10 Horror Movies That Never Left You
6. Apostle
In Apostle, an ex-missionary called Thomas Richardson (Dan Stevens,) infiltrates a cult to rescue his kidnapped sister, Jennifer. At first, Thomas assumes the commune leader, Malcolm Howe, is using his disciples for his own personal gain. But over time, he realises there might be some truth to Howe's dogmatic beliefs.
The main reason Apostle is chilling is because it ironically doesn't focus on the horror elements. For the most part, the film plays out like a period drama or detective thriller. As such, viewers aren't ready when it turns into a medieval slasher, depicting fingers being hacked off, heads being drilled, and a woman being force-fed the blood of a dead rodent.
Apostle sets itself apart from other horror with its ability to create a sense of unease through atmospheric music and meticulous pacing, rather than cheap jump-scares. Yes, there is gore galore, but it always serve the narrative, and never comes across as gimmicky.
Although Apostle is longer than the average horror flick, it never feels lengthy, since the ever-present tension is sure to leave viewers engaged until the final frame.