This semester was the second iteration of English and Communication Studies professor Mike Reynolds’ popular Intro to English Studies: Horror Films course, of which I had the pleasure to be a part. Throughout the class, we watched ten horror films, all with wildly different themes, cinematography, settings, characters and, of course, monsters.
Of the films, there was a lot of good, a bit of bad and a whole lot of horrifying. Here’s my definitive ranking of all the films we watched, along with some added opinions from my classmates, if you’re looking for your next horror fix.
10: “Under the Skin” (2013)
In dead last, we have Jonathan Glazer’s 2013 alien film “Under the Skin.” The film follows an alien who disguises itself as a woman to lure men into its van to eat them. Sound interesting? Sadly, it is not. The movie consists of mind-numbingly long shots that lead nowhere, and it is glaringly obvious that this movie about female sex and sexual assault was written and directed by men.
“I hate it, because the way that it is shot and put together objectifies the female form in like a clinical way, like how you don’t want a male gynecologist, that’s what ‘Under the Skin’ feels like to me,” sophomore Macy Ramsden said. “It doesn’t care to make a point aside from ‘being a woman means that you suffer and get assaulted and die.’”
9: “American Zombie” (2007)
In ninth place, we have “American Zombie,” director Grace Lee’s 2007 zombie mockumentary. The film follows a crew of documentary filmmakers who investigate the real-life zombie population in Los Angeles. This film had a lot going for it: great writing, realistic acting and incredible filming by Lee, who is an actual documentary director. Unfortunately, the film is bogged down by a slow plot and lack of funding. A good film, just not a great one.
8: “The Babadook” (2014)
“The Babadook,” the titular monster of the 2014 film created by writer and director Jennifer Kent, has lived in horror fans’ minds for ten years now, largely as a meme. But the “Babadook” is, in reality, a great film about a manifestation of grief. It’s got incredible performances from Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman, who play mother and son, as well as exceptional cinematography and score.
7: “Cabin in the Woods” (2011)
Drew Goddard’s 2011 metafilm “Cabin in the Woods” is as fun as horror can get. The film follows a group of college students who decide to take a vacation to a remote cabin in the woods, where they are attacked by an assortment of monsters controlled by a group of scientists. A horror movie that is a play on horror itself, this film is as much a comedy as it is a horror film, if you’re looking for some laughs along with your scares.
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6: “Nope” (2022)
Jordan Peele has become the king of horror in recent years, and his 2022 film “Nope” is no exception to his notoriety. The film follows brother and sister OJ and Emerald, who have to fend off a massive alien eating up the horses at their California ranch. Hilarious and yet terrifying, this film has numerous gruesome scenes that have stuck in the minds of many. The only problem I have with this film is the ending, which is more western than horror. I needed that alien scarier!
5: “Night of the Living Dead” (1968)
If you’re wondering which movie made zombies the cultural icon they are today, look no further than George Romero’s famous 1968 film “Night of the Living Dead.” An indie film turned cult classic, “Night of the Living Dead” revolutionized the zombie genre as a whole.
“I did like watching Night of the Living Dead, because it’s fun to see a classic and recognize, ‘Oh my god, look at all these horror tropes, this is where they started,’” Ramsden said. “Like the child that turns into a zombie, this is where that started. It’s fun because you get to watch the path of history in film.”
The film is also known for its casting of Duane Jones as the main character Ben, making him the first African-American actor to be cast as the protagonist of a horror film. Even after half a century, “Night of the Living Dead” still holds up as a pinnacle of the horror genre.
4: “The Wailing” (2016)
The 2016 South Korean horror film “The Wailing,” directed by Na Hong-jin, blends genres, merging both zombie and religious horror while also becoming a murder mystery. The film takes place in the small Korean village of Gokseong, where a bumbling police officer must discover the origin of a mysterious illness that has resulted in normal people becoming killers. The highlight of this film is the relationship between the policeman, Jong-goo, and his daughter, Hyo-jin, who becomes afflicted with the illness. Heartbreaking as much as it is horrifying, this film was one of the highlights of the class.
3: “Barbarian” (2022)
“Barbarian,” the 2022 film directed by Zack Cregger, was perhaps the wildest film we watched over the semester. The film takes place within an Airbnb in a dilapidated area of Detroit, in which something sinister dwells within the bowels of the basement. “Barbarian” succeeds where “Under the Skin” fails, creating a film about the horrors of sexual violence that feels like it was made for women, not against them.
Senior Lily Fitch appreciated the themes within the film as well.
“Like a lot of the films, even though they’re about scary things, they make you think about humanity in a different way. Especially, with like ‘Barbarian,’ it kinda makes you think who the real monster is: is it the actual scary gross looking monster, or is it the normal average looking guy who is a narcissist and selfish,” Fitch said. “It makes you question your assumptions that you have on appearance and accountability, and makes you think about things as a whole.”
Horrifying and hilarious wrapped in one, this film stands out with its stellar performances, cinematography, and score.
2: “Parasite” (2019)
It’s called the best picture for a reason. “Parasite,” the 2019 Oscar winner by director Bong Joon Ho, is a film everyone should see at least once. While technically a thriller, “Parasite” still has enough horrifying moments to qualify for this course. The film, a thrilling take on class, follows a poor family who infiltrate the life of a wealthy family in South Korea. “Parasite” is an incredible film, with outstanding writing, directing, acting and cinematography. If there’s one film on this list you have to watch, it’s this one.
1: “Saint Maud” (2019)
First place goes to “Saint Maud,” the 2019 psychological religious horror film by director Rose Glass. This film has perhaps the best ending to a horror film that I’ve ever seen. It follows Maud, a private carer who becomes fixated on saving the soul of her terminally ill patient, Amanda.
First year Natalya Kacer, who has a similar job to the protagonist, enjoyed the film, but has some regrets about watching it at work.
“‘Saint Maud’ was a really good movie, but it’s not a good idea to watch it when you’re doing a night shift at a job that’s exactly the same as hers, because it makes it feel very real,” Kacer said. “And then when you get a text from your boss not to let in a certain coworker, that also doesn’t make you feel better. Ten out of ten would recommend.”
Everything about this film is perfect, from the filming to the score to the incredible performance by lead actress Morfydd Clark. While a slow burn, this film ramps up tension until the climactic, unforgettable ending. If you’re looking for a psychological horror with a compelling, unreliable narrator, you’ll find it in “Saint Maud.”
This course was an amazing experience, and I’m so happy I got to see so many great films in a classroom setting. I’m excited to see what Reynolds cooks up in the fall, as he will be teaching the course yet again for another semester. This class overall made me appreciate how horror films, while a great deal of fun, are also a way to look at humanity.
Sophomore Evelyn Knabenshue has similar thoughts.
“This class made me think really deeply into how humanity is portrayed and viewed and how the masses dictate what is a monster and what isn’t,” Knabenshue said.
Wondering what makes us monstrous? Take a look at one of these great horror films, and find out.
