With the anticipated horror sequel Smile 2 set to release later this month on October 18th, many might be wondering what movies to watch in preparation for it to drop. Halloween is just around the corner, and the spooky season is the perfect time to sit down and get comfortable with some of the greatest horror classics. Smile 2‘s story follows pop singer Skye Riley as balances a world tour while suddenly grabbing with terrifying forces beyond her control.
Because the original Smile was a psychological horror film, the sequel will likely be much the same. To get ready to watch Smile 2 when it drops in theaters, there are countless psychological horror movies one could watch like Smile, each with its own set of thrills and chills. These are some of the greatest, sure to get anyone in the right frame of mind before checking out Naomi Scott in her debut as Skye Riley, leading Smile 2‘s cast of characters into another horrifying nightmare.
10 Possessor
The Visuals Are Memorable And Uncanny
Following the story of an assassin who possesses the bodies of others to kill her targets, Possessor is immediately visually striking. The protagonist, a young woman named Tasya Vos, delicately balances her fragile mental state throughout the film, struggling to identify with her own identity as a mother and wife just as much as she struggles to become other people. It is horrifying to watch as she loses herself, wondering what Tasya will do next.
Equal parts tense and bloody, body horror makes a comeback in this film in a big way. The director of this film is Brandon Cronenberg, son of body horror godfather David Cronenberg, so viewers might find this to be unsurprising. Like many of the horror films on this list, Possessor is not one for the squeamish, pushing the anxieties presented in the film to their natural breaking point.
9 The Strangers (2008)
The Series Recently Received A New Installment
Beginning with the 2008 original film The Strangers starring movie icon Liv Tyler, this horror film inadvertently launched an entire horror movie franchise. Telling the tale of a terrifying home invasion, The Strangers uses the contemporary fear of random acts of violence in order to thoroughly scare its audience. There will always be the fear lingering in the back of people’s minds that something horrible could happen out of the blue, and this film plays on that fear to great success.
After watching The Strangers, fans of the film will have plenty of movies to watch to catch up with the now iconic franchise. There are now three films in The Strangers series, with two upcoming and the most recent having been released this year with Strangers: Chapter 1.
8 The Lighthouse
It Is A Unique Exploration Of What Isolation Does To The Mind
Following the story of a pair of lighthouse keepers in the 1890s, The Lighthouse is a bit of a difficult movie to pin down. When it comes to its genre aspects, it is equal parts horror, psychological thriller, and dedicated art piece. Not only does it solely follow the stories of its main characters, Thomas Wake and Ephraim Winslow, but it is also shot completely in black and white.
As the movie progresses, the psychological states of both of these characters rapidly begin to deteriorate. Because lighthouse keepers are often alone for such long stretches of time, this film explores what that kind of isolation might do to the human mind. Things only become more and more paranoid as the movie progresses, leaving viewers on their toes as to what might happen next.
7 Get Out
The Career Comedian Wrote 2017’s Most Memorable Horror Film
Before the release of Get Out in 2017, Jordan Peele was mostly known for his work in comedy. However, in a world after the film’s incredible theatrical release, fans now know Jordan Peele as one of the greatest horror writers and directors of the modern era. His unique style of horror typically encourages those watching to think about the themes of the film, often reflected in the world today.
Get Out
is the only horror movie to have ever won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
The film is not just a frightening juxtaposition of modern-day racism, taken to its logical extreme, but it is also just an incredible horror movie. For anyone looking for a taste of what makes psychological horror so unsettling to watch, Get Out would be the perfect choice. It handles the subject matter thoughtfully, adding layers to what starts off as a slow-burn thriller.
6 Black Swan
The Film Is Incredibly Tense And Unique
Typically seen as one of those love-it-or-hate-it films, Black Swan was a surprise success when it hit theaters in late 2010. Following the story of the ballerina Beth MacIntyre as she tries to land the lead role in the ballet Swan Lake, the psychological horror movie that grapples with the idea of identity and what it means to be who you are. Beth struggles with the intrusive thought that another ballerina might be trying to steal her place in the show, a thought that eventually spirals out of control.
