Nothing keeps you up at bedtime quite like a movie about a haunted house, especially if you watch it at home...by yourself...at night. You start hearing little sounds you'd never noticed before and seeing shadows move where there shouldn't be anything moving. If you enjoy sleepless nights, here are 16 of the best haunted house movies you probably haven't seen. Enjoy!
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1. The Babadook
"The Babadook" has been getting rave reviews at festivals, and rightfully so. It's original, terrifyingly entertaining, and will make you check under your bed every night, just to be safe. The best part is that it's a really good movie and not just a really good horror movie. (Photo credit: IFC Films/Photofest)
2. Lake Mungo
This is how you do a faux-documentary. The entire film feels so genuine and real as we watch a family process the death of a young girl. The more the pieces unfold, the more fascinating the entire thing becomes. It's a must see for any horror fan.
3. The Pact
The general consensus in horror movies is that, if you return to your childhood home and you did anything bad in your past, there's going to be ghosts or demons there to force you to deal with your mistakes. "The Pact" is no different and may not be the best horror movie you've ever seen, but it's definitely enjoyable.
4. The Baby's Room
This was part of the "Films to Keep You Awake series" back in 2006 and it's definitely the best of the batch. "The Baby's Room" follows a couple in Spain that moves into an old house, but soon discovers there are ghosts that can only be heard through the baby monitor. That may literally be every parent's nightmare.
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5. Paranormal Activity 3
The worst way to see a "Paranormal Activity" movie is in the theater. It'll always be full of the most annoying people on earth who want to yell at the screen and try to scare their friends sitting next to them. "Paranormal Activity 2" wasn't what a lot of fans were hoping for, so they bailed on part 3. The thing is, it's actually a really effective movie with some great scares throughout. If you haven't seen it, now is a great time to check it out. (Photo credit: Paramount Pictures/Photofest)
6. The Haunting in Connecticut
I'm not sure how the sequel to "The Haunting in Connecticut" took place in another state, but that's another story. 2009 was flooded with ghost stories and horror films, and this one definitely slipped through the cracks for a lot of fans. It didn't get rave reviews, but it's actually pretty good. The lesson you'll take away is to never buy a house that's suspiciously affordable because it probably used to be a haunted funeral home.
7. The Possession of Michael King
What happens when you try to prove demons are fake after the death of your wife by summoning all of them at once? Very terrible things, that's what. Michael King is definitely not getting the full value on his home after you see what happens to him through the film. It gets crazy.
8. The Orphanage
Guillermo del Toro and Juan Antonio Bayona put together one of the most heartbreaking and beautiful haunted house movies you'll ever see. It's not full of blood and guts, but will still stick with you for days after you finish watching it.
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9. Evil Dead (2013)
I'm a huge fan of the original "Evil Dead" franchise, so I was terribly skeptical of a new film in the series. A lot of the fans are going to tell you that this one isn't good because it isn't fun and goofy like the old ones and it doesn't have Bruce Campbell in it. It's not trying to be either of those. It set out to be one of the most gruesome and terrifying movies you've ever experienced and, on that level, it succeeded at just that. (Photo credit: TriStar Pictures/Photofest)
10. House of the Devil
Ti West is becoming more of a household name all the time for horror fans, and rightfully so. If you aren't familiar with his work, "House of the Devil" is a great place to start. It's an homage to the 80s without being satirical and taking you out of the moment. The best part is that the characters are actually developed so you get more than just a bunch of cardboard cutouts systematically being murdered.
11. 1408
Most Stephen King movies have a hard time translating to the big screen. His books are fantastic, but there's always something lacking in the conversion. "1408" boasts a stellar cast and a story that's frightening, emotional, and just a lot of fun to watch. If you've been turned off by horror movies with big names in them, this one is worth checking out.
12. Monster House
If you've never seen "Monster House" then you're probably thinking it's some sort of mistake to put an animated kids movie on a list of scary movies worth checking out. If you've seen it, then you know exactly why it's on the list. Seriously, there are better horror elements in "Monster House" than there are in most scary movies aimed at adults. It's really terrific.
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13. Oculus
When I saw a horror film being produced by WWE Studios, excitement was not the emotion I was feeling. Not only is "Oculus" the best film they've put out, it's one of the best horror movies of 2014. It's original and could easily become their first big franchise. (Photo credit: Relativity Media/Photofest)
14. House (1977)
"House" is silly and full of all the elements that have now become cliché, but it's definitely an overlooked classic. There are so many legendary horror films from the 70s and, while this one may not reach that elite level, it's definitely an enjoyable film for someone who appreciates the genre.
15. Silent House (2011)
I was a big fan of the "Silent House" American remake, but the original is definitely the better of the two. It may not be an over the top shock fest with monsters falling from the ceiling, but it creates an element of suspense that will keep you glued to the screen for the duration.
