Edited by Matthew Smolenski

Just in time for Halloween, we have another set of horror recommendations from our talented set of editors! With just one day to go until the year rolls into full-blown Christmas festivities, why not reach into our trick-or-treat bag of Halloween treats to keep you entertained while it lasts? 

Harry Russell – Second Year Film Studies

Martyrs (dir. Pascal Laugier, 2008)

I’ll avoid going into specifics on the film, as a lack of knowledge really adds to the experience. The viewing experience of Martyrs is completely unexpected, with each scene taking wild turns that are both surprising and entirely sensical. Not a scene is wasted in the whole film, split into a three-part story that constantly led me to believe had reached its heights and was about to end, before somehow managing to go even further. Despite how much unpleasant violence is present in the film, it never relies on gore to provoke fear in the audience. Instead the motivations and characters involved are what causes a deep, existential fear in the audience. 

So hopefully if you’re a horror fan I might have convinced you to give Martyrs a go, but I will re- stress here, definitely make sure you’re in the mood and prepared for it. 

Jahnvi Pala, First Year Film Studies 

Stree (dir. Amar Kaushik, 2018)

Stree is a horror/comedy embellished with captivating commentary on the gender inequality that is rife in India. The film follows the story of Chanderi, a town that is haunted by a witch referred to as Stree (directly translated to ‘woman’). Stree, who was once harassed by the men of this town is now out to seek revenge on the men who continue to commit crimes against women. But she is no ordinary witch; she attacks only those who ‘consent’ (by looking into her eyes) and believes whole-heartedly in the notion that ‘no means no’. Director Amar Kaushik introduces us to a world in which it is dangerous for men to walk alone at night, a place where women can move safely and freely. This simple role reversal proficiently highlights the reality of the poor treatment of women in the real world. Despite this, the film doesn’t take itself too seriously.  

The screenplay is further uplifted by the memorable performances of Rajkummar Rao as protagonist Vicky, and Pankaj Tripathi, who effortlessly carries the comedic elements of the film as Rudra, the local witch expert. Though horror is not a genre that is commonly embraced by mainstream Indian cinema, this film beautifully encapsulates an array of horror tropes including POV shots, tracking shots and jump scares. This flawless marriage between horror and comedy simultaneously allows the film to maintain an over-arching comical tone. 

Zak Nathan, First Year Film Studies 

Evil Dead II (dir. Sam Raimi, 1987) 

In what many would consider Sam Raimi’s finest work, he introduces us to the true beauty of shlock, reaching heights that have not been touched by another campy grindhouse horror movie in the same light since. It may seem unconventional to recommend a sequel over Raimi’s original and still beloved cult hit, but it’s the total narrative disregard for the events of the first, and elevated commitment to the headache-inducing overtly cheap and plasticky, explosive gore of the original that make Evil Dead II stand out as a cult-classic.  

Whether it’s Bruce Campbell’s crazed performance as Ash, a moronic teenager who spends the better part of ninety minutes forgetting that he has in fact been in a zombie apocalypse before and should know what to do (a performance which Campbell has since pointed to as a demonstration of his lack of acting ability at the time of the movie’s production), or the masterful work of a special effects team who are about as passionate about Play-Doh as they are about their work’s realism, there’s an ever-present level of cheesiness woven through the movie’s inner lining. This Halloween season, treat yourself to the blissfully bloodied euphoria of Bruce Campbell cutting his own possessed hand off with a chainsaw before replacing his hand with said chainsaw, treat yourself to Evil Dead II… ‘Groovy’

Daniel Robbery, First Year Film Studies

Hereditary (dir. Ari Aster, 2018) 

If you are looking for a formulaic horror with cheap jump scares, look away now. If, however, you are looking for a film that terrifies on both a visual and psychological level, that leaves its marks long after the credits, I have the film for you.  

Let me introduce you to Hereditary, a slow burning psychological horror that builds and builds through its runtime, an overwhelming sense of dread permeating throughout the film that will ultimately leave you scarred. Hereditary at its core is a family drama that deals with themes of grief, loss and mental illness. It is this precise thematic exploration that lends the film its excellence; this is no mere conventional horror, but rather a drama that explores complex characters and complex themes that spirals into this wild horror-drama hybrid.  

A film full of richly disturbing imagery, that relies on beautifully grotesque visuals combined with distressing psychological implications, it leaves its audience terrifyingly awed at a singular vision of the effects of grief and mental illness. A film full of nuances and particularities that requires multiple viewings, with a subtlety rarely seen in horror -  it abandons obvious jump scares for a slow building sense of paranoia and discomfort that will linger long after the film’s ending. Forget cheap jump scares this Halloween and give this modern horror masterpiece your time.  

If you missed Part 1 of our editorial team’s horror recommendations, check it out here.