Sick Nurses (2007; thai) dir. Piraphan Laoyont + Thodsapol Siriwiwat A group of nurses are haunted by the colleague they murdered, who preys on their worst impulses. A lot of the movies on this list came from one of two places: either they were on FearNet when I was in high school, or I came across an intriguing gifset on horror tumblr back in the early 2010's. Sick Nurses is the latter. I love this movie, it's ridiculous. I would highly advise watching with subtitles (as opposed to the dub). Features: Gore (and how!), scary hair ghost, body horror (to some degree). | Incomplete warnings: two characters with body dysmorphia (one bulemia, one compulsive exercizer - you do see scenes dedicated to both of these); also there's some plot-significant misogyny/homophobia/transmisogyny.
	Masters of Horror:Cigarette Burns (2005) dir. John Carpenter A man is hired to track down a rare film, said to have caused its debut audience to erupt in a violent frenzy. Things get weird. Both of John Carpenter's entries for Masters of Horror are stellar, but his season one offering is one of my favorite movies of all time. Come for the pre-Walking-Dead Norman Reedus, stay for that scene where the guy feeds his own intestines into a film projector. Features: Gore, psychological weirdness, a snuff film director who is just WAY too into his work. | Incomplete warnings: drug use, suicide, loss of a loved one.
	House of 1,000 Corpses (2003) dir. Rob Zombie A group of... teens? early-20-somethings? wind up in the home of one of those creepy murderfamilies 70s movies were always on about. I watched this repeatedly in high school, then forgot about it for like 10 years. When I rewatched it, I was ready to be disappointed; instead, I fell more in love than I ever had been. House of 1,000 Corpses feels like a creepy carnival ride. It's manic and experimental and technicolor and is exactly what you want in a directoral debut from a horror musician who directs his own music videos. My only complaint is that nothing else he's made is remotely similar. Features: completely bonkers cinematography and editing, gratuitious use of director's own music in the soundtrack | Incomplete warnings: torture, sexual assault
	Escape from New York (1981) dir. John Carpenter When the president's plane is hijacked, he escapes in his little presidential escape pod, which lands in New York City. Also, NYC has been annexed from the US and is now where criminals are sent forever. Enter: Snake Plisskin, given the opportunity to gain his freedom by rescuing the president. Ok, truthfully this isn't a horror movie, but I first saw it on a marathon on Shudder, so I'm counting it. Anyway, there's not really much I can say that isn't already covered in my description... just kidding, there's SO much else I can say: car with chandelier headlights, very tall hair, drag revue singing about how great crime is, hissing, gladiator-style wrestling, underground cannibals, kurt russel at the second-hottest he's been in his entire life. it's a masterpiece.
	Masters of Horror: Imprint (2006) dir. Miike Takashi (you know, like Audition) A man seeking his lost love learns about her horrible fate. And then it gets weird. This is my second-favorite of the Masters of Horror episodes. It is also uhhhh bonkers. I really don't know how to describe it. There's a bunch of torture, and then it gets worse. Welp. Features: torture, makeup, a weird puppet. | Incomplete warnings: torture, incest and csa (in a character's backstory), abortion.
	The Void (2016) dir. Steven Kostanski + Jeremy Gillespie A handful of people at a nearly-closed hospital find themselves trapped inside by cultists, and hunted by big gross monsters. Alright, nobody I've ever watched this movie with has been particularly fond of it, but I dig it. I love the fwibbly monsters, I love the spooky cultists, my eyes maybe glaze over a little during the bad guy monologue, but it's a fun time and I like it so there. Features: cosmic horror, eldrich junk, fwibbles, body horror | Incomplete warnings: the backstory of two characters involves a past stillbirth that is discussed at length.
	May (2002) dir. Lucky McKee When a strange young woman finds herself unable to connect with other people, she decides to take "making friends" a bit more literaly. If you've ever wondered how the hell Lucky McKee got a Masters of Horror invite with only two films to his name, no you haven't, but I have, and May answers it in full. This movie is so fun, and Angela Bettis does a great job as the titular character (she would later be in McKee's MoH entry, Sick Girl which is bonkers and I highly recommend it). Anyway, I don't have a ton to say, except that May was absolutely right, that short film was really sweet. Features: probable neurodivergence (affectionate) | Incomplete warnings: idk people are real mean to May. Oh also there's a scene where blind children rub their hands around on broken glass.
