October is the season of thrills: it’s time to grab some friends, a big bucket of popcorn, and subject yourself to something scary. But rather than watching Halloween for the sixth time, why not try one of these modern horror hits?
5. Resolution

 
The less I say about Resolution, the better. This indie thriller concerns two friends in a woodside cabin as one holds the other captive to get him sober. The two leads have a great dynamic, and the film slowly builds up a chain of threats that climaxes in something astonishing. It’s a one-of-a-kind, mind-bending story, worthy of going up on the shelf next to Primer and Videodrome.
4. Evil Dead (2013)

 
For better or worse, remakes are a core part of the modern horror landscape. Major studios with the rights to classics too often produce forgettable takes on already brilliant films. But sometimes even the worst-laid plans can go perfectly right, as with Fede Alvarez’s remake of Evil Dead. The Sam Raimi original is a classic, yet this adaptation doesn’t concern itself with prestige. It’s a focused and brutal take on a premise that launched a million tropes, and it doesn’t flinch in its execution.
3. V/H/S 2

 
The anthology format has been a favorite of horror storytellers for generations. From the collections of Steven King to The Twilight Zone, short stories are perfect for the concept-dense genre. Found footage has been the most distinct trend of the modern horror generation, encouraging filmmakers to write the camera into the story itself. The first two V/H/S films perfectly meld these two concepts, bringing together the best in indie horror for brilliant collections of shorts. For the sake of the list, I’ve picked V/H/S 2, which features everything from an Indonesian cult ritual to a nefarious attack on a children’s slumber party.
2. The Babadook

 
This little-seen Australian import is driven by its performances. It’s a bare-bones story, focusing on a grieving widow and her young son as they are taunted by a ghastly children’s book. The Babadook succeeds because the element of horror feels supplementary. The core emotional journey of loss and struggle is powerful enough, with the supernatural working as a fully realized metaphor. Davis and Wiseman are persistently compelling, drawing the audience deeper as the darkness surrounds them.
1. The Conjuring

 
Horror has always ran on atmosphere; in order to make an audience feel uncomfortable, you first need to make them feel comfortable. The Conjuring understands this and executes it with perfection. A sleepy ’70s farm house is slowly converted into a den of horror, yet it never strips the humanity from the family that resides within. Horror films often rely on detestable characters the audience will enjoy seeing chopped to bits. The Conjuring goes the opposite direction, giving personality to every on-screen presence. James Wan already proved himself a horror phenom with Saw, but The Conjuring proves he doesn’t need to show a moment of gore to send a shiver up your soul.
Follow Chris Berg on Twitter, @Mushroomer25

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Evil Dead turned out to be one of few good movie remakes (Creative Commons).