Don’t Look Now
This British horror film from 1973 tells of the mourning of a couple whose child has died. Shortly after this event, they travel to Venice to work. They quickly encounter supernatural phenomena. They meet a woman with seemingly psychic abilities, and a childlike figure keeps wandering through the dark alleys – wearing the same red coat as the deceased girl.
The film has an incredibly dense atmosphere. Venice has never looked so eerie. Don’t Look Now builds a depressing mood from the very beginning. The film deals with coping with grief and what happens when grief takes over.
Fun Fact: Lead actor Donald Sutherland performed a dangerous stunt himself. It became clear only after the shoot that the wire meant to catch him in case of a fall would not have held.
The Witch
The Witch bears the subtitle “A New England Folk Tale,” which fits perfectly. The film is set in New England in 1630 and tells the story of an American settler family. Various seemingly supernatural things happen. A baby disappears, and the goat behaves unusually.
The titular witch threatens to destroy the peaceful life of the family. But who is she? The film stands out for its slow storytelling. The mood is always dark and oppressive, while common horror clichés are avoided. Nothing is as it seems.
Fun Fact: Director Robert Eggers researched extensively for the film to tell the story as accurately as possible. He worked with historians.
House
If you enjoy quirky and surreal images, you should give this Japanese mix of horror, comedy, and experimental film a chance. The actual story about a schoolgirl and her friends who visit a haunting house is secondary.
What stands out are the countless crazy and highly creative ideas of the filmmakers, which ensure that the film never becomes boring. Whenever you think you have seen it all, the next horror-themed surprise is just around the corner. The 70s hippie soundtrack adds to that.
Fun Fact: The first reviews upon release were mostly negative, and the film did not gain popularity. Only many years later did House become a cult film worldwide.
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