WHEN HORROR SPREADS LIKE A DISEASE: 5 HORRORS WHERE EVIL IS CONTAGIOUS

In horror cinema, one of the most disturbing and at the same time fascinating themes is certainly that of evil that spreads like an epidemic and which, instead of being confined to a specific place or person, is transmitted from one individual to another. another, unleashing a cycle of never-ending horror. This dynamic turns out to be particularly disturbing, especially because it recalls the concept of contagion: an invisible evil that can affect anyone, without any warning or motivation. Exactly like a virus, in fact, terror creeps into the lives of the protagonists, leaving the viewer with an uncomfortable sense of bewilderment. 

In this article we will explore five horror films in which evil spreads like a disease, fueling fear and amplifying the tension of the narrative.

Directed by David Robert Mitchell, It Follows quickly gained a prominent place among modern horror cults thanks to its original and distressing premises. The film follows Jay (Maika Monroe), a young girl who, after a sexual encounter, discovers that she is being haunted by a mysterious entity. This being turns out to be able to continuously change shape, taking on the appearance of anyone and chasing the victim until he kills him, unless he manages to transmit the curse to someone else through sexual intercourse.

L he idea that evil transfers from one person to another, just like a sexually transmitted disease, is what makes the atmosphere of the film so incredibly suffocating, but not only that. In fact, what makes It Follows such an effective product is the constant feeling of threat, accompanied by a subtly inserted social commentary on issues such as sexuality, guilt and the consequences of one's actions. To complete the picture, a minimalist but evocative direction and the hypnotic soundtrack of Disasterpeace.

2)  The house - The awakening of evil  (2023)<11 >

This chapter of the La Casa saga, dated 2023 and directed by Lee Cronin, brings the classic franchise back to life with a contemporary and, if possible, even scarier version. The House - Evil Awakens tells the story of Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland), a single mother who lives with her three children - teenagers Danny and Bridget and little Kassie - after being abandoned by her husband . When one evening the boys discover an ancient manuscript and three vinyl records in a hole in the floor of the building's garage, the evil begins to spread rapidly, first possessing Ellie and then attacking anyone who comes into contact with her. 

Here the contagion is demonic, a malevolent spirit that spreads like a virus, taking over bodies and destroying the will of its hosts. Cronin's vision fuses body horror with the theme of possession, taking up the classic elements of the saga (such as the Necronomicon and the brutal violence) but acquiring a fresh and modern touch that leads to a continuous crescendo of horror.

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3)  The Ring (2002)

American adaptation of the Japanese film Ringu of the same name, directed by Gore Verbinski, The Ring is probably one of the most famous horror films that exploits the concept of contagious horror. The film revolves around the journalist Rachel (Naomi Watts), who begins to investigate after the inexplicable death of her niece, discovering that evil spreads through the viewing of a cursed videotape: anyone who watches it, in fact, he is destined to die after seven days. 

What makes The Ring particularly disturbing is its portrayal of contagion as a curse that spreads through technology, a theme that remains relevant in an age where information spreads virally through the media . Furthermore, the entity behind the curse, Samara, represents the embodiment of a trauma that expands without limits, destroying anyone who crosses its path and making the atmosphere even more dark and distressing. 

4)  Final Destination (2000)

Final Destination, directed by James Wong, offers a unique variation on theme of the contagion of evil. In this case, evil is not represented by a physical or supernatural presence, but by destiny, which can sometimes be more malevolent than a demon itself. When the protagonist Alex (Devon Sawa) has a premonition about a plane crash, managing to save some of his classmates, Death is not willing to let them escape: one after the other, in fact , survivors begin to die in increasingly bizarre and macabre circumstances. 

In Final Destination, the contagion of evil manifests itself as a sequence of unstoppable events, as if Death were an entity that does not accept having been deceived. The film mixes elements of a supernatural thriller with a series of "chain" deaths, offering a disturbing reflection on our helplessness in the face of the inevitable. 

5)  Drag Me to Hell (2009)

In Drag Me to Hell, director Sam Raimi tells the story of Christine (Alison Lohman), a bank employee who, after having denied a mortgage extension to an elderly lady, is cursed by the latter: in the grip of anger at the humiliation suffered, the woman steals a button from her coat, using it to unleash a powerful curse on her. From that moment, in fact, the protagonist is tormented by terrifying visions and persecuted by Lamia, an evil demon, who does everything to terrorize her and drag her to hell. 

The curse, thus, spreads through simple contact, becoming a true supernatural contagion. In Drag Me to Hell, the director perfectly balances tension and grotesqueness, creating surreal situations that entertain and scare at the same time.

edited by Sofia Biagini of CinemaSerietv.IT< 10> for Filmamo