It’s almost Halloween, which, along with an unnecessary amount of pumpkin sightings, means that the weather is getting worse and it starts to get dark at what seems like mid-afternoon. So to make the best of this time of year it’s always good to grab a few friends and see a scary movie. However, being a college student might not give you the time or resources to go see “Sinister.” Don’t worry, though, watching a scary movie at home can be equally fun and horrifying. “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Halloween,” “Psycho,” “Saw” and other mainstream films of that nature are too been-there-done-that. So wouldn’t you rather watch a movie that you haven’t seen or maybe even heard of, but you know you will scare you? Well today is your lucky day. Here is a list of the 10 scariest movies of the 2000s that you probably haven’t seen but really should.
1. [Rec] (2007)
In the style of “The Blair Witch Project” and “Paranormal Activity,” this film uses the shaky, hand-held camera technique to deliver its scares. Yet this Spanish film is so much scarier than those other, more popular movies because of its originality. The story follows a television reporter who follows firemen into an apartment building that becomes quarantined due to an outbreak of a terrifying infection.
2. The Mist (2007)
A group of people shopping in a grocery store are trapped once a strange fog encompasses their town. In addition to seeing the dehumanizing consequences of being stuck together in life-threatening circumstances, audiences will be shocked by what the mist brings with it. While the whole movie is entertaining and scary, it is the highly disturbing ending that makes this movie so memorable.
3. Frozen (2010)
A seemingly ridiculous plot: Three teens are stuck on a ski lift at the top of a mountain for several days. Yet this movie unexpectedly turns frightening as factors such as the blistering cold, the height of their ski lift, the isolation and wolves come into play.
4. Open Water (2003)
After going on a fun ocean tour, two scuba divers are mistakenly left behind in shark-infested waters. The majority of this film shows the panicked couple treading water, avoiding a horrible fate at all costs. The scariest part of this movie? It’s based on a true story.
5. Session 9 (2001)
A cleaning crew is called to rid an old mental hospital of asbestos. Soon they realize that there is something haunting the building and the men themselves. With implied violence and gore, “Session 9” relies on imagination and suspense to create pure horror.
6. Martyrs (2008)
This French film is about a girl seeking revenge on her childhood captors. Although this movie is heavy on gore, it’s also deeper than most movies we see today. There are constant surprises, shocks and scares that will keep your heart racing throughout the film.
7. 28 Days Later (2002)
A man wakes up from a coma 28 days after a zombie infestation has plagued Great Britain. This film is horrifying because it changes all preconceptions of zombies. The zombies in this movie are not dragging and slow moving; they run, break things and spread infections faster than usual. “28 Days Later” is definitely one of the best zombie movies, but at the same time one of the least known.
8. Wolf Creek (2005)
Three Australian twenty-somethings looking to have a fun weekend backpacking in the desert encounter a seemingly helpful mechanic, who turns out to be a sadistic killer. The reason this film is so amazingly terrifying is the villain’s performance. He is one of the creepiest bad guys of all time who will surely haunt your dreams.
9. The Descent (2006)
A group of women go on a caving expedition in the Appalachian Mountains, and it quickly turns horrifying as they realize they are not alone up there. The reason this movie provides such scares is not just the creepy creatures, but also how it makes the audience feel suffocated in the pitch black and cramped cave.
10. Eden Lake (2008)
“Eden Lake” is by far the best scary movie experience I’ve ever had. This British film is about a couple on a romantic getaway who run into a gang of young and brutal teenagers. What starts off as a bother quickly escalates into a highly disturbing and chilling experience. The actions of the gang are quick to shock, causing the audience to wonder if human beings could ever behave in such a way.
So if you want to get really scared this Halloween, there you go. If not, maybe just check out some of the girls’ costumes Downtown. That can be pretty frightening as well. Happy Halloween, Binghamton.