A team of archeologists unearths an ancient treasure in The Pyramid, out in theaters this week. The archeologists have a genuine desire to uncover what has long been hidden, but they find that the past has a sneaky way of coming back to haunt even the most intrepid of explorers.
The idea that the past can never truly be left behind is a common theme in horror movies, reflecting modern anxieties. Can people ever move beyond horrifying traumas of the past? Unfortunately, these horror movies say: "Hell, no!"
Psycho II (1983)
The gentle Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) has finally been released from psychiatric care. All he wants to do is be a quiet, productive citizen again, but some people refuse to forgive or forget his murderous past, and soon Norman finds that his memories are calling out to him.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Why is razor-fingered Freddy Krueger plaguing the dreams of apparently innocent teenagers? Could it be that he's exacting revenge against those responsible for his own death years before?
Jacob's Ladder (1990)
Like many Vietnam veterans, Tim Robbins is haunted by his experiences during the war. In his case, however, there may be a supernatural element involved that prevents him from reconciling with his past.
Gothika (2003)
Psychiatrist Halle Berry crashes her car to avoid hitting a girl on a lonely road, a girl who turns out to be a ghost. Then she wakes up as a patient, with no memory of why or how she ended up in a mental facility as the primary suspect in her husband's murder, with a "helpful" Robert Downey Jr. lurking about. Whew! But will remembering her past free her -- or enslave her to some horrible memories?
1408 (2007)
John Cusack is a cynical writer who specializes in horror guide books. But all his preconceptions are shattered when he stays in a notorious horror room, where horrifying memories of a very personal nature drive him to the edge of madness.
Warm Bodies (2013)
Pity poor "R," played by Nicholas Hoult. Sure, he's a zombie, but what he really wants to do is feel alive, which he accomplishes by eating brains, allowing him to experience his victim's memories. Eventually, though, that leads to a surprising outcome, suggesting that memories could be the key to a happy future -- at least, for some people!
