Psychological horror films create terror through the mind rather than jumping fears. The British series HIM Follows a teenager named Jack who learns that he has supernatural powers.
However, these capacities are delivered with a dark torsion. Jack can make people do everything he wants or wishes. The series explores its fight with control and morality. He focuses on mental torment and internal conflicts. This approach makes viewers question human nature and reality.
The appeal of psychological horror films lies in their potential to disrupt viewers at a more intense level. They exploit public fears to lose control.
These stories make viewers doubt what they see and hear. They explore themes of guilt, identity and madness. Unlike other genres of horror, psychological horror films remain with the public long after the roll of credits. Fear comes from inside the minds of the characters. It creates a more personal and lasting fear. The genre puts the viewers in challenge to reflect on their own psychological limits.
Le Babadook, hereditary, medianand four other psychological horror films HIM
1) Black swan
The premise of history follows Nina Sayers, a ballerina dancer who won the role of Lake Swan. The pressure to be perfect consumes his mind. It begins to lose contact with reality because the role requires both seduction and innocence. Nina finally meets other artists and develops an extreme rivalry with her colleague dancer Lily. His mother’s controlling nature also adds to her mental tension.
As history progresses, Nina begins to feel paranoid thoughts and hallucinations. She cannot make a difference between illusion and reality. The film displays complete psychological ventilation. Its continuation of perfection turns into its fall. This psychological horror film explores the cost of obsession and the fragile nature of the human mind.
Black swan is available on Amazon Prime for viewers to watch.
2) Shutter island
This film follows Marshal Teddy Daniels, investigating a disappeared patient in a psychiatric establishment. The patient has disappeared from a piece locked on the shutter island. Teddy thinks that the hospital is carrying out illegal experiences on patients. He suspects a plot involving lobotomies and mental control. His partner, Chuck, accompanies him in search of the truth. Strange events occur throughout their investigation. Patients and staff behave mysteriously.
Teddy has flashbacks from the Second World War. He also remembers the death of his wife in an escape from fire. The island seems to play towers in mind. Realty becomes vague as the investigation continues. This psychological horror film questions the nature of memory and truth.
Shutter island is available for Netflix viewers to watch.
3)The Babadook
The premise of the film follows Amelia, a single mother raising her troubled son, Samuel. Samuel thinks that a monster called the Babaddok wants to kill them. The boy creates weapons and acts aggressively.
Ameilis discovers a disturbing children’s book on the Badadook in their house. The book contains threatening messages and dark illustrations. In addition, strange events are starting to take place in their house. Amelia is starting to see the Babadook herself. She is becoming more and more violent towards Samuel. His behavior becomes more dangerous and erratic.
The monster seems to feed on his anger and sorrow. Amelia is struggling with her own dark thoughts on her son. This psychological horror film uses the supernatural entity as a symbol of trauma and depression.
The Babadook is available for viewers to watch on Amazon Prime.
4) Hereditary
The Graham family takes care of the death of their secret grandmother. Annie discovers that her mother was involved in a mysterious cult. His teenage son, Peter, accidentally triggered the death of his sister Charlie.
The family is starting to experience supernatural events. Annie finds disturbing items hidden in her mother’s personal effects. She learns about the worship of demons and dark rituals. Peter begins to hear voices and acts strangely.
Annie’s behavior is becoming more and more threatening. The family mental state deteriorates quickly. Ancient symbols begin to appear in their house. The influence of worship is strengthened on the family. This psychological horror film mixes occult terror with family trauma.
This film is available on Amazon Prime for viewers to watch.
5) To go out
The premise of the film follows Chris, a boy visiting the family domain of his white pink girlfriend for the weekend. The black servants of the family behave irregularly around him.
Chris notices their vacant expressions and their strange manners. The parent of Rose seems too sympathetic, but something is wrong. Other black visitors are also disturbed during a family party. Chris is trying to contact them but obtains unusual answers. He learns a horrible truth about family intentions. Armitages transplant the consciousness of whites into black body.
They sell black guests to the wealthy white buyers. Chris realizes that he is the next target. This psychological horror film explores racism through a horror lens.
To go out is available on Amazon Prime for viewers to watch.
6)The lighthouse
The premise of the film follows Ephraim Winslow and Thomas Wake, who take care of a lighthouse on a remote island. Wake is a experienced goalkeeper who keeps the Landes of the Lighthouse room. Winslow manages maintenance work and manual work.
Their isolation begins to affect their mental state. Wake tells disturbing stories about the former lighthousekeepers. Winslow begins to feel hallucinations and strange visions. A storm imprisoned them on the island longer than expected. Their relationship becomes paranoid and increasingly hostile.
The two men start to drink strongly and act irregularly. Madness and reality are blurred in their isolated world. This psychological horror film examines how isolation can damage the human mind.
The film is available on Amazon Prime for viewers to watch.
7) In the middle of the summer
The story follows Dani as she joins her boyfriend Christian and her friends during a trip to Sweden. They attend a summer festival in a closed community. The community follows the ancient pagan rituals and traditions.
Dani mourns the recent death of his family. She hopes that the trip will help her cure trauma. The festival includes worrying ceremonies involving sacrifice and death. The members of the town act friendly but hide dark intentions. Dani’s mental state becomes more and more fragile.
It begins to participate in the rituals of the community. The line between horror and healing becomes blurred. This psychological horror film explores relationships, sorrow and cult manipulation.
This film is available on Amazon Prime for viewers to watch.
These are seven psychological horror movies to watch if you loved HIM.
Published by Mannjari GUPTA
