Unsuspecting Thrillers at LEW

By Carolyn DeBerard

Ah, the spine-tingling suspense; the shiver and yelp caused by a quality jump-scare; peeking through fingers when a gory moment flashes in front of you. Horror is a genre loved by many, and those who love it know that there are multitudes of films to choose from if you feel like scaring yourself silly. At Lewiston Library we have a hair-raising selection of frightening flicks, from classics to new releases! Here's just a few of the haunting hidden gems available for check out the next time you want to get spooky:

Scream (2022) - The fifth installment of this iconic franchise packs a nostalgic punch, bringing back some original characters, a few new rules on how to survive a horror film, and the good, old-fashioned scary phone call trope. A must-see for fans of the original or new fans just discovering the series.

The Cursed (2022) - Set in the late 1800s, this slow-burn, gothic monster movie is a cautionary tale of why you shouldn't be a cruel, wealthy land baron messing with nearby Romanies that might curse you after you kill their people and take their land. In that delightful way of classic horror movies, The Cursed takes its time with the buildup and delivers all the scares, as well as a couple of twists and turns to keep you intrigued.

Candyman (2021) - Writer/producer Jordan Peele proves once again that he's a master of scary movies with his new take on this beloved horror classic. A little bit updated and a lot creepy, Peele pays homage to the original with chilling visuals, a healthy dose of jump-scares, and just enough reality to make you wonder if the urban legend could actually be true.

The Conjuring 3 (2021) - Another terrifying, "based on a true story" glimpse into the casefiles of real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine, this time centering on the 1981 case marking the first time in U.S. history a murder suspect would claim demonic possession as a legal defense.

The Haunting of Bly Manor (2021) - Originally released on Netflix, Bly Manor is a perfect example of the old-school, giant mansion haunted by spirits that can interact with the living, tortured family lineage, clueless nanny taking care of spooky kids and not figuring out something's weird until way too late scary story.