A Glean movie guide
Serious Horror: No Camp, Just Terror
Pure, unadulterated dread.
High-intensity films that prioritize psychological dread over cheesy tropes.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Hereditary
A modern masterpiece of psychological trauma that builds to an almost unbearable level of dread.
Following the death of the Leigh family matriarch, Annie and her children uncover disturbing secrets about their heritage. Their daily lives are not only impacted, but they also become entangled in a chilling fate from which they cannot escape, driving them to the brink of madness.
- 02
The Exorcist
The gold standard for serious supernatural horror, focusing on realism before the terror peaks.
When a mysterious entity possesses a young girl, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.
- 03
The Descent
A visceral and claustrophobic survival story that uses practical effects to create genuine terror.
After a personal tragedy, Sarah joins her friends on a caving expedition in the Appalachian Mountains. But when a rockfall traps them deep underground, their adventure turns into a nightmare. As they search for a way out, the group discovers they are not alone—lurking in the darkness are savage, cave-dwelling creatures. With rising tension and dwindling trust, the women must fight to survive against both the predators and each other.
- 04
Sinister
Renowned for its disturbing imagery and a grim tone that avoids typical jump-scare cliches.
True-crime writer Ellison Oswalt is in a slump; he hasn't had a best seller in more than 10 years and is becoming increasingly desperate for a hit. So, when he discovers the existence of a snuff film showing the deaths of a family, he vows to solve the mystery. He moves his own family into the victims' home and gets to work. However, when old film footage and other clues hint at the presence of a supernatural force, Ellison learns that living in the house may be fatal.
- 05
The Conjuring
A high-budget, expertly crafted ghost story that relies on classical suspense rather than camp.
Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse. Forced to confront a powerful entity, the Warrens find themselves caught in the most terrifying case of their lives.
- 06
Rec
A relentless and terrifyingly realistic use of the found-footage format that never lets up.
- 07
The Witch
A minimalist period piece that creates a thick, suffocating atmosphere of mounting paranoia.
In 1630, a farmer relocates his family to a remote plot of land on the edge of a forest where strange, unsettling things happen. With suspicion and paranoia mounting, each family member's faith, loyalty and love are tested in shocking ways.
- 08
Talk to Me
A fresh and grimly serious take on the supernatural genre with high-impact practical effects.
When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.
- 09
Barbarian
A polished and unpredictable nightmare that subverts expectations while maintaining high intensity.
In town for a job interview, a young woman arrives at her Airbnb late at night only to find that it has been mistakenly double-booked and a strange man is already staying there. Against her better judgement, she decides to stay the night anyway.
- 10
When Evil Lurks
An uncompromisingly dark and visceral possession film that avoids all religious cliches.
Residents of a small rural town discover that a demon is about to be born among them. They desperately try to escape before the evil is born, but it may be too late.
- 11
The Strangers
A chillingly realistic home-invasion thriller that finds horror in the randomness of violence.
After a 4 a.m. knock at the door and haunting voices, Kristen McKay and James Hoyt’s remote getaway becomes a psychological night of terror as three masked strangers invade. Now they must go far beyond what they thought themselves capable of if they hope to survive.
- 12
It Follows
A stylish, high-concept film that builds constant, inescapable tension through its unique premise.
A young woman is followed by an unknown supernatural force after a sexual encounter.