We all have our favorite horror classics that we watch every Halloween. While our favorite titles put us in the right spirit for the season, they also fail to be truly scary or surprising after they’ve been viewed for, roughly, the twentieth time. Horror classics are a wonderful and familiar pleasure, but it’s also important to remember what it’s like to be shocked by a horror film.
That’s where the following list comes into play. Horror is, was, and will be for the foreseeable future an exceedingly beloved genre. Horror fans are some of the most passionate filmgoers out there, and the market is flooded to meet their demand. There are more horror titles than there is time in this life to view all of them. For every bona fide horror classic, there are at least ten other titles of similar merit that mainstream audiences have forgotten about or never even knew existed.
Instead of watching The Exorcist or The Shining for the umpteenth time, take a risk on something new. Instead of watching Jason, Freddy, Michael, or any of the various slasher incarnations hack their way through countless horny teenagers, try something that gets under your skin differently. Instead of relying on a familiar favorite, remind yourself of what it feels like to be taken off guard by a horror movie.
The best horror filmmakers know that terror comes from the unknown. The familiarity of our favorite horror movies may bring an indescribable joy, but it doesn’t give us the tingling sensation of needing to know what will happen next. The following list of films will provide you with a better chance of hitting the unknown, and a better chance of being genuinely horrified and/or surprised this Halloween season.
100. Split Second (1992)
This late-night nineties cable cult favorite features Rutger Hauer as a rogue policeman searching for a serial-killing monster in the sewers of a futuristic (and flooded) Los Angeles. Simply put, Split Second is action/horror/sci-fi b-movie greatness. Kim Cattrall provides excellent support.
98/99. The Hand (1981)/ Seizure (1974)
Oliver Stone’s first two efforts as a feature director aren’t your typical horror movies. They are both highly original experiments in the genre that specialize in psychological terror while also providing a dark examination of the creative process (Seizure focuses on a novelist whose nightmares become real while The Hand is about a cartoonist’s murderous severed limb). Stone may not be a natural fit for the genre, but that’s part of what makes these titles so memorable and unique.
97. The Wicker Man (2006)
This much-maligned Nicolas Cage-starring remake of the 1973 classic of the same name never got the respect it deserved. As intentionally ludicrous as some aspects may be (isn’t it obvious that movie knows how absurd it is?), it is still an original and disturbing effort. Seriously, who doesn’t want to see Nicolas Cage running around in a bear suit while battling a cult of deranged, man-hating women?
96. Nadja (1994)
Nadja is a surreal, black-and-white vampire tale set in New York that favors mood and atmosphere over typical jump scares. David Lynch, who also executive-produced, has a short but amusing cameo. Peter Fonda has never been better cast in the role of Van Helsing.
95. The Lords of Salem (2012)
The Lords of Salem is one of writer/director Rob Zombie’s lesser-known and under-appreciated works. It is a moody and unsettling piece of filmmaking that burrows itself in your mind and stays there like an unshakable nightmare. Sheri Moon Zombie stars as a radio DJ who receives a mysterious album as a gift, then begins to experience memories of a terrifying and forgotten past. The searing soundtrack is as unforgettable and disturbing as the film itself.
94. Random Acts of Violence (2019)
Affably dry co-star Jay Baruchel also co-wrote and directed this grisly, stylish, and thought-provoking horror entry. Based on Justin Gray’s comic, the film centers on a writer (Jesse Williams) whose graphic slasher comic starts to inspire real-life murders. Random Acts of Violence is shocking and brutal, but also offers a profound commentary on and insight into the creative process.
91-93. Fright Night Part 2 (1988)/Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)/Addams Family Values (1993)
These three underrated horror/comedies are all sequels to eighties and nineties classics that never found the same respect or success as their predecessors. All three films are funnier than their originals, taking a more playful and darkly humorous approach to the characters and creatures depicted within them. Each film serves as an excellent reminder of the importance of laughter while devouring mass quantities of horror content.
