2020 was a scary year in itself! But there was no shortage of on-screen horror and the year brought us some of the best movies in the genre. Here are a few of the most immersive horror movies of 2020 for lovers of thrill:
The Wolf of Snow Hollow
This is an interesting film which is equal parts of horror and comedy. Comedy horror is an exciting genre as if blends fear and fun in the right amounts to keep the viewer guessing, yet at ease. The story follows the happenings in a small town which seems to be haunted by a mysterious werewolf. The film breaks out of the usual horror film tropes and presents elements of psychological shock with the protagonist, a recovering alcoholic trying to determine whether or not the werewolf is real. It has many moments that will humor you with its self-reflective setting and push you to think about your own demons that live within you.
The Relic
This is one of the most immersive, chilling films to be made in the genre in 20202. The plot revolves around an old and widowed matriarch Edna who goes missing. Her daughter and granddaughter move to her town to find her. She returns a few days later, the sound of body and mind but with an unexplained bruise. What follows is a story of generational curses being revealed with a striking sense of horror. The film is very well-paced and made with great attention to detail. It is rich with dense background score, amazing performances and a lingering reminder of the fear that looms large throughout the narrative.
Host
Set against the Covid 19 pandemic, this film is quite the defining one in terms of horror in present times. The story begins with a few friends who join a weekly Zoom call to catch up during the pandemic. One of them hires a medium to try and communicate with spirits over the call, for the thrill. Things go haywire after several members of the call drop for various reasons. They begin to experience paranormal vibrations after one of them tries to summon a friend who has committed suicide. The film is very terrifying especially considering that it is set in a scenario that is real and imminent to us in our times. The narrative unfolds slowly and with a sharp sense of horror.
His House
This is a film that has themes of isolation, fear and hope blended together to create a perfect horror experience. The story follows a refugee couple who are attempting to free themselves from South Sudan. In their journey, they traverse a small English town where they try to settle. The town has a mysterious source of evil lurking around and the couple is caught off guard in its hold. Survival and fear come into close conflict for them and they must decide what is a way out if at all there is one. The film unfolds slowly and showcases the unsettling struggles of trying to build a new life in an alien space while confronting a sinister force that has no logic or explanation.
The Invisible Man
A combination of horror and thrill, this is one of the most intense films of the genre to have come out in 2020. The story revolves around a woman whose boyfriend commits suicide. She starts experiencing paranormal sightings of him only to realize that he faked his death and turned invisible to stalk and gaslight her. The horror element of the film comes from the fear of the woman who is being manipulated by a man who knows her well but is not quite in his human form anymore. The plot is dense with the terror of being watched and it gets to the psyche of the viewer so much that it becomes hard to shake off.
The Rental
A classic tale of horror that happens during a getaway, The Rental is a psychological horror-thriller that follows the lives of two couples who rent out a property for a short staycation. Things go haywire when they discover that they are being watched. They find a camera in the shower and some of their private secrets are revealed, putting their marriages at risk. Stuck in an unfamiliar place, with the possibility of a paranormal spirit hovering over their lives, the film pits its characters against their own fears, insecurities, and secrets.
Horse Girl
This is a film that presents a kind of psychological, scientific horror that is best experienced than spoken about. It follows the life of a quiet, introverted girl who works in a craft store. She frequents the grave of her mother who committed suicide and visits her horse who is now put up in a stable. Her life goes haywire with a few new encounters she has and then on, the plot thickens into a terrifying horror film that tests the limits of its own boundaries. The film is full of unexpected twists and the climax is bound to make you feel spooked out for days!
Run
Run is predominantly a thriller. But the thrill comes from the fear it rides on and induces on the viewer. It is the story of a mother who has a premature birth and delivers a baby who suffers paralysis. She becomes paranoid and keeps her baby isolated from the outside world. The child grows up, away from people and everything that lies beyond her house. Slowly, things turn extremely sinister as she discovers some secrets about her mother. Intense and extremely haunting, the film packs some hard-hitting horror that is sure to haunt for days after.
Underwater
This is an interesting sci-fi horror action film starring Kristin Stewart in the lead. It begins when a research facility underwater near the Mariana Trench is hit by an earthquake. A group of researchers goes to examine the damage when they encounter some of the darkest, most mysterious creatures. The narrative is striking with its stunning visuals and innovative storyline. The horror is very loud and it hits the right spots with its larger-than-life depiction.
The Hunt
A horror-thriller film with political undertones, The Hunt is one of the most significant releases of 2020 in the genre. It critiques the divide between the left and right politics in America while unfolding a plot that is rooted in horror and thrill. Revealing details about the plot might ruin the experience for you, we would rather you watch it and have yourself captivated by the immersive, sharp, relevant storytelling that the film intelligently packages.
