to watch it for Smith alone. 4/5

I Saw the TV Glow
Released: 2024
Director: Jane Schoenbrun
Synopsis: Young teens Owen (Justice Smith) and Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine) bond over their shared love of an odd young adult TV show called The Pink Opaque. As the timeline progresses through Owen’s life, Maddy comes and goes with a strange story revolving around their own possible involvement with The Pink Opaque.
Verdict: On the surface, I Saw the TV Glow is at once interesting, captivating and suitably creepy, but it also has a depth to it that not a lot of films of this genre can effectively convey amongst the creep factor, and much of that is down to Smith’s stunning performance and Lundy-Paine’s own intense scenes. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes I Saw the TV Glow review.

Incantation (Chinese: 咒 )
Released: 2022
Director: Kevin Ko
Synopsis: A woman visits her boyfriend’s family and disturbs a ritual, cursing her and her unborn daughter. After a few years and seeking some psychiatric help, she is reunited with her daughter, only for things to take another turn for the worse.
Verdict: In this film, the found footage techniqueis executed very well with some great visual effects and framing. It is a genuinely creepy movie that also has a pretty scary realistic vibe to it, particularly thanks to the narrator who bookends the story with some terrifying revelations. If you enjoy the likes of The Blair Witch Project and REC, this will certainly be right up your Elm Street. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes Incantation review.

Infested (French: Vermines)
Released: 2023
Director: Sébastien Vanicek
Synopsis: When a particularly poisonous spider finds its way from the deserts of the Middle East to an illegal seller in Paris, France, it is purchased by Kaleb (Christine), a collector of exotic creatures and dealer of sneakers. It’s not long before the spider escapes, multiplies, and causes panic and pandomonium in Kaleb’s apartment building.
Verdict: The whole thing has deeper messaging around the suburban communities and the way they’re treated, is shot spectacularly and has fantastic performances. The ending is a little soft compared to the tension of the rest of the film, but like them or not, spiders can be terrifying. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes Infested review.

The Innocents (Norwegian: De uskyldige)
Released: 2021
Director: Eskil Vogt
Synopsis: Two sisters befriend a boy and a girl, and it soon comes to light that one of the sisters and the two new friends all have telekinetic powers that are strengthened when they are near each other. However, the girls soon find they need to protect themselves when they boy starts to abuse his powers.
Verdict: The use of the childrens’ powers is done rather subtly, instead focusing on the effect it has on their personalities and moral understanding, but it works to create a horror/thriller that isn’t forced down our throats, assuming the audience is one with a modicum of intelligence. The performances of the young actors are very good, and if ever there were a film that needs a sequel, it is this one. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes The Innocents review.

Interview with the Vampire
Released: 1994
Director: Neil Jordan, based on the book by Anne Rice
Synopsis: While conducting an interview in the late 20th century, vampire Louis (Brad Pitt) recounts his life, from his siring the 18th century by Lestat (Tom Cruise) to raising a girl that Lestat sired into a vampire, through travelling the world and ending up in New Orleans.
Verdict: Basically a period drama with vampires, this film is rich in character and performances, particularly from a super young Kirsten Dunst. It doesn’t quite reach the depths of the book, but it is an entertaining, sexy, campy romp nevertheless. 4/5

Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Released: 1956
Director: Don Siegel
Synopsis: When strange alien spores begin to identically replicate and kill humans, Dr. Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) attempts to find a way to stop and eradicate the spores and their pods with the help of his girlfriend, Becky (Dana Wynter).
Verdict: As a post-WWII film, this one certainly delves into themes of colonisation and indoctrination, of sorts. On a less serious note, it continues to work very well as a terrifying horror that feels more and more stifling as the ‘body snatchers’ close in on all the people of the town. The story and dialogue still hold up and the performances have endured the test of time, too. 4/5

The Invisible Man
Released: 1933
Director: James Whale
Synopsis: After a secret experiment turns him invisible, Dr. Jack Griffin (Claude Rains) seeks refuge in a room he rents in a village. Wearing only bandages and dark glasses, he seeks out his colleague, who discovers how insane Jack has become, informing him of Jack’s desire to commit heinous crimes.
Verdict: Quite an entertaining film for the time, The Invisible Man blends horror and comedy quite deftly. Jack’s actions are, at times, hilarious, but his ultimate goal through it all is a sobering reminder of how frightening he really is. Great performances and a solid storyline that doesn’t let up. 4/5

The Invisible Man
Released: 2020
Director: Leigh Whannell
Synopsis: After leaving her abusive boyfriend Adrian (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) and moving in with friends, Cecelia (Elisabeth Moss) begins to work on healing herself mentally. After she hears about Adrian’s death, she begins to experience strange events that lead her to believe Adrian is still alive and harrassing her.
Verdict: With a fresh angle on a classic story that’s laden with well-crafted suspense and held up by great performances, Whannell’s retelling of H.G. Wells’s 1897 novel and the 1933 film suffers a little from plot holes but overall holds up as a terrifying story of stalking and abuse. 4/5
Read the full The Invisible Man review.

It duology
Released: 2017/2019
Director: Andy Muschietti, based on the book by Stephen King
Synopsis: Chapter One follows a group of kids in Derry, Maine, as they encounter and resolve to get rid of Pennywise, a murderous clown who comes around once every 27 years to kidnap and kill children. Chapter Two follows the same group as adults, as they continue their quest to face and destroy Pennywise.
Verdict: Both films are paced very well so as to keep audiences on their toes, with great performances from Skarsgård  and the young actors. The themes go beyond the obvious horror and into child and domestic abuse, homophobia and suicide. Overall, the horror is excellent and could leave you checking under your bed before you go to sleep.
Read the full It Chapter 2 review.

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Jaws
Released: 1975
Director: Steven Spielberg
Synopsis: Three men come together to rid the local beach of a great white shark terrorising and attacking swimmers.
Verdict: Whether or not you’ve seen this film, you know John Williams’s famously terrifying score. Perhaps that’s what gives this film half of its horror, but the scenes featuring the shark itself are also quite scary. Jaws has given sharks such an unfair reputation, but the film is well-made and is a landmark in cinema for a reason (even if its fear factor hasn’t become as timeless as its score). 4/5

Jurassic Park/Jurassic World franchise
Released: 1993-present
Synopsis: After reviving dinosaurs and creating a park to make money to further fund ‘research’, humanity soon suffers the consequences of ‘playing god’, but, funnily enough, nobody learns from it.
Verdict: A franchise that starts off strong then has a few wobbles on its journey through ‘parks’ and ‘worlds’, but one thing’s for sure: the ‘saurs never get any less terrifying (at least, not the carniverous ones).
Check out DOTT’s Film Club – Jurassic Park.

