Mike Flanagan is one of modern horror’s most important filmmakers. Not just because of his ability to make really scary movies, which is probably the only mandatory requisite for a horror filmmaker, but because his storytelling methods are based on an emotional map that blends well with his execution of horror tropes. His films and TV shows feel authentic and meaningful, more than premise-based stories.
Like all horror filmmakers, Flanagan is also a horror fan. A product of his influences and an upbringing close to horror classics and their educational qualities. Curiously, unlike many filmmakers, Flanagan is very open to showing everyone his influences. For this, he has populated his Letterboxd account with all kinds of lists that would make any horror fan curious. The following are 20 carefully selected entries of Flanagan’s favorite horror movies.
20 Carnival of Souls (1962)
In Carnival of Souls, Mary Henry goes through a terrible car accident, but she’s unharmed. When she moves to another city to start a new job, she begins getting haunted by a strange, ghoulish man, and she’s “summoned” to an abandoned carnival where other ghostly creatures live.
It Remains as Scary as Ever
The film’s legacy is unquestionable. Even though more than six decades have passed since it was made, it remains a very scary experience due to its creepy imagery and its subtle sense of impending doom. You can catch glimpses of its influence on Flanagan’s approach in supernatural horror series like The Haunting of Hill House.
You can stream Carnival of Souls on Max.
19 The Innocents (1961)
The Innocents tells the story of Miss Givens, a governess who gets hired to take care of two siblings at Bly. At first, Givens senses the mansion harbors some unhappy ghosts seeking revenge for an event in the past, and then she suspects the children have become the target of possession.
A Beautiful Gothic Horror Movie
Jack Clayton’s adaptation of The Turn of the Screw is a beautiful Gothic horror film. The atmosphere accomplished by the cinematography and score is haunting and very effective for the horror experience. Flanagan took some of this when he adapted the same story for his miniseries The Haunting of Bly Manor.
The Innocents isn’t available to stream at the moment.
18 A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street follows teenagers in the town of Springwood as they start dying under mysterious circumstances. Something’s invading their nightmares: a spirit by the name of Freddy Krueger who, with his glove filled with sharp blades, is hunting the children of those who burned him alive decades ago.
The Birth of a Horror Icon
Freddy Krueger is one of horror’s most important icons, and his first film is undeniably a horror classic. Like many from his generation, Flanagan is heavily influenced by Craven and his style of filmmaking. Flanagan’s teenage thriller series The Midnight Club is where we can see the influence of Craven’s film, a point confirmed by the casting of Heather Langenkamp (the lead character Nancy in A Nightmare on Elm Street) as Dr. Georgina Stanton.
17 Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Rosemary’s Baby follows a young woman named Rosemary who moves to a new apartment with her husband in New York City. When she gets pregnant, she suspects something is wrong with her husband, her neighbors, and what’s growing inside her.
An Innocent Soul’s Corruption
The 1968 film by Roman Polanski introduced supernatural horror to a mundane setting, featuring a seemingly picture-perfect neighborhood and family existence corrupted by the ultimate evil. The cult-like aspect of Rosemary’s “enemies” can be compared to the churchgoers in Flanagan’s Midnight Mass.
16 Carrie (1976)
Carrie is the story of poor Carrie White, a bullied girl who can’t find peace even at home, where her extremely religious mother subjects her to an abusive orthodox lifestyle. But when Carrie enters womanhood and her bullies plan the ultimate prank, they’ll find Carrie’s payback is no laughing matter.
One of Stephen King’s Best Film Adaptations
Brian De Palma’s horror classic is a great adaptation of Stephen King’s first published novel; a solid revenge film that proved King’s work had a place in cinema. Considering Flanagan’s close relationship with King’s books, it surely helped the director shape his style for adapting the stories by the bestselling author.
15 The Exorcist (1973)
The Exorcist is the story of Chris and Regan MacNeil, mother and daughter, who face the improbable when Regan starts getting ill for no apparent reason. When doctors suggest the help of a priest, Chris is forced to seek faith in order to help her deteriorating daughter.
Arguably the Most Important Horror Film of All Time
William Friedkin’s 1973 classic doesn’t need an introduction or a reason to be on a list of influential horror films. Its legacy is unquestionable, and Flanagan’s admiration for it will probably be seen in his upcoming project: a new sequel to The Exorcist franchise.
