What’s a great horror movie without jump scares?
In late September, we put out a call for readers looking for specific horror movie recommendations. It’s an offshoot of our Dear Polygon series, where we answer questions and give recs to readers like you. To our delight, hundreds of you responded. This is the second entry in what will be quite a few answering those requests, hand-picking a horror movie to watch just for you. You can catch up with the first entry here.
If you’d like to get in on the fun, you can still fill out our recommendation request form.
Let’s dig in.
Dear Polygon,
I like slow immersion and atmosphere. I don’t need jump scares. Gore is fine, but when things get over-the-top, it takes me out of the experience. Unless of course, I’ve got something like Re-Animator on. But that’s on the other end of the horror spectrum; in this poll’s case, I’m looking for something serious.
Jonathan
Jonathan, I have an absolute treat for you. It’s one of those movies that has permanently lodged itself in my head since I saw it, and I’m delighted to share an underseen 2020s classic with you and other interested readers. —Pete Volk
What’s it like? A palpable unfurling of dread, slowly enveloping you in a contagious paranoia that threatens to consume all. The movie follows a woman who becomes convinced she is going to die tomorrow, and her conviction spreads to those around her, including friends that try to comfort her.
What flavor of horror is it? Most certainly psychological horror. She Dies Tomorrow is particularly excellent at using empty space to depict isolation, in a twisted variant on “going viral gone wrong” stories that avoids the trappings of attempting to place such stories on the ever-changing internet.
Who made it? Amy Seimetz wrote and directed the
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