	American Mary (2012) dir. the Soska Sisters After being sexually assaulted by her professor, a medical student drops out and gets into the world of extreme body modification. Over on my 2024 watches page, I didn't have many kind things to say about The Power, and I just want you to know that every time I've ever complained about (or thought about complaining about) that movie, I had American Mary on my mind. This movie is abosolutely not for everyone, but it's sharp and cathartic and I like it a lot. Features: body horror, rape revenge | Incomplete warnings: rape, torture, title inacuracy (Katharine Isabelle and the Soska Sisters are actually Canadian).
	The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) dir. Marcus Nispel I don't have to tell you what The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is about. I know, I know, nobody liked this remake. Well, I did! It came out when I was pretty early in my horror-watching days, and I fixated on it. I also fixated on Jonathan Tucker. More on that whenever I do my Masters of Horror writeup. Features: gore, sweat, that one yelling guy who yelled in stuff. he yells. | Incomplete warnings: idk man it's just gross. also, suicide.
	Event Horizon (1997) dir. Paul W. S. Anderson A group of astronauts go on a rescue mission when a missing spaceship suddenly returns. From HELL. The year is 2002. Yours truly is a bright-eyed fifth grade girl* on a weekend visit to his* father's house. The family heads to the local video rental place, and clearly someone should have been paying more attention, because I not only rented Event Horizon, but I watched that movie on repeat on the little side room tv at least three times that weekend. It broke something in me, friends. It shaped me in some unchangeable way. Also, one time I made a crack about Sam Niel looking like a honeybaked ham on Tumblr and someone replied with "Ham Niel," so. There you go. Features: scifi horror, body horror, a fraught production that led to a bunch of film being cut that many people (myself included) would sell a small body part to get a copy of. | Incomplete warnings: eye stuff, suicide. | *see About
	Dead End (2003) dir. Jean-Baptiste Andrea + Fabrice Canepa A family driving at night takes a shortcut that, uh, isn't. I have no idea why I watched this movie so much in high school, and now it's all nostalgia. I have no idea if it's even fun if you're not me; someone watch it and report back.
	Battle Royale (2000, japanese) dir. Fukasaku Kinji A match with several competitors in the ring at the same time; in order to be eliminated, a competitor must be thrown over the top rope and both feet must touch the floor. The last one left in the ring is the winner. Wait, what were we talking about? Look, I don't have to explain why I rewatch Battle Royale. It's just a good movie. Features: a novel approach to dystopian worldbuilding | Incomplete warnings: I mean, a bunch of teenagers die, so. That?
	Paprika (2006, japanese) dir. Kon Satoshi (of Paranoia Agent) A research psychologist enters the dream world and turns into her alter ego, Paprika, to investigate a dream terrorist. Alright, wikipedia actually says this movie is a "...Japanese adult animated surrealistic science fantasy psychological thriller film," but that's, like, so many words? And I think surrealism runs a close enough parallel to horror that I have a solid case here. Anyway, this is the most recent entry on the list. I watched it for the first time on Jan 1, 2024, and the main thing I felt was "where have you been all my life?" No idea how to describe it though. Check it out if you have a decent threshhold for weird anime bullshit (affectionate).
	Unfriended (2014) dir. Levan Gabriadze A group of friends in a group video call are haunted by the ghost of a dead classmate. text here
	Silent Hill (2006) dir. Christophe Gans A woman's adopted daughter has been sleepwalking and shouting the name of a town, so her mom takes her there for reasons. But then the kid gets lost, and also there's monsters, and a cult. It's like, a whole thing. text here
	Oculus (2013) dir. Mike Flanagan A brother and sister need to get a cursed mirror to act out on camera so people will know that their dad wasn't a horrible abusive murderer, it was the mirror's fault! It goes super great. text here
	You're Next (2011) dir. Adam Wingard Guys in animal masks show up to start murdering a rich family having a tense reunion. Unfortunately for them, one of the sons' new girlfriends is weirdly prepared for this sort of thing. test here
	>Scream (1996) dir. Wes Craven Do I have to tell you what Scream is about? C'mon. text here
	The Blair Witch Project (1999) dir. Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez Three film students set out to make a documentary about a local myth. This footage is all that's left of them. review en route
	Poltergeist (1982) dir. Tobe Hooper A suburban family's youngest daughter is... pulled into the TV by ghosts? I think? review pending
	Candyman (1992) dir. Bernard Rose
	As Above, So Below (2014)
	Clown (2014)
	The Menu (2022)
	The Thing (1982)
	Grave Encounters (2011)
	The Dentist (1996)
	Dave Made a Maze (2017)
	Blair Witch (2016)
	Autopsy (2008)
	Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
	The Hole (2001)
	13 Sins (2014)