K

K-Pop Demon Hunters
Released: 2025
Directors: Chris Appelhans, Maggie Kang
Synopsis: Girlband Huntr/x perform to their thousands of fans while moonlighting as demon hunters. Soon, they come up against boyband Saja Boys who are not the humans they appear to be, and Huntr/x’s Rumi (Cho) has to face her own past and current situation.
Verdict: This might not be your first thought for a Halloween film, with its bright colours, songs and upbeat vibes, but its storyline of demon hunting makes it perfect spooky season viewing for the youngsters, with some extra solid humour for the adults. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes K-Pop Demon Hunters review.

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Late Night with the Devil
Released: 2024
Directors: Cameron Cairnes, Colin Cairnes
Synopsis: In 1977, popular TV talk show host Jack Delroy (Dastmalchian) late-night show talk show is suffering in ratings and viewership. In order to gain back his audience, he returns on Halloween night with guests that are connected with the supernatural to enthral his audience. Before and after their appearances, strange things happen on the set, both behind and in front of the camera.
Verdict: If you are a horror fan, Late Night with the Devil comes highly recommended. Stephen King’s assessment of the end of the movie, in which he said “results may vary”, meaning some will like it, some will not, appears quite apt, but the journey of the movie is worth a watch. 4/5
Read the full Late Night with the Devil review

Leave the World Behind
Released: 2023
Director: Sam Esmail
Synopsis: On their weekend getaway to an isolated house, a family’s relaxation is interrupted when there is a Wi-Fi and blackout and the family that own the house return due to the blackout. As more and more things begin to go wrong and strange things occur, the families come to realise the cause of the devestating events.
Verdict: This film builds well and keeps you on edge and wondering what is going on as each event happens, feeling exactly what the characters are. There are many themes played upon through the film, and it’s perhaps one of the most interesting, thought-provoking and frightening apocalyptic films out there, particularly for the western world. 4/5

Lisa Frankenstein
Released: 2024
Director: Zelda Williams
Synopsis: In 1989, teenager Lisa (Kathryn Newton), is an outcast at school and at home, spending her time at the graveside of a young Victorian man. After a lightning strike, the young man, known as ‘the Creature’ (Cole Sprouse), is reanimated and finds his way to Lisa. Together they embark on a series of ‘mishaps’ that brings Lisa more and more out of her shell.
Verdict: This film pays homage to teen films of the likes of Pretty in Pink and Edward Scissorhands and blends teen problems of then and now with gothic cult hits. In typical Diablo Cody style, teen angst and social issues are mixed with dark comedy and violence for a sturdy and fun story. 4/5
Read the full Lisa Frankenstein review.

M

Mads (French: MadS)
Released: 2024
Director: David Moreau
Synopsis: In one mad evening/night, three young people find themselves spreading a strange disease that seems to make people violent and turn on each other.
Verdict: While the premise might not sound all that original, the fact it is a one-shot is what makes it stand out. It is extremely well done, and the three main actors do an amazing job of keeping up with the action and making events seem as real as possible. Again, although the basic story is familiar, the plot itself is unpredictable. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes Mads review.

Mad Max series
Released: 1979-2024
Synopsis: In a future Australia, Max (Mel Gibson/Tom Hardy) wanders the barren wasteland encountering all manner of people and mico-societies, all with differing means to their separate ends. Max prefers to keep to himself, but often ends up helping others. Later in the series, Max’s story crosses over to that of another character, Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron/Anya Taylor-Joy).
Verdict: A great series of films that have consistently proven to be entertaining, action-packed, thought-provoking and generally just fun in many ways. It’s likely the franchise will continue in some way (film or television), but its future is, as of 2024, uncertain.
Check out DOTT’s Film Club – Mad Max and the full Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga review.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Released: 1994
Director: Kenneth Branagh, based on the book by Mary Shelley
Synopsis: Closely following the plot of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Kenneth Branagh) creates a Monster (Robert De Niro) using body parts of deceased people, including the brain of a criminal, and whom he ultimately rejects, causing the Monster to venture out alone to figure out who, or what, he is.
Verdict: The film retains much of Shelley’s themes and works hard to stay true to scenes depicted within the book. The overall production design is somewhat reminiscent of James Whales’s 1931 classic adaptation, but brings more life and reality to the Monster, who in turn is marvellously portrayed by De Niro. It’s a truly cerebal kind of horror, leaving us with more existential questions than answers. 4/5

The Medium (Thai: ร่างทรง)
Released: 2021
Director: Banjong Pisanthanakun
Synopsis: When the niece of a shaman in the Isan region of Thailand becomes possessed, the shaman has to do everything within her (questionable) power to help her niece while also dealing with some family issues that come to the fore when the girl becomes increasingly violent.
Verdict: A very well-paced found-footage style film, building up to the possession by slowly increasing the girl’s strange behaviour and planting good foreshadowing. The frights are mostly frightening indeed, though interspersed with the odd gratuitous jump-scare here and there, and the performances are excellent and immersive. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes The Medium review.

Midsommar
Released: 2019
Director: Ari Aster
Synopsis: College student Dani (Florence Pugh) lives a chaotic life, and she relies a lot on her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) despite their dissolving relationship. Christian invites Dani to a commune in Sweden where they experience a midsummer celebration that occurs once every ninety years. As they come to discover, not all is as innocent and quaint as it first appears.
Verdict: For the horror enthusiasts, lovers of an abstract plot and/or visuals, films like this keep things fresh and takes horror, particularly the psychological kind, to new levels. For the casual horror viewer, this one may seem a little odd in places, but it’ll have enough shock factor to keep all audiences on their toes. 4/5
Read the full Midsommar review.