Haunted by her double, Beth’s entire world collapses as the demands of this intense performance finally worm into her mind. The film is an incredibly paranoid look at the stresses of professional ballet, amplifying the already very present theme of the original Swan Lake ballet. The film is a good watch, with one of Natalie Portman’s best performances to date.
5 Talk To Me
It Was Directed By A Pair Of YouTubers
Slamming into theaters as a surprise hit in 2022, Talk to Me is an A24 horror film that delivers on its supernatural premise. Taking place during a house party gone wrong, a group of teens uses a severed hand to commune with the dead. To prevent a genuine possession from occurring, whoever is speaking with the dead must sever their connection to the spirit within 90 seconds of beginning.
Unsurprisingly, things go wrong almost immediately, with what is real and what is a product of the possession quickly dissolving into chaos. It is a brutal affair to be sure, and the acting throughout the film is top-tier. There are plenty of twists and turns to be had throughout the film, taking viewers on an adventure like none other.
4 Perfect Blue
It Is One Of Many Great 90s Anime Films
Although it may be considered niche to some American audiences, Perfect Blue is a heavy hitter in the psychological horror genre. Following the story of a pop star named Mima Kirigoe who transitions her career to becoming an actress, Perfect Blue pulls no punches in its depiction of stalking and murder. There is a very real story to be told here about fan obsession, and this film tells it in haunting detail.
With her life now followed by a trail of murders, Mima begins to lose touch with who she really is. Fantasy and reality quickly become interchangeable, with the question of what is real and what is not becoming a big part of the tension. This film would eventually go on to inspire artists such as Madonna and Darron Aronofsky with their works, cementing Perfect Blue as one of the greats in psychological horror.
3 The Thing
Figuring Out Who The Thing Has Infected Is Half The Fun
No list of psychological horror films is complete without the inclusion of The Thing, a 1982 science fiction horror film that follows a group of researchers living in the Antarctic. While living there, they encounter the Thing, an alien life form capable of assimilating life and hiding in plain sight, pretending to be human in the process. As the movie continues, the crew becomes more and more paranoid as they attempt to figure out who is human and who has already been killed and replaced by the Thing.
The Thing is one of the most famous 80s horror films for a reason, with excellent acting and practical effects that were incredibly advanced for the time. The body horror is grotesque and out of this world, with a plot that leaves viewers guessing for the entire run of the movie. It is the perfect film to watch this Halloween season, especially in preparation for Smile 2′s release.
2 Hereditary
The Film Has Some Of The Best Tension In Horror
Another A24 horror film, Hereditary is a psychological horror film with a slower start. However, this slow start is necessary to set the stage for the painstakingly crafted horror that comes next. Without getting into too many spoilers, Hereditary follows the lives of the Graham family as they struggle to cope with the traumas of death and loss.
Not only does the film have a minor supernatural element to it that comes into play subtly throughout the film, but it also manages to deal with the horrors of everyday family life in what is possibly the most real and unsettling way possible.Hereditary is a film that deals in blood and gore, but its greatest achievement is that it is perhaps at its most terrifying when there is no blood whatsoever. The terror is in the anxiety and tension that the film builds, making for one of the most real and uncomfortable horror movies to ever be released.
1 Smile
Viewers Should Watch This Film To Prepare For The Sequel
Before going into Smile 2, anyone who plans on watching the sequel should watch the first Smile movie. Not only does it set the stage for the kind of horror film that Smile 2 will no doubt be, but it also introduces the terrifying entity that will be making a return in the sequel. The film covers themes of grief and trauma, doing so in a unique way that stands on its own among modern horror films.
At the end of the day, as is the case with many sequels, to understand the plot of Smile 2, it is likely that viewers will need to watch Smile first. The first film will at the very least provide context going into the second film, and will be an enjoyable watch while doing so. If someone is looking for movies to watch before the anticipated sequel, look no further than the film that started it all.