14 Halloween (1978)
In Halloween, Michael Myers comes back home 15 years after he brutally killed his sister on Halloween night, when he was just a 6-year-old boy. After escaping the mental hospital where he’s been since then, Michael arrives in Haddonfield to wreak havoc on the babysitters who, in all honesty, should be looking after the children in their care instead of inviting their boyfriends over.
The Slasher Genre Becomes Profitable
John Carpenter and Debra Hill’s creation launched an entire franchise from a film that was so cheap they had to recycle leaves to use from one scene to the next. Luckily, it blew the box office wide open when released. The influence of Halloween is undeniable, with Flanagan showing his appeal for it in his single slasher film, Hush.
13 Jaws (1975)
In Jaws, the small coastal town of Amity Island is preparing to receive thousands of summer tourists. The problem is that a mauled body washes ashore, and Chief of Police Martin Brody believes it’s the work of a shark. The mayor doesn’t like the idea of closing the beaches, but when a boy gets killed in front of hundreds, the hunt for a great white shark ensues.
Spielberg’s Exercise in Horror
Jaws is the quintessential creature feature whose impact was due to a coincidental failure: the mechanical shark never worked, so director Steven Spielberg had to create tension with clever shots and cinema’s most iconic movie score. It is one of those films that left a mark on everyone who saw it, with Flanagan clearly included among those.
12 Fright Night (1985)
Fright Night follows 17-year-old Charley Brewster as he sees new neighbors moving beside his home. Charley suspects they’re not good people, but when he digs further, he becomes sure they’re vampires. He then seeks the help of a local TV legend Peter Vincent, who hosts midnight horror movies, and also grapples with the idea that maybe vampires are actually real.
One of the Best Vampire Movies Ever Made
The 1985 cult classic is an entertaining vampire film that still holds its value 40 years after it was released. Flanagan’s own vampire TV show, Midnight Mass, has no connection with Fright Night and the tones are extremely different. Nevertheless, this is one of those ’80s vampire films that influenced everyone in the industry with its clever balance between horror and comedy.
11 Pet Sematary (1989)
1989’s Pet Sematary follows the Creeds as they move into Ludlow and instantly connect with their neighbor Jud Crandall. Crandall reveals that the backwoods have some secrets and when tragedy strikes, the father, Louis, decides to bring his son back from the dead, with horrible consequences.
The Scariest Stephen King Adaptation
Inspired by a work that terrifies even the horror master himself, Pet Sematary is an underrated horror venture that shows what a father will do for love. It’s bleak and terrifying, and many consider it Stephen King’s scariest film. Flanagan hasn’t made a film this scary, but with Gerald’s Game and The Haunting of Hill House, he came pretty close.
10 The Shining (1980)
The Shining follows an author named Jack Torrance who moves with Wendy and Danny, his wife and son, to the Overlook Hotel, where they will the winter season and taking care of the hotel while it’s closed. Soon after they arrive, Jack and Danny both start experiencing vivid waking hallucinations, and the spirits of the Overlook Hotel begin to make themselves known.
A Very Important Adaptation in the Eyes of Flanagan
There’s no denying the legacy of The Shining, even if King doesn’t really like Kubrick’s adaptation of his work. However, when Flanagan picked up the rights to adapt Doctor Sleep, the sequel to King’s book, he decided to pay homage to the original film with a beautiful third act that united King’s original vision with the iconic horror film from 1980, which King himself approved.
9 Poltergeist (1982)
Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist follows the Freeling family as they begin a new life in Cuesta Verde, where they have just moved. 5-year-old Carol Anne starts speaking to “the people in the TV,” and during a thunderstorm, she gets taken through the screen. It’s up to her family and a group of paranormal experts to find a way to retrieve Carol Anne from the ghostly realm.
A Perfect Execution of Basic Horror
Written and produced by Steven Spielberg, the 1982 film is a horror icon that perfectly balances genre rules with the innovative aspect of Spielberg’s peculiar style of entertainment. The film’s influence can be felt throughout Flanagan’s Ouija: Origin of Evil, a great execution of the “children in peril” concept.
8 The Vanishing (1988)
In The Vanishing, Rex and Saskia are a young Dutch couple vacationing in France when Saskia is suddenly kidnapped. Years later, Rex is still looking for her, and he gets contacted by a man who claims to be the kidnapper. When Rex decides to get some answers, he will meet the best example of an evil man.
Thriller Meets Horror
Originally titled Spoorloos, The Vanishing is a perfect undertaking of nihilism and dread that flow into a film so distressing that it’s impossible not to categorize it as a full-on horror experience. Flanagan has never really made a film as totally bleak as The Vanishing, but every horror director at some point must feel the drive to incorporate disturbing elements into a story. There’s no better reference point than The Vanishing for this.
