7 Good Horror Movies That Will Make You Keep the Lights On

1. The Echo (2008)

This is a Hollywood remake of 'Sigaw', a 2004 horror film from The Philippines. I have to say I've not yet seen the original, but really enjoyed this one. The acting isn't the greatest, but the story is enough to carry the film. A young man moves into his mother's apartment after her death, but is bothered by sounds of domestic disturbance from the apartment next door. I won't give any more away about the plot, but it will leave you with goosebumps! This is one of my favorite scary movies. You can find more info on IMDb.

2. Sinister (2012)

When I saw this film with Ethan Hawke was being released, I had to see it as I'm a huge fan! The plot is fairly simple; Ethan plays a true-crime writer who moves his family into their new home. He finds a stash of 8mm home movies in the attic which sheds some light on the serial killer he's currently researching, but will this put his family in danger? We saw this at the cinema and it really scared me! It's one which will stay with you long after the end credits roll, much like the lingering dread in some excellent psychological thrillers. The horror movie lighting in this film is particularly effective.

3. Ju-on: the Grudge (2002)

The original Japanese version of The Grudge scared me so much I didn't even want to leave the cinema to go home! Many people will have already seen the US remake with Sarah Michelle Gellar. The original version is somehow much darker and scarier. It's best if you go in knowing as little as possible about the film, but let's just say I blame my fear of public toilets partially on this movie! It definitely ranks high when discussing movies about light and shadow manipulating your fear.

4. The Woman in Black (2012)

'Oh yeah', I thought, when I went to see this, 'a horror film with Daniel Radcliffe in it, how scary can that be?' Turns out, pretty damn scary! If you're a fan of Gothic horror, The Woman in Black will scare your socks off. It tells the story of a young lawyer (expertly played by Daniel Radcliffe) who travels to a village where he discovers that the ghost of a young woman who died there is terrorizing villagers. This film really scared me, and I'm a huge horror film fan! If you enjoy a good ghostly mystery, see also my thoughts on classic ghost stories.

5. The Awakening (2011)

I was blown away by this 1920's ghost story, but some people I know were not so impressed! I love ghost stories set in the past, and this creepy tale tells the story of Florence Cathcart, a hoax exposer who travels to a boys' school to unravel the mystery behind sightings of a child ghost. I loved every second of this and hope you will too! It's a great example of a when lights go out movie that plays with your expectations.

6. The Devil's Backbone (2001)

This was my first foray into Spanish film and director Guillermo del Toro, and it definitely sparked my interest in the Spanish horror genre! Another ghost story set in the past, it tells the story of Carlos, a boy whose father died in the Spanish Civil War. He arrives at an orphanage where dark secrets are lurking. Could it be haunted? The dynamic between the characters here makes for one of the most compelling horror film duos I've seen in a while.

7. Citadel (2012)

This Irish film blew me away when I saw it last year. I've been a fan of Aneurin Barnard for a while now, so when I saw he played the lead role, I had to see it! It's far from your typical horror film and whilst the synopsis says its about a group of twisted, feral children, it seems it could be more of a social commentary on society and tower blocks in the UK (if you live in the UK, you'll know what I mean). That said, it's a deeply creepy film which will leave you on the edge of your seat. I loved it! Just as chilling as the premise in my favorite supernatural flicks, this one truly delivers.

If you're going to watch any of these, make sure you at least have someone to keep you company; even if you're a horror film fan some of these films are seriously creepy! What's your favorite horror film of all time or which horror film has scared you the most?