THE WEEKLY SHIVER: The Movie That Unsettled Me More Than "The Babadook"

THE SEARCH FOR QUIET DREAD

We all know that specific frustration when you’re scrolling through streaming services on a Friday night, right? You want to be scared. You want that electric jolt.

The algorithm keeps feeding us the same polished blockbusters. You know the ones—where the music swells, the camera pans slowly to a dark doorway, and BANG... a cat jumps out. It makes you jump, sure. It spikes your heart rate. But ten minutes later, you've forgotten it. You aren't actually scared; you were just startled.

I decided to stop looking for the loud movies. I went digging into the British archives for something quiet. Something that doesn't scream at you, but whispers something terrible in your ear. I was looking for a movie that doesn't just make you jump, but makes you want to take a shower after the credits roll.

And I found one that I actually had to pause twice just to breathe.

THE FEATURED FILM: POSSUM (2018)

Imagine a disgraced puppeteer returning to his childhood home—a rotting house in the bleak English countryside. He carries a brown leather bag everywhere he goes. Inside the bag is a puppet he created. A spider-like thing with a human face. He wants to destroy it. He tries to burn it, drown it, lose it. But the puppet always comes back.

You might know Matthew Holness from the comedy Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, which makes this film even more shocking. It had a tiny budget and very little marketing, which is why it flew under so many radars. It relies almost entirely on the performance of Sean Harris (who you’ve seen as the villain in Mission: Impossible) and the desolate atmosphere of Norfolk, England.

This is a masterclass in "Tactile Horror." You can practically smell the damp wallpaper and the mold in this house. The horror here isn't CGI monsters or ghosts. It’s the puppet itself. It is a practical effect—a physical object that is so uncanny, so wrong, that your brain rejects it every time it’s on screen.

Look, we all love The Babadook. It’s a fantastic metaphor for grief and depression. But... while The Babadook feels like a dark fairytale, Possum feels like a waking nightmare. If you loved the psychological depth of The Babadook but felt you could handle something grittier, dirtier, and more hopeless, Possum is your next obsession.

THE QUICK CUTS

Here are five movies to fill your queue, depending on your mood.

1. Terrified (Aterrados) | Shudder

   • The Sell: If you loved The Conjuring but wished it played less safe, watch this Argentine film. It has the single scariest "kitchen scene" I have ever witnessed. https://amzn.to/4io6OnS

2. The Blackcoat’s Daughter | Max / VOD

   • The Sell: Watch this if you want a slow-burn winter horror that feels cold, isolating, and utterly doomed. https://amzn.to/4pcFrQk

3. Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum | Prime Video

   • The Sell: Found footage isn't dead. If you miss the raw panic of the original Blair Witch Project, this Korean film delivers pure adrenaline in the final act. https://amzn.to/3MuyYl6

4. One Cut of the Dead | Shudder

   • The Sell: Do not read a synopsis. Just watch the first 30 minutes, push through the confusion, and get rewarded with the most heartwarming zombie movie ever made.https://amzn.to/4pCau80

5. The Barn (2016) | The B Stream

   • The Sell: If you miss the days of renting VHS tapes based on the cover art alone, this Halloween throwback is pure, unadulterated 80s nostalgia with monster designs that rule. TheBStream.com 50% off with code RWSTOVER

DEEP DIVE: IS SILENCE SCARIER THAN SOUND?

I’ve been thinking a lot about sound design lately.

We are currently in a "Maximalist" era of horror audio. Think about the Insidious franchise (which I enjoy!). They use violins that shriek like banshees to tell you exactly when to be afraid. It works. It’s effective.

It’s interesting that...

The indie scene is moving in the exact opposite direction. They are weaponizing silence. In Possum, and in films like Skinamarink, the lack of a score forces you to lean in. You start straining your ears to hear a footstep or a breath.

When a movie is loud, it pushes you back in your seat. When a movie is quiet, it pulls you into the screen. And that vulnerability? That’s where the real fear lives. It’s not about what you hear; it’s about waiting for the sound that never comes.

Next time you watch a horror movie, notice how much "dead air" there is. The more silence there is, the more danger you’re in.

WEEKEND VIEWING GUIDE

I know we aren't always in the mood to be traumatized. Here is your emotional roadmap for the weekend:

• If you want to have a blast with friends: Watch Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010). It flips the "hillbilly horror" trope on its head and is genuinely hilarious.

• If you need a good cry: Watch The Orphanage (2007). It’s spooky, yes, but the ending is one of the most beautiful, heartbreaking things in the genre.

• If you want to be paranoid about your neighbors: Watch The Invitation (2015). The tension at this dinner party is thicker than the wine.

• If you want a creature feature with teeth: Watch The Ritual (2017). Great monster design and great acting.

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