11 Psychological Terror Movies

Apparently, we like to scare ourselves off when we find ourselves in a controlled, safe situation where it’s more of an adrenaline rush than real terror. The cinema is a good way to be afraid and that is why the films of terror appeared, with their many variations. You should still know that despite its large number of fans, this cinematographic genre is generally not well received by critics.

In this article, we will focus on the more psychological branch and quickly walk through the history of cinema.

Beginnings of the 20th century

George Méliès, a pioneer of cinema, made the first terror film in history, Le manoir du diable (1896). From there, endless more titles will appear.

1. The cabinet of Doctor Caligari (1920)

This is a German silent film that is the pinnacle of German expressionism. For many, it is the first terror feature film. Currently, it is considered a cult film. The film is inspired by several real cases of assassinations that took place in Hamburg; in the feature film, these assassinations will be perpetrated by a particular character and his strange slave. The decor and the expressionist scenes in which we are transported deserve special attention. Along the same lines, Germany has given us other classic terror films like M, the Vampire from Düsseldorf (1931).

2. The Monstrous Parade (1932)

This is an American film that takes place in a circus, with people suffering from deformities which, at the beginning of the 20th century, were exhibited like fairground phenomena. The plot revolves around revenge and assassination. The participation of actors genuinely suffering from these malformations deserves special mention.

During this period, the fascination with monsters pushed many directors to adapt literary works like Frankenstein (1931) or Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920). Bela Lugosi was raised to the skies for her portrayal of Dracula.

Second half of the 20th century

We are talking about a period of change here. In the 1960s, black and white predominated in psychological terror films; from the 70s, there will be a before and an after in the cinema of terror.

3. Psychosis (1960)

The ’60s were marked by films where the supernatural barely existed, where the weight simply fell on the actors and, thus, we find titles like What Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) or Les Oiseaux (1963).

We couldn’t talk about terror cinema without mentioning the great master Alfred Hitchcock and his film Psychosis, acclaimed as one of the best terror films of all time. The terrifying Bates Motel, the shower scene, Norman Bates and his mysterious mother create an atmosphere worthy of the master of suspense. Pure psychological terror, without the slightest need for special effects or “tomato sauce”.

4. Rosemary’s baby (1968)

With a young Mia Farrow in the lead role and directed by Roman Polanski, this film shows us once again that the most important thing is to seduce our mind, to immerse ourselves in an atmosphere of agony and anguish whenever we let’s see Rosemary and her strange neighbors. The film, totally innovative for the time, was shot in the Dakota Building, the place where John Lennon was assassinated and where Manson and his “family” tried to prevent filming shortly before the murder of the wife. by Polanski. Without a doubt, it is a film that plunges us into mystery and leaves us all speechless.

5. The Exorcist (1973)

Its rudimentary special effects, green vomit, and little Regan’s scars made it into a pioneering film for its time. Currently, it causes us more laughter than fear but this film marked a before and an after in the cinema of terror: it is a pure classic which reinvented a genre.

6. Shining (1980)

The 1970s and 1980s were the flowering of science fiction, which merged with terror and gave life to films like Alien, the Eighth Passenger (1979). We also tried to adapt Stephen King novels and that’s how Carrie (1976) and, of course, The Shining were born.

How can we forget the legendary Overlook Hotel, the winding road or the delusions of Jack Torrance? It is without a doubt one of the greatest films of all time, which was born from the mind of a genius, Stanley Kubrick.

The 90s and 2000s

The abuse of special effects began to leave marks in the magic of terror. Hundreds of films of a paranormal character were produced, and even sagas, but the majority were of questionable quality and met with little success.

It was the time of remakes of Japanese films like The Ring (2002), Gore with Saw (2004) and a long list of films of possessed children or ghosts. However, we can still highlight some films that appeal more to suspense and the psychological world.

7. Misery (1990)

Adapted from a work by Stephen King, claustrophobic, obsessive and loaded with tension, it won Kathy Bates the Oscar for Best Actress. The fascination with the novels of the famous author Paul Sheldon leads nurse Annie Wilkes to the novelist’s obsession and, consequently, to kidnapping. It is undoubtedly a terror film that should not be missed and where we can see a disturbing Kathy Bates.

The fascination with King continued and brought us films like 1408 (2007), underestimated but bringing this psychological terror so important. He also deserves his place in the ranking because he is hypnotic and claustrophobic. King always remains in fashion, and recently the adaptation of It hit the big screen (2017).

8. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

How to forget Hannibal Lecter? An extremely intelligent psychopath who is able to manipulate anyone. Anthony Hopkins wowed everyone with his performance, as did Jodie Foster; it is therefore normal to see that they both received an Oscar. This is an unmissable thriller that allows you to enter the minds of assassins and approach the theme of cannibalism.

9. The Others

A Spanish director, Alejandro Amenábar, and a breathtaking Nicole Kidman gave us this jewel of 21st century suspense. In a mysterious old house, isolated and shrouded in mist, some very strange facts occur; we could be up against any movie featuring paranormal apparitions, but The Others isn’t just any movie. The fears are suggested and the lack of light due to the photosensitivity of the children who live in the mansion gives us a gloomy atmosphere where all appearances are deceptive.

2010 – Present

We follow the same line of ideas as the previous period; titles like Expediente Warren (2013), Insidious (2010) or The Babadook (2014) and the films of Paranormal Activity monopolize the lists of films of terror of our era. Almost all of them have built sagas that the general public adores.

Some are interesting, but the majority fall for the excess of makeup, special effects and easy processing. These are films that attract the attention of the public but not of the critics because we are probably facing a very forced terror that ends up boring.

Here are two films from this era that stand out; however, they do not really correspond to terror but rather to suspense. Despite everything, the psychological game they stage is more terrifying than any demonic possession.

10. Black Swan (2010)

Natalie Portman’s playing stands out in an atmosphere of ballet, eating disorders, schizophrenia and hallucinations. A film which, without a doubt, makes us think and plunges us into an intriguing atmosphere, loaded with metaphors. Black Swan can also give rise to many interpretations.

11. Shutter Island (2010)

This is a film by one of the great directors of the twentieth and twenty-first century, Martin Scorsese, in which Leonardo DiCaprio plays the main role. The rest of the cast is equally exceptional with, among others, Ben Kingsley and Mark Ruffalo. The atmosphere is that of the 1950s and this film is very similar to the film noir of the beginning of the 20th century. The place, an island where we find a mental institution, will immerse us in the horrors of the human spirit and in practices like lobotomy. What is true? What is behind this institution? A great contemporary suspense, without the slightest doubt.