Favorite Scary Movies

Hapa Mag - October 29, 2019

 
The logo for Hapa Mag, with text next to it saying "Staff Picks: Scary Movies" in black text within a white box. Surrounding it are pastel palm trees and black dots amidst an orange background
 
 

Get Out 

A gif of a close-up of a Black man with red eyes and tears streaming down his face, mouth agape as the camera fades to black

OLIVIA CHEN 

I’m unamused by most horror movies because I don’t like being scared for no reason, and I find that most of them don’t have good/plausible storylines. But Get Out is a masterpiece -- a perfect balance of humor and thrill, layers of commentary on so many real issues, and problems that aren’t easily articulated are illustrated so well through the premise of the story. And if you don’t want to go that deep, it’s still a really good thriller with a great twist.

The Conjuring 

A gif of a porcelain doll sitting on a moving rocking chair. It has long ginger hair and a white dress with red accents

ALEX CHESTER 

Based on real shit that supposedly happened. This movie scared the crap out of me and I loved it. This film is a good life lesson in how one should never buy a home without seeing it in person first.

Get Out

LAUREN HARDIE

A gif of a Black woman with short dark hair repeating the word "no" through a smile. Tears glisten around her eyes

Look, I know Get Out is a documentary (as is Idiocracy — a prophetic one at that) but I’m still listing it as my all-time favorite horror film because it’s creepy AF, it smashes a bunch of tropes, and it’s an objectively good, seamless film -- not one wasted frame, throwaway line, or lingering question. And it gets better each time! I’ve seen it twice! And btw, I would’ve watched it a third time...

Midsommar

Rebecca Lee Lerman

A group of white people wearing flower crowns and white dresses hold hands while joyously circling a may pole

One of the most talked-about movies this past May, people walked out of the theater with mixed reviews. Either they didn’t understand it, or they didn’t think it was scary at all. If you compare it to the also clever, incredibly frightful Hereditary, made by the same creator, you will be disappointed, but I really appreciate Ari Aster’s ability to take the horror movie genre and flip it on its head. This entire movie takes place in glaring daylight. It also explores at a very profound level, grief and our need for empathy in order to heal. If you have ever experienced a devastating loss, coupled with a romantic relationship that offers you no support, this movie will offer you the catharsis you so desperately need. Also, my ex cheated on me multiple times and told me I wasn’t enough. Many a time, I imagined his face burning to a crisp. This movie will be that revenge fantasy you have been craving.

The Shining

MATT PARK

A pair of white twin little girls in matching blue dresses stand ominously in a hallway, holding hands. They have mid-length brown hair with a matching hair clip. The wallpaper is green with blue flowers

This movie still scares the bejesus out of me. The music, cinematography, editing, directing, and acting all contribute to the absolute nightmare that is this movie. Those creepy twins… GAAHHHHHHHHHH!!! Anyway, watch it if you like being scared.

I don’t do spooky.

SAM TANABE

A gif of a yellow humanoid sponge with brown pants throws himself into a square shape hole in the sand. He brushes sand to cover him, with only his nose poking out, revealing the word "nope"

Halloween is cancelled.

Jennifer’s Body

LAUREN W.

A gif of a white woman holds up her phone to her ear while lighting the tip of her tongue on fire with a lighter. She stands inside an out of focus pink bedroom. She has long, dark hair

Megan Fox gets a lot of hate, but I’m proud to say she’s never gotten it from me! I saw Jennifer’s Body in theaters in 2009 and it has only become more relevant. Megan Fox more or less plays a caricature of herself, starring as a man-eating It Girl with cutting edge feminism. Her performance + Diablo Cody’s signature dialogue, what more could a girl want?