Horror movies have long explored the topic of mental health, often with polarizing results. In the past, horror films often used mental illness as the reason for their villains’ murderous impulses, with Psychopath Y Pull apart being two notable examples. As society becomes more aware and understanding of mental health and the many forms it can take, the horror genre is also becoming more considerate in its interpretations.
The recently released Smilehas proven to be a box office success, thanks in large part to its brilliant marketing campaign. The great villain who stalks the characters of Smile it feeds on your pain, creating a haunting experience that comments on unhealed trauma and how one might try to deal with it – many other horror movies traverse similar ground.
‘Black Swan’ (2010)
the movie that won Natalie Portman an Oscar, Black Swan, sees the actress play Nina, a professional dancer. After landing the lead role in a production of Swan Lake, Nina falls into a state of insanity as she fights to keep promising newcomer Lily (Lily) from taking the role.Mila Kunis).
One of the best examples of the obsessed artist trope, the stress of Nina’s quest to be perfect, causes her to hallucinate, causing both the dancer and the audience to wonder which parts are really real. Weather Black Swan never explicitly states what mental illnesses may be affecting Nina, people have speculated that it’s a mix of schizophrenia, OCD and an eating disorder.
Black Swan is available to stream on Hulu.
‘The Babadook’ (2014)
A horror gem from Australia, the babadook follow Amelia (Essie Davis) and their young son Sam (Noah Wiseman), dealing with the death of her husband/father six years earlier. When Sam begins to claim that the creature from one of her books is real and lurking in her house, Amelia struggles to contain him as she grapples with the fact that she might be right.
In its center, the babadook It is a story about pain. In this regard, it’s similar to Smile, but The Babadook eschews cheap jump scares instead focusing on a much more intimidating monster: pain. The declining relationship between Amelia and Sam is based on this shared pain. In a way, the fictional monster in the film exists to help bring mother and son closer together.
the babadook is available to stream on Shudder Y AMC+.
‘May’ (2002)
The directorial debut of the cult horror filmmaker good luck mckee, May follows the main character played by Angela Bettis. Socially awkward due to a difficult upbringing, lonely May yearns for genuine connection. She apparently finds him through an affair with Adam (Jeremy Sisto), but May is driven to murder when this relationship ends.
While it eventually turns into a slasher movie when May builds a doll out of human body parts, May focuses on childhood trauma. Through the character’s interactions with those around her, it is clear that the events of her past still haunt her, despite her desire to befriend her.
May is available to stream on Shudder, AMC+ and Tubi.
‘Swallow’ (2019)
A move you won’t want to snack on during, Swallow stars haley bennett as Hunter, a woman diagnosed with pica. As her desire to eat inedible objects becomes stronger and stronger, she causes her seemingly perfect marriage and her domestic bliss to fall apart.
Swallow is to be commended for tackling such a unique topic, as pica is a very real condition that is rarely seen on screen. While the disorder could have been explored further, as it is primarily used as a mechanism to propel Hunter along on his emotional journey, Swallow still a great watch with an excellent performance from Bennett.
Swallow is available to stream on AMC+.
‘Oculus (2013)
Another examination of childhood grief, oculus follow Kaylie (Karen Gillan) and his brother Tim (Brenton Thwaites) as they try to prove that a cursed mirror is responsible for their family’s misfortune. They hold the mirror responsible for the death of their parents; an act for which young Tim was arrested.
While the origins of the cursed mirror are never explained, it serves as a metaphor for pain, as the now-grown children are drawn to it in search of answers, unable to go on without them. oculus is led by mike flanaganwho would go on to find fame in the horror genre with hits like The Haunting of Hill House Y Midnight mass.
oculus is available to stream on Hulu and Tubi.
‘The Voices’ (2014)
The rare movie where Ryan Reynolds don’t play yourself The voices, see the dead pool stars as Jerry, a kind but troubled man. Jerry, who suffers from schizophrenia, has regular conversations with his dog and cat, both of which Reynolds also voices. When chasing his crush in the workplace turns deadly, Jerry’s condition turns homicidal.
One of Reynolds’ Most Underrated Movies, The voices It will appeal to lovers of black comedies and actors. He gives one of the best performances of his career as the unstable Jerry. Seeing the actor leave his comfort zone and present a character so far from his usual wheelhouse is a pleasure.
The voices is available to stream on stars.
‘Antichrist’ (2009)
A movie you’ll only see once, Antichrist stars Willem Dafoe Y charlotte gainsbourg as a married couple struggling with the recent death of their son. They travel to a remote cabin in the woods where they once vacationed with the boy as a way to cope with his trauma, but soon find their lives falling apart even further.
Director Lars von Trier he states that the film is inspired by his struggle with depression and anxiety, as he wrote the script during a depressive episode. The filmmaker would explore these same themes in his next two films, Melancholia Y Nymphomaniacrevealing that mental health can be just as important behind the camera as it is in front of it.
‘The house of the night’ (2020)
Living alone in the house her husband built for them, Beth (cardigan room) is still recovering from his sudden suicide. Plagued by nightmares that seem to intersect with reality, Beth begins to sense a dark presence in her home as she struggles to discover why her partner took her life and what secrets she may have been hiding.
Directed by david brucknerwho also directed the recent hellraiser restart, the house of the night it is a powerful examination of pain and the strong control it can have over us. The film’s clever script and Bruckner’s tight direction are greatly aided by a terrific performance from Hall, who deftly sells the bleakness of the lonely widow.
the house of the night is available to stream on Max HBO.
‘Saint Maud’ (2019)
Saint Maud examines how trauma can send someone turning to religion for answers and how unchecked trauma can consume someone’s life. After losing a patient under difficult circumstances, Nurse Maud (power rings‘s Morfydd Clark) becomes a personal caretaker and moves to a seaside town on the English coast.
Converting to Roman Catholicism as a way to deal with her past trauma, Maud takes her belief too far by hurting herself to appease God. When she becomes Amanda’s caretaker (jennifer ehle), a former ballerina with cancer, Maud believes she must save this woman’s soul as well, leading to tragic consequences.
Saint Maud is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video Y Paramount+.
‘Jacob’s Ladder’ (1990)
A powerful examination of post-traumatic stress disorder, Jacob’s Ladder follows Vietnam veteran Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) while being haunted by terrifying visions. As hallucinations affect Jacob’s state of mind, he searches for answers as to why his past haunts him.
Jacob’s Ladder is a cult classic whose reputation has only grown in the decades since its release. He is credited with a great influence on the Silent Hillvideo game series, sharing the film’s focus on past traumas manifesting as terrifying hallucinations in the present.
Jacob’s Ladder is available to stream on Paramount+.
