15 best ghost movies: from horror to comedy to melodrama

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Classic "Poltergeist" and "Shining", modern "Conjuring" and "Astral", and, of course, funny "Ghostbusters".

1. Shining

• USA, UK, 1980.
• Horror, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 144 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

The adaptation of the famous Stephen King novel tells about the writer Jack Torrance. He gets a job as a caretaker at the Overlook Hotel, which is closed for the winter, and moves there with his family. Jack plans to spend this time writing a new novel. But soon terrible things begin to happen in the hotel.

Stanley Kubrick's iconic picture, which later became a cult picture, was not immediately accepted - even King himself criticized it. But still, it is simply impossible not to appreciate how frightening the director turned out to be the evil spirits living in the hotel. And the scene with the creepy twin girls eventually became one of the most recognizable in the cinema.

2. Sixth sense

• USA, 1999.
• Thriller, drama, detective.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

Child psychiatrist Malcolm Crowe encounters an unusual boy, Cole, who can see the ghosts of people who have not realized their death. At first, Crowe thinks that the child is simply hallucinating, but soon he realizes that this is really a way to connect with the other world.

M. Knight Shyamalan's painting starring Bruce Willis is an interesting combination of a mystical story about communication with ghosts and drama. There are almost no horror elements here, but the images of the deceased are shown very vividly.

3. Innocent

• Great Britain, 1961.
• Horror.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

A nobleman from London hires Miss Giddens' governess. She must settle in the Bly estate and watch out for his orphan nephews Miles and Flora. Miss Giddens meets adorable children, but soon begins to notice the ghost of her deceased predecessor in the estate.

This adaptation of the classic book by Henry James "The Turn of the Screw" marked the beginning of films in which fear is whipped up by the atmosphere and psychologism itself, rather than by individual screamers. By the way, the second season of the Haunting of the Hill House series will be based on the same work.

4. Ghostbusters

• USA, 1984.
• Comedy, fantasy.
• Duration: 105 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

New Yorkers are increasingly confronted with ghosts, and only four scientists who have assembled a team of ghost hunters can resist the supernatural threat.

This picture once became the first real "summer blockbuster" - an expensive but light film, to which viewers just go to relax and have fun. Needless to say, there is nothing to be afraid of, but there are plenty of comedy scenes.

5. Others

• Spain, USA, France, Italy, 2001.
• Horror, thriller, detective.
• Duration: 101 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Grace Stewart lives with her sun-intolerant children in a large house on the outskirts. Suddenly, all the servants of the family disappear, and then a strange trinity comes to the door, who allegedly read about hiring workers in the newspaper. Soon, all the inhabitants of the house begin to hear frightening sounds and notice ghosts.

The Others is one of the few films that can compete with The Sixth Sense in terms of strong plot denouement. And the wonderful acting performance of Nicole Kidman complements everything.

6. Conjuring

• USA, 2013.
• Horror, thriller, detective.
• Duration: 112 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

Spouses Ed and Lorraine Warren make money by expelling ghosts from their homes, and also giving lectures on exorcism. But one day they have to face the most dangerous evil in their lives.

The main characters of this film are real. And James Wan's film is based on the memories of Lorraine Warren herself. And if you do not believe in the veracity of such stories, then the picture has enough excellent screamers and a good twisted plot.

7. Devil's Lair

• USA, UK, 1963.
• Horror, thriller.
• Duration: 112 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

A paranormal researcher invites three people to a secluded house on a hill. According to rumors, the ghosts of the deceased former owners live there. Soon a strange relationship is struck between the guests, and the inhabitants of the house begin a terrible game with them.

And one more film, which, along with "Innocents", laid the foundation for metaphysical horror and quickly became a real legend. But the remake of the 1999 film failed: not even Liam Neeson and Catherine Zeta-Jones in the lead roles were saved.

8. Beetlejuice

• USA, 1988.
• Comedy, fantasy.
• Duration: 92 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

A young couple of ghosts hires Beetlejuice, a "living exorcist," to expel the occupants from their home. However, this talkative and rude specialist has more problems than benefits.