The Mist
Released: 2007
Director: Frank Darabont, based on the novella by Stephen King
Synopsis: After a big storm, a strange mist rolls into a town, causing many residents to lay low in a supermarket. It’s not long before they discover that some dangerous creatures not of this world lurk within the mist, but there is also danger to be found amongst the people sheltering in the supermarket.
Verdict: King’s story is fantastically written, and Darabont, a keen adapter of King’s work, does a great job of putting it on screen, bringing King’s most terrifying scenes to life. Darabont does alter the ending, which gives the story a little more closure than the novella, but on the whole its a terrific adaptation. 4/5

The Monkey
Released: 2025
Director: Osgood Perkins
Synopsis: Twins Hal and Bill (James) lead very different lives but both remain firmly connected by a strange toy monkey that causes multiple deaths around them.
Verdict: Features good characterisations and a strong plot along with James’s good performance as both twins, creating distinct personalities for each twin, and the mystery side of the film being almost more interesting than its horror side. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes The Monkey review.

mother!
Released: 2017
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Synopsis: With much of the story based on the Bible, mother! follows the tale of unnamed characters who infiltrate the Mother’s (Jennifer Lawrence) house and her life, eventually leaving her peaceful existence in tatters.
Verdict: The film is basically an allegory for the destruction of the world, or Mother Nature, and depicts Adam & Eve and Cain & Abel and how destructive humans are. It’s quite on the nose in that regard, however the performances are top notch, and the its provocative scenes work hand in hand with the performances to put its message across in a poignant way. 4/5

The Mummy trilogy
Released: 1999/2001
Director: Stephen Sommers
Synopsis: After they accidentally awaken a long-buried Egyptian priest who then sets about resurrecting his past love and killing anyone in his way, an American treasure hunter, a British librarian and her tag-a-long brother race against time to put the priest back in his sarcophagus before he causes any more havoc.
Verdict: Both The Mummy and The Mummy Returns are excellently fun films, supported by superb performances from Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz and John Hannah. There’s comedy, horror, romance and action, everything you could possibly want, and with more besides (you can acknowledge the existence of the third film, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor if you wish, but we prefer not to).

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Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (German: Nosferatu – Eine Symphonie des Grauens)
Released: 1922
Director: F.W. Murnau
Synopsis: Based (unofficially) on Dracula, Nosferatu features a vampire by the name of Orlok (Max Schreck) who stalks the wife of his estate agent, causing the outbreak of a strange plague in the town.
Verdict: A terrific showcase of German expressionism that, much like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, proves that modern technology is not needed to create a masterpiece. From the set and costume designs to the lighting and the performances, particularly from Schreck and his gangly vampire, Nosferatu stands strong against any Dracula production. 4/5

Nosferatu the Vampyre (German: Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht)
Released: 1979
Director: Werner Herzog
Synopsis: Blending both F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu and Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the film loosely follows the plot and characters of the latter while taking theatrical and paying homage to influence from the former.
Verdict: Unlike most adaptations of Dracula, and certainly unlike the majority of remakes, this film captures the essence of the Dracula story while successfully modernising (for the ’70s) its Nosferatu influences. It is darkly elegant, soft yet sharp, multilayered in its themes and wonderfully balances the horror aspects with artful cinematography. It also boasts fantastic performances, particularly from Isabelle Adjani as Lucy. 4/5

Nosferatu
Released: 2024
Director: Rpbert Eggers
Synopsis: Soon after their wedding, Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) leaves his wife Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) alone in Germany to journey east to Transylvania. There, he meets the decrepit Count Orlok (Skarsgård). When Thomas returns, he has become aware of the dark nature of Count Orlok, and he is disturbed to find his wife is already aware of the Count’s desires and his thirst for blood.
Verdict: Whether you want to be shocked, entertained or disgusted, this version of Nosferatu is likely to satiate many kinds of appetites. Eggers has managed to put his own unique stamp on this enduring legacy, with stunning cinematography, an electrifying and repulsive atmosphere, and some fantastic performances. 4/5
Read the full Nosferatu review.

O

Oddity
Released: 2024
Director: Damian McCarthy
Synopsis: A year after her twin sister is brutally murdered, Darcy (Carolyn Bracken), a blind psychic who owns and operates a shop of curiosities, arrives unannounced at Ted’s (Gwilym Lee) house, her sister’s widower, where she attempts to uncover the truth behind her sister’s murder.
Verdict: Interesting shots and cinematography take most of the credit for Oddity‘s creepiness. The setting gives it a cold, isolated, claustrophobic feel, with minimal lighting lending a feeling of vulnerability. Everything is done either subtley or not at all, leaving viewers on edge, and though the film has some moments of disjointedness and some loose ends, on the whole it is a solid spookfest. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes Oddity review.

Opera
Released: 1987
Director: Dario Argento
Synopsis: A young opera singer is stalked by a killer who forces her to watch as he kills.
Verdict: Perhaps one of Argento’s best films, Opera is a bastardised Phantom of the Opera, and with a heck of a lot more blood. The way the killer forces the girl to watch by sticking needles in front of her eyes feels quite original, and although it has a sexual tone to it, whether intentional or not, the story, performances and sets work well along with the slasher nature of the film. 4/5

The Others
Released: 2001
Director: Alejandro Amenábar
Synopsis: After the events of WWII, a woman living with her two light-sensitive children in an isolated mansion on the island of Jersey starts to believe their house is haunted, as she begins to see strange things and experience weird events. As much as everything isn’t as it seems, the truth couldn’t be further from what she comes to believe.
Verdict: With one of the greatest twists of any horror film, The Others is a truly creepy film with very good performances by the adults and the children. It’s dark in atmosphere, tone and setting, and is as scary psychologically as it is physically. 4/5

P

Pan’s Labyrinth (Spanish: El laberinto del fauno)
Released: 2006
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Synopsis: In 1944, Spain, Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) lives with her pregnant mother and new tyrannical stepfather. As she navigates her horrific new world, she discovers a labyrinth and magical creatures, and the tale of Princess Moanna, with Ofelia believed to be the reincarnation of the princess. In order to return to her kingdom, she must pass three tasks while avoiding the threat of her stepfather.
Verdict: A groundbreaking film that has a unique blend of fantasy, horror and psychological drama that creates a truly disturbing film that also has a huge helping of hope. The VFX are fantastic and very imaginative, as are the costumes and make up of the creatures. This film is quite possibly del Toro’s magnum opus. 5/5

Paranormal Activity series
Released: 2007-present
Synopsis: Beginning with 2007’s Paranormal Activity, the franchise follows different yet linked families that are stalked and haunted by a demonic presences often known as “Tobi”. The films swing between sequels and prequels and build the lore of “Tobi” and its existence to haunt these people.
Verdict: The first is excellent, as terrifying as any good horror film, using the found footage technique to fantastic effect. The following films don’t ever quite match up to the first, with the barely audible noises adding an intense creepiness, and the camera angles that build with suggestive shadows that plant seeds of fear. The series is worth a watch, but the first film may be enough to set you on edge for a while.
Check out DOTT’s Film Club – Paranormal Activity.

