In the film industry, the horror genre has become synonymous with one word: Blumhouse. No other production company has cornered the horror market like they have. With over 50 horror films released (some direct-to-video) and many more in the works, Blumhouse Productions continues to produce heart-pounding thrills for all audiences. Overall, Blumhouse has been able to popularize horror to a level it has never been at before. Due to the large number of titles however, differences in quality between these films is inevitable. That’s why the focus of this article will cover the best that Blumhouse has to offer. Here are the Top 5 Blumhouse Horror Movies:
5: The Bay
Starting off the list is this found footage horror gem. The Bay follows residents of a seaside community as they become hosts to waterborne parasites. Made during the height of the found footage horror movie craze, The Bay distances itself from other movies of the same sub-genre for a few reasons. For one, the movie is a biting environmental commentary. The general lack of concern regarding the community’s water quality is what ultimately leads to the outbreak. Also, The Bay was able to show the broad ramifications of the parasitic outbreak on the entire community, differing from the constrained narratives that most found footage movies usually have.
4: Hush
Hush is a tense stalker thriller that deserves more attention than it gets. The movie is simple in premise, a deaf writer living in the middle of the woods is stalked by a killer, but this simplicity proves to be effective. Maddie’s (Kate Siegel) hearing disability is utilized extremely well in the movie. While Hush does have an original soundtrack, much of the film uses ambient sounds from the house or the surrounding forest to fill the scenes. The uncomfortable quietness throughout the movie creates an eerie tone and indicates how isolated she is. Hush goes to show that you don’t need to reinvent the genre to be original.
3: The Invisible Man
After the commercial and critical failure of The Mummy in 2017, it appeared that the concept for a ‘Dark Universe’, which would combine all of Universal’s classic monsters, was over. Then, writer/director Leigh Whannell produced arguably one of the best reboots ever created. The Invisible Man was a hit with audiences and critics alike. Having the movie be centered around the abusive relationship that the main character, Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss), has to endure is brilliant. In doing so, The Invisible Man (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), terrorizes Cecilia both physically and psychologically, making him all the more frightening. The movie uses its small budget of $7 million dollars to its advantage, proving a well-written script will get you farther than any amount of money can. For a more in-depth review of this movie, check out this article written by my colleague.
2: Sinister
Sinister never seems to get the credit it deserves. While it does contain the occasional horror cliche or oft used jump scare, this movie is very creepy. Sinister follows washed-up true crime writer Ellison Oswald (Ethan Hawke) as he finds a box of Super 8 snuff films and attempts to solve the murders. The combination of the true-crime element along with the snuff films creates a layer of realism that encapsulates the audience into the story. The climax of the film is chilling, providing an effective and shocking twist. Sinister is able to maintain a dark and mysterious tone throughout, keeping the audience at the edge of their seat the entire time.
1: Get Out
Written and directed by one of the rising masters of horror, Jordan Peele, Get Out takes the top spot as the best horror movie Blumhouse has ever made. It may not be as scary as others within the genre, but the movie’s unique story and relevant commentary on racism sets it apart. Get Out plays with people’s fears of awkward social situations. There are very few instances in the movie where Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), the main character, is able to be himself or even have a normal conversation with someone. It makes the audience empathize with his situation, creating feelings of unease and awkwardness throughout. Get Out has already become a staple of the horror genre leaving many eagerly awaiting for anything Peele has to offer.