Tim Burton has always been distinguished by his love of black humor and therefore decided to show the story of the confrontation between people and ghosts on behalf of the latter. Well, for Michael Keaton, the title role was a real breakthrough in his career. Soon he again starred with Burton, but in the form of Batman.

9. Devil's backbone

• Spain, Mexico, 2001.
• Horror, drama.
• Duration: 106 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

After the death of his father, young Carlos goes to the boarding school "Santa Lucia". The director wants to help him, but the boy soon has to face a local bully, as well as a thief who planned to steal gold from the safe of the shelter. In addition, Carlos meets Santi - the ghost of a student who mysteriously died on the night of the bombing.

The famous director Guillermo del Toro considers this film to be his best work. He also frequently mentions that Devil's Ridge is very close to his better-known film Pan's Labyrinth and should be taken as one story.

10. Poltergeist

• USA, 1982.
• Horror, thriller.
• Duration: 114 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

In the house of the Freeling family, strange things begin to happen: objects move on their own, and the equipment turns on. Then the tree outside the window tries to kidnap the Freelings' son, and while the parents rescue the child, their daughter disappears.

Two legendary authors are behind this film: Tobe Hooper, who invented The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Steven Spielberg. The combination of their talents allowed to come up with a truly epic horror of all time. Anyone who has watched this movie will surely remember the creepy toy clown trying to take the child away.

11. Call

• Japan, 1998.
• Horror, thriller, detective.
• Duration: 96 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

There is a legend among teenagers about a terrible videotape. In the house of everyone who looks at the phone, a phone call is heard, and a week later the person dies. After the death of her niece, reporter Reiko Asakawa decides to investigate the origin of this terrible recording.

Soon after the Japanese film gained widespread popularity, it was re-shot in the United States, spawning a wave of sequels, imitations and parodies. But still the first part with the legendary ghost crawling out of the TV remains the most terrible.

12. Defector

• USA, 1980.
• Horror.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

After the death of his wife and daughter, music professor John Russell moves to another city and settles in an empty house. But soon the man begins to feel someone's presence. It turns out that the ghost of a boy who died under mysterious circumstances many years ago still lives in the building.

Interestingly, Alejandro Amenabar, who shot The Others years later, called The Defector one of his favorite films. Indeed, the similarity of some of the scenes is simply obvious.

13. Scarecrows

• New Zealand, USA, 1996.
• Horror, fantasy, comedy.
• Duration: 110 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 1.

Frank Bannister was once an architect. But after a car accident that claimed the life of his wife, he changed his profession. Now Frank is casting out ghosts. True, in fact, the hero makes an agreement in advance with his ghost friends, who arrange a pogrom in the houses. But one day he encounters a truly dangerous otherworldly creature.

The film from Lord of the Rings creator Peter Jackson mixes great black humor on the subject of death and detective action. And the ghosts, who are also constantly joking, only add to the ironic atmosphere.

14. Ghost

• USA, 1990.
• Fantasy, drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 127 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

Sam died defending his girlfriend Molly from a robber. He becomes a ghost and soon learns that the girl is in mortal danger. To warn Molly, the hero needs to learn how to contact the material world and find a medium through whom they can communicate.

It is hard to believe that this picture, which has literally become a hymn of eternal love, was shot by Jerry Zucker - the author of famous parodies like "Airplane" and "Top Secret".

15. Astral

• USA, 2010.
• Horror.
• Duration: 103 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 8.

Josh and Rene's family moves to a new home. But literally from the first days, inexplicable phenomena begin to occur around them. And then their ten-year-old son Dalton falls into a coma. When a child who has not yet regained consciousness is returned home, it turns out that he is connected with the other world.

The author of this film is James Wang, who later directed the famous "The Conjuring". In this horror, the director proved that even the simplest techniques can scare the viewer. For example, just paint the film composer's face red.