Phenomena (US: Creepers)
Released: 1985
Director: Dario Argento
Synopsis: Jennifer (Jennifer Connelly), the daughter of a famous actor, arrives at a boarding school in Switzerland, where her sleep walking issue returns. As a result, she finds she is able to communicate with insects, and she uses her abilities to track down a serial killer.
Verdict: If you want that B-movie horror style that also at least attempts to have some credibility, you can’t go wrong with an Argento flick, and you may be especially satisfied with Phenomena. The story is pretty unique, the VFX fairly sturdy (for the time), and the performances, while typically hammy, are fun and engrossing, especially from a super young Connelly. 4/5

The Plague
Released: 2025
Director: Charlie Polinger
Synopsis: A boy is outcast from his water polo team due to having a skin issue that the boys dub ‘the plague’, and when new boy Ben (Everett Blunck) comes along, he finds himself going along with their taunts and pranks so he can fit in, but he soon finds his empathy getting the better of him. 
Verdict: There’s something rather Lord of the Flies about this due to the attitudes and almost feral nature of some of the boys when left to their own devices. Stylistically it has fantastic and oft-terrifying soundscapes and a sound design that makes getting in the pool seem more frightening than getting in the ocean with Jaws. 4.5/5
Read the Tiny Tapes The Plague review.

The Platform duology
Released: 2019, 2024
Director: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia
Synopsis: In a vertical hole with hundreds of levels, inmates live two-per-floor. Through a hole in the middle, a platform carrying food steadily moves between floors, only stopping for a couple of minutes. However, the lower in the hole one is, the less likely it is one will get any food. Each month, the inmates change floors, not knowing if they will get lucky on a higher floor, or unlucky toward the bottom.
Verdict: The first film has great characters and characterisation, shocking and thought-provoking action and some gory outcomes. The second film doesn’t quite live up to the first, as it perhaps tries to delve too deep (pun not intended) into the themes of the premise, but provides more gore and shocks.
Read the Tiny Tapes The Platform 2 review

Predator franchise
Released: 1987-present
Synopsis: The Predators (or ‘Yautja’) are an alien species that enjoy hunting other lifeforms for sport, particularly humans, and also appear in the Alien vs. Predator crossovers.
Verdict: Much like the Alien franchise, Predator began strong, quickly dipped, muddled along for a while, then began an uptick, thus far culminating in 2025’s Predator: Badlands. However, it’s worth sticking with to get to better storylines and character evolution for the Predator race themselves.
Check out DOTT’s Film Club – Predator and the full The Predator and Predator: Badlands reviews.

Psycho
Released: 1960
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Synopsis: When Marion (Janet Leigh), an embezzeler, lays low at a motel, she encounters the strange owner, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). Marion’s partner and sister grow worried when they don’t hear from her, and so they hire an investigator to trace her.
Verdict: They don’t come much more classic in the horror genre than Hitchcock’s Psycho, and it’s certainly an enduring classic for a reason. With it’s careful build-up, well-sculpted characters and multi-layered story (and not to mention its legendary score), it’s an absolute must for any horror fans, particularly those studying the genre. 4/5

R

REC quadrilogy (Spanish)
Released: 2007-2014
Director: Jaume Balagueró/Paco Plaza
Synopsis: While reporting from the night shift at a fire station, news reporter Ángela (Manuela Velasco) heads out to an apartment building with the crew where there has been a mysterious outbreak affecting the building’s occupants. Following these events, the outbreak spreads to other areas and people.
Verdict: REC and REC 2 are excellent films, full of suspense, horror and shocking revelations. The other two films that round out the quadrilogy aren’t nearly as good, with number four being particularly disappointing, not to mention unnecessary. Best to also avoid the American remakes, Quarantine and Qurantine 2: Terminal.

Red Rooms (Canadian French: Les chambres rouges)
Released: 2023
Director: Pascal Plante
Synopsis: Fashion model Kelly-Anne (Juliette Gariépy) becomes fascinated with a murder case, a fascination that soon becomes an obsession.
Verdict: Kelly-Anne’s self-destructive slide from casual observer to near-partaker in the murder case is fantastically done and paced extremely well. There’s a lot of depth to her, and it makes for an interesting POV for the murder case. While the details of the murder are gruesome, everything that surrounds it is nearly just as gruesome in its own perverted way. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes Red Rooms review.

Return to Oz
Released: 1985
Director: Walter Murch
Synopsis: After her first stint in Oz, Dorothy (Fairuza Balk) is sent to a sanatorium. She escapes and finds herself back in the Land of Oz, now ruled by the savage Nome King, and Dorothy, along with some new friends, must find a way to save Oz and return it to its former glory.
Verdict: Return to Oz is a darker fantasy than The Wizard of Oz, with nary a musical number to be heard. Dorothy’s new nemeses include a stop-motion evil king, creepy ‘Wheelers’ and a princess who can remove her head. It is perfect for kids who enjoy something a little more adventurous and frightening, and adds a new dimension to the Land of Oz for adults. 4/5

Revenge (French)
Released: 2017
Director: Coralie Fargeat
Synopsis: After a young woman is raped and left for dead, she sets out to get revenge on her attackers.
Verdict: Fargeat’s debut film already set her up as a strong filmmaker with a solid eye for detail and a clear focus on female-centred experiences. Although some of the symbolism is a tad on the nose at times, the story and the horror aspects deftly portray the anger that stews within most, if not all, women when it comes to how we’re treated by the patricarchy, not to mention what we’re capable of, even when pushed to our limits. 4/5

