10 Psychological Horror Movies You Must See Before You Die
2. Perfect Blue
The only animated film to make this list but one that's well and truly deserving of its place. Helmed by one of the finest voices in Japanese animation - the late, great Satoshi Kon - Perfect Blue is a brain-tickling creep-fest that can stand toe-to-toe with any live-action film.
The story follows Mima, a pop-star that leaves behind her previous successes to pursue a career in acting, much to the chagrin of her fans and management. Upon accepting a particularly challenging role, Mima finds her grip on reality slipping away, allowing all manner of exploitation to take place and one particularly angry stalker to slowly move in for the kill.
Kon's films have always dug deep into the psyches of their characters, but Perfect Blue saw him at his most horrific and borderline sadistic in places. It's a deliberately provocative film that takes a stab at celebrity culture and the psychological damage that the industry can inflict upon a person if they're ill-prepared for it.
Truly shocking and horrifying, it has lost none of its potency over the years. Even for those who aren't particularly partial to anime, Perfect Blue is a harrowing treat that deserves your attention.