For those who want to explore the psychological horror genre, here are 11 recommendations for the best psychological horror movies that will definitely arouse your curiosity. Get ready to challenge the limits of your courage and thinking skills with this list of movies.
Watching a psychological horror movie is like swimming in a vast sea of mystery. The genre takes viewers to think about and explore the darker sides of human psychology, often leaving a strong impact and lingering questions long after the story is over.
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Best Psychological Horror Movies
11. Pintu Terlarang – 2009
Pintu Terlarang movie tells the story of Gambir, a sculpture artist who is considered to have a perfect life. Besides being successful in his career, Gambir also has the closest people around him.
His wife, Talyda, was a beautiful and smart woman. His mother, Menik Sasongko, was an understanding figure when Gambir and Talyda had no children after marriage. Gambir also has two supportive friends, Dandung and Rio, and a gallery owner named Koh Jimmy who is like a father to him.
However, behind the perfect life and career, Gambir kept a terrible dark secret. It all started when Talyda had an abortion because she got pregnant out of wedlock. After the abortion, Talyda forced Gambir to keep the fetus inside a pregnant statue that Gambir made.
10. The Lighthouse – 2019
The Lighthouse tells the story of two men who keep a lighthouse in Maine during the 19th century and get caught up in insanity.
With the use of aesthetically pleasing black and white cinematography, Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, as the two main characters, deliver outstanding and captivating acting.
The movie manages to combine elements of psychological horror brilliantly, providing an experience that audiences will always remember.
9. The Devil’s Backbone – 2001
The next best psychological horror movie recommendation is The Devil’s Backbone. This movie by director Guillermo del Toro takes place in an orphanage located far from the crowd, at the end of the Spanish Civil War.
It is home to children from leftist families, who await the end of the conflict while dealing with ghostly apparitions and the unraveling of a sinister mystery.
With its bleak atmosphere and sharp political portrayal, the movie manages to create a deep and touching narrative.
8. Perfect Blue – 1997
Next we move on to Japanese animation. Satoshi Kon, a renowned director in the Japanese animation world, is the brain behind the creation of Perfect Blue.
The movie tells the story of a pop artist who decides to venture into the acting industry and ends up facing deep psychological disturbances.
Thanks to its stunning animation and complex story, Perfect Blue has also become an important work for lovers of the animation genre with psychological horror elements.
7. Men – 2022
The next best psychological horror movie recommendation is Men, which was released in 2022. If you are interested in surrealism-themed psychological horror films, you should watch Men.
Director Alex Garland’s film revolves around Harper’s (Jessie Buckley) experience dealing with trauma and grief.
Set in the seemingly tranquil English countryside, Harper finds herself in strange and sinister circumstances where she encounters male characters – all played by Rory Kinnear – who also mysteriously endanger her life.
6. Jacob’s Ladder – 1990
Jacob’s Ladder tells the story of an American veteran, Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins), who faces a series of mysterious experiences and hallucinations relating to his time in Vietnam.
These events continue to plague him as he tries to discover the truth behind them. The movie, although not very successful when it first aired, has attracted a loyal group of fans and served as inspiration for various other works, including the Silent Hill video game series.
5. Possessor – 2020
The next best psychological horror movie recommendation is Prosessor. Inspired by the early works of his father, David Cronenberg, Brandon Cronenberg created a very surprising movie, Possessor.
The story centers on Tasya Vos (Andrea Riseborough), an assassin who uses technology to control the minds and bodies of others to complete her mission.
With a surprise ending, Possessor presents a challenging and thought-provoking experience.
4. Mother! – 2017
Darren Aronofsky’s Mother! is a captivating blend of psychological horror, dark comedy, and spiritual elements.
The movie’s story focuses on the lives of a married couple (Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem), who live isolated in a house. The peace and closeness of their relationship is disturbed after the arrival of a mysterious guest who asks for shelter.
3. Hereditary – 2018
The next best psychological horror movies recommendation is Hereditary. This movie will make you feel uncomfortable throughout the story.
Toni Collette, in her role as Annie Graham, an artist who struggles with the grief of her mother’s passing while working on dioramas that reflect her family’s life.
Ari Aster, as the director, creates a narrative that makes the audience wonder whether the strange events in the movie are reality or just the illusions of the Graham family who are plagued by bad luck.
2. Beau is Afraid – 2023
In addition to Hereditary, Ari Aster presents another psychological horror movie that you should not miss, Beau Is Afraid.
In this movie, it tells the story of Beau Wassermann (Joaquin Phoenix), a man who experiences the sudden death of his mother and must face his greatest fear as he attempts to return home.
The movie explores the relationship dynamics between mother and daughter with a unique and mysterious approach.
1. The Others – 2001
The movie “The Others” is a blend of a haunted house story and gradually increasing suspense.
It stars Nicole Kidman as Grace, who along with her two children settle in a secluded house on the Isle of Jersey, England.
The appearance of the three new helpers is the starting point for shocking supernatural events, trapping the audience in a mystery that is full of surprises until the end of the movie.
