With Simon Barrett’s Seance—about a group of teens who unwittingly awaken their dorm’s resident ghost—arriving on May 21, we’ve got spooky boarding schools on the brain. Much like college campuses, they’ve been a rather popular setting for horror movies over the years, but these are 9 of our favorites.
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1) Phenomena
It’s hard to top Phenomena, Italian horror master Dario Argento’s 1985 take on the boarding-school horror genre (before anyone says anything, 1977's Suspiria is set at a ballet academy, which isn’t quite the same—but a double-feature of the two would still be thematically copacetic). Phenomena, which is sometimes titled Creepers depending on which version you’re watching, stars a pre-Labyrinth Jennifer Connelly as a teen, also named Jennifer, whose movie-star father ships her off to a Swiss boarding school that happens to have a serial killer problem.
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Jennifer has the strange (but ultimately useful) ability to communicate with insects, something that alienates her from her classmates—but also brings her into contact with a kindly entomologist (Halloween’s Donald Pleasence) and his nurse, Inga, who is played by... a chimpanzee named Tanga. And for what it’s worth, Phenomena’s soundtrack (Goblin, Iron Maiden) and striking cinematography and production design (both Argento trademarks) are as glorious as the plot is gloriously weird.
2) Jennifer
Released in 1978 and initially dismissed as a Carrie rip-off—not entirely unearned, considering its tag line was “Makes Carrie look like an angel!”—Jennifer introduces us to the titular sweet, brainy country gal (Ghoulies’ Lisa Pelikan) who earns a coveted scholarship to a boarding school otherwise populated by asshole rich kids. She’s immediately singled out for being different (read: being poor) by not just her fellow students, including a truly vile senator’s daughter played by Amy Johnston, but the school’s snooty staff.
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But what they don’t realize is that like Carrie before her (and Phenomena’s Jennifer, a few years later), the “hillbilly” they love to torment has an incredibly spooky gift that that she calls upon when pushed to the edge: MAKING SNAKES DO HER BIDDING. Really, the tag line should have been “She’s the head of the classssss.”
3) Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
This surprisingly entertaining entry in the long-running Halloween series was released in 1998, making it part of the Scream-I Know What You Did Last Summer onslaught of second-wave slashers, complete with a telegenic young cast that includes Michelle Williams, then the darling of Dawson’s Creek, and newcomer Josh Hartnett. But the main draw is the returning Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode—who’s now the headmaster of a California boarding school, barely battling PTSD and living under an assumed name to protect herself (and her son, played by Hartnett), from her infamous maniac brother.
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Honestly, the school itself isn’t the problem in this one; it’s picturesque, boasts the convivial LL Cool J as a security guard, and does cool stuff like organize trips to Yosemite for its students. Really, it wouldn’t be such a bad place to study—if not for that whole “isolated location/Michael Myers on a kill-crazy rampage” situation.
4) Picnic at Hanging Rock
Peter Weir’s 1975 film is really more of a mystery than a horror film, but it does dip into some awfully dark places, both mentally and physically, as it investigates some of nature’s stranger powers. On Valentine’s Day 1900, at a very prim boarding school for girls in southeastern Australia, a day trip to a nearby geological oddity turns tragic when several girls and a teacher vanish without a trace.
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The atmosphere at the school—already highly charged, thanks to some intense adolescent longings and the strict headmistress’ fondness for preferential treatment (or cruel treatment, depending on your status) among her students—becomes a tempestuous sea as everyone, including the local townsfolk, become drawn into the search. Picnic at Hanging Rock’s conclusion may ostensibly be open-ended, but as the tragedies pile on, the dreaminess that’s pervaded its early scenes has turned into a full-on nightmare.
5) The Moth Diaries
Mary Harron (American Psycho) wrote and directed this 2011 chiller set at an upscale boarding school for girls that’s strict (demerits for messy hair, tardiness, etc.) but not draconian, and meaningful friendships are formed alongside field hockey practice and chapel assembly. The previous year, Rebecca (Sarah Bolger) arrived at the school after a family tragedy, but came out of her shell after forming a close friendship with Lucy (Sarah Gadon).