The Ritual
Released: 2017
Director: David Bruckner
Synopsis: Four university friends reunite for a hiking trip in Sweden. As they make their way along the trail, they encounter strange objects and occurrences, with the trip eventually turning deadly as they discover the existence of an evil spirit on their trail.
Verdict: Like most folk horrors, The Ritual plays on local myths and legends to induce fear and does a pretty good job of it. The dark atmosphere and remote location of the setting lends a feeling of isolation, and the fractuous relationships between the characters only builds on the tension. 4/5

The Rule of Jenny Pen
Released: 2024
Director: James Ashcroft
Synopsis: After suffering a stroke, judge Stefan (Rush) is sent to live in a care home. The staff ignore Stefan’s pleas for help when he discovers many of the home’s terrified residents are being abused by fellow resident Dave (Lithgow) and his puppet named Jenny Pen.
Verdict: Lithgow is terrifying as Dave, and Rush’s Stefan, being a judge, seeks justice and consequences for Dave, but it all falls on deaf ears, with not even the abused residents wishing to come forward. It all culminates in horrible events, and the way the tension builds and the abuse is portrayed is enough to put anyone off being left in a care home. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes The Rule of Jenny Pen review.

S

Saw series
Released: 2004-present
Synopsis: Similarly to other franchises featuring a main antagonist, Saw follows the “games”, i.e. torture, that serial killer John Kramer, aka Jigsaw, subjects his victims to in order to punish them/offer them redemption for actions that do not align with his personal morals. John comes and goes depending on his health, and he has apprentices that take up the Jigsaw mantel in his absence.
Verdict: As far as the gore and shocks go, Saw does them to the extreme, and so the series is not to be taken lightly. The story quality in each film varies, but the through-line of Jigsaw is always a terrifying, looming presence. The first film starts it all off very strongly, and the way the series blends horror and mystery keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.

Shaun of the Dead
Released: 2004
Director: Edgar Wright
Synopsis: The lackadaisical Shaun (Simon Pegg) alienates all those around him, in part due to his even lazier best friend, Ed (Nick Frost). But when zombies begin to swarm their town, Shaun and Ed must find a way to survive, rescue their loved ones, go to the Winchester for a pint and wait for it all to blow over.
Verdict: An excellent zombie movie that takes its inspiration from the likes of Night of the Living Dead and throws in heaps of comedic value. All performances are fantastic, the chemistry between the actors making the comedy even more hilarious, and the simplicity of the production overall makes it a down-to-earth delight. 4/5

The Shining
Released: 1980
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Synopsis: Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) takes his wife and son to a mountain hotel for the winter, where he is to be its caretaker. In spite of warnings from the hotel’s owner about past incidents, Jack finds himself engulfed in the supernatural presences within the hotel, and things come to a head when he starts to threaten his family, and his son shows signs of having his own supernatural abilities.
Verdict: The film is certainly quite different to Stephen King’s novel, to the point where they’re not really comparable. As a standalone, the film is really an excellent dive into a psychotic breakdown on Jack’s part, and the way the story builds and crescendos with one of the most classic and famous film endings ever truly shows why it continues to endure and freak out audiences everywhere. 4/5

Signs
Released: 2002
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Synopsis: Former priest Graham (Mel Gibson), who has lost his faith after the death of his wife, discovers crop circles in his cornfield. With the help of his brother Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix) and two children, they come to find that hostile extraterrestrials are the cause of the crop circles.
Verdict: Shyamalan films that are of the horror genre are very hit-and-miss. Fortunately, Signs is at the more successful end of the scale. Although the very end of the movie spoils the illusion somewhat, the glimpses of the aliens and the overall terrifying atmosphere of the film mixed with its themes of mortality and faith go a long way to make this a true horror film. 4/5

The Silence of the Lambs
Released: 1991
Director: Jonathan Demme, based on the book by Thomas Harris
Synopsis: Trainee FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is called upon to run an “errand” that involves questioning infamous psychologist-turned-serial killer and cannibal, Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), in order to get insight into a current wanted serial killer. Lecter invokes a quid-pro-quo exchange where he learns more about Clarice, and as she closes in on the killer, Lecter becomes more and more an unwanted presence, in more ways than one.
Verdict: Truly a film worthy of all its accolades and critical acclaim, The Silence of the Lambs boasts fantastic performances, chilling dialogue, shocking scenes and nary a dull moment as we’re taken on a journey that works hard to scratch at the surface of deeply disturbing criminal minds. 5/5

Sinners
Released: 2025
Director: Ryan Coogler
Synopsis: In Mississipi 1932, twins Smoke and Stack Moore (Michael B. Jordan) return to their hometown to open up a bar, but their opening night turns out to be anything but grand.
Verdict: Coogler shows a great understanding of horror and how to blend it with real themes, much like his contemporary Jordan Peele. One may even call Sinners a Peaky-Blinders-meets-From-Dusk-Till-Dawn-via-Stephen-King-and-the-Jim-Crow-era masterpiece, and that’s nothing to be sniffed at. 4.5/5
Read the full Sinners review.

The Sixth Sense
Released: 1999
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Synopsis: After a near-death experience, psychologist Malcolm (Bruce Willis) throws himself into his work, where he meets nine-year-old Cole (Haley Joel Osment), a boy who is able to see and communicate with the dead. As Malcolm counsels Cole, he himself tries to repair his relationship with his wife.
Verdict: M. Night Shyamalan’s films are very up and down, some being far better than others. The Sixth Sense is one of his far better ones, generally noted for introducing audiences to his at-times-infamous twist endings. The performances are excellent and the story builds well, with enough creepy ghosts to keep audiences on their toes as well as good depths to the characters and the plot. 4/5

Sleep (Korean: 잠 )
Released: 2023
Director: Jason Yu
Synopsis: Soo-jin (Jung Yu-mi) is newly married to Hyeon-soo (Lee Sun-kyun) and pregnant. Everything is perfect, until she realises that Hyeon-soo has some problems at night. Keeping herself awake worrying about him and what he might do, Soo-jin must find a way to help her husband before events take a turn for the worse, especially after she gives birth.
Verdict: There’s definitely potential to read into post-partum mental health issues in this film, but it can also be taken on the chin as a simple psychological horror. It builds very well, and is a decent creepy film that has quite a shocking, if not entirely unpredictable, ending. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes Sleep review.