90. The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch deliver exceptional performances as a father/son team of coroners who have to perform an autopsy on the mysterious and beautiful corpse of an unknown woman. The Autopsy of Jane Doe keeps you engaged for the full duration of its brief eighty-six-minute runtime. It is a consistently surprising, suspenseful, and eerie film.
89. Dead End (2003)
Dead End is a Twilight Zone-esque horror tale about a family whose Christmas Eve travels become nightmarish when they find themselves on a never-ending back road. The film gets under your skin with mysterious dream logic and tantalizing suspense. Ray Wise and Lin Shaye both stand out in lead roles.
88. The Funhouse (1981)
If you need to give the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Poltergeist a break, try giving another one of director Tobe Hooper’s many other horror titles a chance. This particular effort features a group of teenagers trapped in a carnival from hell that won’t let any of them leave alive. The Funhouse is a dementedly horrific and unfairly under-known film from one of the horror genre’s greatest contributors.
86/87. Warm Bodies (2013)/Life After Beth (2014)
Both of these zombie horror/comedies offer hilarious ways to celebrate the Halloween season. Warm Bodies is a charming romantic fable that brings refreshing optimism and playfulness to the genre. Life After Beth is more gruesome and darkly comedic, but is ultimately an equally positive film. Both films are worthy successors and alternatives to the classic zombie comedy, Shaun of the Dead.
85. Carnival of Souls (1962)
A woman (Candace Hilligoss) is haunted by phantom-like figures after surviving a car accident. Carnival of Souls revolves around a final plot twist that was ahead of its time. It set the stage for numerous films and stories that would come afterward—but mentioning a single one of them would only give away this film’s powerful and, for its time, shocking ending.
84. The Void (2016)
The Void plays like a throwback to the best of eighties sci-fi/horror. It follows an eerily disturbing storyline that revolves around a cult of cloaked figures who keep a group of innocents trapped inside a hospital. The contained, sterile location is the perfect setting for creating tension and suspense. The Void relies on old-style, impressively crafted practical effects that are as innovative as they are horrific.
83. The Faculty (1998)
This Robert Rodriguez-directed and Kevin Williamson co-scripted flick is a fast, fun, and relatively light-hearted entry into the horror genre. The film, which centers on high school students who discover that their teachers are deadly aliens in disguise, is more thrilling and entertaining than it is terrifying or disturbing. The Faculty is a harmless horror movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat in the moment, but it won’t affect your sleep afterward.
82. Night Tide (1961)
If you’ve ever caught yourself wondering why there aren’t more horror movies featuring mermaids, look no further than Night Tide. Starring a very young Dennis Hopper, the film is a good change of pace for horror fans looking for something besides easy scares or endless gore. Night Tide is a steadily paced and mysteriously captivating film that haunts the intellect more than it plays with primitive emotions.
81. Phantoms (1998)
Based on a Dean Koontz bestseller, Phantoms is a sci-fi/horror film that centers on the residents of a small Colorado town who have to battle an ancient evil force. The film is intriguing and scary. Its peaceful small-town environment is utilized quite effectively, providing an appropriately vulnerable setting for a horror film. Ben Affleck and Rose McGowan both stand out in early lead roles.
80. Jack’s Back (1988)
James Spader portrays a man who has visions of a Jack the Ripper copycat killer in the (then-) modern-day city of Los Angeles. Jack’s Back is eerily atmospheric, grippingly intense, and beautifully saturated in an endearingly cheesy eighties style. Writer/director Rowdy Herrington (Roadhouse) has lent his underrated talents to films of many genres, and his efforts with this horror/thriller are just as impressive as the rest of his body of work.
79. Mad Monster Party? (1967)
Mad Monster Party? is an under-appreciated stop-motion animated feature produced by Rankin/Bass Productions, the same company behind such Christmastime classics as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and The Little Drummer Boy. This innovative, funny, and family-friendly film should accompany Halloween the way other Rankin/Bass films have accompanied Christmas throughout the years.