7 The Blair Witch Project (1999)
In the found footage masterpiece The Blair Witch Project, three student filmmakers enter the woods in order to shoot a documentary about a local legend. The problem is that something seems to be haunting them as they begin questioning their own sanity. When one of them vanishes, and calls the others out in the night, they decide they must try to find Josh, and the consequences are terrible.
One of the Most Important Independent Horror Films Ever Made
Though Flanagan is still yet to make a found footage film, the reason why he probably includes The Blair Witch Project in one of his lists is because the 1999 movie is a fantastic exercise in fear and tension. The movie was a pioneering entry in the genre, and the realistic aspect of the best movie marketing campaign ever designed helped make it iconic.
6 Noroi: The Curse (2005)
Noroi: The Curse is a mockumentary that shows the tragedy a paranormal researcher goes through when he begins documenting a local curse. The film is shown in found footage format with images taken by Masafumi Kobayashi’s cameraman before his disappearance.
An Underrated Asian Film That Will Leave You Shaking
The film by found footage master Kōji Shiraishi (Cult, Occult) bends the rules of realism in horror by making a film that doesn’t overflow with scares. In fact, it’s not even that extravagant, but when it gets scary, you will have a hard time sleeping, just like Flanagan must have felt after watching it.
You can stream Noroi: The Curse on Hoopla.
5 Imprint (2006)
In Imprint, an American journalist named Christopher follows his promise to rescue his girlfriend years after he met her as a prostitute. When he arrives at the island where he intends to find some answers, the ladies in charge tell him the story of how Kokomo underwent horrific torture.
A Horror Auteur at His Best
Takashi Miike’s contribution to the Masters of Horror series is relentless when expanding on Komoko’s journey. It was so graphic that Showtime decided they couldn’t run it on cable, and the film got its cult status soon after. Flanagan has never made anything like it, and he likely never will, but Miike’s style is undeniably influential for horror filmmakers with a drive to shock every once in a while.
You can stream Imprint on The Roku Channel.
4 The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)
The Poughkeepsie Tapes is a mockumentary that follows a police investigation after they find hundreds of tapes that show the vicious acts carried out by a serial killer named Edward Carver. This 2007 film is a great exercise in the subgenre that appeals to extreme realism to scare viewers out of their minds.
The Unrestrained Glimpse Into Evil
It’s a found footage classic, regardless of the reception it got when it was released. That is because its level of shock value is unmatched, even as the horror genre has progressed to whole new levels in that aspect. Flanagan would never make a film this bleak, but by adding this one to his list of horror favorites, he confirms that he was also affected by it.
3 It Follows (2014)
It Follows is the story of Jay, a young woman who faces the impossible after she sleeps with her boyfriend and she contracts “something.” While an STD is the obvious answer, Jay actually gets a virus that’s manifested by a strange and otherworldly follower who is out to get her. Her only chance at survival is spreading the disease.
Original Horror That Matters
David Robert Mitchell’s It Follows was acclaimed by critics who felt they were in the hands of a horror master who could tell a different story from the rest. Flanagan’s films are more traditional in terms of their narrative, but it would be interesting to see what he would do with a similar storyline that veers from the norms but respects the rules of “scary movies.”
2 Let the Right One In (2008)
Let the Right One In follows a sweet Swedish boy living with his mother who connects instantly with his new neighbor, a girl named Eli. Oskar slowly falls in love with the girl whose behavior is very bizarre, and eventually, he discovers she’s an ancient vampire traveling with her “familiar.”
The Loss of Innocence
The Swedish import takes place in a cold setting, but it’s so emotionally warm it will make you fall under its spell quickly. The film depicts Oskar’s innocence being broken for the sake of unconditional love, and it will make you forget it’s a violent horror film at sall. That is, until the end when things get out of hand in this 2000s horror gem. Flanagan’s admiration for stories focused on children is visible in shows like The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Haunting of Hill House, and Midnight Mass.
1 Us (2019)
Us is the story of the Wilson family as they travel to a beach town, and their vacation coincides with an inexplicable event. Across the United States, replicas of the human population are rising from underground tunnels, and they intend to replace their doubles by killing them.
A Modern Horror Classic
Jordan Peele’s second film is a masterful exercise in horror that’s noticeably made by someone who understands the genre as few modern directors do. Flanagan has many modern films on his list of horror favorites, but Us stands out because of how original it feels from a narrative standpoint.
