It’s a rainy Friday night, you finally get off from work and see some leftover popcorn and soda in the kitchen… isn’t it the perfect time for a movie night to relieve you of your stress?  

Lucky for us lads and lassies, Hollywood has been generous enough to provide us with films that either increase our heart rates or make us lack a wee bit of sleep. Whether you’re in the mood for a crime thriller, a neo noir, or a good-old fashioned horror flick, here are the most enthralling films to see when you’re stuffed and downright knackered.

But hey, why not make the perfect movie night even better with a comfy couch? Visit retailers like Domayne.com.au for a wide selection of the best lounges online. Trust me, it’d definitely be magnificent to cozy up in a Medina Premium Leather Lounge while watching that horror flick!

Get Out (2017)

Director: Jordan Peele

Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Lakeith Stanfield  

For most movie enthusiasts, Jordan Peele made a flawless writing/directorial debut with his film “Get Out”– after all, Peele was always known for playing comedic roles in the “Key and Peele” sketch TV series, so this film solidifies his capability as a film mastermind. This is an extremely enticing (and frankly, downright disturbing) horror film about a black lad coming to discover the horrifying secrets about his Caucasian girlfriend’s family.

‘Get Out” was mostly praised by critics for its creative presentation of horror and satire, addressing major issues like racism and equality through a new myriad of perspectives. Care to jump in the Sunken Place with the rest of us and go for a thrilling ride?

The Shining (1980)

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Cast: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd

“The Shining”, being the pop culture classic it has become, continues to be a very compelling mystery/psycho-thriller, 28 years after its initial release in 1980. Both Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall shone in their own ways as Jack and Wendy Torrance, in a film that was mostly described by movie critics as “vigorously explaining the immortality of evil and the supernatural”.  

The visuals may not look as daunting as it was when it first hit theaters, but it sure became a stepping stone for the future of the horror and suspense genres.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Director: Jonathan Demme

Cast: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn

From the get-go, Jonathan Demme’s “The Silence of the Lambs” (originally written by Thomas Harris in 1988) already exudes a powerful aura of horror and suspense, making it one of the most influential films of all time. It assembles a stellar one-two punch cast in Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, who both won Academy Awards for the film.

What makes “The Silence of the Lambs” special? Simple: It tells a unique tale about the deranged and the mentally insane, balancing both psychological horror and all-out suspense to provide chills for each of its viewer. Its critical success definitely opened doors for more thrillers set in asylums… which is what we all want!

Oldboy (2003)

Director: Park Chan-Wook

Cast: Choi Min-Sik, Yoo Ji-Tae, Kang Hye-Jung

Park Chan-Wook’s neo-noir action film “Oldboy” is probably the most underrated film on this list, but it’s more than worth taking a look at. At first glance, it looks a lot like a Jackie Chan film with the visuals of a Wes Anderson, but the deeper you go through with the plot, the more you realize that the situation is as mad as a hatter.

It’s safe to say the film’s protagonist, Choi Min-Sik, nailed the role of Dae-Su. His facial expressions alone represent a mixture of anger, despair, and a severe longing for freedom.

A Quiet Place (2018)

Director: John Krasinski

Cast: John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds

Like Jordan Peele, John Krasinski is another comedian-turned-director that shocked the film industry with his surprise horror hit “A Quiet Place”. It presented a plot that has never been done by any horror film before, which is that about 99% of the film has no dialogue.

To everyone’s surprise, this lack of sound creates a new dimension of suspense and horror of when to expect the appearance of ghosts. Krasinski, who also stars in the film with his IRL wife Emily Blunt, definitely turned the heads of horror geeks.

No pillow, couch, or teddy bear can save you now. So prepare the popcorn, load up these films, and get ready for the fright of your life!