If I sort my lists of movies by their genre, horror comes in third with 100 movies. So, I like to say that I am pretty well-educated on the topic. As a precautionary warning, some of these movies are not family-friendly or for the casual PG-13 horror watcher. These movies are not in any particular order.

1) The Shining was one of the first horror movies I watched. I love everything about this movie. I love the conspiracy theories surrounding the initial film, the hidden themes; the list goes on. Some people argue that it isn’t terrifying, and I agree. But who has actually watched the movie? Everyone knows “Here’s Johnny!,”but the context surrounding why he says that is chilling. The scariest part of the entire film for me is a three second shot of Shelley Duvall. Her face is aghast, and she just stares at the camera, sending shivers down my spine every time. This film is worth checking out simply because it is one of the classics of horror. It will leave you questioning “What does it mean?” for days.

2) Sleepaway Camp is a relatively unknown film from 1983 about, well, a sleepaway camp. Angela Baker is sent to Camp Arawak with her cousin Ricky for a summer of fun. Unfortunately, murders start to take place. One thing I love about this movie is that the direction of “who done it?” is changed throughout the movie, so you are always on your toes. It is completely “campy,” with some scenes making me cringe at the humor of that time. It has some creative and gory kills, with very well done special effects. The last scene is still one of my favorite ending scenes of a movie ever. The film is definitely worth checking out.

3) Martyrs is so good that I never want to it watch again. It completely horrified me to the point that if I think about a certain scene from the film, I physically tense up. It is a French revenge film that completely changes direction halfway through, almost making it seem like you are watching two different movies. I can handle gore and violent images, but some scenes forced me to look away. I would dare anyone to watch this film. I loved this movie because it left me in awe and made me feel so unnerved at the same time. If you do end up watching this just for a scare, you will get much more than that.

4) The Den was a surprising and horrifying watch. The entire movie is watched through the eye of a webcam and a laptop screen. This could turn people off from watching it, but sticking through it was such a good decision. The way they showcase the dangers of the internet is capable of when in the hands of the wrong people. The realistic portrayals will make you uncomfortable with every form of social media. The horror element is great, since it relies on suspense and the unknown of what is happening. This film is definitely worth checking out, especially if you are a fan of the Netflix TV show Black Mirror.

5) I was browsing Netflix when I came upon The Invitation, a movie I had never heard about that seemed promising. A man and his girlfriend are invited to his ex-wife’s house for dinner, but not all is what it seems. It is a slow burn, meaning the action does not start happening until three-fourths of the way through. Picking up bits and pieces from the atmosphere leads you to side with the main character and feel that something is totally wrong. If you like thrillers, this one is for you.

I wish I could go on and on with more recommendations, but limits exist. So, I’ll leave you with a couple extra. The Conjuring 2, April Fool’s Day, It Follows, EraserHead, The Witch, and The Exorcist are also worth your time.