10 Movies You Must Watch if You Love ‘The Shining’ :-

Stanley Kubrick has touched every genre of film making and made a legacy out of it. The shining is about an aspiring writer Jack ( Jack Nicholson) who expects to be a caretaker of an isolated Hotel in the Colorado Rockies.He moves there with his family and soon horrific events start affecting the psychic nature of Jack. His minor son possesses an unusual ability where he sees the horrors of the Hotel’s past. The shining shocks at every point because of its scary narrative. It is about the toxic effect of a horrific environment , boredom and extremities of psychic nature on Jack. Though it’s a horror, it hardly has any spirit or ghost involved and the quote ‘All work and no play makes ‘Jack’ a dull boy’ is horrifying (than a ghost). There are many such horror flicks made which scare you, plays with your psychology and gives you a splendid plot too.

So if you loved The shining , here are 10 movies you must watch:-

1. Rosemary’s baby(1968):-

A young couple Rosemary and Guy move into a new apartment in New York city. Rosemary finds her neighbour who is an old couple too friendly but her husband forms a bond with them. Rosemary expects a baby but suspects that the old couple plans something evil to get her child for an antichrist ritual. The beauty of the film is that it’s simple and it has original screenplay.  Based on a book with the same name , Director Roman Polanski builds a strong information for a devilish end. The viewers feel for Rosemary and that’s what the movie uniquely stands out. It is different from the usual psychological horrors because the real demons are actually the people surrounding Rosemary. Rosemary’s Baby is a bold take on the horror genre considering the era in which it was made.

2.Psycho(1960):-

Alfred Hitchcock was already doing what every filmmaker in his time was just thinking of the execution. This horror flick starring Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates starts with Marion Crane (Vera Miles) stealing a big amount from her boss and planning to give it to her boyfriend which eventually will get them married. Marion stop and checks in at Norman’s Hotel out of the city and changes her decision to steal and go back. Further, Marion gets killed suspiciously and Norman becomes the prime suspect in case. Norman’s psychosis begins to unravel and the viewer’s see Hitchcock’s genius direction. The background score sends chills down the spine every time it collaborates with the scary scenes. It received mixed reviews initially but later got acknowledged for its creative brilliance and now considered as one the best psychological horrors of all time.

3.The Blair witch project (1999):-

Yes it is a found footage horror film. But it still questions the viewers what exactly happened in that forest. Directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez tell a story of three students filmmakers who wander in the Black hills, Maryland to shoot a documentary on the Blair witch. They all disappear in search of an exit but arrive on to the same location repeatedly. The dialogues are mostly improvised by the actors and were left alone with walkies for instructions by the crew while shooting. This made the performances real. The Blair witch project has a refreshing take on the genre as the evil antagonist is almost the forest itself. It hits the psyche of the viewers the way the students repeatedly end up in a loop while trying to leave the forest. With a low budget and grossing a whopping amount , the Blair witch project enthusiastically gave rise to other independent filmmakers to experiment with content over an audibly scaring audience.

4. The silence of the lambs (1991):-

This film had to be on the list. With Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins carrier best performances, Director Jonathan Demme adapts this from a novel about a psychiatrist and cannibalistic killer Dr. Hannibal lecter.

Clarice Starling(Jodie Foster) an FBI trainee is assigned to interview Dr. Hannibal lecter who is already imprisoned in the Behavioural Science Unit , to help her seeking clues about another serial killer known as “Buffalo Bill”(Ted Levine).The film was selected to be preserved in the National Film registry in 2011. The cinematography plays an important role as Hannibal addresses more to the audiences in most of his scenes. This is quite thought provoking for the viewers. With the first and till now, the only film to win the best picture Academy award (for a film considered as horror). The silence of the lambs creatively satisfies the psychological horror lovers.

5. The Witch (2015):-

The witch, set in 1630s New England, is a story of a couple, William(Ralph Ineson) and Katherine along with their daughter Thomasin (Anya Taylor-joy),son Caleb  and twins Mercy and Jonas , who starts living on a building farm near a large forest. Katherine gives birth to her fifth child Samuel who soon goes missing, who is revealed to be abducted by a Witch.Then the story revolves around the children missing and witchcraft being performed on them. The killing in the film is mostly unexpected and the director interestingly doesn’t specify the details. The art direction is visually thrilling and the director uses the secluded forest to scare, which really does.The Witch is a unique film based on witchcraft and thoroughly shakes the genre fans. It has a compelling plot which separates it from spirit oriented horror flicks.

