“Your mother's in here, Karras. Would you like to leave a message? I'll see that she gets it.”
― Pazuzu, 'The Exorcist' (1973)
After combing through movie lists from IMDB to Reddit, I think I've created the most complete collection of horror movies that climb inside your skull and mess with your brains.
Some people claim that the benchmark of true psychological horror is that the truly petrifying aspect is what isn't shown, not necessarily what is. But I've also included horror films that rely on the wholesale disintegration of the human psyche, and films where characters begin to lose faith in what is strictly real.
Beginner's Guide: Psychological Horror, via Film Inquiry: tinyurl.com/j2ygg5w
What Exactly Is a "Psychological" Horror Film?, via PopMatters: tinyurl.com/jlp59ue
Why 'The Shining' is the Best Psychological Horror Film Ever, via The Tangential: tinyurl.com/yb4d3yf4
Why We Crave Horror Movies (PDF), via Stephen King: tinyurl.com/pm5amx5
Common Themes in Psychological Thrillers, via The Artifice: tinyurl.com/hqgtwu5
Death, Grief & Why Horror Films Matter, via Talkhouse: tinyurl.com/yc3gsu2c
The Psychology of 'Annihilation', via Storytellers:
Psychological Thriller ‘Oculus’ Challenges Perceptions Of Horror Genre, via The Heights: tinyurl.com/y87eg24w
Psychological Horror in the Films of David Lynch, via film-o-holic: tinyurl.com/glgmpym