Sleepy Hollow
Released: 1999
Director: Tim Burton
Synopsis: Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp), a rather green and weakly constituted detective, is sent to investigate grisly murders in the small town of Sleepy Hollow, a town plagued by the folk tale of the Headless Horseman. The townspeople are quick to blame each other, while others are convinced it is the Horseman. It is up to Ichabod to get to figure out why people are being decapitated.
Verdict: Based on the classic tale by Irving Washington, Sleepy Hollow brings to life what is otherwise a fairly dreary tale when read. Burton injects his expertly gothic magic into making this film a fun yet shocking horror that plays on physical and psychological fear. 4/5

Snowpiercer
Released: 2013
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Synopsis: After an attempt to halt global warming fails, the planet becomes engulfed in snow and ice. The last remnants of humanity survive on the Snowpiercer, a train that circles the globe. With the train split into the classes, the lower class grow tired of the upper class and their comfortable lifestyle while they suffer, and so they start an uprising, led by Curtis (Chris Evans).
Verdict: An excellent take on the potential future of humanity post-climate change, Snowpiercer presents a unique story with a setting that works well to play on the themes of classism and global warming. The casting is superb and lends for solid performances, and the set design is claustrophobic yet eye-opening when compared with the characters and their M.Os. 4/5

Speak No Evil (Danish: Gæsterne)
Released: 2022
Director: Christian Tafdrup
Synopsis: A Danish couple and their clingy daughter meet a Dutch couple and their tongueless son while on holiday in Tuscany. The Dutches invite the Danes to stay at their home for a few days, but while there the Danish couple witness bizarre antics from the Danes and are disturbed by the way they treat their son.
Verdict: This original version of Speak No Evil plays on subtlety to build the terror extremely well, and the disturbing incidents are not forced down your throat but rather unnerve until the horrifying climax. The whole thing is paced very evenly and very much sums up what psychological horror is. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes Speak No Evil review.

Starve Acre
Released: 2023
Director: Daniel Daniel Kokotajlo
Synopsis: Archaeologist Richard (Smith) and his wife Jules (Clark) live a quiet life on a farm left to Richard after the passing of his abusive father. Soon, Richard and Jules suffer the unimaginable in the loss of their son, and events from Richard’s childhood begin to come up again as they navigate their grief and things turn a little more supernatural.
Verdict: Starve Acre goes beyond the physical to the mental strain on Richard and Jules and the effect it has on their relationship to create something harrowing and, frankly, tragic in more ways than one. It’s at once familiar and bizarre, throwing in odd situations amidst a situation that is sadly familiar to many. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes Starve Acre review.

The Substance
Released: 2024
Director: Coralie Fargeat
Synopsis: Aging actress Elisabeth (Demi Moore) feels the effects of growing older in her industry, so when she is offered a mysterious ‘Substance’, she uses it to create a symbiotic younger version of herself named Sue (Qualley). While they are encouraged to think of themselves as ‘one’, they become separate entities intent on destroying one another.
Verdict: The film is shot magnificently, and Moore gives an exceptional performance. With excellent themes on the aging mentality and objectification of female bodies, a massive Cronenberg influence (which can only be a good thing) and fantastic prosthetics, this is one body horror film you don’t want to miss. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes The Substance review.

Suspiria
Released: 1977
Director: Dario Argento
Synopsis: Suzy (Jessica Harper), an American ballerina, transfers to a ballet academy in Germany. After a series of murders, she comes to find that there is a lot more to this school, and its students and teachers, than she realised.
Verdict: An enduring classic, Argento’s bloody witchy horror has a great lead performance from Harper and involves some very interesting characters and events. It twists and turns and keeps audiences on their toes, and the incredible set design and fantastic soundtrack all go a long way to create something tense and immersive. 4/5

T

Talk to Me
Released: 2022
Directors: Danny and Michael Philippou 
Synopsis: A group of teenagers come across a mysterious hand that allows them to talk to the dead. They make a game of it, but only allow each other 90 seconds before severing the connection. When things start to go wrong, Mia (Sophie Wilde) has to find a way to set things right before anyone loses their life to possession.
Verdict: Talk to Me definitely has some terrifying and shocking scenes, with intense performances and strong back stories for some of the characters that get entangled with the supernatural aspects. If you’re looking for something scary for a movie night, you could do a lot worse than Talk to Me (a prequel and sequel are also in the works, so this could shape up to be a rather terrifying franchise). 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes Talk to Me review.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise
Released: 1974-present
Synopsis: Perhaps the one that kicked off the horror sub-genre that we have come to know as slashers, this franchise revolves around Leatherface, a cannibalistic murderer who, along with his twisted family, slaughter people for their own amusement and appetite.
Verdict: The franchise has struggled to make the same waves as its inaugural film, with multiple films and a reboot along the way, some of which have done ok, most of which have fallen extremely flat. The Tobe Hooper-directed original (5/5) was a shocker for its time and still manages to shock audiences today, rightfully claiming its cult classic status. Its descendants cannot claim the same, but the series shows no signs of letting up, with more installments on the way.

The Thing
Released: 1982
Director: John Carpenter
Synopsis: In Antarctica, a group of scientists are besieged by an alien lifeform that can imitate anyone or anything, leaving the scientist in danger of it, as well as each other.
Verdict: One of the best body horrors ever made, The Thing adeptly uses the claustrophobic and isolated setting to instill fear into the characters and the audience from the off, building to frightful and gruesome transformations caused by the extraterrestrial organism. 4/5

Threads
Released: 1984
Director: Mick Jackson
Synopsis: In this docudrama set amidst the Cold War, Britain is caught between the US and the Soviet Union and suffers the fallout of a nuclear holocaust, the focus being mainly on the devastating effects on the working class in and around Sheffield and then-Britain-at-large.
Verdict: A haunting film based on a ton of research that presents a chilling prediction of what Britain could become should nuclear weapons be unleashed, much like what happened to the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in WWII but on the scale of an entire country. There is nothing preachy or political about this film: it is pure terrifying consequence. 5/5