78. Fire in the Sky (1993)
Based on the actual claims of Arizona loggers in the seventies, Fire in the Sky is an unforgettable alien abduction story that makes us question whether or not we are alone in the universe. Instead of viewing the possibility of extraterrestrial life with wonder and awe, however, the film views it with complete and utter terror. The film is primarily a science fiction drama, but it also falls under the category of horror because of a single scene that depicts an alien abduction with unforgettably terrifying detail.
77. 30 Days of Night (2007)
30 Days of Night is an unrelenting horror film that features some highly unsexy and vicious depictions of vampires. Set in a small, sunless Alaskan town, the film (which is based on Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith’s comic) has the perfect environment for a vampire story. Director David Slade keeps the atmosphere appropriately dreadful.
76. Pumpkinhead (1988)
Special effects genius Stan Winston’s only directorial credit has an eighties spookhouse effect. It’s a fun, campy, and joyously bumpy ride. Lead Lance Henriksen grounds the endearingly creepy cheesiness that dominates the film’s tone.
75. Paranorman (2012)
From Laika Studios comes another inventive, stop-motion animated, family-friendly effort. Paranorman is like a Halloween-themed, ghost- and zombie-laden update of The Goonies. It’s an endlessly entertaining, innocently spooky, and impressively crafted film that can accompany any age group’s Halloween celebrations.
74. Jennifer’s Body (2009)
This horror-comedy from writer Diablo Cody and director Karyn Kusama is a criminally underrated effort. Jennifer’s Body is an astute and biting satire in the vein of Heathers that intelligently (and scathingly) examines the high school experience. Megan Fox gives the best performance of her career (to date) as a popular cheerleader who craves human blood.
73. Eyes Without a Face (1960)
This French cult classic is a highly elegant dramatic horror film. It centers on a deranged surgeon (Pierre Brassuer) who kidnaps and murders young women so he can use their faces for skin transplants to fix his disfigured daughter (Edith Scob). Eyes Without a Face is an artistically minded and oddly beautiful mad scientist story that is just as effective today as it was when it was released over sixty years ago.
72. Raw (2016)
A first-year veterinary student develops an insatiable and inexplicable appetite for human flesh. This French-language film by writer/director Julia Docournau is one of the most shocking, disturbing, and downright repulsive horror titles in recent memory—but it’s one of the most darkly humorous and finely crafted, as well. As hard as the film makes it not to look away in disgust, Raw is the kind of movie you just have to see for yourself to believe that it exists.
71. Daybreakers (2009)
Daybreakers is set in a futuristic world where virtually every human has been transformed into a vampire. A human-friendly vampire scientist portrayed by Ethan Hawke makes it his mission to save the human race from extinction. Writer/directors Michael and Peter Spierig deliver a fresh new take on vampire lore with this unique horror/sci-fi blend.
70. Rodan (1956)
This charming Japanese monster movie is a great alternative to Godzilla or King Kong. The refined old-school practical effects still hold up in artistry with modern viewings. Rodan’s titular prehistoric flying creature deserves its place amongst the most classic of movie monsters.
69. Vivarium (2020)
This genre-bending, surreally disturbing, and dryly hilarious film puts a horrific spin on the monotonous horrors of everyday life. Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots star as a young couple who, while searching for their dream house, become inexplicably trapped in a subdivision filled with identical houses. Far from a typical genre entry, Vivarium is a cerebral horror movie that stands in a class of its own.
67/68. Tusk (2014)/Red State (2011)
Writer/director Kevin Smith—primarily known for such Gen-X comedies as Clerks and Mallrats—is a surprisingly natural fit for the horror genre. Both Tusk and Red State are shocking, unsettling, and highly original horror efforts that leave indelible marks on their viewers. Neither title is easily comparable to anything else, as they are both the result of Smith’s highly individualistic talents.