6. Secret Window (2004):-

Stephen King’s novels had always encouraged filmmakers to portray them on big screen. Johnny Depp starrer, Secret Window directed by David Koepp is about a writer Mort Rainey who, on the verge of divorce with his wife, isolates himself in his cabin near Tashmore Lake. Later he is confronted by John Shooter (John Torturro) blaming him for stealing his story. Mort’s dog and his neighbours get killed . Mort realizes the consequences of his depression. Secret Window looks creamy and beautiful initially but its dark theme blossoms and sends shocks in the end. Johnny Depp shines in his gray shaded Mort. ‘Sowing Season ‘ recited by Mort in the end is terrifyingly sweet.

7. The others (2001):-

Spanish Director Alejandro Amenabar, gives an intelligent plot twisting horror with great performance by Nicole Kidman. The others is a story of a single mother Grace Stewart who lives with her two children. She hires three servants and after learning that the house seems to be haunted , it is revealed that the servants are already dead.The film stands out alone on the basis of its plotline. With numerous horror movements it brilliantly keeps the grip by psychologically playing with viewers minds. A mind blowing thriller with an intelligent story makes this one of the best psychological horror and thriller of all time.

Nicole Kidman won a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for best actress for this film.

8. Jacob’s Ladder(1990):-

Set in the 1970s, Jacob is an American soldier involved in the Vietnam war. After an attack his fellow soldiers exhibit abnormal behaviour which horrified him and he flees to the jungle. Four years later Jacob is shown in a subway , he starts getting hallucinations of faceless people and horrific incidence of his past. Jacob’s Ladder is complex but scary. It is a smart and compelling horror film with a fresh concept of scaring elements. The film developed a cult following after a loose response at the box office and encouraged a horror video game franchise Silent hill.

Watch it if you are looking for some variety in the psycho-horror genre.

9. Get out (2017):-

Directed by Jordan Peele , Get out is about 

Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), a black man, agrees to meet the family of his girlfriend Rose(Allison Williams). There he finds weird behaviour of black people and the way they are treated. At a function organised by Rose’s parents Chris has a bizarre experience with another black man. Horrified Chris plans to leave, but uncovers a disturbing secret about the family. Jordan Peele’s smooth direction keeps the viewers guessing about the end. He cleverly puts thrilling scenes at regular intervals between the calm and  original screenplay. The climax is unthinkable and bizzare but reaches at creative brilliance.

Nominations for Academy award, Golden Globe, critics choice and BAFTA, Jordan Peele and Daniel Kaluuya have a promising future.

10. The Haunting(1963):-

the 1960s was a decade of quality horror flicks. With Rosemary’s baby and Psycho already on the list from the same decade, The haunting is likely to be more horrific than psychological from others on the list. Dr. John Markway( Richard Johnson) wants to study the reported paranormal activities at Hill House which has a haunting past of killings and suicides. He accompanies Theo and Eleanor lence(Julie Harris) who is already mentally unstable due to her mother’s death. Horror starts as they invade the house but Eleanor gets affiliated with the house. The haunting scares from the first scene and it keeps sparking as it proceeds. It deals with more mental breakdowns than just ghosts and spirits. That’s why this film gained a cult following years after its release. For the horror lovers it is surely a fresh content to look out for, if you haven’t. Martin Scorsese’s first choice in his Top11 horror films of all time.

10 Movies You Must Watch if You Love ‘The Machinist’:-

‘The Machinist’, Directed by Brad Anderson has developed a cult following in recent years. The film is about Trever Reznik (Christian bale) who deals with insomnia which leads to an accident at his workplace ending up Trever loosing his job. Then follows a series of surreal incidents and his delusion of a man constantly following him. The Machinist is not just a film about insomnia but it also deals with how a human brain reacts without sleep for about a year, and how it goes haywire. Christian Bale’s breathtaking body transformation makes ‘Trevor’ intensely believable. There are many commendable films made on the genre, which had actually struck the psyche of the audiences.