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As The Moth Diaries begins, Rebecca is looking forward to another semester with her BFF—but her joy turns to frustration when a mysterious new student named Ernessa (Lily Cole) starts commanding all of Lucy’s attention while exhibiting some odd and frankly supernatural-seeming behavior. You’ll know where the plot is going even before the hunky English lit teacher (Scott Speedman) whips out a copy of Carmilla, but The Moth Diaries treats its young heroines unusually respectfully, which makes the emotions it pulls from its familiar story actually feel well-earned.
6) The Woods
In this 1960s-set thriller shot through with dark fairy-tale elements, directed by Lucky McKee (May), sullen teen Heather (Agnes Brucker) is shipped off to an isolated boarding school after a fight with her mother inspires a bit of arson. Naturally, all is not what it seems—particularly among the teachers, led by a ice-cold headmistress (Patricia Clarkson) who is keenly interested in Heather’s potential as a “gifted” student, though her testing methods to gauge the girl’s abilities seem less academic and more... well, witchy.
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It doesn’t take long before Heather starts hearing ghostly whispers and having strange dreams that hint at the school’s hidden agenda (hint: don’t drink the milk!). When The Woods’ spooky shit really starts hitting the fan, both main character and viewer can delight in the fact that Heather’s father is played by none other than Bruce Campbell, who obviously knows a thing or two about fighting evil things lurking in the forest.
7) The House That Screamed
This 1969 Spanish production from director Narciso Ibáñez Serrador (who also made the cult classic Who Can Kill a Child?) is set in 19th century France. While it follows the “new girl arrives at new school and realizes things are very, very off” template that would become the standard for later boarding-school horror films, The House That Screamed has a much racier tone than any of the others listed here. Trashier, even, if you’re able to interpret that as a compliment, which it is.
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There are sadistic beatings in the name of discipline, sky-high sexual tension that somehow goes along with that, and a vicious serial killer whose identity might be obvious—but whose grim and extremely specific endgame, which is presented in a big last-act reveal, is absolutely not.
8) The Blackcoat’s Daughter
Osgood Perkins (Gretel and Hansel) directed this moody tale with a twist: it’s partially set at a boarding school that’s empty during a chilly school holiday, save for a couple of left-behind students (including Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’s Kiernan Shipka; American Horror Story’s Emma Roberts also has a juicy role). Plus, there’s maybe, just possibly, some Satanic vibes lingering in the air—the school is called “Bramford,” for all those eagle-eyed Rosemary’s Baby fans out there.
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The Blackcoat’s Daughter is actually full of twists, with shifting perspectives and time jumps that pretzel the story until the last act. Unlike many other films on this list, you definitely won’t see the finish line as soon as you walk through the school’s imposing front doors.
9) Down a Dark Hall
Rodrigo Cortés (Buried) directed this 2018 adaptation of YA horror giant Lois Duncan’s 1974 novel. Teenaged troublemaker Kit (AnnaSophia Robb) is shipped off to a boarding school aimed at taming troublemakers, though there are only a handful of other students—all girls—in attendance. At first, things don’t seem so awful—the fact that the school is kept perpetually dark is a little odd, but having to hand over their cellphones is about the worst of it, at least until unmarked pills start becoming a non-negotiable part of the night-time routine.
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Gradually, though, the girls—who are all unremarkable in terms of academic and artistic achievement—start displaying genius-level talents that spring not from hard work, but from something beyond the grave. The malevolent headmistress is played by Uma Thurman, whose deliberately theatrical French accent allows the mostly very serious Down a Dark Hall to slip into campy territory on a few welcome occasions.
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FAQs
What is B level horror movie? ›
The definition of a B movie remains ambiguous. Some people might consider all horror films to be B movies. For a horror film to be classified as a B movie, it needs to be produced on a low-budget, by an independent studio, and it also needs a unique concept.
Who is the most evil horror movie killer? ›- Death (Final Destination)
- Pennywise the Dancing Clown (It) ...
- Pazuzu (The Exorcist) ...
- Deadites (The Evil Dead) ...
- The Thing (The Thing) ...
