Script Research: Films About Ghosts and the Supernatural
I’m in the early stages of outlining a new script and I want to start watching movies in the same genre for research. I asked friends on Facebook and Twitter for recommendations of ghost or supernatural movies that are must-sees.
I received so many great responses that I decided to share them here. Thanks to everyone who chimed in!
Lists number of votes received if more than one:
| The Others (6) The Ring (5) The Sixth Sense (5) The Orphanage (4) The Fog (original) (3) Paranormal Activity (3) Poltergeist (3) A Tale of Two Sisters (3) The Changeling (2) Ghost (2) Ghost Dad (2)* The Haunting (original) (2) The Legend of Hell House (2) The Shining (2) Truly Madly Deeply (2) The Uninvited (2) The Amityville Horror (original) Angel Heart The Blair Witch Project Carnival of Souls Dark Water (original) The Devil’s Backbone Drag Me to Hell |
The Entity The Exorcist Face Ghostbusters Ghost Ship House on Haunted Hill Insidious The Innocents Jacob’s Ladder Ju-on Nightmare on Elm Street (original) Reincarnation Riget (The Kingdom) Ringu Rosemary’s Baby The Skeleton Key Stir of Echoes Suspiria The Tattooist Val Lewton movies Voice (seems to be called Phone now?) What Lies Beneath The Wig |
And if someone had asked me the same question, I would have said The Others, The Sixth Sense, Poltergeist, The Shining and, of course, Ghostbusters (who ya gonna call?).
If you have other suggestions, please add them to the comments. Thanks!
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* Suggested by a couple of clowns. Yeah, you know who are you!
May 28th, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Lake Mungo. It’s a sneaky one.
August 17th, 2011 at 4:02 PM
Just came across this. I’ve seen most of these on the list, but will give you three that aren’t:
The original BBC TV movie, The Woman in Black (from 1989). Catch it before the big screen version comes out in early 2012.
The TV movie from 1980 (or thereabouts), Dark Night of the Scarecrow. Probably one of the best made for TV horror movies ever.
Robert Mulligan’s 1972 quiet creeper, The Other (not to be confused with The Others).
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:53 AM
Thanks for the recommendations! I’ve been working my way through this list and will add yours as well.
November 26th, 2012 at 10:10 PM
If you’re looking for serious, thriller types of ghost stories, The Haunting (original), Dragonfly, Lady in White, Sixth Sense, and What Lies Beneath are all solid choices! :-)