66. Underwater (2020)
Underwater is a wholly engaging exercise in tension, brevity, and atmosphere. Kristen Stewart leads an exceptionally talented ensemble cast (also featuring Vincent Cassel and T.J. Miller) in this underneath-the-ocean horror/sci-fi effort. Deadly sea creatures are the film’s primary antagonists, but the most terrifying thing about the film is its mysterious and inescapably dangerous underwater setting.
65. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
This Persian-language (but American-filmed and funded) film is a darkly romantic, beautifully stylish, and eerily moody vampire tale. Writer/director Ana Lily Amirpour delivers one of the most assured and potent feature debuts of the last decade. The wonderfully poppy soundtrack only adds to A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night’s many-layered tones and intentions.
64. Psycho II (1983)
Norman Bates returns in this worthy follow-up to Alfred Hitchcock’s classic masterpiece. Anthony Perkins again portrays everyone’s favorite momma’s boy—only this time he’s a bit more complex with his desires to keep his demons at bay. Perkins’ Bates may be more sympathetic in this entry, but his unpredictable mental state ultimately makes him just as threatening. Psycho II, which was written by Fright Night writer/director Tom Holland, is an intelligent and terrifying continuation of one of cinema’s most fascinatingly deranged villains.
62/63. Stake Land (2010)/Stake Land II: The Stakelander (2016)
Stake Land is a thrilling, scary, and surprisingly beautiful road movie about human beings trying to survive a post-apocalyptic world overrun by vampires. Co-writer/director Jim Mickle and co-writer/star Nick Damici deliver a brilliant and rich universe filled with well-defined and highly empathetic characters. The sequel, The Stakelander, doesn’t quite reach the same heights, but it’s still a worthwhile continuation of the first film’s world and characters.
60/61. Peeping Tom (1960)/Black Christmas (1974)
It is a matter of ongoing debate as to what is the first true slasher movie. Though Psycho is the most obvious choice, these two films are often brought up when discussing a definitive title that started it all. Perhaps there isn’t one, but both Michael Powell’s Peeping Tom and Bob Clark’s Black Christmas are amongst the first films to feature a first-person perspective from a deranged killer. The two films aren’t as known as the countless films they influenced, but they are both chilling horror classics that deserve a revisit from modern audiences.
59. Green Room (2015)
Writer/director Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin) further proves himself as a highly skilled and edgy young filmmaker with this shockingly violent horror/thriller. Green Room is an unrelentingly intense film about a Pacific Northwest punk band who has to fend off a brutal gang of skinheads after witnessing a murder. The late Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Macon Blair, and Patrick Stewart all stand out with memorably committed performances.
48-58. Thinner (1996)/1922 (2017)/ Secret Window (2004)/ Cat’s Eye (1985)/ In the Tall Grass (2019)/The Dark Half (1993)/Silver Bullet (1985)/ 1408 (2007)/ Gerald’s Game (2017)/The Mist (2007)/ Doctor Sleep (2019)
The work of Stephen King has been adapted for the screen on hundreds of occasions. Many of these films—such as Carrie, The Shining, and Misery—are indisputable classics. Some of them—like Cell or The Dark Tower—are infamous misfires that fail to convey what makes King’s work so special. Many other adaptations of King’s books or original screenplays—like the ones mentioned here– hold up in quality but don’t receive the mainstream attention they deserve.
All of the above films adapt King’s work with skill and the clear understanding that he is as fascinated with human behavior as he is in instilling terror. These eleven titles all strike the right balance between humanity and horror, and they all understand that one doesn’t work without the other in King’s world. Every one of these films does Stephen King’s ingenious brand of horror justice.
