MovieChat Forums > The Mothman Prophecies (2002) Discussion > Movies With Similar Tone and Atmosphere?

Movies With Similar Tone and Atmosphere?

posted 16 years ago by clow987
96 replies | jump to latest

I've been looking for any films that have a similar eerie tone to them without being grotesque or exploitative. I really enjoy horror films that are actually creepy but not disturbing and leave you with a good chill afterward, but not so heavy you feel depressed which The Mothman Prophecies did perfectly. The American version of The Ring did this very well too as did Del Toro's The Orphanage along with The Others. The Strangers was also another film while intense did not feel exploitative but featured a really creepy and different feel.

Foreign or American, anyone have any suggestions for any other films I should check out if I like this one?

[–] onedayatatimect 16 years ago

"Rosemary's Baby" is such a film - well-acted, deliberately paced, zero gore and only one mercifully brief "special" effect.

You might also give "Carnival of Souls" a try - it's a cheaply-produced indy film from 1960 (so not for the black-and-white-a-phobic), but if you can get past some technical flaws and community theater acting, it's a good chiller.

[–] denise1234 8 years ago

onedayatatimect^

I have a ritual of watching 'Carnival of Souls' every year at Halloween ☺

"She was possessed by a very simple idea that changed everything. That our world wasn't real."

[–] SyzyDamo 15 years ago

What about Signs?

Either way, my first pick would have to be "The Exorcism of Emily Rose". Many people misunderstand this film, but it certainly gave me the creeps!

[–] danatania 15 years ago

White Noise, Dragonfly

[–] geordiebianconeri 15 years ago

Reminded me a bit of Mimic...

"Wait till they get a load of me!"

[–] ephemereality 15 years ago

Second White Noise. I am a fan of these sort of movies too, gory movies don't do it for me, they are just boring. I don't see what's so amazing with the current horror movies nowadays. A lot of gore and that's all. I really miss the old days when directors relied more on the suspense factor. That's the reason why we consider a movie like Aliens so good today.

[–] BorovnianHeir 15 years ago

I'm a big fan of all the films you've listed, for the same reasons you've given, and am also seeking similar suggestions. I've also enjoyed The Blair Witch Project, The Sixth Sense, The Devil's Backbone, and Dark Water. (It seems I'm most drawn to ghost stories.) Two older films I found creepy are The Haunting (1963) and The Changeling (1980).

I'm about to watch Session 9, which was highly recommended by a friend. Hopefully this will be along the same vein.

“Life's pretty good, and why wouldn't it be? I'm a pirate, after all.”

[–] clow987 15 years ago

Session 9 is incredible you won't be disappointed!

[–] john-sellers 15 years ago

I thought this had the atmosphere and themes of Donnie Darko, and was as wellmade, with a great music score.

If you like horror movies that don't spoil it with crappy CGI monsters and gore fests, look out also for Bergman's foray into "horror in the mind", Hour of the Wolf (Wargstimmen)

[–] danatania 15 years ago

Sorry, but Donnie Darko or any of these other movies are NOTHING like the Mothman Prophecies! Good movies, maybe, but not like the Mothman.

[–] grahamnjake 14 years ago

mothman prophecies has a dark brooding atmosphere, exactly like donnie darko.
the ninth gate is quite moody to, worth a look.

[–] GammaScorpii 12 years ago

Sorry, but Donnie Darko or any of these other movies are NOTHING like the Mothman Prophecies! Good movies, maybe, but not like the Mothman.

One of the most stupid things I've ever read on IMDb. The plots of these films may not be exactly the same, but (like the title of this thread asks) the concepts, tone and atmospheres are extremely similar.

angels bleed from the tainted touch of my caress

[–] superstarlet_04 11 years ago

If that's one of the stupidest things you've read, maybe get out more :)

There are lots of dark movies out there that are more similar to Mothman than Donnie Darko.

[–] ms_moni360 15 years ago

Session 9 scared the hell out of me and I couldn't sleep alone for about a week. What scared me most wasn't what was shown on the screen, but more my imagination from watching the movie (if that makes any sense).

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[–] BorovnianHeir 15 years ago

I did finally see Session 9 about a month ago. There are so many things that influence how a film affects us... unfortunately I saw it with a very vocal friend who didn't like it (didn't 'get' it, I think) and therefore I wasn't able to absorb it as well as I might otherwise. I'm sure I missed a lot, and I plan to watch it again - alone, lol!

“Life's pretty good, and why wouldn't it be? I'm a pirate, after all.”

