10 Horror Movies That Prove Less Is More

9. Hereditary

Lake Mungo
A24

Ari Aster's mesmerising directorial debut Hereditary may feature some truly disturbing and unforgettable imagery, but more often than not its most horrifying moments pertain to human trauma rather than things that go bump in the night.

Despite its seemingly familiar setup - a family becomes haunted by a malevolent supernatural presence when the matriarch dies - Hereditary is more a heart-wrenchingly authentic portrayal of grief than a supernatural horror flick.

Though Toni Collette's astonishing performance shoots for the moon and the film touts several peaks of high-tension, it's best defined by an eerie stillness and calm - the feeling we've all had when we suspect we're being watched, but nobody seems to be there.

It's easy to picture another studio making a far more conventional version of this movie which isn't nearly as memorable, creative, or scary.

Despite its more reined-in approach, though, it's a film that absolutely begs for repeat viewings - there's so much subtle foreshadowing hidden in plain sight.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.