Video games have transformed how we tell stories. And with the evolution of video games comes a growing change in the kinds of stories that we tell. Unlike traditional forms of storytelling, video games allow for immersive narratives that engage players on a personal level. This has been especially evident with horror games. And among the many different horror games that have been released over the years,Alan Wakeis unquestionably one of the most memorable games in the genre.
Alan Wakeis a psychological horror game that took players on a gripping journey through the mysterious town of Bright Falls, and left a lasting impression with its eerie atmosphere and compelling narrative. The main titular character is a writer struggling with writer’s block. He heads to the quiet town of Bright Falls with his wife Alice to overcome his creative struggles, but things take a dark turn when Alice goes missing. Alan then starts discovering pages of a manuscript he doesn’t remember writing. What follows is a sinister and mind-bending tale that is up there with thegreats of the horror genre.
If you miss the game and are chasing the same thrill that it gave you, then we’ve got just the thing for you. Here are 10 horror movies that you’ll love if you likedAlan Wake.
Silent Hill
Unable to accept the fact that her daughter is dying, Rose (Radha Mitchell) decides to take the girl to a faith healer. On the way, the pair drive through a portal in reality, leading to an eerie town called Silent Hill. The town is surrounded by a potent darkness, and the human survivors fight a losing battle against it.
We couldn’t possibly come up with a list of movie recommendations related to a video game and not mention this horror movie inspired by an iconic game.Silent Hillis a psychological horror film based on the popular Konami video game series of the same name, and revolves around a woman named Rose Da Silva who is looking for answers regarding her adopted daughter. Determined to know, Sharon finds herself in the deserted town of Silent Hill. What follows is a dark descent into a supernatural nightmare.
Why It’s Good
Both narratives follow a mysterious protagonist as they navigate a nightmarish landscape in search of the truth. While it isn’t perfect, the movie does a decent job at creating a fun horror movie. Fans of the game won’t be disappointed as the film manages to translate some of the game’s best scares to the big screen. This style of storytelling builds on the tension, which helps crank up the terror when watching.
Stream on Tubi and Pluto and rent on any digital platform.
Lady in the Water
Lady In The Water
Lady in the Watertakes a unique approach to horror movie interpretations of fairy tales. The film centers around the character of Cleveland Heep (played by Paul Giamatti), a building superintendent who discovers a mysterious woman named Story (Bryce Dallas Howard) in the apartment complex’s swimming pool. Story is a narf, a mystical water nymph that is meant to inspire the world. The film is a unique blend of fantasy, suspense, and fairy-tale elements that make for an enjoyable cinematic experience.
M. Night Shyamalan’s dark fairy taleLady in the Wateroffers a unique and unconventional storytelling experience. While different fromAlan Wakein some aspects, the film also provides horror fans with a wonderfully dark mystery that should keep them engaged from start to finish.
Rent on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu
Sinisteris about a true crime writer who discovers a box of snuff films that puts his entire family in grave danger. Despite initially seeming harmless, the film becomes a haunting ghost story based around a serial killer, and explores the consequence of delving into the unknown and the supernatural.
LikeAlan Wake,Sinisterboasts incredible atmospheric tension and masterful use of supernatural elements to create truly unsettling scenes. So much so that the movie is said to beone of the scariest filmsof all time. If you’re looking for a film with a lot of great scares, thenSinisteris just the film for you.
Rent on Prime Video, Apple TV and Vudu
Shutter Island
For those of you looking for a horror flick loaded with mysteries,Shutter Islandis a perfect choice. The story, which is based on Dennis Lehane’s novel of the same name, is set in 1954 and follows U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels and his partner Chuck Aule as they investigate the disappearance of a prisoner from the Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane.
If you’ve ever found yourself enraptured by the enigmatic atmosphere presented in the world ofAlan Wake, you’re in for a treat withShutter Island. Like inAlan Wake,Shutter Islandthrives on its atmospheric tension. The isolated and foreboding setting amplifies the psychological complexities featured in the story.
