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10 Groundbreaking Ghost Films That Will Haunt You Before/After Watching Steven Soderbergh’s ‘PRESENCE’

In anticipation of Steven Soderbergh‘s latest spine-chilling masterpiece, Presence, hitting theaters tomorrow, January 25, we decided to explore ten extraordinary ghost movies that defy conventional horror tropes.

These sui generis films are not just about scares and jump-scares; they delve deeper into the spectral world, offering profound narratives and innovative storytelling that will leave a lasting impression.


(1984)

Directed by Wes Craven

What It’s About: Teenager Nancy Thompson must uncover the dark truth concealed by her parents after she and her friends become targets of the spirit of a serial killer with a bladed glove in their dreams, in which if they die, it kills them in real life.

Why It’s on the List: Freddy Krueger is a unique type of ghost, haunting dreams instead of appearing as an apparition. His sinister humor and knife-glove add to his menace, allowing him to play mind games with his victims. The film’s inventive horror sequences blur the line between reality and dreams, building tension by keeping viewers guessing whether the characters are awake or asleep..

If You Like: Hellraiser, Shocker, It Follows


(2014)

Directed by Gerard Johnstone

What It’s About: When wayward teen Kylie is sentenced to home detention, she finds herself confronted by a hostile spirit who seems less than happy about her return.

Why It’s on the List: While fellow New Zealanders Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi’s ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ is all laughs, Gerard Johnstone’s ‘Housebound’ mixes hysterics with hair-raising scares. Johnstone masterfully teases the audience with a series of reveals and curveballs, leading to a hilariously hellish climax.

If You Like: Beyond The Gates, House


(2019)

Directed by Dennison Ramalho

What It’s About: A late-night mortician is cursed/blessed with the supernatural gift of being able to communicate with the dead. He unwittingly uncovers secrets that should have gone to the grave.

Why It’s on the List: Ramalho’s debut reinvents Sixth Sense/Ghost Whisperer tropes by blending family drama, genuine scares, body horror, and grim humor in a comic book aesthetic. Despite mixing sub-genres, he deftly crafts a tight narrative. And the practical corpse effects are to die for!

If You Like: After.Life, Drag Me To Hell


(2017)

Directed by Paco Plaza

What It’s About: Based on actual police reports from a case in Madrid in 1992, a young girl named Veronica attempts to make contact with her late father using a Ouija board. Things go awry as she and her friends forget to follow the rules, leading to terrifying consequences.

Why It’s on the List: Paco Plaza, known for the [REC] saga, outdoes himself with Veronika, outshining even the best of James Wan’s supernatural shockers. Unsurprisingly, the film earned Plaza a Goya nomination for best director.

If You Like: The Conjuring 2, Terrified, The Exorcist


(1999)

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

What It’s About: Malcom Crowe, a child psychologist, takes on the task of curing a young boy who “sees dead people.” This journey deeply affects both the boy and Crowe, leading to a shocking revelation.

Why It’s on the List: Horror fans love the massive twist in The Sixth Sense when it turns out that Malcolm is dead. The film’s terrifying scenes, great characters, and the bond between the central characters make it a timeless classic.

If You Like: The Others, Secret Window


(2012)

Directed by Nicholas McCarthy

What It’s About: Madison, a single mother who with her children is awoken nightly by an increasingly strange and intense presence. She seeks help from her scientist boyfriend Nikolai, who begins a hunt to destroy the violent spirit that paranormal experts are too frightened to take on.

Why It’s on the List: The Pact stands out with a clever, unexpected twist in the final act, flipping the story and nearly switching genres. This groundbreaking shift redefines the paranormal sub-genre, making it a must-see for horror fans. Despite a slower pace at times, the film delivers relentless thrills and adrenaline, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.

If You Like: Oculus, Sinister


(1992)

Directed by Lesley Manning

What It’s About: On Halloween 1992, 11 million viewers tuned in to watch what they believed to be a live BBC broadcast from a haunted house. What they got was far more disturbing than expected.

Why It’s on the List: Audiences were terrified, switchboards were inundated with complaints, and the BBC disowned the show. But underneath the mania and controversy lies a fascinating and often deeply disturbing exploration of how trauma and abuse can haunt both the mind and the body.

If You Like: Host, Late Night With the Devil


(2022)

Directed by Mali Elfman

What It’s About: Two strangers, Rose and Teddy, join a contentious study to track people into the afterlife. As they confront their dark secrets, they embark on a journey that forces them to reckon with their pasts.

Why It’s on the List: The parallel psychological journey the film takes the protagonists and the audience on digs deep beneath the surface of the complex, and often misunderstood world of depression, grief and suicide, addressing all of these themes with a keen sense of delicacy, poignancy and humour.

If You Like: Something in the Dirt, New Life


(2024)

Directed by Damian Mc Carthy

What It’s About: Darcy uses haunted objects to exact revenge on those responsible for her twin sister’s murder, uncovering eerie truths along the way.

Why It’s on the List: Oddity chills viewers to the bone with its creative premise, compelling lead performance by Carolyn Bracken, and one of the creepiest inanimate objects ever seen on screen. Blending supernatural horror and a gripping revenge narrative, the film fuses the mundane and the macabre, creating a pervasive sense of unease that is sure to leave audiences paralyzed with fear.

If You Like: Oculus, Talk To Me, The Conjuring


(2001)

Directed by David Koepp

What It’s About: A man is hypnotized and begins seeing visions of a ghost. As he digs deeper into the mystery, he uncovers a tragic truth that puts his family in danger.

Why It’s on the List: The last film on the list is especially notable as it’s written and directed by David Koepp, the screenwriter of Presence, which releases tomorrow. What makes this film great is its fresh take on ghost story tropes, avoiding staleness and predictability. It’s fascinating to see a supernatural mystery through the eyes of a no-nonsense working-class family. The best supernatural stories are rooted in very human emotions: loss, sorrow, guilt, curiosity, anger. The truth behind what happened in Tom’s house is truly tragic and upsetting, drawing the audience deeper as the protagonist becomes more obsessed with uncovering it.

If You Like: Frailty, Session 9


These ten films stand out in the crowded horror genre, not just for their unique takes on ghost stories but for the way they engage viewers on a psychological and emotional level. As Neon prepares to launch Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Presence’ in theaters this Friday, these sui generis movies remind us of the myriad ways that horror can be both intellectually stimulating and hauntingly beautiful. So dim those flickering lights, settle in, and let these ghostly tales take you on a shuddersome journey.


Presence releases in Theaters Nationwide January 24th 2025.

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