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So if you loved The machinist , here are 10 more movies you must watch:-

1. Donnie darko (2001):-

Directed by Richard Kelly, Donnie darko is about a troubled teenager(Donnie) who gets influenced by Frank (a monstrous faced bunny) who tells him that the world will end in 28 days. Then starts the adventures of Donnie over the span of these 28 days. The film also deals with timetravel theories like wormhole and parallel universe. Donnie Darko smoothly balances both sci-fi and psychological thriller genres. The film often makes you think and question the sanity of the protagonist, but Richard Kelly breaks all your-The machinist-like stereotypes and surprises you with the end, and that’s the beauty of Donnie darko. Brilliant performances by cast uplifts the storytelling. Also don’t miss to notice the beautiful background score and the end-credits soundtrack.

2. Fight Club(1999):-

Talking about insomnia and not to mention Fight club is a crime. Based on the novel of the same name by Chuck Palahnuik, David Fincher’s Fight club presents a satire much believable and entertaining.The protagonist (Edward Norton) who is also the narrator of the film , is disinterested in his job and forms a fight club with a soap maker Tyler durden (Brad Pitt) after one day ending up in a fistfight with him. Tyler influences the narrator about consumerism and that the world’s credit card companies must be demolished so that there will be a financial equality. The narrator builds a bond with Tyler which convinces him to follow him. After a man gets killed from the club the narrator comes back to sanity. Fight club’s take on insomnia is different from others on the list, because it makes the viewers think about their beliefs and in the end wakes the viewers from a nightmare. Fincher’s stylish direction makes this movie the father of all twist endings. Brad Pitt stands out as Tyler durden. Fight club is surely a film which will be an example for thrillers and twisted plot films.

3. Insomnia (2002):-

This Christopher Nolan film is about a detective Will Dormer (Al Pacino) who is sent to investigate a murder of a teenage girl. While chasing the murderer he accidentally shoots his fellow detective Hap Eckhart. Dormer soon starts suffering from insomnia because of the guilt and then starts a chase between the killer and the detective. Mr. Nolan is widely known for playing with the minds of his viewers. In this film too, he doesn’t disappoint us with his confusing plot and cringeworthy storytelling. With brilliant talent in the cast , Nolan derives notable work from his actors. Like others on the list this film also deals with the alter ego of the protagonist and like other Christopher Nolan films this film too has its own major plot twist.

4. Lost highway (1997):-

Every film from David Lynch is an exercise to the brain.

Lost Highway is a story of a musician Fred Madison(Bill Pullman) living in Los Angeles who starts receiving bizzare video tapes featuring him and his wife, Renée Madison(Patricia Artiqutte). After a few days Fred watches the received tape alone and sees himself sitting near Renée’s dead body. Soon after this he is convicted for murdering his wife. While he is in jail, the guard discovers that Fred is now another young guy named Pete Dayton ( Balthazar Getty). Now the film changes to a new story , characters, background with only one common thing between both stories that the face of both female protagonists is the same. Lynch tells us how both stories resemble each other by small details about the characters and Fred’s alter ego. From light romance to dark world of prostitution , the film plays with viewers psychology. It is initially slow paced but shockingly picks up throughout till the end. That’s what makes David Lynch one of the greatest directors of all time.

5. Shutter island(2010):-

Set in 1954, on an isolated island in Boston Harbor, in this Martin Scorsese film U.S marshal Edward Daniel (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his partner officer Chuck Aule (Mark Raffalo) are sent to Shutter island to investigate the disappearance of patient Rachel Solando from the Ashecliffe Hospital which is a psychiatric facility. Edward learns that he had been restrained from some questionable experiments performed on the patients and that Rachel Solando is one of those patients. Edward’s past intervenes with his present and also he gets to know the deep secrets of the hospital. Martin Scorsese’s direction is simple but brilliant. It truly justifies the novel but arguably overpowers it. The amazing performances by the legendary talented actors makes the viewers engrossed in the storytelling. Leonardo DiCaprio was almost traumatised playing his character. One of brilliant psychological thrillers where the protagonist deals with his alter ego.

