Ramone Menon has been making some of my favorite horror shorts for a few years. He is also one of my favorite film festival buddies, but that is a completely different article. However, both statements are reasons I asked him the toughest question known to horror fans. While congratulating him on the latest round of success for his shorts The Pey, Once Upon a Time in a Haunted House, and My Scary Indian Wedding, I asked for his five favorite horror movies. Much like my other favorite filmmakers, Ramone had a damn near-perfect list ready to go. Check out his pretty iconic answers immediately.
A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
Where You Can Watch: AMC+
A young woman returns from a mental health facility and reunites with her sister in their country home. However, strange occurrences begin happening, which leads to startling revelations. Kim Jee-woon has made many stellar films, but this might be my favorite. So, I love that it is one of Ramone Menon’s favorites. It especially makes me happy because so much of Ramone’s work has the creepy “don’t trust what you think you know” vibe that this movie gives. Psychological horror is my favorite brand of chaos, and I strongly encourage everyone to revisit this movie often.
Ringu (1998)
Where You Can Watch: AMC+, Shudder, and Tubi
A reporter’s investigation into the death of her niece leads to a mysterious cursed tape. This creepy gem is often imitated but never duplicated. It makes sense that Ramone has seen Ringu, but it is even cooler that it is one of his five favorite horror films. If you get to see The Pey, you will notice it in the DNA of the short before it steers into a monstrous new direction. It makes gifs as unsettling as Ringu made videotapes in the 90s, even if it’s geared toward a younger generation.
Insidious
Where You Can Watch: MGM+ and Pluto TV
A family is plagued by evil spirits who have trapped one of their children in a realm called The Further. If Ramone Menon did not have at least one James Wan movie on this list, I would have called bullshit. They both have a highly dynamic visual style that (at times) makes me think of Sam Raimi. The fluid camera movement makes these anxiety-inducing movies that much more exciting. Part of the reason Menon has some of my favorite short horror films of the decade is because of his sick aesthetic. While I was expecting something like Malignant to be here, I am happy to see at least one of Wan’s horror movies on the list.
The Omen (1976)
Where You Can Watch: VOD
An American ambassador begins to realize that his child might be the antichrist. Another reason not to have kids, am I right? You can tell a lot about a filmmaker by which classics they revere. So, seeing Ramone drop The Omen tells me he is here for the demonic, the murderous, and the movies where evil is among us. That is also what I have picked up from his filmography and this list so that scans. We love a self-aware filmmaker! However, it also makes me want to revisit his short movies and see what else his work has in common with this 70s moment.
Psycho (1960)
Where You Can Watch: Netflix
A secretary goes on the run after stealing money from her job and ends up checking into a motel run by a repressed man and his overbearing mother. I actually love that Psycho is on Ramone Menon’s list. While tracking filmmakers that might have influenced him, I left Alfred Hitchcock off the suspect list. That was a rookie mistake, and I am ashamed of myself. After all, Hitchcock is definitely in the DNA of most directors whose work I would program alongside Ramone’s. It seems my brain is over this year, and it will see you in 2025!
Ramone Menon closed the year out with a list worth our time this first weekend of the new year. He also continues proving my case that if you ask quality filmmakers for movie recommendations, you will get some great answers.
You can follow Ramone on Instagram and Twitter. You can check out Once Upon a Time in a Haunted House or catch him talking about many things when he visited A Nightmare On Fierce Street a couple of years ago. He is usually in a festival somewhere, and you should ask him about The Lord of the Rings if you see him around.
