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As a visionary modern horror film maker , Mike Flanagan ’s view on the genre are well worth listening to . Through his work in both cinema and idiot box , Flanagan has used revulsion to search personal and excited stories . moving picture likeGerald ’s Game , Doctor Sleep , andshows likeThe Haunting of Bly Manorhave wonderful intersection and lineament work , while never losing passel of what makes the genre great , and providing the hearing with unfeigned scares . However , beyond being scary on their own term , Flanagan ’s undertaking invariably demonstrate his respect for the broader genre and reveal several major influences .
Flanagan has a love life for all types of horror , from ghost to vampires , and everything in between . The director has consistently shown grasp for all kinds of matter that go gibbosity in the Nox , both in his own films and through the kinds of movies he recommends . In external interviews and on his own societal canal , Flanagan has share his appreciation for all variety of repugnance films with a wide variety of issue and feeling . These are some ofthe best movie Flanaganhas sing fondly about , and they make excellent viewing for the Halloween season .
15Oddity (2024)
Dir. Damian Mc Carthy
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Described by Flanagan as " engrossing " and " terrifying",Oddityis an Irish horror movie that devote a fresh flavor to many of the genre ’s staple fixings . concentrate on on a blind medium and a atrocious wooden mannequin , the pic also incorporates mystery elements into its sinister story , as Carolyn Bracken ’s reference tries to excavate the truth behind her sister ’s execution .
A modest financial striking , Oddityhas been hail by critics . Flanagan himself has antecedently been effusive in his kudos for Mc Carthy ’s 2020 releaseCaveat , and calledOdditya " desirable follow - up " . He went on to recommend the film on hisLetterboxdprofile , declaring , " This one catch under the tegument . "
14Lake Mungo (2008)
Dir. Joel Anderson
In a 2020 audience withRotten Tomatoes , Flanagan shared some of his favorite overlooked horror movie , and one of the motion-picture show he was most passionate about was 2008’sLake Mungo . Written and directed by Australian movie maker Joel Anderson , Lake Mungois a fake documentary about a family mete out with the loss of their girl , and the terrific ghostly matters that follow with that .
Lake Mungomade just $ 29,000 at the box office .
Like much of Flanagan ’s work , Lake Mungoblends horror with melodrama , and Flanagan praise the film , saying he " was n’t quick for just how impactful the tragedy would be " . Despite its limited achiever at the box office , Lake Mungoenjoyed critical acclamation – achieving an telling 95 % grade onRotten Tomatoes .
13Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017)
Dir. Issa Lopez
Another overlooked horror film that Flanagan want to shine some light on was Issa Lopez ’s 2017 film , Tigers Are Not Afraid . This Mexican fairy tale seamlessly blends genres to separate the storey of a young urban girl after her mother goes missing and she must stand for herself . Much ofTigers Are Not Afraidplays like a gritty crime film , but it has some of the most bone - chilling sequences in a modern repulsion film , while also including some magical realism .
AfterTigers Are Not Afraid , Lopez went on to helmTrue Detective : Night Country .
Flanagan has portion out his love for this picture show several timesand call Lopez " an auteur to see " . Critics almost uniformly praisedTigers Are Not Afraid , result in a 97%Rotten Tomatoesscore . Particular praise was earmark for the new cast , whose spring chicken provides a desolate and unsettling direct contrast with the film ’s mature themes .
12Prince Of Darkness (1987)
John Carpenter is one of the victor of horrorand almost every filmmaker cultivate in the genre today is in some way indebted to him . Flanagan has been very open about his honey for the director and while talk aboutOculusin an consultation withThatShelf , Flanagan citedPrince of Darknessas inspiration for the movie ’s visuals .
Prince of Darknessis one of Carpenter ’s most underappreciated works , and its mix of science and religious belief makes it one of the director ’s good horror films . The middle chapter in the " Apocalypse trilogy " , sandwich betweenThe ThingandIn the Mouth of Madness , Prince of Darknessis deserving seeking out – especially for anyone with a passionateness for unconventional horror storytelling .
11The First Omen (2024)
Dir. Arkasha Stevenson
While theOmenfranchise has n’t always been critically adored , the 2024 prequelThe First Omenproved that there ’s still flock of life in the serial publication . Like the original and its many follow - ups , the movie explore idea of religion and the nature of evil . However , what makes the flick really stand out is its bluff geographic expedition of maternity and feminity .
