5 deeply creepy movies for Friday the 13th

Although the origins of the fear around Friday the 13th are varied and inconclusive, our pop culture seems to (mostly) agree that this is a bad and evil day. At the very least, it's a great excuse to cuddle up with a partner for a night of movie-watching with some jumps and thrills. A friend of mine recently asked for some new movies to add to his repertoire, and so inspired me to write this post.

I'm not a fan of splatter gore, or cliché movies with strings of badly orchestrated scares one after another. I'm into exploring the deep, dark crevices of the human mind, and our resulting behaviours when faced with incredible, extraordinary, or supernatural circumstances. Although a bit infuriating at the same time, it's the slow, dreadful build of tension that keeps me glued to my seat. Throw in a few well placed scares, and you have a winner in my book. 

The telltale sign for me of a good movie? I think about it well after it's over, and feel creeped out when I go to bed. Success.

Notwithstanding all the classics, here are 5 movies I've seen recently that fit this bill. Enjoy if you dare, as night falls tonight. 

Take Shelter

Michael Shannon is exceptional in this role of a man who is having apocalyptic premonitions. He becomes increasingly obsessed with building a shelter that will save his family from impending doom. Of course, everyone thinks he's going crazy - and he even questions himself. The actors, the story and the unassuming nature with which it's filmed really drew me in. Is the apocalypse really coming, or is this guy off his rocker? You have to watch to find out.

They Look Like People

I found this gem accidentally on Netflix. My husband seemed to have no interest (often the case lol), so I ended up watching it alone. A very subtle and understated film about a man who believes that not all people are actually people - a refreshing take on a Body Snatchers-type theme. The tension in the end scene is through the roof and I had my hand over my eyes more than once.

Creep

This movie has only 2 actors. And the strangeness begins right out of the gate. The movie title is apt, as the creepiness factor continues through the whole thing. A videographer answers an ad for a very odd filming request, in a very remote area. This strange plot and the increasingly tense dynamic between these 2 guys takes you by the neck and slowly squeezes to the end.

Dark Skies

This movie surprised me a bit - it does have some cliché elements, but it was well done and I think it illustrates believably the concept of a 'normal' family being thrown into a tailspin, like it could happen to your or your neighbour at any time. Things begin to deteriorate when evil beings target this family and they try to cope. It has a few twists and turns, along with several jumpy moments. Definitely some Poltergeist-type elements, along with a nod or 2 to 80's films - as Stranger Things has done.

The Invitation

A man returns to his former home where his wife now lives with her new husband. A tragedy had torn his marriage and friendships apart, and his wife's unexpected dinner party invitation was a way to 'mend fences' and give everyone a fresh start. This movie is painfully awkward at times - you just want to scream at these people! A few predictable things are thrown in (like doors locked from the inside) that makes you shake your head that the characters aren't more concerned, but the weirdness and tension kind of makes up for it. And it does do a decent job of keeping you guessing.