Here are three films that outshine The Silence of the Lambs in terror.
The Silence of the Lambs is renowned for multiple reasons, including its historic achievement as the first horror film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
But how does the film fare in 2026? Is it as chilling as it was in 1991?
In the end, The Silence of the Lambs remains an exceptional psychological thriller, featuring unforgettable performances by Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins.
However, we at Watch With Us would argue that there are three films that surpass it in terms of creepiness.
Debate all you wish, but these are our selections.
‘Pulse’ (2001)
A college student is discovered hanged in his apartment, sparking a peculiar tech-related plague that spreads through Tokyo. Young people face disturbing visions linked to their computers, and as more vanish, it becomes clear that a malevolent force is propagating through the internet. In Pulse, the narratives of Michi (Kumiko Asô), Ryosuke (Haruhiko Katô), and Harue (Koyuki) intertwine as they investigate the origin of this unseen menace.
While The Matrix transformed turn-of-the-century tech worries into a thrilling journey, Pulse reimagined it as pure horror. This pioneering J-horror film crafts an atmosphere of dread absent of gore, with director Kiyoshi Kurosawa excelling at evoking fear through mere implication. Reflecting on Pulse’s eerie take on the dangers of the internet feels uncannily prophetic today.
‘Oddity’ (2024)
Olin Boole (Tadhg Murphy), an escaped mental patient, is presumed to have murdered the wife of Ted Timmis (Gwilym Lee). A year later, still mourning Dani’s death, her twin sister, Darcy (Bracken), receives Olin’s glass eye from Ted and interacts with the last moments of her sister’s life. Equipped with newfound insights, Darcy ventures back to Ted and Dani’s secluded country house—the scene of the tragedy—accompanied by a disturbing addition: a life-size wooden golem from her collection of supernatural artifacts.
Oddity is an underappreciated Irish horror film from 2024 that rightfully deserves recognition as one of the most unsettling modern horrors in recent years. Despite its brief runtime of 98 minutes, Oddity unfolds deliberately, fostering a gripping suspense through its clever writing and cinematography that manipulates light and space to cultivate feelings of vulnerability and dread. Additionally, the film skillfully employs jump scares that truly unsettle the viewer.
‘Suspiria’ (1977)
Young ballerina Suzy Bannon (Jessica Harper) arrives at the esteemed Tanz Akademie dance school in Germany on a stormy night, witnessing a fellow student, Pat (Eva Axén), fleeing the institution in alarm. Unbeknownst to Suzy, both Pat and a friend have been killed by a mysterious figure. As Suzy tries to adapt to school life, she suffers from recurrent nausea, visions, and eerie sounds echoing through the halls. Together with her companion Sara (Stefania Casini), Suzy uncovers the dark secrets hidden by the school’s staff.
Horror films consistently attract audiences, especially during Halloween. While a few modern classics like Get Out and It have emerged, many of the finest horror films are older. To celebrate this thrilling season, Watch With Us has compiled a list of the greatest horror movies of all time.
Before Suspiria became a complex and sprawling remake by Luca Guadagnino featuring Tilda Swinton and Dakota Johnson, it was an effective yet simple giallo that conjured lingering scares through its minimalist approach. Rather than concentrating on intricate plots or themes, Suspiria immerses viewers in a stunning nightmare; vibrant pop-art visuals and electrifying lighting enhance its gruesome elements, while the legendary score by prog rock band Goblin deepens the experience of being trapped in a realm between realities.