6. Black swan(2010):-

This Natalie Portman starrer film is about an ballet dancer Nina Sayers who somehow grabs the part for playing the lead dancer portraying the dual role of innocent white swan and sensual black swan. The artistic director Thomas leroy(Vincent Cassel) lures in Nina and gives her the part. Nina starts hallucinating somebody following her which ends up to be her doppelganger. Nina finds Lily (Mila Kunis) has replaced her and what follows is her quest to play the role and the price she pays for it. Director Darren Aronofsky gives a thrilling experience about Nina’s psychic journey to achieve perfection in her art by going beyond all the bitter ends. The screenplay is dark themed which makes it scary and intriguing at the same time. Fast paced and thrilling background score throttles the film viewing experience. Natalie Portman embodies the character Nina under her skin, which also won her Academy award for best actress.

7. Memento (2000):-

Another Christopher Nolan film on the list, Memento is about Leonard (Guy Pearce) who cannot form new memories, at least not for more than five minutes. He is in search of the man who killed his wife. He uses tattoos and photographs to keep track of the people he meets and to complete his mission. And the film is in reverse chronological order. So much was not enough for Mr. Nolan that he gave an alter ego to his protagonist, messing up more with the viewers’ minds. Films like Memento are the start of a new genre, a legacy which would always give a thrilling experience to its viewers.

8. Pi (1998):-

This film came before , when Darren Aronofsky became commercially popular with Black Swan. Pi is a film about a mathematician Maximillian Cohen (Sean gulette) who believes that everything in the world can be expressed in numbers and that the numbers can also explain the nature of the universe. He begins his quest to find the key to unlock the ultimate pattern. He also struggles with paranoia, hallucinations and social anxiety disorder. Darren Aronofsky uses the high contrast black and white film which is a visual thrill. The film also boldly shows the study between madness and intelligence. A film about obsession, loneliness , mathematics and a man’s quest to find what he wants from it. A rare experience of a psychological thriller which made Director Darren Aronofsky win Direction and screenplay award at different film festivals.

9. Stay(2005):-

Directed by Marc Foster and written by David Benioff, Stay is a film about Henry(Ryan gosling) who meets with a car accident but is unharmed on Brooklyn bridge. He consults psychiatrist Sam Foster ( Ewan McGregor) and tells him about his depression and hearing voices and the guilt of burning his car. What follows is the series of events in which he confronts of him commiting suicide and which eventually bring him to the same Brooklyn bridge where he met with the accident previously. The director intelligently maintains the characters grip on reality and imagination. The film deals with dreams, relations , unfulfilled feelings, guilt and death. Not thought provoking like others on the list but a must watch thriller and for The machinist lovers.

10. Mulholland drive (2001):-

This David Lynch masterpiece is a story about an aspiring actress Betty (Naomi Watts), who meets Rita who accidentally arrives and hides in Betty’s aunt’s house. Then they both start the mysterious journey to find the whereabouts of Rita. Then follows a series of events and dark scenes which interlock with Betty’s life and relate to the reverse narrative. Mullholand drives plays with the viewer with every scene and it seems like no scene correlates to each other. But the moment you start analysing it , it gets over. The film is so brilliant that every time it is discussed , a new thing gets added to the storyline and narrative. David Lynch excellent direction , screenplay and editing makes this his finest work which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Direction. The film is not only a confusing plot or twisted storyline, it is also about an artist’s obsession , failure and depression . It is more of an experience than to just watch Mullholand drive. If you ever had weird dreams and tried a connection with your real life , you are not far from getting the ‘mulholland drive’ experience.

Honorable mention:-

Talaash(2012):-

Directed by Reema Kagti and co-written by zoya akhtar, Talaash is about a Senior PI Surjan Singh Shekhawat(Aamir Khan)who starts investigating a case of car accident in which famous actor Armaan kapoor dies. Shekhawat struggles with his personal life with guilt of reason for the death of his 8 year old son. One night he meets an escort Rosie(Kareena kapoor) who helps him with the clues for Armaan’s death. Talaash is slow paced but brilliantly keeps it’s viewers on the edge. Surjan is finely characterized by Reema Kagti who deals with his guilt and becomes an insomniac. Talaash also deals with issues like ill treatment of the society towards escorts. Talaash is the one best psychological thriller of this decade, with talented cast and gripping storytelling. Inspired by a true event, Talaash is a one time watch with some scenes hard to believe like Rosie saving Surjan Etc.,that’s why it was hard to put it on the list.