Tigers Are Not Afraid
Released: 2017
Director: Issa López
Synopsis: In Mexico, a group of children rally to survive among the drug cartels, with one of them, a girl, who has been granted three consequential wishes, deals with the spirits of the dead that seek revenge on the crime boss who killed them.
Verdict: A tough watch at times, Tigers Are Not Afraid is so much more than a horror film. While it does indeed have supernatural elements, they are few and far between and don’t always meld well with the realistic story of children trying to survive amongst the very real horrors around them. The creeps come across as disjointed amongst the real frights and sadness of the childrens’ lives, but it does exactly what it needs to do for the most part. 4/5

Together
Released: 2025
Director: Michael Shanks
Synopsis: A couple move to the countryside where a supernatural occurrence affects their lives, from their relationship to their physical bodies.
Verdict: One of the best things about Together, and many decent horror films, is the blending of multiple sub-genres in an attempt to create something somewhat unique. With its combination of psychological, supernatural and body horror with a healthy sprinkling of comedy and even a dash of romance, it becomes its own hybrid in a genre that’s tough to stand out in. 4/5
Read the full Together review.

Train to Busan series (Korean: 부산행 )
Released: 2016-2020
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Synopsis: Divorced workaholic Seok-woo (Gong Yoo) takes his daughter to Busan to visit her mother, but the train they are travelling on is besieged by zombies. In the 2016 prequel animation Seoul Station, the zombie outbreak begins with an injured man outside Seoul train station, and in 2020’s Peninsula, people are struggling to survive in a dystopian society filled with zombies and unruly people.
Verdict: This is a strong series overall, with Train to Busan in particular being a succesful zombie film that showcases how well South Korea can do zombies and horror in general. Seoul Station uses excellent animation to provide an origin story, and Peninsula plays on a post-outbreak world that brings terrors other than zombies alone.

Trick ‘r Treat
Released: 2007
Director: Michael Dougherty
Synopsis: In much the same vein as Love, Actually (though of course of a completely different genre), Trick ‘r Treat is a horror anthology of four separate stories that intertwine and are linked by one creepy (yet somehow cute) little onesie-wearing sack-headed demon named Sam. Each follows some kind of urban legend that has dire consequences, but also features some fun twists and turns to keep audiences on their toes.
Verdict: This movie is Halloween, the ultimate Halloween movie. You have a bunch of different stories, all happening on Halloween night, all intriguing and creepy and gory in their own right, that come together nicely, and it just has that overall feel of spooky season that every creep fan enjoys. 4/5

Troll Hunter (Norwegian: Trolljegeren)
Released: 2010
Director: André Øvredal
Synopsis: When a series of apparent bear killings draws their curiosity, a group of students head to the forest to find out what is going on. While there, they follow a hunter, only to discover that he is hunting something much, much bigger than bears.
Verdict: A great play on the classic Nordic folklore of trolls that features great performances, human and troll alike, with some fun dry humour mixed in with the terror of finding massive trolls out in the Norwegian wilderness. The shaky camera style can make you feel a little motion sick in this one, but if you can get past that, it’s an entertaining thriller. 4/5

U

The Ugly Stepsister (Norwegian: Den Stygge Stesøsteren)
Released: 2025
Director: Emilie Blichfeldt
Synopsis: After the passing of Agnes’s (Thea Sofie Loch Næss), aka Cinderella’s, father, her ‘evil’ step-mother begins to push her eldest daughter Elvira (Lea Myren) into more intense lessons, beauty regimes and surgical changes to make her more attractive to the opposite sex, the goal being to find a rich husband, at any cost.
Verdict: The extreme measures Elvira puts herself through, intiated by her mother, are truly horrific and reflective of the pain women will put themselves through to achieve the ‘perfect’ look. The performances are excellent, the story and characters well written, and the body horror scenes hard to look away from. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes The Ugly Stepsister review.

Under the Skin
Released: 2013
Director: Jonathan Glazer
Synopsis: An extraterrestrial Woman (Scarlett Johansson) preys on men in Scotland, but as she witnesses different sides of human behaviour, her icy attitude towards humans begins to thaw, which means putting herself in danger, too.
Verdict: A bizarre yet heavily themed film that has much in the way of social commentary while also being shocking and disturbing. Johansson’s performance is tremendous and a far cry from her usual Hollywood roles. She does have a few nude scenes, but none feel particularly sexual nor gratuitous – they all build the alien character and her actions. A strange yet intriguing film. 4/5

Us
Released: 2019
Director: Jordan Peele
Synopsis: In 1986, young Adelaide (Madison Curry) wanders into a hall of mirrors. When she emerges, she is unable to speak. Adult Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o), now mostly recovered, is on holiday with her family when they are visited by strangers who unleash havoc with consequences for more than just Adelaide’s family.
Verdict: Us doesn’t quite have the same effect as Peele’s Get Out, however that’s not to say that Us doesn’t stand firmly on its own two feet. It is sinister and has some unpredictable moments that will leave you on the edge of your seat. 4/5
Read the full Us review

V

The Vourdalak (French: Le Vourdalak)
Released: 2023
Director: Adrien Beau
Synopsis: Marquis Jacques Saturnin du Antoine (Kacey Mottet Klein) finds himself at the home of a missing man named Gourcha (voiced by Adrien Beau). Gourcha’s family welcome Jacques into their home, but upon Gourcha’s shocking return, the family become divided, with some believing he has become a vourdalak (similar to a vampire), and Jacques gets involved when Gourcha becomes violent.
Verdict: A wonderfully gothic film that is timeless in its style. The puppet used for Gourcha initially seems absurd to the point of comedy, but as the film progresses, it becomes a real figure of fear. The story is superb and underscored with individual characterisations that are the foundation of this insane and enjoyable horror. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes The Vourdalak review.

