5 Horror/Thriller Movies I Watched Recently

I have been a fan of horror and thriller movies for a long time. While I've recently started exploring different genres, my passion for horror and thrillers remains unchanged. Here are some horror and thriller films I have had the opportunity to watch recently. 

1. Trap (2024): M. Night Shyamalan is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the horror genre. With only a few exceptions, I have always enjoyed watching his films because of the intense emotions they evoke. My favourites are "The Sixth Sense" and "Split." I had been eagerly anticipating the release of "Trap," and I finally had the opportunity to watch it recently. My excitement was mainly due to the fact that it's a film by M. Night Shyamalan, and it stars Josh Hartnett, who was once a popular heartthrob. In the movie, Hartnett plays Cooper, a fireman and devoted father to two children, Riley and Logan. He takes his teenage daughter, Riley, to a concert featuring the sensational pop star Lady Raven. While he enthusiastically participates in the concert with his daughter, his mind is clearly elsewhere. Throughout the event, he engages in alarming and dangerous activities, such as pushing a woman down the stairs, starting a fire in the kitchen, and ultimately kidnapping Lady Raven. What is prompting Cooper, a seemingly happy family man, to act this way? And why are police and security present at the concert? You’ll need to watch to find out.

The film is good, though nothing outstanding. However, there are several praiseworthy scenes, such as Cooper's conversation with a humorous seller at the concert, the moment Lady Raven attempts to escape him, and the best scene, which is his final encounter with his wife, Rachael, over dessert. You will appreciate Hartnett's portrayal of the loving, protective, and caring dad who is willing to do anything for his children's happiness. His darker side gradually emerges throughout his sometimes unsettling and meticulously planned actions at the concert. I enjoyed his performance.

2. Speak No Evil ( 2024): I had wanted to watch this film for a long time, and I finally managed to do so. I had watched the original version previously, and it was deeply traumatising. I chose to watch the American adaptation primarily because of James McAvoy, whose impeccable performances are often underrated.

In contrast to the original Danish story, which features a Danish family visiting a Dutch family, this version follows an American family that visits a British family. The patriarch, Paddy (Patrick), appears to be a jovial man who jokingly projects his personality onto his guests. However, everything about him and his family seems suspicious, particularly his cruel behaviour towards his mute son. 

Fortunately, the ending of this film has been altered to provide a somewhat positive feeling, as the original Danish version was far too tormenting. McAvoy's portrayal of Paddy is terrifying, frightening, and outrageously despicable. His infamous grin gives you chills, and the way he says utterly disgusting things in a charming manner leaves both the guests and viewers puzzled about whether to applaud or to intervene. He is truly a remarkable actor. If you enjoy his performances like I do, just watch it for him.

3. Smile 2 ( 2024): I may have an unpopular opinion, but I am not a fan of the first Smile movie. I found it somewhat boring, so I didn’t have high expectations for the sequel. However, my views have completely changed after watching the second instalment. It is genuinely terrifying and a perfect example of a frightening horror film; not a single moment goes to waste. Every frame is filled with thrill and chills.

The story follows Skye Riley, a pop star who is recovering from a near-fatal accident that claimed the life of her actor friend, Paul. After a year of therapy dealing with her post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse, she returns to showbiz. Despite her recovery, Skye is still overwhelmed by the pressure from the media, her fans, and her demanding mother. After witnessing something horrific, her life takes a dramatic turn, and she struggles to differentiate between reality, hallucinations, and her own thoughts.

Naomi Scott is captivating and impressively athletic in her role as Skye, and I wouldn't be surprised if she earns a spot on the movie lovers' list of Best Scream Queens alongside the likes of Neve Campbell and Jamie Lee Curtis. A special mention goes to Ray Nicholson as Paul, whose smile reminds me of his father, Jack Nicholson, in The Shining. This film is a must-watch for horror genre fans.

4. Nosferatu ( 2024): Here are some interesting facts about the film. It is actually an adaptation of the 1922 silent German film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, rather than an adaptation of Bram Stoker's book Dracula. In the 1922 film, Count Dracula is referred to as Nosferatu or Count Orlok, as it was an unauthorised adaptation of the book. The Bram Stoker Estate sued the filmmakers, and the movie was nearly destroyed, preventing it from being viewed by the general public. However, as the saying goes, if you create something with love and passion, it lasts forever. Some prints of the film survived and were restored, leading what was once considered an unauthorised German trash to be recognised as a horror classic by critics in later years. Some even view this film as a pioneer of the horror genre.

Now, turning to the 2024 remake, I will review it from the perspective of someone who has already seen various adaptations of Dracula, particularly Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 film, "Bram Stoker's Dracula," which leans more towards romance than traditional horror. 

In "Nosferatu," Lily-Rose Depp portrays Ellen Hutter, a newlywed woman whose husband, Thomas Hutter, is sent to Transylvania to negotiate a property deal with the reclusive Count Orlok. After witnessing disturbing events in the castle and the Count's bizarre behaviour, Thomas realises he has been held captive and manages to escape. Meanwhile, Ellen falls ill and begins to hallucinate. The arrival of an empty ship brings a deadly plague to the town, and Thomas and Ellen's reunion seems to be overshadowed by an unknown evil force.

I did not enjoy watching the film very much; it didn’t scare me at any point. The performances felt lacklustre until the arrival of Willem Dafoe as Professor Eberhart. I found myself constantly comparing this film to Coppola's adaptation, which left me disappointed with every scene. While this may be unfair, it's natural for comparisons to arise when two films are based on the same story.

5. Wolf Man (2025): Benicio Del Toro's 2010 film *The Wolfman* gained popularity for its remarkable makeup and ultimately won an Academy Award for it. In the new film, Blake is depicted as a family man, settled with his writer wife and a loving daughter. In his childhood, he witnessed something unexplainable in the forests while hunting with his father. 

Now, Blake receives the keys to his childhood home along with a death certificate for his estranged father. He drives there with his family, but encounters an accident after being attacked by a deadly creature. Blake is wounded by the creature's claws and gradually starts to feel ill. Meanwhile, the creature continues to hunt them.

The film is slow-paced but features some emotional moments, particularly those where Blake struggles to maintain his humanity while transforming into a monstrous creature. The final scene involving his daughter is also quite touching. Overall, it is an average film, and it's best not to expect anything like Wolf.