Stream on MGM+ and Paramount+
The Shining
Widely regarded as a masterpiece in the horror genre,The Shiningis a haunting exploration of isolation and madness. The film, which is based onStephen King’s novel of the same name, follows Jack Torrance as he slowly but surely succumbs to the malevolent forces that haunt the Overlook Hotel.
What’s great about theShiningis that it plays with the line that separates what’s real and what isn’t, which is similar to the brand of horror inAlan Wake. By doing this, the film is able to delve into the fragility of the human mind. To make things even more horrifying,The Shininginjects supernatural forces into the film that torment the protagonist.
Stream on Sling and rent on all digital platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV.
In the Mouth of Madness
In the Mouth of Madnessfollows the story of an insurance investigator that’s tasked to find a popular horror novelist. Despite the simple premise, the film quickly reveals that it is far from simple. The story takes a Lovecraftian approach to horror, as each mystery seems to lead into an even larger one that challenges the very concept of human existence.
Directed by the legendary John Carpenter,In the Mouth of Madnessis a full-blown cosmic horror journey into the unknown. Like the game, the film explores the thinning line between reality and fiction. All in all, this film is great if you’re looking for a captivating trip into existential horror.
Stream on The Criterion Channel, The Roku Channel, and Tubi
The Babadook
A single mother, plagued by the violent death of her husband, battles with her son’s fear of a monster lurking in the house, but soon discovers a sinister presence all around her.
The Babadookis a psychological horror film written and directed by Jennifer Kent. The film follows the story of a widowed mother named Amelia Vanek who is struggling to cope with the death of her husband. As if this wasn’t complicated enough, Amelia now has to raise her son on her own. The situation becomes even worse when a mysterious supernatural force begins haunting the family. All of this pushes Amelia to her breaking point, which causes her to act more and more erratically.
Grief and trauma are central themes in bothAlan WakeandTheBabadook.If you thought the game could have had even more emotional depth,The Babadookwon’t be a let down. Outside of the horror elements, the film also manages to explore the complicated relationships between all the different characters. This is what makesThe Babadooka great filmand separates it from other elevated horror films. Instead of purely focusing on producing scary moments, the film also doesn’t fail to create compelling characters that all feel like living breathing human beings.
Stream on Hulu, AMC+, DIRECTV, and Tubi
Step back into the world of 1630s New England withThe Witch(stylizedThe VVitch),a period horror film that follows a Puritan family who have been exiled from their community due to a religious dispute. Things go from bad to worse when supernatural forces start terrorizing the family in the home that they’ve built on the edge of a secluded forest.
The Witchreceived critical acclaim for its unique approach to horror. Not only did the film explore both folklore and history, but it also managed to do so without sacrificing the subtle horror aspect of the movie. Given the deep character explorations, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that the film is also pretty horrifying and has plenty of scares even for the most experienced of horror fans.
Stream on Max, DIRECTV, and Cinemax
Under the Silver Lake
Under the Silver Lakeis a neo-noir mystery film directed by David Robert Mitchell. The film follows a mysterious protagonist named Sam who penetrates a sinister labyrinth of conspiracies at the center of Los Angeles. As Sam delves deeper into the city’s underbelly, he is presented with increasingly shocking and bizarre situations that make him question reality itself.
Under the Silver Lakeis one of themost underrated filmsreleased in recent memory. Aside from this, bothUnder the Silver LakeandAlan Wakefeature a complex and labyrinthine narrative. Fans of the game’s intricate storytelling won’t be disappointed with this film as it contains many mysteries and secrets that are slowly revealed as the story goes on.
Stream on Max, DIRECTV, and Paramount+
Dark Cityis a science fiction noir film that follows John Murdoch, a man with amnesia, who wakes up in a nightmarish city and discovers that mysterious beings are manipulating reality. The fictional city is controlled by a group of pale, otherworldly beings known as the Strangers. The Strangers use their psychic powers to alter the world and its inhabitants.
Despite not being a traditional horror film,Dark Cityis a lot likeAlan Wake. Aside from sharing a similar atmosphere and a complex mystery, the film also involves mysterious beings that are able to manipulate memories and reality.
Rent on digital platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV.