W

The Wailing (Korean: 곡성 )
Released: 2016
Director: Na Hong-jin
Synopsis: When apparently possessed people start attacking and killing each other, police officer Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won) investigates after his own daughter becomes one of the possessed. Enlisting the help of a deacon, Jong-goo comes to find that there are supernatural elements to the people who have gone mad, and he must hurry to find the source before more people die.
Verdict: A fantastic creepy horror that mixes a modern setting with a folkloric legend to create a chilling story. It keeps a good pace, mixes horror sub-genres quite cleverly and manages to obtain a level of depth with the characters that’s not often done well in the horror genre. 4/5

War of the Worlds
Released: 2005
Director: Steven Spielberg
Synopsis: Dead-beat divorced dad-of-two Ray (Tom Cruise) has his young daughter and teenage son staying with him when alien beings come down to Earth and activate ancient buried machines to attack humans. Ray must find a way to keep himself and his kids alive and get them back to their mother.
Verdict: Spielberg has proven himself adept at alien films, and he once again hits the nail on the head with this modernised version of the 1898 H.G. Wells novel and 1953 film (as well as the infamous 1938 radio program). From the design of the alien machines and the creepy sound design to the John Williams score and spot-on performances, this is an excellent film in the pantheon of alien movies. 4/5

When Evil Lurks (Spanish: Cuando acecha la maldad)
Released: 2023
Director: Demián Rugna
Synopsis: When the people of a small town discover a demon making its way through them, a handful band together to try to rid the town of its presence before it can take over all of the townspeople and commit further atrocities.
Verdict: With great cinematography, body horror prosthetics and makeup, When Evil Lurks is a gruesome horror with genuine shocks to go along with its enticing premise. The final shot is particularly aesthetically pleasing and will leave you with a morbid yet satisfying taste in your mouth. 4/5
Read the TIny Tapes When Evil Lurks review.

The VVitch
Released: 2015
Director: Robert Eggers
Synopsis: In 1630s New England, a settler family are banished from their community due to a disagreement. The family build their own farm, however there are dark and mysterious forces that appear to plague them, forces that may be eminating from the forest near their farm.
Verdict: They don’t come much more folk-horror than films such as this. With the New England area of the US being quite famed for its folk tales and horror lore, stories that are set in the time of pilgrims are ripe with fearful stories that are grounded in supernatural folklore, making them all the more entertaining in a scary way. This film does a great job of digging into the tale while providing enough psychological turmoil to make it a decently creepy tale. 4/5

The Wolf Man
Released: 1941
Director: George Waggner
Synopsis: On his return to his family home in Wales after the death of his brother, Larry (Lon Chaney Jr.) falls for an already engaged woman. When they take a walk one night, Larry is bitten by a werewolf, and he begins to experience some deadly changes.
Verdict: Unlike some of its contemporaries, The Wolf Man isn’t bloated with unecessary dialogue or stagnant scenes. The story is strong and well-paced, the performances are engaging, and the sets are quaintly peaceful in the daytime and gothically dark in the nighttime. Also, with a run time of just 70 minutes, it’s good for those looking for something that won’t be too attention-demanding. 4/5

The Woman in Black
Released: 2012
Director: James Watkins, based on the book by Susan Hill
Synopsis: A young recently widowed lawyer, Arthur Kipps, travels to an isolated house. Upon staying in the house, he is confronted by an evil spirit that haunts the house, and he must find a way to put the spirit to rest.
Why is it a good Halloween movie? This movie has excellent creep
Verdict: This movie has excellent creep-factor, being very dark and sinister. Daniel Radcliffe puts in a great performance, and the jump scares are actually quite well done to be genuinely frightening. Ultimately, it’s a classic ghost story, and is perfect if you fancy some more of that period horror with a straight-forward haunting. 4/5

World War Z
Released: 2013
Director: Mark Forster, based on the book by Max Brooks
Synopsis: Former UN investigator Gerry (Brad Pitt) travels around the world in search of the origin of a mass outbreak of zombies that are destroying the world, as well as a way to put an end to the outbreak.
Verdict: World War Z takes the standard zombie trope and reframes it from the POV of the world rather than just America or another western country. The horror and fear lies mainly in the race against time to find a way to stop the outbreak rather than relying on the zombies alone to terrify, and it is further bolstered by a great leading performance from Pitt. 4/5

X

X trilogy
Released: 2022-2024
Director: Ti West
Synopsis: In X, wannabe actress Maxine Minx (Mia Goth) gets involved with the production of an adult film being shot at a farmhouse owned by an odd old couple. In Pearl, the titular character is desperate to be a star, and will do anything to become so. In MaXXXine, Maxine continues her quest for stardom while avoiding the Night Stalker, a serial killer that murdering women across California..
Verdict: A strong trilogy with each film standing firm alone while complimenting its counterparts. Goth’s performances are fantastic, the plot of each film works well alongside the shocks and the gore, and there’s a lot to think about regarding fame, sexploitation, mental health and the rise of home video. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes X, Pearl and MaXXXine reviews.

Y

You Won’t Be Alone (Macedonian: Нема да бидеш сама)
Released: 2022
Director: Goran Stolevski
Synopsis: In the 19th century, a baby has her voice taken by a witch, and when she is older, she is kidnapped and turned into a witch herself. Eventually, she wonders what it is like to be human, and tries to find a way to become human once again.
Verdict: A very interesting story that is told in a unique way through the inner narration of a mute woman. The way in which one becomes a witch within the story is fascinating, as is the way the mute, childlike woman navigates her way back into a community. On top of this, the commentary on the way women are treated (both in the past and the present) is presented in such a clear way that you may not help but empathise with the witches. 4/5

Your Monster
Released: 2024
Directors: Caroline Lindy
Synopsis: A stage actress is dealing with a cancer diagnosis and the subsequent break up with her self-absorbed boyfriend when she soon meets a monster who has been living in her closet. As they get closer, she worms her way in to the play written by her ex.
Verdict: The chemistry of the lead actors goes a long way to make solid humour, as well as making the audience root for them both, even if things might not go the way we think. It’s funny, tragic and weird, but most of all relatable, in a bizarre kind of way. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes Your Monster review.

Z

Zombieland duology
Released: 2009/2019
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Synopsis: After a zombie outbreak, Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) goes on a long trip where he befriends different people, and they band together in order to reach their respective destinations safely. Despite rules about not getting too close to each other, the group soon come to find they don’t want to be without each other.
Verdict: The first film really put an epically fun spin on the zombie genre, kind of an American version of Shaun of the Dead. It’s got good humour, dialogue and performances. Double Tap takes things to the next level in terms of humour, with Woody Harrelson especially on top form, and it makes for an even more entertaining film.