47. The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
George Miller’s adaptation of John Updike’s novel is currently a forgotten masterwork of the eighties. Aside from the fact that it’s a great movie with strong feminist undertones, it also features the indisputably perfect casting of Jack Nicholson as The Devil. Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Susan Sarandon also star as a trio of women who are just beginning to understand their otherworldly powers.
44-46. Trilogy of Terror (1975)/ Tales From the Darkside: The Movie (1990)/Trick R’ Treat (2007)
All three of these films contain multiple horror stories within a single feature-length presentation. The films’ tales of killer dolls, killer cats, and haunted bus drivers are all wonderfully spooky and dementedly entertaining. Each of these films contains enough surprises and scares to appease any horror fanatic’s twisted desires.
43. Crawl (2019)
Florida residents combat a hurricane that brings forth floods and ferocious alligators in this masterful and efficient horror/thriller. There is never a dull moment in Crawl’s eighty-seven-minute runtime, as it keeps its viewers in a constant state of suspense. Kaya Scodelario and Barry Pepper deliver intensely engaged and highly sympathetic performances, making it impossible not to care about their characters’ outcomes.
42. Fiend Without a Face (1958)
This ultra-gory film about invisible killer brains was highly controversial at the time of its release. It’s relatively tame by today’s standards, but still plenty entertaining and bloodily worthwhile. Fiend Without a Face is a science fiction/horror cult classic that successfully executes its premise with solid filmmaking and some great old-school special effects.
41. The People Under the Stairs (1991)
One of Wes Craven’s lesser-known efforts, The People Under the Stairs is a shocking, wickedly hilarious, and socially aware horror tale. Centering on two perversely evil landlords (portrayed by Twin Peaks cast members Everett McGill and Wendy Robie), the film intelligently comments upon the unfair differences amongst America’s economic classes. The People Under the Stairs is an excessively bloody movie that elicits an appropriate amount of terror while also presenting topics that are deserving of contemplation and discussion.
40. Love and Monsters (2020)
This adorable and highly inventive film is set in an apocalyptic world that is overtaken by large and deadly monsters. Though the film has many moments of high tension, Love and Monsters is more concerned with being a carefree, mildly creepy joyride than it is in scaring the bejesus out of you. Dylan O’Brien’s affable lead performance is in tune with the film’s primarily lighthearted tone.
39. Pin (1988)
Pin has a concept so strange that it is hard to believe it even exists. The film centers on a grown brother and sister (David Hewlett and Cynthia Preston) who bring their deceased father’s anatomy doll home to live with them. The brother believes the doll can talk to him (which may or may not be a product of his mental illness), and eventually receives advice to kill. Pin is unpredictable and horrifically unique.
37/38. Upgrade (2018)/The Guest (2014)
Both Upgrade and The Guest fall into numerous genres and categories. They are both highly intelligent and exceedingly well-made science-fiction/action thrillers with elements and undertones of horror. Both films are guaranteed to be just as creepy, suspenseful, and, at times, terrifying as any straightforward genre effort.
36. Teeth (2007)
Teeth is a rare horror movie that fully realizes the potential of its brilliant concept: a young high school girl with a passionate belief in sexual abstinence discovers that her vagina sprouts razor-sharp teeth that will protect her from unwanted advances. The film is every bit as hilarious, edgy, intelligent, and wince-inducing as it sounds. Writer/director Mitchell Lichtenstein makes a stunning and innovative debut. Star Jess Weixler commands the viewer’s attention with a performance that is as ferocious as it is vulnerably sympathetic.
35. The Lodge (2020)
The Lodge is a slow-burning psychological horror film that envelops its audience in a cloud of mystery and suspense for the majority of its duration. It refuses to reveal the truth behind its events until its final moments, which are so shocking and disturbing that they evoke the same emotions one experiences after getting slugged in the gut. The Lodge is smart, character-driven, and unique in its methods of inducing unforgettable terror. Riley Keough gives an unforgettably raw and painfully believable lead performance.