- Mister Babadook (The Babadook) ...
- Pinhead (Hellraiser) ...
- The Shining by Stephen King. ...
- Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. ...
- Dracula by Bram Stoker. ...
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. ...
- The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty. ...
- Carrie by Stephen King. ...
- The Omen by David Seltzer. ...
- Pet Sematary by Stephen King.
1. The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013) The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia is far and wide the most 'jumpy' horror movie ever made with 32 jump scares to enjoy throughout the film. Set in 1993.
What is the most viewed horror movie? ›Rank | Released | Movie |
---|---|---|
1 | 2017 | It |
2 | 2007 | I am Legend |
3 | 1975 | Jaws |
4 | 2019 | It: Chapter Two |
- Under the Shadow (2016)
- It (2017) ...
- Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016) ...
- Hush (2016) ...
- The Conjuring 2 (2016) ...
- The Ritual (2018) ...
- Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) ...
- Incident in a Ghostland (2018) ...
It's an effectively spooky short, one that gets a great deal of intrigue out what is unfolding in the shadows, prefacing the house as a nonsensical trap. “The House” doesn't continue this more horror vibe in the rest of the story, but rather plays upon nightmares of discomfort.
Who is the strongest horror monster? ›- #8: Graboids. ...
- The Thing. ...
- #6: Sadako Yamamura. ...
- #5: Count Dracula. ...
- #4: Pazuzu. “The Exorcist” franchise (1973-2005) ...
- #3: Freddy Krueger. “A Nightmare on Elm Street” franchise (1984-2010) ...
- #2: Pinhead. “Hellraiser” franchise (1987-2018) ...
- #1: It. “It” franchise (2017-19)
- 7/7 The Bear - Annihilation.
- 6/7 Death Angels - A Quiet Place.
- 5/7 The Entity - It Follows.
- 4/7 The Babadook - The Babadook.
- 3/7 The Alien - The Thing.
- 2/7 Xenomorph - Alien.
- 1/7 Pennywise - It.
Tarquini's classification awards an F rating to any film that is written or directed by one or more female film-makers, or features complex female characters who contribute significantly to the story. Films that feature all three of the criteria receive a triple F rating.
What are D rated movies? ›
- The Content Labels.
- D – suggestive dialogue (usually means talks about sex)
- L – coarse or crude language.
- S – sexual situations.
- V – violence.
- FV – fantasy violence (children's programming only)
CinemaScore's are letter grades, with F being the worst, and A+ being the very best. It's extremely difficult to get an A+. Only 91 movies have been awarded it in 40 years. Movies with an A+ CinemaScore tend to be four-quadrant films that hit all of the viewer's emotions.
Who can beat Jason? ›The Xenomorph from Alien. When Hollywood said that Jason was un-killable, they really meant it. Throughout all 11 films, Jason has been shot, drowned, even dragged to Hell, and yet he comes back. If a creature like the Xenomorph from Ridley Scott's Alien were to cross his path, it'd be no contest.
Who is stronger Jason or Michael? ›The Victor – Jason Voorhees (By A Large Margin)
Jason is physically stronger than Myers and can take more damage. His only real weakness seems to be water which won't necessarily kill him since he is already dead. Myers on the other hand focuses too much on wiping out his own bloodline.
Winner: Jason Voorhees
Jason's immense strength and ability to keep killing no matter the circumstances show that he can withstand a full-on assault from Michael. Considering his one weakness depends on location, he also has a greater chance of coming out on top.
The world's shortest horror story was originally published in 1948; it was written by Frederic Brown, and consists of two sentences. It reads: "The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door ..."
What is the oldest horror story? ›The genre was invented by Horace Walpole, whose Castle of Otranto (1765) may be said to have founded the horror story as a legitimate literary form.
What is the scariest horror short? ›- 8/13 The Black Hole.
- 7/13 White With Red.
- 6/13 Behind The Door.
- 5/13 Alma.
- 4/13 Doppelganger.
- 3/13 Ripped.
- 2/13 Sucka Blood.
- 1/13 Behind Closed Doors.
- Alpha Dog (2006) - 367 f-words. ...