Set before the 1976 movie , the story relate how Damien come to be acquit in the first place , following an elaborate conspiracy between unexpected party . Flanagan was particularly impressed with the plastic film ’s bluff approach , bid it an " absolute knockout launching feature " from film director Arkasha Stevenson onLetterboxd .
10Let The Right One In (2008)
Dir. Tomas Alfredson
Not to be confused with Matt Reeves ' American remake , lease Me In , Flanagan has calledthis Swedish film one of his best-loved vampire movies . However , Let the Right One Inisn’t just a lamia moving picture – it is also a touching story of puerility and love affair . While the American remake is a solid revulsion moving picture in its own right , the original is the far superior variant and much more in blood line with Flanagan ’s style and taste sensation .
… Let the Right One Inblends consequence of cold-blooded beauty with brutal violence – a apposition that retains the power to startle 16 years after its release .
direct by Tomas Alfredson , who would go on to helm the equally acclaimedTinker Tailor Soldier Spyin 2011,Let the Right One Inblends moments of moth-eaten peach with brutal violence – a collocation that retains the power to startle 16 geezerhood after its waiver . While the remaking is effective on its own term , it ca n’t beat the master .
9Exhuma (2024)
Dir. Jang Jae-hyun
A compelling compounding of supernatural mystery , folklore , and flaky occult elements , Exhumaranks as one of 2024 ’s most original horror sack . Directed by Jang Jae - hyun , the film follows a rag - tag team tasked with relocate the tomb of a flush businessman ’s at rest ancestor . What follows is predictably horrific .
Featuring an effectual blend of many disparate musical style elements , Exhumacould have come across as chaotic and confusing . However , director Jang Jae - hyun successfully manages to bring everything together , resulting in a story that ’s as riveting as it is shivery . compose onLetterboxd , Flanagan praisedExhuma ’s " saucy committal to writing , in force performance , and … terrific effects . "
8A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014)
Dir. Ana Lily Amirpour
Flanagan described this Persian language lamia film as " impossible to categorize and utterly unique " . By taking the Graeco-Roman element of lamia traditional knowledge and twisting them into a bold feminist take , A Girl walk Home Alone at Nightbecame one of the most critically praise revulsion films of the 2010s . A decade on from its release , it ’s easy to see why .
shoot in stunning sinister and whitened photography , Ana Lily Amirpour ’s film is dark , twisted , and whole original . Much of the movie ’s effectivity stems from its societal comment , in which the lamia becomes a revengeful vigilance man as well as sinister creature of the night . It ’s a fascinating cocktail that contributes toA Girl Walks Home Alone at Night ’s inimitable atmosphere .
7The Vanishing (A.K.A. Spoorloos – 1988)
Dir. George Sluizer
Despite not being a traditional horror flick – more akin to saturnine criminal offense thriller likeSe7enorThe Silence of the Lambs – The Vanishingremains a terrific cinematic experience . The film keep abreast two protagonists : Rex , a Isle of Man desperately search for his missing girlfriend ; and Raymond , the man who kidnapped her .
The Vanishingdepicts a tense cat - and - black eye game , making much of its story psychological rather than straightforwardly horrific . However , what marks it out as an univocal horror movie is its hair-raising ending , which remains almost unbearably terrific . Remade in 1993 for an American hearing , the original remains unsurpassed , with Flanagan stating onLetterboxdthat " you discover yourself gaze into an abysm of human evilness . "
6Thirst (2009)
Dir. Park Chan-wook
Korean movie maker Park Chan - wook is known for his graphic fierceness and power to make tensity , but he is not so much a horror director . Films likeOldboyandSympathy for Mr. Vengeancemay have horrific moments , but they are more thriller in the venous blood vessel of Hitchcock than conventional horror . However , in 2009 , Park finally dip his toe into the creation of horror with the vampire filmThirst .
Not only has Flanagan called this one of his favorite lamia moving-picture show , but he specifically praised the performance of Song Kang - ho as a priest turned vampire who finds himself fall in love . Like many of the undecomposed vampire movies , Thirstincorporates Romantic Movement into its narration – a combination that has show effective time and again .
