After her fantastic roles in "Wednesday" and "Scream," Jenna Ortega has also become something of a horror expert. Soon, we’ll see her in the new "Beetlejuice" and the second season of "Wednesday." In the past, she’s acted in slashers ("The Babysitter: Killer Queen"), B-movie-inspired horrors ("X"), and even true B-movie horrors ("Studio 666"). But what horror movies does she personally enjoy? It turns out the actress has a whole list she’s happy to share. In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, she listed what she considers the best horror films. As she explained, she "loves guts and blood" and films where she has to run for her life. Her list features plenty of such productions.
Jenna Ortega Reveals Her Favorite Horror Films
Ortega's list includes both recent titles from the past few years and absolute classics from several decades ago. One particular entry will delight Polish viewers, as it was directed by none other than Andrzej Żuławski.
Yes, she’s talking about "Possession" from 1981. This classic, terrifying horror from the Polish director is more appreciated by international audiences than by Polish ones. Ortega explained that "Possession" holds a special place in her heart – "it’s not only exceptionally beautiful, but I’ve never seen anything like it before. It’s inspiring when a film gives you that much adrenaline."
In a similar psychological horror vein, but without the gore elements, is Ingmar Bergman’s 1966 film "Persona." This film also made Ortega’s "favorites" list. It keeps viewers on edge, never allowing them to determine the objective truth, and it has influenced some of the most important contemporary directors – both David Lynch and Denis Villeneuve have frequently mentioned "Persona".
Among her favorite horrors, there’s also a classic that preceded "Scream" by 16 years: "Prom Night". The film doesn’t have a particularly inventive plot, focusing on the murder of American teenagers, a trope beloved by many viewers. Ortega encourages everyone to watch it. As she says, "it’s one of the first of its kind where you don’t know who the killer is." If you’re still not convinced and haven’t yet seen "Prom Night", you’ll surely be enticed by this charming vintage trailer:
From more recent productions that resonated with the actress, there’s the 2015 horror film "The Witch" by Robert Eggers. Its dark atmosphere, beautiful cinematography, and the stunning performance by Anya Taylor-Joy captivated Jenna Ortega. "I couldn’t stop thinking about this movie for weeks," she praised.
The list also includes the obligatory haunted house theme. Of the many choices in this genre, Jenna Ortega recommends "Insidious" from 2010. The film stuck with her mainly because she unwittingly watched it when she was just 12 years old. "A few scenes from that movie have stayed with me forever."