34. Grindhouse (2007)
Grindhouse was never meant to be separated into two movies (Planet Terror and Death Proof) like it was on home video years ago. The complete, three-hour version of the Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez double feature that is accompanied by mock horror trailers–directed by the likes of Rob Zombie, Edgar Wright, and Eli Roth, amongst others—is how Grindhouse was intended to be experienced. It’s a hilariously gruesome, joyously pulpy, and artfully cheesy way to satisfy your horror craving.
33. Asylum Blackout (2011)
Musicians who work as cooks in an insane asylum are forced to survive a night of being locked in with the murderously criminal inmates. S. Craig Zahler’s first-produced screenplay provides the blueprint for an intense and unrelenting horror experience. Typical of the massively talented writer’s style, Asylum Blackout provides its audience with relatable and sympathetic characters who are shown absolutely no mercy by their creator. Zahler makes it clear that no one is safe in his world, which is one of the many ways he keeps his audience in nerve-wracking and near-constant suspense.
32./31. Surveillance (2008)/Chained (2012)
Jennifer Lynch’s horrifically unique style is an unsettling mixture of refined character development, unexpected plot twists, and gritty, shockingly realistic violence. Both Surveillance and Chained are masterfully executed horror/thrillers that warrant comparison to the most celebrated films of their kind. Lynch’s assured and fearless filmmaking deserves far more mainstream praise and recognition than it has received to date.
30. Stir of Echoes (1999)
Stir of Echoes is based on a Richard Matheson novel and adapted by the highly talented writer/director, David Koepp. It is a captivating paranormal mystery/horror film that is grounded in emotional reality and features relatable, well-developed characters. Kevin Bacon gives a typically sturdy and sincere performance as a man who becomes obsessed with solving a mystery after suddenly being gifted with the ability to see the dead.
29/28. Corpse Bride (2005)/Frankenweenie (2012)
Tim Burton directed (or, in the case of Corpse Bride, co-directed along with Mike Johnson) both of these stop-motion animated, family-friendly features. Corpse Bride and Frankenweenie are the perfect alternatives to the Burton-produced, Henry Selick-directed classic, The Nightmare Before Christmas. They are both beautifully crafted films that capture Burton’s endlessly innovative and harmlessly spooky spirit.
27. The Toxic Avenger (1984)
What better way to honor Troma Studios during the Halloween season than with their definitive classic, The Toxic Avenger? Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman’s independently produced horror/comedy hybrid exists to shock, offend, disgust, and entertain. No one is safe in a Troma movie–men, women, children, and animals are all harmed in the most brutal, revolting, and humorous ways imaginable. If you’re looking for the kind of laughter that only the most grotesque and horrific of events can produce, look no further than The Toxic Avenger.
26. Hush (2016)
Mike Flanagan has steadily been rising over the years to become one of the most reliable and talented horror filmmakers working today. Hush, which was written by Flanagan and costar Kate Siegel, has a wonderfully straightforward concept: a deaf-mute woman has to fight off a sadistic killer who threatens to enter her secluded house in the woods. At just eighty-two minutes, Hush is a breathtakingly intense film that keeps you riveted and in white-knuckled suspense for the entirety of its duration. The film is Flanagan’s most accomplished feature film to date—which is no small feat when considering the high quality of his impressive and still-growing body of work.
25. Parents (1989)
Parents gives us a horrific and darkly comedic glimpse into what might be going on in our parents’ private life. Randy Quaid and Mary Beth Hurt star as suburban parents who, despite appearing as if they belong in a fifties sitcom, might be harboring a devious and deadly secret. Parents works both as a potent satire of the American family and as a surrealistically disturbing piece of horror.
24. Ready or Not (2019)
Today’s reigning Screen Queen, Samara Weaving, stars as a new bride who has to play a deadly round of hide-and-seek with her rich, bloodthirsty, and devil-worshipping in-laws. Ready or Not is a non-stop roller coaster ride of suspense, thrills, and deviously dark humor. Weaving’s natural talents, onscreen charisma, and whole-hearted dedication make you root her character as she endures the most arduous of ordeals.
