10 Best Suburban Horror Movies Of The Last Decade

2. Poltergeist

The Babysitter Samara Weaving
MGM

1982's iconic horror installment Poltergeist highlights a very simple key fact for homeowners looking to avoid otherworldly intrusions to their suburban bliss; do not, repeat, do not move into a home that is built on the grounds of a former cemetery.

The Freeling family sadly find this unavoidable fact out the hard way as they are terrorized by a catalogue of supernatural forces upon moving into their new home. The family are tormented by otherworldly spirits that cause havoc within their home and eventually kidnap their youngest daughter Carol-Anne, whisking her away to an alternate dimension from which she must be rescued.

Poltergeist is superbly filmed, acted and written; Steven Spielberg's involvement in production looms large over all subsequent contributions to the movie. The performance of child actor Heather O'Rourke is particularly riveting and adds a much needed layer of authenticity to a film rooted in such an unfathomable story. The film was lauded as one of the best of the year, and is contemporarily regarded as one of the greatest horror films of all time; particular praise was directed towards the performance of the cast and the lack of over-dependence on expensive CGI effects.

Not bad for a film rooted in such an allegedly boring suburban setting. Poltergeist holds a reputation one of the greatest films ever conceived, let alone within the horror genre.

Contributor

Law graduate with a newly rediscovered passion for writing, mad about film, television, gaming and MMA. Can usually be found having some delightful manner of violence being inflicted upon him or playing with his golden retriever.