[–] cleftheart101 15 years ago

Wow. I'd like to see this Session 9 movie.

- - -
To Err is Human, To "Arr" is Pirate.

[–] lathe-of-heaven 11 years ago

Well, by NOW you likely have seen it properly, by yourself or with someone who will kindly keep their frigg'n mouth shut!

DAMN good film! Truly one of my all time favourite Psychological Horror movies, without a doubt!

BUT... like you said, you absolutely MUST, MUST, MUST watch it in an environment where you can pay attention to it and allow it to absorb you wholly...

I have over 4000 films, many of them very rare and OOP. I LOVE to trade. PLEASE ASK!

[–] MnFan22 15 years ago

I just love that picture.

[–] denise1234 8 years ago

BorovnianHeir^

You have great taste in movies of this genre 😃

I don't know many folks who have seen, or even heard of, 'The Devil's Backbone' ~ What an excellent and stunningly creepy movie. I have it on VHS. I found a copy and wanted to see it because I had just watched 'Abre los ojos' (aka 'Open Your Eyes'), and was so gobsmacked by it that I wanted to see another film with Eduardo Noriega in it, and I was not at all disappointed (he was totally evil in TDB!).

And, 'The Haunting' is a true classic, as is the Shirley Jackson 'The Haunting of Hill House' book from which it was adapted. The remake however was absolutely horrible (as was the 'Vanilla Sky' remake of 'Abre los ojos'(gag me with a spoon) 😛

I love your other choices, too ~

"She was possessed by a very simple idea that changed everything. That our world wasn't real."

[–] cleftheart101 15 years ago

See 'Dragonfly' (starring Kevin Costner), both the Mothman movie and the Dragonfly movie are very similar, that I didn't even know it was two separate movies. When I watch one of the movie I thought they cut some of the scenes until my brother reminds me "no that scene is from the other movie".

- - -
To Err is Human, To "Arr" is Pirate.

[–] coy_dog0 15 years ago

Also, see the first five seasons for X-files.

[–] Boogie_Knight 15 years ago

X-Files might be your best bet....but thinking about this thread really reminds me how unique The Mothman Prophecies really is.

[–] Dream_Demon 15 years ago

Speaking of Session 9... What is it about?

Welcome to my Nightmare- Freddy Krueger

[–] lathe-of-heaven 11 years ago

Dude, it puts the 'C' in creepy...

BUT, you can't be the kind of person how just wants to see obvious violence or brutality AND you have to be one who REALLY likes Psychological Horror that gets into your mind...

I have over 4000 films, many of them very rare and OOP. I LOVE to trade. PLEASE ASK!

[–] SherlockVonEinstein 14 years ago

i had the same thought. the whole time i watched this movie, i kept thinking that this is what "the x-files" movies should've been. you've got an investigator with sleepy eyes and his beautiful redhead partner (or wife, in this movie's case), creepy small town with kooky residents, and thick atmosphere.

[–] superstarlet_04 14 years ago

The reason that Mothman, Dragonfly, and White Noise are similar, is because they are all about a husband who has lost a wife and is going through supernatural means in order to contact her.

[–] bloodrose47 15 years ago

Lets Scare Jessica to Death, Don't be afraid of the Dark, When Micheal Calls. 70s movies all, but creepy and zero gore.More recent movie is Wind Chill, but it has some gore, but not much.Brits do some too, The Uninvited,The Woman In Black, Lair of he White Worm...comic relief

Get ready for The Obamanation!

[–] hathor008 15 years ago

what about "The Forgotten"? That movie was very creepy but only had limited action sequences or special effects. I thought it was quite good.

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Jesus wasn't a homophobe.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] arkris10 15 years ago

Definitely agree with the video game Silent Hill! The game was much more psychologically creepy than the movie, like the fact that Harry kept passing out and waking up on the other side of town, or waking up in the same place, but everything around him was arranged different, covered with rust and gore. The mystery was the best part of the game: was it the effects of some kind of demonic force from the local cult, the drugs that Officer Bennet suspected were being sold to the tourists, a concussion from the car accident, was he dead and in Hell, or was it simply a nightmare? The mutilated demon children in Midwich Elementary scared the crap out of me, because I was worried that Harry might just be hallucinating and I was in fact running around a school killing actual children. Even in a game that's a horrifying thought!

Mothman Prophecies and Silent Hill the game happen to be two favorites of mine. I guess I just happen to like the oppressively dark and mysterious atmosphere.

[–] MnFan22 15 years ago

Is a great little film, very creepy and atmospheric much like Mothman.