Oh, the Horror!: More Must-See Movies for February

It's a unique and undeniable truth that one of the most commonly found heroes in horror films is religion. After all, hauntings can almost always be eradicated with a foray into some dusty corner of the afterlife and everyone knows one of the surest ways to repel a vampire is by waving a giant cross in its face. But what if religion weren't just the cure for what chills you... but also the cause? If you're in the mood for some truly eerie movies with unsettling spiritual twists, these two picks are perfect for you.

Stigmata (1999) 
When atheist Frankie Page (Patricia Arquette) inherits a rather unusual rosary, she suffers profound pain, possession and torment at the hands of a supernatural phenomenon known as the Stigmata. Shortly after the incidents caused by the artifact begin, a priest by the name of Andrew Kiernan (Gabriel Byrne) is sent to investigate their validity. Equal parts mystery and horror with a little romance thrown into the mix, this haunting story is one that's difficult to get out of your head once it's in there. 

The Prophecy (1995) 
Nothing spells suspense like a brutal civil war among the angels in heaven. LAPD detective Thomas Dagget (Elias Koteas) was once on a path to priesthood, interrupted by a series of violent, prophetic visions which resulted in the loss of his faith. His time along that road is not quite over, however, as the Archangel Gabriel (Christopher Walken) has arrived on earth and brought the reality of those visions with him. A vicious and grostesquely beautiful take on the Book of Revelation, the Prophecy is one of the most spiritually disturbing films ever to come out of the 1990s. Mid-series Supernatural fans will particularly enjoy this one.

Photo courtesy of goodwillwatching.com.