Best Ghost Horror Movies

Key Takeaways

The best ghost movies pay homage to the spirits of the deceased through chilling tales of suspense.
The supernatural can be ominous and unsettling, manifesting in ways that evoke a sense of terror.
Ghostly entities in film range from classic icons like Sadako to unique, haunting spirits like Nothing.

As a lifelong fan of horror movies, I must say that these three ghostly tales are some of the best I’ve ever seen! Each one has its unique charm and chills that send shivers down my spine.

Ghosts have always been a phenomenon of intrigue for humanity over the centuries. Sometimes, it was a way for people to cope with the loss of a loved one by imagining a fragment of them remaining on the earth, but mostly, it is a source of fright. The idea of a deathly, pale white specter roaming the hallways of a home, which should be a safe haven, is a trully terrifying idea.

In the realm of chills and sorrow, numerous horror films serve as dwellings for the spirits of those who have passed on. Over the years, countless remarkable movies about ghosts have emerged like spectral figures in a cemetery, and it’s high time we honor these spectral stories by celebrating their haunting legacies.

10 The Innkeepers

A Scary Story Of Suspense In A Run-Down Hotel

Director: Ti West
Release Year: 2011
Streaming: Roku, Tubi, Hoople, Apple TV+, Kanopy, Pluto, Plex, Shudder, Peacock, AMC

Prior to achieving widespread fame with the X Trilogy, filmmaker Ti West was recognized primarily for less mainstream horror films that only dedicated horror enthusiasts might recognize. One of these lesser-known movies was “The Innkeepers”, a story set in a hotel on its last day before closing forever. The staff members, Claire and Luke, are working their final shift. There aren’t many guests present, as some have been there for an extended period without checking out at the reception.

The two employees share a fascination with spirits, and the spooky past of this hotel piques their curiosity. However, their enthusiasm fades swiftly when they encounter the terrifying reality that ghosts can present. The dominant ghost, Madeline O’Malley, is exceptionally chilling, adorned in her wedding dress and veil, yet displaying a freshly pale and bloodied countenance simultaneously. Even the most courageous ghost investigators would struggle to maintain composure in the presence of this ghastly figure.

9 The Sixth Sense

An Iconic Mystery Thriller With A Shocking Ending

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Release Year: 1999
Streaming: HBO Max, Apple TV+, Fubo

M. Night Shyamalan excels at crafting unexpected plot twists, particularly in the final scenes of his movies, and “The Sixth Sense” is no exception. In this film, we follow the story of a young boy named Cole Sear who can see spirits. He confides in child psychologist Malcolm Crowe about this unusual ability, but initially, Malcolm finds it hard to believe. However, he eventually trusts Cole and advises him to communicate with the ghosts. The movie’s shocking twist reveals that Malcolm himself is actually a ghost, unaware of his spectral state, which allows him to move on to the afterlife.

One of the most well-known shocking twists in a film, its outcome is now common knowledge, meaning even those who haven’t watched it know how it ends. However, it remains an engaging watch. The eerie and sad specters of the deceased surrounding Cole, along with the unfolding of the revelation, are experiences that must be witnessed personally.

8 Pulse

Ghosts Invade The World Of The Living In Unusual Fashion

Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Release Year: 2001
Streaming: HBO Max, Apple TV+, AMC+, Hoopla, Plex

In one of numerous Japanese films given an American adaptation, the original version failed to surpass its remake. A fresh take on the lore of ghosts and spirits is presented as they begin to invade the realm of the living, a novelty achieved through the Internet. The protagonist, Mich, newly settled in Tokyo, strives to establish her life in her new apartment while working at a plant store. However, her coworkers mysteriously start perishing after strange and supernatural encounters.

The film certainly lives up to expectations when it comes to creating chilling moments, skillfully constructing quite unsettling sequences like Taguchi’s hanging corpse and the spectral figure at the end of the corridor, which produced a particularly impactful jump scare – a notable achievement for early 2000s ghost films.

7 Lake Mungo

This Horror Mockumentary Has One Of The Most Chilling Scenes In Cinema History

Director: Joel Anderson
Release Year: 2009
Streaming: Apple TV+, Roku, Tubi, Plex, Freevee

Following the discovery of 16-year-old Alice Palmer’s body in a lake, the Palmer family grapples with their sorrow and various peculiar incidents that leave them wondering if Alice remains amidst them even after her passing. Evidence surfaces, thanks to her elder brother Mathew, indicating that Alice’s spirit may be haunting their house and the lake. However, this proof is later revealed as a hoax. Yet, there exists genuine footage showing Alice encountering the spectral image of her drowned self.

In a single, powerful scene, the main character encounters her own demise. This moment stands out and is the one that viewers are likely to recall most vividly. It’s the part that will inspire them to suggest this movie to their friends. The spectral form of Alice, even if it was only trying to forewarn her about her approaching death, remains something truly chilling to witness.

6 Ring

Sadako Remains One Of Cinema’s Most Disturbing Entities

Director: Hideo Nakata
Release Year: 1998
Streaming: Apple TV+, Shudder, Tubi, Kanopy

In seven days, you’d be facing a chilling fate similar to characters in the movie ‘Ring’. Here, a malevolent spirit named Sadako haunts a cursed video tape, claiming the life of its viewer within a week unless they pass it on. This terrifying concept, reminiscent of chain letters, finds itself playing out for Reiko, who’s under the curse herself. She seeks help from her former spouse, and together they unearth the heart-wrenching story of Sadako, eventually finding her remains in a well.

Back in the ’90s, I found myself utterly captivated by one chilling Japanese horror film: “Ring”. This movie is not for the faint-hearted; Sadako, its ghostly protagonist, will send shivers down your spine and make you think twice before playing a VHS tape. The very act of watching it could unleash horrors beyond imagination.