- Straight Outta Compton (2015) - 392 f-words. ...
- Casino (1995) - 422 f-words. ...
- Nil by Mouth (1997) - 428 f-words. ...
- Summer of Sam (1999) - 435 f-words. ...
- Uncut Gems (2019) - 560 f-words. ...
- The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) - 569 f-words.
1. "The Blair Witch Project" This '90s horror flick is iconic, sparking an entirely new genre of scary movies. Rest easy while watching it (if you dare), because there are no jump scares . . .
What movie has the most curse words? ›
Scorsese's “The World of Wall Street,” which stars both Hill and DiCaprio, beat the likes of Tarantino's “Pulp Fiction” to be named the film with the most curse words with 715 swear words. The Safdie Brothers' Adam Sandler-starring drama “Uncut Gems” ranked second with 646 curse words.
What was the first horror movie? ›Just a few years after the first filmmakers emerged in the mid-1890s, Mellies created “Le Manoir du Diable,” sometimes known in English as “The Haunted Castle” or “ The House of the Devil,” in 1898, and it is widely believed to be the first horror movie.
What is the scariest movie Top 5? ›- The Exorcist (1973) ...
- Halloween (1978) ...
- Paranormal Activity (2007) ...
- The Shining (1980) ...
- It Follows (2014)
Number | Author | Title |
---|---|---|
1 | Gertrude Atherton | “The Striding Place” |
2 | E. F. Benson | “Negotium Perambulans” |
3 | Algernon Blackwood | “The Willows” |
4 | Ray Bradbury | “The Jar” |
- The Conjuring (2013) R | 112 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller. ...
- Dead Silence (2007) R | 89 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller. ...
- Sinister (I) (2012) ...
- Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) ...
- Alone (I) (2007) ...
- REC (2007) ...
- The Strangers (2008) ...
- Shutter (II) (2004)
- #8. Cam (2018) 93% 54% #8. ...
- #7. Sweetheart (2019) 93% 51% #7. ...
- #6. Pan's Labyrinth (2006) 95% 91% #6. ...
- #5. The Old Ways (2021) 95% 47% #5. ...
- #4. Jaws (1975) 97% 90% #4. ...
- #3. Under the Shadow (2016) 99% 73% #3. ...
- #2. Creep 2 (2017) 100% 72% #2. ...
- #1. His House (2020) 100% 74% #1.
Parents need to know that the animated film The House seems intended for adult viewers. While its three stories aren't outright horror, they all evoke a feeling of dread and a sense that something bad is going to happen. The first chapter is especially spooky and characters face threats, seem to go crazy, and die.
Is The House 2022 Inappropriate? ›Quirky and often creepy, this unique animated film is unsuited to children but might interest adult animation fans who like things dark.
Is the Night House evil? ›It's well directed and produced, with an excellent performance by Rebecca Hall as Beth and some intriguing plot twists. The plot moves a bit slowly, however. Ultimately, THE NIGHT HOUSE has a light moral worldview about good overcoming demonic evil.
Who won Freddy vs Jason? ›Jason kills over 14 people in the first 45 minutes of the movie. This was the final film from either the Nightmare or Friday franchises that followed the original plot before the reboot films. Although the ending to the movie is ambiguous, director Ronny Yu insists that he felt it was clear that Jason was the victor.
What monster is bigger than Godzilla? ›
Besides being taller than Godzilla, Surtur is mightier than Thor, with powers of telekinesis, immortality, and the manipulation of the Eternal Flame and cosmic energy.
Who would win Freddy vs Jason? ›The winner is Jason Voorhees. Since Freddy would have to specifically target his heart or completely incapacitate him in order to be victorious, Jason has way more outcomes where he would be victorious overall. Although Freddy could suck Jason into the dream state, like he did in Freddy vs.
What is the tallest monster? ›- Ymir. The monster from Venus in 20 Million Miles To Earth, the Ray Harryhausen classic. ...
- The Blob. ...
- King Kong. ...
- Yongary. ...
- Cloverfield monster. ...
- Gamera. ...
- Godzilla. ...
- King Ghidorah.
