Horror movies that are open to interpretation--your favourites?

Some of my favourite horror films are those that are open to interpretation. In particular, those which can be enjoyed on a literal level, but also leave the viewer wondering things like "how much of this was real?" or "was this merely in the character's head" (e.g., the Descent).

Or, alternately, movies that convey an underlying message/criticism of society (e.g., Night of the Living Dead and racism). Of course, the underlying message in many such movies is also open interpretation.

Basically, what horror movies are out there that really make you think?

[Ferox13]

Godzilla - Fear of the Bomb (allusions to Hiroshima/Nagasaki).

Basically most most giant monster films from the 50's - Fear of Nuclear Power/the bomb.

Invasions of the Body Snatchers/I married a monster from outter Space - Fear of Communism.

I was a Teenage Werewolf/Ginger Bites - Dealing with puberty.

Ilsa She wolf of the SS - very feminist over tones.

Dawn of the Dead - Comment on a being a braindead consumerist society.

Twilight - Its 'ok' to have gay friends.

The Frankenstein Films have a shitload of underlining themes - Ignorance is bliss - Power Corrupts - Humans as the real monsters etc etc

District 9 - Racism can be funny.

[urgeok2]

session 9 ..

(although i think that there were a couple of things that happened that could only have been supernatural)

the shining ... same thing

[Ferox13]

Identity

haute tension

Both fall into you first category.

Another for the 2nd category is the basis of the slasher movie in that Sin will be punished (usually broken down more simply as 'have sex and die')

I'm sure some one has an essay or 2 somewhere about ANTICHRIST too..

The Crucible about the witch burnings in Salem) though not exactly a horror fill is an allegory for the McCarthy Witch hunts in the 50's.

[Straker]

Not really a very big fan of the allegorical tale unless its done well and is clearly defined by the director, without affecting the actual movie. Otherwise you end up with people reaching for hidden messages which may or may not be there and people pushing agendas that were never intended. Or you end up with some clumsy writer/director attempting to be cerebral or poiniant when s/he should've just stuck to trying to make something which was entertaining.... Most movies will have a message if you want to find it, whether its intentional or otherwise. Best example of this can be found in 'Invasion of the Bodysnatchers' which has been attributed with a whole host of allegorical messages. As far as I'm aware, however, it was nothing more than a Sci-fi movie motivated by the desire to entertain rather than an attempt at social commentary.

[Roderick Usher]

Jacob's Ladder
American Psycho
Funny Games

[Ferox13]

Originally Posted by Straker

Not really a very big fan of the allegorical tale unless its done well and is clearly defined by the director, without affecting the actual movie. Otherwise you end up with people reaching for hidden messages which may or may not be there and people pushing agendas that were never intended. Or you end up with some clumsy writer/director attempting to be cerebral or poiniant when s/he should've just stuck to trying to make something which was entertaining.... Most movies will have a message if you want to find it, whether its intentional or otherwise. Best example of this can be found in 'Invasion of the Bodysnatchers' which has been attributed with a whole host of allegorical messages. As far as I'm aware, however, it was nothing more than a Sci-fi movie motivated by the desire to entertain rather than an attempt at social commentary.

Well the example of The Crucible is definally a comment on the mcCarthy era.

As for the Sci-Fi you have to look what was happening at the time post WWII - major fears at the time was the rise of communism and the aftermath of the devastation of the 2 bombs dropped in WW2.

Though Invasion of the Bodysnatchers might not been specifically written saying that the aliens really are commies but the director was definally feeding off the paranoia of the American public.

I think the same can be said for the giant monster film - the 50's were the golden age for this when nuclear power/bombs were a big talking point.

But you do have a good point.

[Clean, Shaven]

Everything by David Lynch.

For some reason I want to say The Reflecting Skin. Not really mysterious, but I felt like I was suppose to 'get something' that I didn't get.

REC was another movie I felt was probably trying to convey a moral that I missed. Journalists are idiots? I dunno.

[MyraHindley]

I feel like almost every Japanese or Korean movie falls into this category.

Ichi The Killer (Takashi Miike)
Gozu (Takashi Miike)
Infection (Masayuki Ochiai)
A Tale of Two Sisters (Ji Woon Kim)
And pretty much anything by Shinya Tsukamoto.

To name a few favorites.

[p1zl3]

Great topic...

Most monsters have an underlining social fear attached to them:

--Frankenstein's monster was born of fear attached to the industrial revolution. Will our technology and creations overpower us? To what point are we bettering humanity and to what point are we playing god?
--Dracula/Vampire was a fear of sexual awakening and risk of recently discovered STDs/blood and fluid related infection. Is sexual gratification worth the risk? Who's infected? Will I know if I'm infected?
--Zombies come from a fear of forced independence and being socially ostracized. Am I the only one like me? What will I do now that I'm on my own? Am I able to take care of myself?
--Werewolves represent a fear of the carnal man and the overwhelming desire to satisfy urges. Can I control my desires? What if I can't control my passions? Will others understand my lack of self control or will they seek to stop me?
--Ghosts are the fear of personal privacy loss, unrelenting guilt and exposure. Do people know what I've done? Will my past mistakes continue to trouble me? Do my peers realize what kind of person I am?

And finally, the most enigmatic of them all...
--The Pizle, represents an unrelenting fear of living up to all that is bodaciously awesome! Will the Pizle accept my many shortcomings? Will the Pizle grace me with his dudely wit and sophistication? Will the Pizle show mercy on me for not being nearly as rad and suave as him? :D