23. The Neon Demon (2016)
The Neon Demon is Nicolas Winding Refn’s wholly unique entry into the horror genre. It is a surreal, endlessly stylish, and gorgeously grotesque piece of filmmaking that entirely follows its own logic. Elle Fanning stars as a young model who discovers that her beauty and youth only make her a target to some very strange and very deadly people.
22. In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
In the Mouth of Madness is one of horror maestro John Carpenter’s best and most underrated efforts. The H.P. Lovecraft-inspired film centers on an insurance investigator (the always-fantastic Sam Neill) who is hired to search for a missing horror author whose books seemingly cause their readers to go insane. The film is intelligent, mind-bending, and unforgettably horrific. It deserves classic status right beside Carpenter’s most celebrated works.
21. Manhunter (1986)
Michael Mann’s slick, gritty, and ultra-stylish adaptation of Thomas Harris’ Red Dragon is on the verge of being forgotten about today. Brian Cox gives us the first onscreen interpretation of Hannibal the Cannibal. His performance is just as terrifying as Anthony Hopkins’ later incarnation, it’s just not as flashy or darkly comical. Costar Tom Noonan also brings forth the fright with his icy, vicious, yet strangely humane portrayal of the serial killer, The Tooth Fairy.
20. Climax (2018)
Gaspar Noé has been a fearlessly chaotic force in filmmaking for over two decades, now. While his films are usually too uncategorizable to call him a straightforward horror filmmaker, it’s impossible not to acknowledge him when discussing the most unsettling and disturbing movies of our time. The French-language Climax is as close to a horror movie as anything he’s done. The monster, in the case of this film, is primitive and unfiltered human behavior brought on by psychedelic drugs. Climax is unforgettable and terrifying in a way that is wholly unique to Noé and his endlessly daring body of work.
19. The ‘Burbs (1989)
Joe Dante’s underrated masterwork is more of a dark comedy than it is an outright horror movie. It still deserves a spot on this list, however, because of some seriously spooky moments and because of its exceptionally unique brand of comedic terror. Tom Hanks portrays a bored suburbanite who suspects that his new neighbors are murderous maniacs. Whether or not he’s simply creating his own drama (or entertainment) isn’t revealed until the film’s unpredictable and hilarious climax.
18. The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
Co-writer (along with Joss Whedon)/director Drew Goddard delivers an impressive directorial debut with this witty and comical take on the horror genre. The Cabin in the Woods puts its own unique spin on just about every horror cliché’ known to man. It’s a meta-horror movie that delivers a galore of monstrous frights while also providing loving and clever criticisms of the genre’s most common faults.
17. Lady in White (1988)
This small-town, supernatural murder mystery is a highly eerie and classily frightening piece of filmmaking. Lady in White gets under your skin as effectively as any horror classic, but it does so with taste, without gore, and within the confines of a PG-13 rating. The film is proof that the strongest terror can sometimes come from the least obvious source.
16. Mandy (2018)
Panos Cosmatos’ psychedelic freak show is one of the most visionary, unique, and oddly beautiful horror films in recent memory. Mandy exists in its own, strange universe and follows its own otherworldly logic. Part revenge thriller, part dark romance, and part monster movie, the film is truly unparalleled in its style and execution. Star Nicolas Cage delivers one of his best, boldest, and most heartbreakingly vulnerable performances in years.
15. The Hitcher (1986)
The Hitcher features one of the most terrifying (and underrated) slasher villains of all time. Rutger Hauer’s titular character is an unstoppable and inexplicable force of nature that is entirely focused on committing evil. He has no conscience and no motivation other than his own pleasure. Hauer’s character is a representation of humanity’s dark side that is far scarier than any monster could ever be.