Dubbed the "colossal squid," it is thought to be the largest living creature without a backbone. Classified in its own genus, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni outweighs all of the eight giant squid species in the genus Architeuthis.
Is the F word allowed in PG-13? ›The restrictions set by the Us ratings board mean the F-word can only be used once in a PG-13 movie.
Is there a rated G? ›The ratings used since 1996 are: Rated G: General audiences – All ages admitted. Rated PG: Parental guidance suggested – Some material may not be suitable for children. Rated PG-13: Parents strongly cautioned – Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
How many F words make an R rating? ›According to the MPAA's website: “A motion picture's single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words initially requires at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive requires an R rating.”
Can TV 14 say the F word? ›In general, the F-bomb is rarer with the TV-14 rating than with the PG-13 rating. Apart from the above examples, Starz On Demand's print of the English dub of Black Magic M-66 contains a single F-bomb and was rated TV-14. The Netflix original series Stranger Things has a few uncensored F-bombs but under a TV-14 rating.
What is a 10D movie? ›An experience beyond imagination through a three-dimensional vision emphasized by a series of surprising effects. 10D cinema represents the evolution of 5D, 6D, 7D, 8D and 9D cinema, improving the involvement of all the senses for an emotional experience that will make your cinema a truly unique experience.
Is there such thing as rated Z? ›SPEED RATING Z
A “Z” rating can mean different things. While it nearly always means a high performance tire for high-performing sports cars, “Z” may actually appear in the middle of a tire's size information.
What is C rated mean? ›
The battery C Rating is the measurement of current in which a battery is charged and discharged at. The capacity of a battery is generally rated and labelled at the 1C Rate (1C current), this means a fully charged battery with a capacity of 10Ah should be able to provide 10 Amps for one hour.
Are R-rated movies 16 +? ›Children under 17 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian over the age of 21 for R-rated movies. I.D. is required for proof of age. Children under 6 years of age are not permitted into R-rated features at all.
What does B rated mean? ›n. A movie produced on a low budget, originally made to accompany the main feature in a double billing. Also called B picture.
What is the No 1 horror game in the world? ›Amnesia – The Dark Descent
This is one of the most popular games on the survival horror game list. Daniel is chased by the monster who follows him until he is out of his sight.
Scream 6 - March 10, 2023
The Scream franchise finally returned in a big way in early 2022 with Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette among the cast that also included a number of fresh faces as well.
To put it simply, Bloodborne is the longest horror game ever made. The way the game encourages backtracking to find hidden items and pathways gives the game longer playtime.
What is the scariest game ever released? ›- horror games.
- Resident Evil.
- Resident Evil 7.
- Silent Hill.
- alien isolation.
- dead space.
- the last of us.
- five nights at freddy's.
- Scream (1996)
- Scream 2 (1997)
- Scream 3 (2000)
- Scream 4 (2011)
- Scream: The TV Series (2015-2019)
- Scream (2022)
Joe Hill's Short Story Used a Serial Killer for Inspiration
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Hill explained that, though his story took inspiration from real serial killers of the era, The Black Phone is not based on an actual case.
The Conjuring 4 has been confirmed by Warner Bros, but we don't yet have an official release date. We will be returning to The Conjuring universe next year though. Filming is now underway on The Nun 2, the sequel to the prequel about the demonic nun Valak from The Conjuring 2.
What is the most traumatizing horror movie? ›
- The Exorcist (1973) ...
- Faces of Death (1978) ...
- Funny Games (1997) ...
- Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989) Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989) ...
- Oldboy (2003) Oldboy (2003) ...
- High Tension (2003) High Tension (2003) ...
- Men Behind the Sun (1988) Men Behind the Sun (1988) ...
- Ichi the Killer (2001) Ichi the Killer (2001)
- Psycho (1960) R | 109 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller. ...
- Tumbbad (2018) Not Rated | 104 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror. ...
- Rosemary's Baby (1968) Approved | 137 min | Drama, Horror. ...
- Misery (1990) R | 107 min | Drama, Thriller. ...
- Halloween (1978) ...
- The Innocents (1961) ...
- Saw (2004) ...
- The Fly (1986)