The Devil's Backbone and 4 Other Most Disturbing Horror Movies About Ghosts
These are not your typical ghost stories.
The movie Presence has finally been released. Its main feature was the choice of an unusual point of view – the story is told through the eyes of a ghost.
In this list, we have collected horror films about ghosts and spirits that turn and rethink typical genre techniques.
1. Lake Mungo, 2008
This mockumentary tells the story of the Palmer family, whose lives are changed by the tragic death of their daughter Alice. The parents and brother begin to notice strange things: noises, frightening images in photographs, and the feeling of a presence.
Gradually, through recordings, interviews and video footage, the dark truth about Alice's life, her secrets and her connection to the dried-up Lake Mungo are revealed.
In his debut film, Joel Anderson was less interested in scares than in exploring how grief is mediated through technology, so Lake Mungo has no big jump scares. Instead, the horror is achieved through emotional tension.
2. A Ghost Story, 2017
The main character died in a car accident and returned to the house where he lived with his beloved as a traditional ghost – a person hidden under a sheet with slits for eyes. His story is a motionless observation of how life changes around him.
A Ghost Story is a reflection on the fragility of life, loss and the meaning of existence. The film's meditative pace, almost complete lack of dialogue, and minimalist visual solutions make it more like a philosophical essay than a typical ghost story.
3. The Devil's Backbone, 2001
Guillermo del Toro creates a dark but touching story set in a Spanish orphanage during the Civil War.
Orphan Carlos encounters the ghost of a boy named Santi, who died under mysterious circumstances. Together with new friends, Carlos tries to solve the mystery of Santi's death, while facing a real threat from adults.
The Devil's Backbone is not only a horror film, but also a political drama that uses the supernatural as a metaphor for the consequences of war and human cruelty.
4. Lights Out, 2016
The story follows an entity that only appears in the absence of light. Rebecca must confront her childhood fears to protect her younger brother from a vengeful spirit mysteriously linked to their mother.
Light Out is based on the short film of the same name, whose idea was so popular with viewers and critics that it eventually grew into a full-length movie.
A simple but effective concept, appealing to the basic fear of darkness and the unknown, allows for a creative approach to lighting – working with light and shadow is the movie's strongest point.
5. The Others, 2001
The gothic horror takes the viewer to England in 1945 to a dark, isolated house. Grace, a woman of strict rules, lives with two children who suffer from intolerance to sunlight, waiting for her husband to return from the war.
She hires three servants and soon begins to notice strange occurrences: rustling noises, closing doors, and an unseen presence.
The movie is memorable for its unexpected, Shyamalan-esque ending. In addition, the movie masterfully uses suspense and avoids excessive emphasis on horror clichés.