If you like Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho, you will enjoy these classic horror-themed films.
Audiences who may have grown tired of seeing the same themes repeatedly were surprised with many great horror-themed films released last year, with most of the stories being unique and providing something new to viewers.
Movies like Don’t Breathe 2, The Whole Truth, and Escape Room were like a breath of fresh air because they served themes that were distinct from one another, avoiding the tired and overused story arc of “there is someone in your house.”
Screenplays written to keep viewers on the edge of their seats enable the craze for hypnotic horror films to be alive after all these years.
One such movie that did wonders at theaters was Last Night in Soho, by Edgar Wright, which received high marks from the targeted audiences and critics.
Fans worldwide praised the production design, cinematography, screenplay, costumes, and casting choices. The suspense at the movie’s climax was predictable, but the way the film flowed made it an enjoyable watch during Halloween week.
Before we list our top 6 picks for movies with similar themes, let’s take a quick look at and learn about Last Night in Soho, which will undoubtedly help you decide on your next watch with a similar tone of the movie.
The synopsis of Last Night in Soho:
According to IMDb,
An aspiring fashion designer is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s, where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer. But the glamour is not all it appears to be, and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something darker.
- Director: Edgar Wright
- Story By: Edgar Wright
- Screenplay By: Krysty Wilson-Cairns
- Run time: 1h 56m
Some cast members of Last Night In Soho:
- Thomasin McKenzie as Eloise “Ellie” Turner
- Anya Taylor-Joy as Sandie/Alexandra Collins
- Diana Rigg as Ms. Alexandra Collins, the older Sandie
- Matt Smith as Jack
- Michael Ajao as John
- Terence Stamp as Lindsey (credited as The Silver Haired Gentleman)
- Sam Claflin, as a young Lindsey
- Rita Tushingham as Margaret “Peggy” Turner, Ellie’s maternal grandmother
- Synnøve Karlsen as Jocasta
- Jessie Mei Li as Lara Chung
- Kassius Nelson as Cami
- Rebecca Harrod as Ashley
- Elizabeth Berrington as Ms. Tobin
- Pauline McLynn as Carol
The film was nominated for two BAFTA Film Awards, including Outstanding British Film and the Best Sound. It has been nominated for 56 awards in various categories and has won over 15 of them.
If you enjoyed Last Night in Soho, here are a few titles we recommend you watch to enhance your understanding. We want to mention that each movie listed is from the last five decades without giving away spoilers.
In the 70’s era – Suspiria (1977)
- Director: Dario Argento
- Screenplay By: Dario Argento and Daria Nicolodi
- Stars: Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini and Flavio Bucci
- Run-time: 1h 39m
The Plot:
The film is partially inspired by Thomas De Quincey’s 1845 essay Suspiria de Profundis. During a series of gruesome murders, an American newcomer to a prestigious German ballet academy realizes that the school is a front for something wicked.
Guadagnino also directed another version of the film in 2018. Guadagnino described the film as a “homage” to the 1977 film rather than a direct remake. Guadagnino’s adaptation is set in Berlin in 1977 (the year Argento’s film was released), with a thematic emphasis on “the uncompromising force of motherhood.”
Check out the trailer here:
In the 80’s era – The Shining (1980)
- Director: Stanley Kubrick
- Screenplay By: Stanley Kubrick and Diane Johnson
- Stars: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, and Danny Lloyd
- Run-time: 2h 26m
The Plot:
Stephen King’s novel from the year 1977 of the same title served as the inspiration for the film.
A family travels to a small hotel for the winter, where a sinister occurrence influences the father into violent action. At the same time, his psychic son glimpses horrendous predictions of doom from both the past and the future.
Check out the trailer here:
In the 90’s era – Lord of Illusions (1995)
- Director: Clive Barker
- Writer: Clive Barker
- Stars: Scott Bakula, Kevin J. O’Connor, and J. Trevor Edmond
- Run-time: 1h 49m
The Plot:
The film’s plot is based on the story The Last Illusion, published in the anthology Books of Blood Volume 6 in 1985—written by Clive Barker.
When a private detective meets Philip Swan, an entertainer whose incredible illusions enthrall the world, he discovers that they are not what everyone thinks.
Check out the trailer here:
In the 00’s era – What Lies Beneath (2000)
- Director: Robert Zemeckis
- Screenplay By: Clark Gregg
- Story By: Sarah Kernochan
- Stars: Harrison Ford, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Katharine Towne
- Run-time: 2h 10m
The Plot:
The wife of a university research scientist assumes that a ghost haunts her lakeside Vermont home – or that she is insane.
Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film has since established itself as a classic cult classic. On the other hand, it was the tenth highest-grossing movie of that year.
Check out the trailer here:
In the 10’s era – Black Swan (2010)
- Director: Darren Aronofsky
- Screenplay By: Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, and John J. McLaughlin
- Stars: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Vincent Cassel
- Run-time: 1h 48m
The Plot:
After winning the lead position in a production of Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake,” a dedicated dancer struggles to keep her sanity.
The film received rave reviews, with general and especially praise for Aronofsky’s direction and Portman and Kunis’ performances when it was released. It was also a financial success, earning $329 million globally.
The film received five nominations at the 83rd Academy Awards, including Best Picture, with Natalie Portman winning Best Actress.
Check out the trailer here:
In the 20’s era (Last year) – Malignant (2021)
- Director: James Wan
- Story By: James Wan, Ingrid Bisu, and Akela Cooper
- Stars Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson, and George Young
- Run-time: 1h 51m
The Plot:
Disturbing visions of gruesome murders paralyze madison, and her agony worsens when she realizes that these expansive awake dreams are terrifying realities.
The movie has 13 nominations and went to win an award for ReStamp Feature (2022). Moreover, it was available to stream on HBO Max for one month.
Check out the trailer here:
