What It's About:

Twentysomething couple Katie (Featherson) and Micah (Sloat) have just moved into a new home in San Diego where a series of loud bumps and eerie occurrences have convinced Katie the house is haunted, possibly by the spirits she believes have stalked her since childhood. Skeptical but game for investigating, Micah sets up a bank of video cameras, hoping to catch the terrifying visitors on tape.

Why I Love It:

Updating the haunted-house genre on a micro budget, first-time filmmaker Oren Peli creates an atmosphere of dread so thick and disturbing you’ll want to reach for your favorite blankie. And that’s before the demonic spooks keeping Katie and Micah from getting a good night’s rest even make their first on-camera appearance! Peli ingeniously telegraphs the malevolent goings-on, leading to a sequence where the frightened couple, after getting no relief from a psychic, decide to consult with a Ouija board. Then, quite literally, all hells breaks loose. Freaky, inspired, and genuinely terrifying!