To mark the release of the eerie and haunting horror story CRIMSON PEAK coming to Blu-ray™ and DVD from 15^th February 2016, courtesy of Universal Pictures (UK), we take a look at ten of the greatest supernatural films ever made and what makes them so chilling.

Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston and Mia Wasikowska star in visionary director Guillermo del Toro’s latest film, the chilling and beautiful supernatural horror Crimson Peak. 

Young Edith Cushing (Wasikowska) is an aspiring author living with her father in New York at the dawn on the 20^th century. When her father dies in mysterious circumstances, seductive stranger Thomas Sharpe (Hiddleston) sweeps Edith away to Allerdale Hall, a house atop a mountain of profitable blood-red clay: a place filled with secrets that will haunt her forever.

CRIMSON PEAK (2015)

Young Edith Cushing is swept away to Allerdale Hall by her new husband, Thomas Sharpe, where every room holds a new mystery. The house is designed like a butterfly killing jar to allure and trap the beautiful and the innocent. From the subterranean mines to the forbidden attic, from the library of secrets to the cage-like elevator with a mind of its own, you would not want to spend a night alone here. Since Edith was a young girl, the ghost of her mother has been warning her about Allerdale Hall and it isn’t until Edith is within the house that her nightmares become reality. She sees ghosts of her husband’s secret past and is haunted by one in particular who slowly reveals the true horrors behind the haunted house.

THE CONJURING (2013)

The Conjuring is based on a true story from 1971, and follows the Perron family who move into a quaint farmhouse in Rhode Island. Disturbing events keep occurring, however, and they call in help from paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Little did the family know; their house was a site for a brutal, supernatural murder in the 1800’s. The true story was so terrifying that the real Perron family refused to speak of it until the film’s release.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK (2012)

The Woman In Black tells the story of Arthur Kipps, a young lawyer who is sent to Eel Marsh House to examine the paperwork of the late Mrs Drablow. During his journey to the house on the marshlands, Arthur is warned not to stay in the house come nightfall, but he is determined to get his work done as quickly as possible. He stays at the isolated manor and soon he finds that Eel Marsh House is haunted by the vengeful ghost of a woman dressed in black. He finally learns that the spirit lost her son after he drowned in the marsh and now seeks revenge, taking the children of anyone who sees her…

INSIDIOUS (2010)

In Insidious, Renai and Josh Lambert move into a new home with their three children. One night their son, Dalton, sees the attic door open and goes to investigate but falls to the floor when the ladder breaks. Renai and Josh rush him to the hospital, where the doctors say he is in an inexplicable coma. Three months later, Dalton is allowed to rest at home, which is when the strange happenings start in their house, culminating in a voice shouting “I want it now!” and a bloody hand print appearing across Dalton’s bed. Even when the family move house, the supernatural events continue, which is when it’s revealed that Dalton may have become lost in the spirit realms.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY (2007)

After a young couple, Micah and Katie, move into a suburban house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be demonic – but is certainly most active in the middle of the night! They decide to set up cameras to try and catch evidence of any paranormal activity; much to their dismay, after innocent happenings of a slight movement in the covers, it turns into their worst nightmare. One night, Micah’s body is violently hurled at the camera and is knocked over revealing Katie standing in the doorway. She slowly walks into the room, stained with blood, crawls to Micah’s body and then looks up at the camera with a grin. An epilogue text states that Micah’s body was discovered by the police on October 11, 2006, and Katie’s whereabouts remains unknown.

THE RING (2002)

The Ring is the horrifying story of Rachel, a journalist who must investigate a mysterious videotape which seems to cause the death of anyone within seven days of viewing it. It is revealed that these deaths are caused by a young girl who was drowned by her psychotic mother, and the tape of her was created to curse the lives of others unless the viewer makes a copy of the tape within a week.

THE OTHERS (2001)

Nicole Kidman stars as Grace, a mother who lives in the remote countryside in the aftermath of World War II with her two children. Both children have a rare disease that means their lives are endangered by exposure to sunlight. After a series of odd events where curtains are torn from the windows, Grace starts to fear that they are not alone. The truth is even stranger than she imagines, however, as Grace slowly starts to realise that no one in her household is actually living.

THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (1979)

Based on a true story, The Amityville Horror centers on a large house on the coast of Long Island where newlyweds George and Kathy Lutz and their three children move in. However their ‘dream home’ becomes a nightmare when they witness strange manifestations. They turn to their family priest Father Delaney who believes the house is haunted and performs an exorcism, but the evil spirit in the house blinds him and attacks George. Further research suggests that the house is built atop a tribal burial ground, and that a known devil worshiper named Ketcham once lived on the land. The Lutz family flee the house in the middle of the night, with their lives.

CARRIE (1976)

The iconic Carrie in question is a shy and outcast 17-year old girl who, after being humiliated by her classmates for the last time at her senior prom, unleashes her own telekinetic powers. After Carrie’s bullies drench her in pigs’ blood, Carrie uses her powers to destroy the school, killing her teachers and students alike. When Carrie returns home and her devout and domineering mother sees her drenched in blood, she is convinced her daughter is a witch and stabs her, forcing Carrie to wreak further revenge.

THE EXORCIST (1973)

Released in 1973, The Exorcist follows the story of a young possessed girl. The film is so scary it was originally banned from several cinemas due to people fainting during screenings. 12-year-old Regan starts behaving strangely and it is believed an evil spirit has taken over her body. Her parents call in a priest to perform an exorcism, however when he enters Regan’s bedroom, the evil spirit is not so willing to abandon its host…

CRIMSON PEAK is available on Blu-ray™ and DVD from 15^th February 2016, courtesy of Universal Pictures (UK).

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