4. The Black Narcissus (1947)
Few can match the cinematic street cred of Brit filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. The duo behind the all time classic The Red Shoes created one of the finest examples of psychological horror with their 1947 film Black Narcissus. Black Narcissus details a sexually repressed nun's descent into madness when her infatuation with a handsome government agent takes a tragic turn. Powell & Pressburger employ a slow-burn that builds to a nail-biting climax. While the film lacks the tell-tale tropes of the horror genre until its final moments, Black Narcissus shows how impeccable craftsmanship can trump gore and jump scares as a means to deliver the horror goods.