Top 10: Ghost films

The unquiet dead have appeared in stories for as long as they have been told, from the bards of the ancient world, thence to Dickens and to Stephen King, so of course they inevitably found their way onto the cinema screen. With films ranging from the religious allegory of Swedish silent classic The Phantom Carriage, to the innocent charm of Casper the friendly ghost, to the violently predictable world of modern horror, the late departed have come in all shapes sizes. Despite some truly awful films such as Ghost Ship and the 1999 Haunting remake, however, true to form the ghosts have never gone away, and here are some of their best cinematic exploits.

10) The Sixth Sense (1999)
M. Night Shyamalan’s best film is a remarkable combination of mystery, thriller and horror, which created one of the most memorable films of the late 1990s. When Bruce Willis attempts to understand a small boy who famously sees dead people, the tension gradually builds until its superb final twist, something which unfortunately encouraged a wave of similar twists in films shortly afterwards. Needless to say they pale in comparison.

9) Ringu (1998)
Forget the Hollywood remake, the original 1998 horror movie about a haunted video tape succeeded in putting Japanese horror on the map. Quickly the film becomes a race against time to save the characters' lives with just a week to go, allowing tension as time slowly runs out and leading eventually to a brilliantly terrifying and unexpected ending.

8) Ghostbusters (1985)
A staple of family entertainment, this 1980s classic about a group of paranormal researchers, led by Bill Murray, who attempt to go into business as a group of scientific exorcists, is undoubtedly one of the best comedies of the 1980s. Although its state of the art special effects have not aged well they just add to its charm. This is a film that features everything from a destroyer of worlds in the form of a marshmallow, to an unforgettably iconic and cheesy theme song, which we will undoubtedly hear soon with its upcoming sequel.

7) El Orfanato (2007)
The influence of producer Guillermo Del Toro on this superbly crafted Spanish horror movie is obvious. Exploring both horror and loss, as a parent tries to find their child in a haunted orphanage, the film moves at a startling pace, brilliantly building up tension before unleashing its brilliant and somewhat disturbing ending.

6) The Innocents (1961)
Legendary writer Truman Capote wrote the screenplay for this, the definitive screen adaptation of Henry James’ novel The Turn of the Screw. Featuring a phenomenal performance by Deborah Kerr as she confronts the dark recent past of the apparently haunted house, and featuring two of cinema’s creepiest children, this is psychological horror at its very best, keeping you guessing from start to finish.

5) Kwaidan (1964)
With a running time of almost three hours, and shot in lavish detail with enormous scope, this tells four separate Japanese ghost stories set in various different Japanese historic settings. With stories ranging from The Woman in the Snow, which tells a relatively simple story of a promise made to a ghost, to Hoichi the Earless, which includes - amongst other things - a vast naval battle, this is a truly awe inspiring film.

4) The Ghost and Mrs Muir (1947)
This charming 1940s ghost film tells the story of a young widow who moves to the sea and of her relationship with the ghost of a sea captain. Expertly shot by the brilliant Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and boasting an excellent script, this is a film which may have dated enormously since its original release but this only adds to the almost infinite charm of what is one of cinema's best and most unusual of Hollywood romances.

3) The Haunting (1963) According to Martin Scorsese this is the scariest movie ever made, and he clearly has a point. The Haunting follows a group of paranormal investigators as they examine a house for evidence of supernatural activity, which they certainly seem to find. Having to deal with strange noises, other mysterious events and investigator Eleanor’s increasingly disturbed mental condition - which is shown in a fantastic voiceover - this a remarkable film and infinitely better than its 1999 remake.

2) The Shining (1980) Stanley Kubrick’s exquisite horror film may centre on Jack Nicholson’s astonishing performance, as he turns from loving-if-troubled father to infinitely quotable axe wielding maniac, but alongside his isolation it is the Overlook’s many ghostly residents that lead him to madness. These range from Lloyd the bartender, to the famous elevator of blood, as well as the ghosts of the unforgettably creepy twins, who want Danny to play with them "forever, and ever, and ever".

1) Ugetsu Monogatari (1953) Often regarded as Kenji Mizoguchi’s greatest masterpiece, this outstandingly beautiful Japanese period piece is truly exceptional. Using the supernatural to emphasise its central tales of greed and abandonment, and featuring simply amazing cinematography, Ugetsu soon becomes an incredibly haunting and spellbinding film that will stay with you for a long time after watching. Quite simply one of the finest films ever made.

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