16. The Woman in Black (1989)
I wasn't a big fan of the Daniel Radcliffe remake, mainly because it didn't bring anything new to the story. The original version is a British, made for TV movie, and you can definitely tell. It just has that PBS feel to it. However, that doesn't stop it from being a fantastic story and genuinely creepy.
1. The Babadook
"The Babadook" has been getting rave reviews at festivals, and rightfully so. It's original, terrifyingly entertaining, and will make you check under your bed every night, just to be safe. The best part is that it's a really good movie and not just a really good horror movie. (Photo credit: IFC Films/Photofest)
2. Lake Mungo
This is how you do a faux-documentary. The entire film feels so genuine and real as we watch a family process the death of a young girl. The more the pieces unfold, the more fascinating the entire thing becomes. It's a must see for any horror fan.
3. The Pact
The general consensus in horror movies is that, if you return to your childhood home and you did anything bad in your past, there's going to be ghosts or demons there to force you to deal with your mistakes. "The Pact" is no different and may not be the best horror movie you've ever seen, but it's definitely enjoyable.
4. The Baby's Room
This was part of the "Films to Keep You Awake series" back in 2006 and it's definitely the best of the batch. "The Baby's Room" follows a couple in Spain that moves into an old house, but soon discovers there are ghosts that can only be heard through the baby monitor. That may literally be every parent's nightmare.
5. Paranormal Activity 3
The worst way to see a "Paranormal Activity" movie is in the theater. It'll always be full of the most annoying people on earth who want to yell at the screen and try to scare their friends sitting next to them. "Paranormal Activity 2" wasn't what a lot of fans were hoping for, so they bailed on part 3. The thing is, it's actually a really effective movie with some great scares throughout. If you haven't seen it, now is a great time to check it out. (Photo credit: Paramount Pictures/Photofest)
6. The Haunting in Connecticut
I'm not sure how the sequel to "The Haunting in Connecticut" took place in another state, but that's another story. 2009 was flooded with ghost stories and horror films, and this one definitely slipped through the cracks for a lot of fans. It didn't get rave reviews, but it's actually pretty good. The lesson you'll take away is to never buy a house that's suspiciously affordable because it probably used to be a haunted funeral home.
7. The Possession of Michael King
What happens when you try to prove demons are fake after the death of your wife by summoning all of them at once? Very terrible things, that's what. Michael King is definitely not getting the full value on his home after you see what happens to him through the film. It gets crazy.
8. The Orphanage
Guillermo del Toro and Juan Antonio Bayona put together one of the most heartbreaking and beautiful haunted house movies you'll ever see. It's not full of blood and guts, but will still stick with you for days after you finish watching it.
9. Evil Dead (2013)
I'm a huge fan of the original "Evil Dead" franchise, so I was terribly skeptical of a new film in the series. A lot of the fans are going to tell you that this one isn't good because it isn't fun and goofy like the old ones and it doesn't have Bruce Campbell in it. It's not trying to be either of those. It set out to be one of the most gruesome and terrifying movies you've ever experienced and, on that level, it succeeded at just that. (Photo credit: TriStar Pictures/Photofest)
10. House of the Devil
Ti West is becoming more of a household name all the time for horror fans, and rightfully so. If you aren't familiar with his work, "House of the Devil" is a great place to start. It's an homage to the 80s without being satirical and taking you out of the moment. The best part is that the characters are actually developed so you get more than just a bunch of cardboard cutouts systematically being murdered.
11. 1408
Most Stephen King movies have a hard time translating to the big screen. His books are fantastic, but there's always something lacking in the conversion. "1408" boasts a stellar cast and a story that's frightening, emotional, and just a lot of fun to watch. If you've been turned off by horror movies with big names in them, this one is worth checking out.
12. Monster House
If you've never seen "Monster House" then you're probably thinking it's some sort of mistake to put an animated kids movie on a list of scary movies worth checking out. If you've seen it, then you know exactly why it's on the list. Seriously, there are better horror elements in "Monster House" than there are in most scary movies aimed at adults. It's really terrific.
13. Oculus
When I saw a horror film being produced by WWE Studios, excitement was not the emotion I was feeling. Not only is "Oculus" the best film they've put out, it's one of the best horror movies of 2014. It's original and could easily become their first big franchise. (Photo credit: Relativity Media/Photofest)
14. House (1977)
"House" is silly and full of all the elements that have now become cliché, but it's definitely an overlooked classic. There are so many legendary horror films from the 70s and, while this one may not reach that elite level, it's definitely an enjoyable film for someone who appreciates the genre.
15. Silent House (2011)
I was a big fan of the "Silent House" American remake, but the original is definitely the better of the two. It may not be an over the top shock fest with monsters falling from the ceiling, but it creates an element of suspense that will keep you glued to the screen for the duration.
16. The Woman in Black (1989)
I wasn't a big fan of the Daniel Radcliffe remake, mainly because it didn't bring anything new to the story. The original version is a British, made for TV movie, and you can definitely tell. It just has that PBS feel to it. However, that doesn't stop it from being a fantastic story and genuinely creepy.