5 Crimson Peak

A Gothic Tale Of Romance, Betrayal, And Ghosts

Director: Guillermo Del Toro
Release Year: 2015
Streaming: Prime Video, Apple TV+

Guillermo Del Toro has earned recognition for creating haunting masterworks, and although Crimson Peak may not equal his greatest achievement, it remains a remarkable piece of art. This tale unfolds during the Victorian era when an aspiring writer named Edith Cushing finds herself smitten by the English baronet Thomas Sharpe. He invites her to reside at Allerdale Hall, more famously known as Crimson Peak – a warning she had received from a ghost about this place. As Edith delves into the mysteries of Allerdale Hall, she uncovers the grim past that haunts the Sharpe siblings and Thomas’s former wives.

In this film, the chilling apparitions of crimson hue are nothing less than petrifying, with their distorted forms and uneasy movements causing anyone who witnesses them to feel a chill down their spine. However, these spectral beings are merely the unfortunate victims of the Sharpes, whom Lucille drugs with poisoned tea for a gruesome end. Despite the ghosts being a significant aspect of the movie, they aren’t the real source of evil – that title goes to a clever and underused plot twist in the world of ghost movies.

4 The Night House

In This Movie, Nothing Is Something To Be Very Afraid Of

Director: David Bruckner
Release Year: 2021
Streaming: Fubo, Apple TV+, FX Now

Struggling with loss and confusion, Beth grapples daily since her husband took his own life, leaving behind a cryptic message about being saved from ‘Nothing,’ which mirrored her own account of what she experienced during the four minutes she was clinically dead. Upon his death, Beth uncovers a perplexing photograph of a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to herself, leading her to suspect her husband was unfaithful. However, the truth proves to be much more intricate and ominous than infidelity. One day, she discovers a mirror image of her house on the other side of the lake, inhabited by the spirits of women who resemble Beth and her late spouse.

As I navigated through the chilling darkness of “The Night House”, what initially appeared as mere emptiness was, to my shock, revealed as a spectral entity collecting its due. This unexpected twist, both clever and spine-tingling, sets this film apart from the usual ghostly narratives. Despite being unseen, this elusive specter is undeniably one of the scariest apparitions ever captured on screen, a testament to the ingenious writing and haunting visual direction of the movie. For those seeking an escape from the monotony of familiar tropes in horror, “The Night House” offers a unique and terrifying spin on the genre that’s not to be missed.

3 The Conjuring

A Terrifying Ghost Story Purportedly Based On A True Story

Director: James Wan
Release Year: 2013
Streaming: Ruko, Apple TV+, HBO Max

The first film titled “The Conjuring” is based on the true story of Ed and Lorraine Warren, renowned investigators of paranormal phenomena for nearly half a century in the 1900s. One of their most famous cases involves the cursed doll Annabelle, which makes a brief appearance at the beginning of this movie. This story centers around the Perron family, who move into a picturesque rural home, but soon experience strange incidents that grow progressively more disturbing. They eventually seek help from the Warrens, who verify that the house was once inhabited by a witch named Bathsheba, whose ghost continues to haunt it.

The film titled “The Conjuring” swiftly gained immense popularity due to its authentic foundation and the bone-chilling fear it instilled. Among the many ghostly apparitions portrayed on screen, Bathsheba stands out as particularly unnerving, and the frightening moments she generates throughout the movie are truly pulse-pounding, such as the skillfully crafted hide-and-clap scene. While Annabelle may be their most renowned creation, when it comes to finding a top-notch ghost movie guaranteed to leave viewers trembling with terror, few rival “The Conjuring“.

2 The Others

An Unpredictable Ending That Will Shock Viewers

Director: Alejandro Amenabar
Release Year: 2001
Streaming: N/A

In a secluded dwelling on Jersey Island, Grace resides with her two light-averse kids, keeping the residence perpetually shrouded in darkness. This fosters an ominous and unsettling ambiance for the film, amplified when she starts perceiving mysterious footsteps and spectral voices – staple indicators of paranormal entities occupying the house. However, a startling revelation leaves viewers spellbound: Grace and her children are in fact the ghostly apparitions haunting this very residence.

The film takes a gradual, suspenseful approach, avoiding frequent displays of frightening ghost images and abrupt jump scares. Instead, it immerses viewers in the family’s hardships, leading to a surprising plot twist and an incredibly unsettling scene featuring a child with an aged woman’s face.

1 Poltergeist

A Ghost Movie With Its Own Haunted Production

Director: Tobe Hooper
Release Year: 1982
Streaming: HBO Max, Apple TV+

It’s impossible to delve into ghost films without bringing up one of the most influential ghost movies ever made: Poltergeist. This timeless tale has left an indelible mark on the ghost movie genre, recounting the chilling experiences of the Freeling family as they grapple with the supernatural happenings in their home, which is part of a planned community. Their youngest daughter, Carol-Anne, starts displaying peculiar behavior like conversing with a static-filled TV, setting the stage for the harrowing ordeals that follow.

The house is frequented by several ghosts who cause distress to its inhabitants in various ways, one such entity being a notoriously frightening clown doll that continues to instill fear even today, causing unease among those who watch clown-themed items. The film’s production was marred by horror and sorrow as the actresses playing the daughters both perished. Heather O’Rouke, portraying Carol Anne, succumbed due to an incorrect diagnosis of an abdominal blockage, while Dominique Dunne, depicting older sister Dana, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend. Despite the somberness of their demise, the movie will forever stand as a memorial to them both.

2024-10-08 01:35