Haunted Houses

Haunted house movies can be extremely creepy and atmospheric when done right, the tension builds and builds, they grab you and don't let you go. They need to be precisely and brilliantly choreographed. They can also be a hell of a lot of fun. The haunted house sub-genre remains, quite possibly, my favorite of the genre. So here is the best haunted house flicks that I seen (rated 8 or higher) in order:

Don't Go to Sleep (1982 TV Movie): My favorite and perhaps the most overlooked film in this list. Surprisingly creepy and genuinely terrifying that possesses a thick atmosphere that you could almost drown in. If you have the chance to see it, see it. 9

Burnt Offerings (1976): Another fine and creepy haunted house outing that like, Don't Go to Sleep, is creepy and mesmerizing for all the right reasons. It starts of as a slow burner, building up to a chilling climax make this a must see horror film. This is a great creepy haunted house tale. 9

The Haunted (1991 TV Movie): Supposedly inspired by true events makes The Haunted even the more terriyfying if it wasn't already. So few horror films today truly terrify, so it's nice to finally be able to see one that sends shivers down my spine. 9

The Appointment (1981): At just 208 votes it is criminally overlooked. All set in the space of the day, the surreal masterpiece is completely gripping throughout, and well worth tracking down. 8

The Amityville Horror (1979): I realize that it has its detractors but I feel it has all the ingredients of what makes a good creepy haunted house flick. 8

The Shining (1980): Its reputation precedes itself and it remains the cornerstone of the sub-genre. 8

The Woman in Black (1989 TV Movie): Unforgettable and haunting film, with an atmosphere of brooding terror. An absolute masterpiece of chilling atmosphere. One of the most frightening ghost stories ever made. No other way to describe it. Everything about it works for me - the eerie and foggy setting, the character development. 8

The Innocents (1961): Creepy, claustrophobic in glorious black & white. It is equally elegant and stylish as it is eerie and atmospheric. Deborah Kerr is excellent here as the paranoid governess. It is the Citizen Kane of haunted house movies. iI also really like how the made, O Willow Waly sound creepy. 8

The Evil (1978): Like, Don't Go to Sleep, it is unfairly overlooked. It may not be that scary in comparsion to the others mentioned but it is delightfully entertaining all the same. 8

The Haunting (1963): Excellent psychological horror film by the magnificent director Robert Wise. It is a fairly minimalist story in that it does not have special effects or gore but nevertheless the camera angles and sounds more that make up for it - creating an eerie environment. 8

The Changeling (1980): Largely psychological in that it shows no gore, but it really succeeds a lot with the suspenseful atmosphere tied in with of course a great storytelling. 8

The Nesting (1981): A surprisingly creepy + entertaing haunted house movie for its rating (4.6) that I seen the other day. It is similar to The Evil in that is higly entertaining but never strays from its atmosphere.

We Are Still Here (2015): A solid, entertaining and creepy piece of atmospheric horror. The camera work is deliberate and interesting. It establishes the creepiness of the location very well indeed. Also, the demons/zombies/whatever were fairly scary looking too. 8

The Legend of Hell House (1973): a creepy and atmospheric horror movie with the basis of a good story of a haunted house. Also, the tecs such as lighting, make-up and camera work and whatever few special effects were used are top-notch. 8

Dark Places (1973): This obscure horror deals with how the house takes over the person. I would place this up there with the best of the British haunted house flicks IMO. 8


Other honourable mentions for me include: Night of Dark Shadows (1971), She Waits (1972 TV Movie), The Others (2001), Poltergeist (1982), The House That Would Not Die (1970 TV Movie), The Strange and Deadly Occurrence (1974 TV Movie), Rose Red (2002 Mini-Series)

It is all subjective but those are my favorite haunted house flicks.

What are some of your favorite haunted house movies?