D-7! After the hunt by men in survival films, today place to those of spirits with a selection of ten ghost movies.
Ghost
How can we talk about haunting without mentioning Ghost, directed in 1990 by Jerry Zucker? A cult film, especially because of the romanticism of the pottery scene, Ghost is one of the few films to be located from the point of view of spirits. Following an assault, Sam realizes that others no longer see him, no longer hear him and that he can no longer touch the world around him. He will then try everything to get in touch with his wife Molly and find out who killed him with the help of a brilliant psychic played by the talented Whoopi Goldberg. Sensitive and touching, Ghost is far from being a horror film and proves that with themes systematically related to this genre, it is possible to do something else, something beautiful and powerful.
Sixth sense
Directed in 1999 by Manoj Nelliyattu Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense marked an entire generation. A little boy barely eight years old, Cole is terrified to the point that he has to see a psychologist played by Bruce Willis. This evil that gnaws at him is none other than a gift of clairvoyance that allows him to see and hear the dead. Attracted by this faculty that the child possesses, misguided souls tend to come to ask for his help. With the help of his psychologist, young Cole will try to learn to accept and tame this gift that gnaws at him. Rich in emotions, Sixth Sense is a thriller punctuated by many striking appearances, whose scenario and the depth of the characters can not leave anyone indifferent.
Poltergeist
The first installment of a cursed trilogy, Poltergeist is a film directed in 1982 by Tobe Hooper, which was remade by Gil Kenan in 2015. The Freeling family led a peaceful life until they moved into a house built on an old cemetery. Strange events then occur in the house, such as objects moving on their own. Little Carol Anne even begins to communicate with the jammed television, as if she heard someone talking to her from inside, until the day she disappears. The family will have to call on parapsychologists to understand what is happening and find the little girl! The Poltergeist of 1982 is a great classic with a sustained rhythm. Tobe Hooper's imagination plunges the viewer into a house whose trap closes more and more on its occupants, holding in suspense from beginning to end.
The other
Directed in 2001 by Alejandro Amenábar, The Others is a magnificent film depicting the ordeal experienced by a mother and her children. Grace, a very pious young woman, has two sick children who should under no circumstances be exposed to sunlight. While her husband has gone to fight at the front, Grace hires three servants to help her take care of the house and the children. As soon as they arrive, her daughter begins to tell that she has seen other people in their big house, people she is the only one to see. Grace also witnesses strange phenomena and eventually realizes that her daughter is right, that their house is indeed haunted. The film's lighting effects and soundtrack help create a heavy and scary atmosphere, enhanced by the excellent acting of all the characters. Alejandro Amenábar, inspired, laid with The Others a true masterpiece.
Messengers
In The Messengers, directed in 2007 by the talented Oxide and Danny Pang, a family moves to the countryside to live on a farm, the parents wishing to change their lifestyle. Very quickly, the two children, a teenager and a little mute boy of about three years old, will have visions that their parents do not believe. What they don't know is that terrible things happened on their farm before they arrived. The silence of the little boy holds a prominent place in the story and confirms the talent of the two directors to treat the infirmity of their characters with intelligence, as in The eye. The messengers is proof that it is possible to make a good film by using several clichés. Of good quality without being a film of great originality, The messengers is pleasantly watched. The casting of the film is successful and allows to discover a Kristen Stewart in a role more flattering than the one she holds in Twilight. It is also an opportunity to see the brilliant Jodelle Ferland, decidedly and for our greatest happiness never far away when there is a role to play in a horror film …
The Lady in Black
Released in 2012 and directed by James Watkins, The Lady in Black tells the story of Arthur Kipps, a young notary sent by his company to take care of the estate of an old lady. Arthur then leaves his son, his wife having died, to go to the house of the deceased, house that turns out to be a beautiful old mansion and isolated from the rest of the village by the tide. He is very badly received by the people of the village, who try to make him leave. So he settles in the old house the time to do his work. But it's not just the villagers who don't want his presence… The tunes of music box are a pure delight always very well placed. Arthur, however, is a somewhat unconscious character who is difficult to get attached to, despite Daniel Radcliffe's excellent acting. In the end, the most touching character is certainly the one who gives the film its title. The Lady in Black is an excellent film to see and rewatch, for its classic but effective scenario, its incredible soundtrack and its chilling atmosphere set up without using and abusing many jumpscares like many current horror films.
The Eye
Let's now find Oxide and Danny Pang with the film The eye, released in 2002, which was also entitled to its American remake in 2008. Mann has been a young blind woman since she was two years old. In an attempt to regain her sight, she underwent an operation to transplant another person's cornea. The operation is a success and the young woman can learn to see again. But she soon realizes that she can see much more than just the visible world. The eye is particularly interested in Mann's feelings and his way of seeing things, creating such a proximity with the character, that it is very difficult for the viewer not to get involved in the story. For once, the American remake of The Eye is rather successful and the two films watch each other without regret for each other, each having that little something that makes them so special.
Gothika
Directed in 2003 by Mathieu Kassovitz, Gothika is an unusual ghost film. Dr. Miranda Grey, played by Halle Berry, is a psychiatrist and works at the women's psychiatric penitentiary run by her husband. She takes care of Chloe, played by Penélope Cruz. After a session with the young woman, she drives home and almost runs over someone. A few days later, Miranda wakes up in one of the cells of the penitentiary where she works. Disoriented, she learns that she killed her husband, which she has no memory of… It is then that she begins to feel a presence at his side, a presence that becomes more and more oppressive, violent and even palpable. A haunting film with an innocuous and classic look, Gothika is actually an original film and a thriller with suspense that holds in suspense from the beginning to the denouement!
The grudge
Ju On is a 2002 film directed by Takashi Shimizu, which was also remade in 2004 by its own director under the name The grudge. Rika is a kind social worker who loves her job. Her new patient, an old lady, may be strange, but it's nothing compared to her house. Rika is extremely uncomfortable there. But being serious and dedicated, she stays there to take care of her patient. Several ghosts haunt this place, steeped in a curse. Reserve some surprises and good moments, The grudge deserves to be seen for its scenario. This is far from being the case of the two sequels that followed this first opus, the irony being that Ju On 2, directed by Takashi Shimizu, also has its own remake The grudge 2 directed by the same director before he leaves the reins to Toby Wilkins for The grudge 3.
An American Haunting
Directed in 2005 by Courtney Solomon, An American Haunting is one of the underrated masterpieces whose deep and committed message goes unnoticed by part of the general public. A descendant of the Bell family today discovers the diary kept by a teacher in 1817. At this time, the Bells' farm is plagued by terrifying paranormal events, seemingly focusing on young Betsy. While the girl is assaulted and tormented, especially when night falls, the family will try everything to try to drive away this malevolent spirit, even going so far as to perform exorcisms. But nothing is done. The descendant of the family will discover the horrible truth behind these manifestations and discover at the same time why she too is haunted by ghosts. A great moment of cinema and humanity, An American Haunting is a film to watch at least once in your life, eyes wide open, ears attentive, heart well hooked and mind elsewhere than in search of superfluous starts.
Scary or moving, ghost movies often carry a strong message because they are an ideal breeding ground for the fears and sorrows that haunt the human soul! You will find (we hope) in this rather heterogeneous list of what to spend beautiful moments during Halloween. And if you prefer striking spirits to dead people who need to communicate, you might find your happiness tomorrow…
