Horror is a genre of the unnatural: things that shouldn’t exist but somehow do; things that do things they shouldn’t; anything and everything that defies the law of physics, biology, and offends the human sensibility. Zombies are an easy example: they aren’t dead when they should be and they do a lot thing dead bodies don’t normally do like walking around and attacking the living. While zombies don’t unnerve me (not even the new fast running crazy zombies) there are some shows and films that do.

A Haunting
This hour long show last four short seasons on the Discovery Channel. Each episode, based on actual events, shows a particular haunting following it from start to finish.  Most of the episodes follow more dangerous and traumatic haunting. Like any TV show some episodes are great and some suck, but the show is willing to routinely show the darker side of haunting or paranormal encounters. A refreshing contrast to most shows on other networks like the Travel Channel that tend to stick with benign ghosts.

Paranormal Activity
This Blair Witch style horror suspense movie really plays with your head. I won’t give away the plot, but everyone I know who has seen this movie has experienced some aftershocks. The film expertly takes minute details from everyday life and transforms them into a horrifying experience. Add to that the research that went into this film and you’ll be lucky to sleep with the lights off.

A Haunting in Connecticut
This is a based on actual events film chronicling the haunting of a family that moves into an old house. The house was the site of a physic and a necromancer. Scary events ensue. The story is nothing new, I remember watching a documentary on this same topic a few years ago. The fictionalized version is scary but not terrifying. It falls into that pleasantly frightening halloween flick.

Honorable Mention: Supernatural
A TV show that follows two brothers, Sam and Dean, as they hunt down various weekly monsters and/or face the apocalypse. This show jumps between stand alone episodes and a massive multi-season plot. I wouldn’t call any episode(s) scary, but I really love watching it. The monster of the week shows are generally amusing, but the apocalyptic plot arc is awesome. The arc starts in season three (I think) by pulling various elements from seasons one and two together. I’m not sure if these were well thought out plants or just serendipitous writing. Either way season three, four, and five (the current season) are excellent. Though I’d understand if people refused to admit they watched a show on the CW.

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