Want Psychological Horror? These M. Night Shyamalan Movies Are for You
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Frightening, unpredictable, and full of plot twists no one ever saw coming—no, I’m not talking about my ex. That’s just how I like my movies! And no one does that particular combo better than M. Night Shyamalan. If you have the same taste in cinema, there’s a very good chance you’ve seen his name up on the big screen before. Not only is he a director, producer, and screenwriter, but he’s known to make cameos in his own movies every now and then. I guess you could consider his forte psychological thrillers, but his entire genre kinda all boils down to downright scary movies (and we’re not talking about your typical monster flicks).
From his latest 2023 thriller film, in which Ron Weasley ruins a family’s vacay by taking them hostage (plz see the trailer below for context) to his earlier classics that to! this! day! still haunt me, you’ll find all of the best M. Night Shyamalan movies in one place, below. When you’re done thanking me for doing this huge favor for all of mankind, go ahead and choose which one you’ll be watching for movie night. Just make sure that you’re ready for a rollercoaster of a ride.
Knock at the Cabin
As the latest M. Night Shyamalan release, this film follows a family who’s taken hostage while vacationing at a remote cabin in the woods. Four armed strangers who show up at their doorstep demand that they make an unthinkable choice in order to avert the apocalypse.
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The Sixth Sense
Child psychologist Malcom Crowe starts treating a young boy named Cole who claims to see and talk to dead people. While he doesn’t believe the boy at first, he then becomes invested in helping him and the ghosts, only to realize something shocking about himself and his struggling marriage.
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Signs
If you saw this as a child, there’s a scene in this movie that gave you serious nightmares (IYKYK). Starring Mel Gibson, a former minister must lead his family against a terrifying supernatural threat that all began with the discovery of intricate crop signs.
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The Village
An Amish-style community lives cut off from the outside world, believing dangerous creatures exist beyond their home. They’ve made a truce with the creatures—if they stay out of the woods, they are left unharmed. But when a young villager becomes ill, a boy who loves her ignores his elders’ rules to fetch medicine from the world outside their community.
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The Happening
Starring Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel, an apocalyptic threat to humanity arrives out of nowhere with a series of violent, inexplicable deaths spreading across the country. The cause of the phenomenon is unknown, prompting people to try to elude the invisible killer by leaving the city, but it soon becomes clear that no one is safe.
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Unbreakable
After being the sole survivor of a high-fatality train crash, a security guard finds himself at the center of a mysterious theory that explains his consistent physical good fortune. When news of his survival is made public, a man whose body is as fragile as glass tracks him down in an attempt to explain his unique nature.
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Split
Though Kevin has revealed 23 different personalities to his trusted psychiatrist, there’s one still submerged who is set to materialize and dominate all the others. Compelled to abduct three teenage girls, the teens must try to escape before the apparent emergence of his frightful 24th personality.
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Glass
In a mashup of his previous movies, M. Night Shyamalan brings together the leading characters of Unbreakable and Split. David Dunn, who is seemingly unbreakable, is put on a collision course with the Beast—the psychotic madman who has superhuman strength and over 20 distinct personalities. Their epic showdown leads them to encounter Elijah Price, the criminal mastermind who holds critical secrets for both men.
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The Visit
Becca and younger brother Tyler head deep into Pennsylvania farm country to meet their maternal grandparents for the first tine. Welcomed by Nana and Pop Pop, the siblings start to notice increasingly strange behavior that leads them to a shocking discovery.
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Old
A family embarks on a dream vacation to a tropical destination where they discover a secluded beach. While relaxing for a few hours, they discover that being on this particular beach causes them to age rapidly, reducing their entire lives into a single day.
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Lady in the Water
When Cleveland Heep rescues an enigmatic woman from a pool, little does he know that she’s a character from a bedtime story trying desperately to return to her world. Along with tenants of an apartment, Heep works desperately to protect the woman from creatures determined to keep her in our world.
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After Earth
Starring Will Smith and his son, Jaden Smith, a young boy sets out to find a beacon that will save him and his dying father after crash-landing on the long-abandoned planet Earth.
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The Last Airbender
The four nations of Air, Water, Earth, and Fire have lived in harmony…until the Fire Nation declared war. A century later, there is still no end in sight to the destruction until an Avatar named Aang discovers that he has the power to control all four elements. He joins forces with a Waterbender and her brother to restore balance and harmony to their world.
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Devil
Five strangers begin their day with an elevator ride in an office tower. What happens next is anything but ordinary. The elevator comes to a halt and the trapped passengers must endure a frightening turn of events that forces them to face their secrets and transgressions.
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Wide Awake
This film follows a ten-year-old boy in Catholic school who recently lost his beloved grandfather, which prompts him to go on a quest for the meaning of life. Pretty deep for just a kid, right?
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