As our world becomes increasingly horrifying in new and unfathomable ways, there is no better time than now for horror to help us seek out a distraction from them. Unfortunately, this January’s releases have not provided as helpful of a distraction as I had hoped for — except for one film from one of my favorite directors that presented a fresh take on the traditional haunted house story.

Halloween waits eerily around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to test your fears. With endless options to choose from, horror movies are a perfect way to get into the spooky mood. But horror movies shouldn’t just be about making you scream — they should also be compelling and entertaining.  To help you decide your next scary watch, I’ve compiled a list of my personal favorite horror movies that deserve more attention. These movies not only had me hiding behind my friends, but also had me sitting on the edge of my seat.