PEAKLIFE

By Kratika Agarwal

October is about to end, which means it’s time for Halloween. When kids are out trick o’ treating, let your own spooky and scary adventure begin. A sign of a great horror movie is that it can make you cower behind a blanket, bracing for the terrifying moment to come, or even offer a touch of humour to pull you back to reality when the tension gets too intense. PEAKLIFE presents a list to keep the eerie Halloween vibes going, featuring spine-chilling films from the Conjuring universe to the spooky tales from Maddock Films. Let’s kick off the movie marathon, where you can dive into horror or lighten the mood with some humour.

Lights, camera, and screams await!

1. The Black Phone (2021)

Black Phone is based on a terrific short story written by Joe Hill under the same name. The story follows a sinister serial kidnapper known as ‘Grabber’. Soon, Finney finds himself in a soundproof basement, where he finds a disconnected phone that mysteriously links him to previous victims who are now dead. Throughout the runtime, the film will keep you on edge of your seats as our protagonist discovers a way to escape from his captor with the help of those spirits. The suspenseful atmosphere of this movie is something that will keep you on the edge at all times!

Where to watch: Netflix

2. Talk To Me (2023)

Talk To Me is an Australian Horror movie, directed by Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou. This story is set to give you the right chills that the night of horror demands. Events start unfolding when some friends discover a way to conjure spirits through an embalmed hand. A seemingly fun game night turns into a nightmare when something entirely unexpected unfolds and horrific things start to happen. It’s the perfect choice that has the potential to silence the room where everyone anticipates what’s next.

Where to watch: Netflix

3. Munjya (2024)

Do jump scares get you, and are you into the fun mix of horror and comedy? If you just nodded your head, the supernatural universe created by Maddock films is just what you need for a night of horror. The story unfolds as Bittu (Abhay Verma) visits his native village only to find a secret and wake the vengeful spirit, Munjya, who wants to get married. This is the third installment to the Maddock films and brings light-hearted humour with spooky elements. For all the Bollywood horror fans, this one is definitely to add to your binge list!

Where to Watch : Disney+ Hotstar

4. I Saw the TV Glow (2024)

If you’re a fan of midnight shows, this is for you. The film stars Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine as two teenagers who get hooked on a late-night show that gives them a vision into a deep, dark and creepy supernatural world. The movie is set in the late 90s to early 20s, which tells you more about the haunting reality of the power of the show. As their obsession with the show grows, Owen’s perception of reality begins to unravel, leading him to question his own identity.

Where to watch: Netflix

5. Bulbul (2020)

Bulbul is a Bengali-language Indian horror film that delves into themes of female empowerment, societal expectations, and the supernatural. It tells the story of two young sisters, Bulbul played by Tripti Dimri and Chanda, who grow up in a patriarchal household in 19th-century Bengal. The haunting music of the movie will give you equal chills as the storyline does

.

Where to Watch : Disney+ Hotstar

6. The Curse Of La Llorona (2019)

This movie is based on the Mexican folktale of La Llorona, the Weeping Woman. The story is set in Los Angeles, where a social worker, Anna and her children’s lives take a terrifying turn. As the story unfolds and the family finds itself prone to haunting events, Anna discovers that the woman is La Llorona, a vengeful ghost condemned to wander the earth searching for her lost children. Get ready to watch some epic cinematography.

Where to watch: Netflix

7. Hereditary (2018)

An American psychological horror film that explores themes of grief, trauma, and the inescapable nature of family ties. Following the death of Annie’s estranged mother, the cracks in their seemingly ordinary lives begin to widen, exposing a chilling legacy that lurks just beneath the surface. After a series of sinister events, Annie decides to delve into her mother’s hidden history, uncovering a web of dark secrets and occult connections that bind them together in a macabre dance of fate. As they confront the malevolent forces at play, the line between reality and horror blurs, leading to a terrifying climax that will leave viewers breathless.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

8. It Chapter 2 (2019)

What happens when the devil who haunted your childhood returns? It Chapter Two is the 2019 sequel to It and continues the story of the Losers’ Club, a group of childhood friends who faced off against the malevolent entity known as ‘Pennywise’ the Clown in Derry, Maine. Set 27 years after their initial encounter, the film reunites the now-adult members of the club as they return to their hometown to confront the evil that has resurfaced. Beware! It has a clown but not to make you laugh.

Where to watch: Netflix

9. The Shining (1980)

Another popular book-to-movie adaptation, which is definitely one of the favourites of all time, is back on this list. The film stars Jack Nicholson, who is known to have given a performance of a lifetime. After getting isolated from the outside world with his wife Wendy and young son Danny, Jack begins to experience disturbing visions and hallucinations that grow into madness and violence. Danny, who possesses psychic abilities, senses the evil lurking within the hotel and tries to warn his family. The hotel in which it’s set is itself a character in the film, with its labyrinthine corridors and sinister presence.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

10. Get Out (2017)

It’s a thought-provoking and suspenseful thriller with a unique ability to blend horror with satire. In the movie, a young African-American man, Chris, meets his white girlfriend Rose’s parents for the first time at their secluded family estate. While initially charmed by their hospitality, Chris soon begins to notice unsettling and disturbing behaviour from the family and their neighbours. As he delves deeper into the family’s secrets, Chris realises that he is trapped in a horrifying conspiracy.

Where to watch: Netflix

11. Re/Member (2022)

A Japanese horror film in which the lives of six high school students are stuck in a loop, where they have to relive the same day over and over again. They discover that the only way to break the curse is to find the scattered remains of a murdered victim. As they search for the body parts, they begin to unravel the mystery behind their predicament and uncover dark secrets within their own group. The film will keep you guessing with its intricate plot and unexpected twists, making it a suspenseful and engaging watch.

Where to watch: Netflix

12. In the Tall grass (2019)

After hearing the calls from a boy, two siblings, Becky and Cal, become lost in a vast field of tall grass while searching for a young boy who has wandered off. As they venture deeper into the grass, they encounter strange phenomena and realise that they are trapped in a sinister realm. This 2019 American horror film is based on the imagination of Stephen King and Joe Hill. As they wander through the vast field of tall grass looking for some way to get out, strong performances and suspenseful setting make it worth watching.

Where to watch: Netflix

Cover Credits : I’m Thinking Of Ending Things / Netflix