The Classics
Scream (1996) (Amazon Prime/itunes /Dvd)
A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorised by a new killer who uses horror film quizzes as part of a deadly game. This is a satirical slasher film, something that was quite groundbreaking and unusual at the time.
Psycho (1960) (Amazon Prime/itunes/Dvd)
A secretary called Marion embezzles $40,000 from her employer's client and goes on the run. When she stops for the night at the ramshackle Bates Motel she meets the polite but highly strung owner Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) He is controlled by his mother and doesn't have a life of his own. However something bad befalls Marion during her motel stay.
Crooked House (Netflix/Amazon Prime)
Crooked House is based on Agatha Christie's novel. The story begins with the death of business tycoon Aristide Leonides. His granddaughter Sophia asks Charles Hayward, a private investigator to look into the matter because she believes he was murdered by a family member. Sophia describes Aristide's regular insulin injection had been laced with eserine from his eye drops which caused a fatal heart attack. She believes this was deliberate, not accidental.
TV shows
When a family move into a big, old mansion in order to flip it over the summer they did not expect the house to be filled with malevolent forces. The Haunting of Hill House slowly draws you into the story and shows the lasting trauma on each member of the family and the family dynamics. The children are really good actors and I liked the fact that while most horror plots focus on the scary thing in the here and now, this show illustrates the lasting consequences of the trauma which gives the plot more depth. I've finished watching this so I'll be watching The Haunting of Bly Manor next which features a lot of the same cast although the characters and plot are different.
Stranger Things (Netflix)
Stranger Things is mixture of sci-fi and horor. Set in the 80's the show begins with the disappearance of a boy called Will Byers. At the same time a girl called Eleven escapes from a laboratory and she teams up with Will's friends to use her psychokinetic powers to find Will. The search party that follows has to fight terrifying, supernatural forces to get Will back.
The Sinner (Netflix)
For some reason I've only watched the third season but it's a good show. Bill Pullman is a police detective who investigates crimes committed by unlikely culprits and attempts to uncover the culprits' motivations.
The Vampire Diaries (Netflix/Amazon Prime)
Elena (Nina Dobrev) and her brother Jeremy are living with their aunt because their parents were recently killed in a car crash. On the first day of high school she is intrigued by a new boy, Stefan. Stefan is actually a vampire and he is drawn to Elena because she looks like the love of his life Katherine, a vampire from his past. Stephan's brother Damon returns trying to create chaos because he hates that Stephan turned him into a vampire against his will. They eventually make up and Elena begins dating Stephan but then she becomes attracted to Damon. She is torn between the two brothers. When Mystic Falls attracts various supernatural beings including Katherine the brothers try to protect Elena. I love the love triangle and find the romance and story more compelling that Twilight (please don't hate me!) I also love the music score as well.
The Originals (Netflix/Amazon Prime)
A spin-off from The Vampire Diaries, this show focuses on the Mikaelson family who are the earliest and the original vampires. The power hungry Mikaelsons move to New Orleans and form an alliance with local witches in order to rule the city once again.
Locke and Key (Netflix)
After Rendell Locke is murdered, his wife Nina decides to move her children Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode to his ancestral estate Keyhouse. The children soon discover a number of mysterious keys throughout the house that can be used to unlock various doors in magical ways. However they soon become aware of a demonic force that is also searching for the keys for its own evil purposes.
The Chilling Tales of Sabrina the Teenage Witch (Netflix)
This reincarnation of Sabrina the Teenage Witch is a lot darker than the original 90's sitcom featuring Melissa Joan Hart. This show opens with Sabrina turning 16, the time for her 'dark baptism.' The dark baptism means pledging her loyalty to the Dark Lord Satan. Sabrina is conflicted as she has to choose between her family and their dark legacy and the 'normality' of Baxter high school and her friends. In season one she tries to balance her two worlds, being half-witch and half-mortal all while fighting the evil forces that threaten her family and friends. In season two she embraces her 'witch' side by deciding to attend the Academy for Unseen Arts full time. However a prophecy about Sabrina shakes the foundation of the Church and her relationship to the dark lord.
Dexter (Amazon Prime/ itunes/ Sky Atlantic)
Dexter was left orphaned at age 3, when his mother was brutally murdered with a chainsaw by drug dealers. He was adopted by police officer Harry Morgan. When Harry discovers Dexter's sociopathic tendancies he tries to control them by only letting him kill the criminals who slip through the justice system. Dexter has a double life as he also works at the Miami Police department as a blood splatter analyst. This job gives him a cover story but he finds it hard juggling his double life. If you like gory, thriller stories this is the show for you.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Channel 4 On Demand / Amazon Prime)
One of the best things to come out of the '90's (beside Friends) is Buffy. Buffy (Sarah Michelle Geller) is a high school student destined to slay vampires, demons and other supernatural creatures. Librarian Giles is her 'watcher' who gives Buffy advice and direction. With his help and the help of her friends Willow and Xander she protects Sunnydale. The Sunnydale high school also happens to be on the hellmouth, the crux of evil. If you fancy a laugh check out the original Buffy The Vampire film (1992) starring Donald Sutherland and Kristy Swanson.
Kids & Family films
The Witches (1990/2020 ( itunes/DVD)
I know that this film has been remade with Anne Hathaway which you can watch now on itunes. This film is based on Roald Dahl's book 'The Witches' and he kind of ruled as a children's author in the 80's and 90's. I remenber watching the original film as a child and found it really scary but not too scary if you know what I mean. The film is about a boy called Luke who stumbles onto a witch convention in a hotel and tries to stop them even when he has been turned into a mouse.
Corpse Bride (2005) (Netflix/Amazon Prime/itunes)
I've only recently watched this and loved it. It's animated, musical film directed by Tim Burton, the king of all things spooky. Victor Van Dort, the son of wealthy fish merchants is bethrothed to Victoria Everglot, the daughter of impoverished aristocrats. Their arranged marriage will raise the social class of Victor's parents and restore the wealth of Victoria's family. Although both fall in love with each other, Victor ruins their wedding rehearsal by forgetting his vows. When Victor is nervously practicing his wedding vows outside, he inadvertently awakens a young woman from her grave. She believes that her fiance is here at last and that they are now married! She whisks him off to the world of the dead. Somehow Victor has to get back to the living and find Victoria.
Edward Scissorhands (Amazon prime/ Disney + /Dvd)
A Halloween/ Christmas classic inspired by the story of Frankenstein and his inventor. A scientist builds an animated human being called Edward. Unfortunately the scientist dies before he can finish assembling Edward, leaving him with scissor blades instead of hands. When the local Avon lady Peg calls on Edward she decides to introduce him to her family. Edward falls in love with her daughter Kim, however despite his kindness and artistic talent Edward's hands make him an outcast in the town.