14. The Frighteners (1996)
Perhaps Peter Jackson’s most unjustly underrated directorial effort, The Frighteners is an endlessly entertaining horror/comedy that thrills and induces laughter in equal measures. Michael J. Fox gives one of his best performances as a conman who uses his abilities to communicate with the dead for his own personal gain. The Frighteners is a heartfelt, scary, and dementedly funny film that should appeal to non-horror fans as much as it does hardcore fanatics.
13. The Hidden (1987)
Twin Peaks wasn’t the first time Kyle MacLachlan played an eccentric, oddly lovable FBI agent. The Hidden contains one of the actor’s earliest onscreen performances that also ranks as one of his best. The film itself is an action- and terror-packed ride that centers on a deadly alien who takes over innocent human bodies to go on killing sprees.
12. The Hunger (1983)
Tony Scott’s ultra-stylish directorial debut is one of the most artful, elegant, and unsettling vampire films of its time. Smoke-filtered photography, expressionistic editing, and a searing soundtrack all play a part in the film’s gothically beautiful execution. Scott’s career could have taken an entirely different, more experimental route had this film found the audience it deserved upon its release.
11. Raising Cain (1992)
Out of all of Brian De Palma’s Hitchcock-influenced horror/thrillers, Raising Cain is probably the most unjustly underrated. John Lithgow stunningly plays multiple roles, portraying the different personalities of a child psychologist who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. The film is the perfect showcase for De Palma’s playfully demented, surrealistically campy, and graphically violent style of horror filmmaking.
10. Psycho Goreman (2021)
This instant cult classic by The Void co-director Stephen Kostanski is a gleefully insane, refreshingly non-PC, and bloodily hilarious horror/comedy that successfully pays homage to multiple eighties and nineties b-movies. Psycho Goreman predominantly relies on beautifully crafted practical effects and make-up, giving it a refreshingly hand-made quality that is increasingly rare in today’s digital world. If you’re looking for a smart, funny, and gore-filled time, look no further than Psycho Goreman.
9. Near Dark (1987)
Kathryn Bigelow’s solo feature debut is one of the most distinctively and beautifully executed vampire movies ever made. It’s romantic, scary, exciting, and, oftentimes, quite funny. However monstrous some of Near Dark’s characters may be, they are all still lively and strangely lovable. Adrian Pasdar, Jenny Wright, Tim Thompson, Lance Henriksen, Jennette Goldstein, Joshua John Miller, and Bill Paxton all deliver irreplaceably superb performances.
8. Coraline (2009)
Director Henry Selick’s (The Nightmare Before Christmas) singular talents are fully and gloriously realized in Coraline. The film is beautifully crafted, inventively executed, and joyously creepy. Based on a Neil Gaiman book, Coraline is about as dark and chilling as you can get while still being appropriate (with some discretion) for the entire family.
7. It Came From Outer Space (1953)
Based on a Ray Bradbury story, It Came From Outer Space is an essential alien visitor film for its time. It features many classic elements that would later become sci-fi/horror movie cliches: first-person point-of-view shots from the perspective of a monster, a theremin-dominated musical score, and an exceptionally wise and masculine protagonist (Richard Carlson) who understands the aliens’ intentions more than most feeble-minded humans. Not as celebrated today as it should be, It Came From Outer Space is a classic alien monster movie that has more than withstood the test of time.
6. Lost Highway (1997)
David Lynch’s brand of surrealistic horror is on full display in Lost Highway. The film is one of the darkest, most uncompromising, and most vividly nightmarish works the filmmaker has ever created—and that speaks volumes when considering the other titles on his resume. Lost Highway disturbs and terrifies in Lynch’s wholly singular way. It may not be his most revered film, but it’s easily amongst his most efficacious.
5. The Brood (1979)
The Brood is one of director David Cronenberg’s many “body horror” entries. It’s simultaneously one of his best and most under-known (by contemporary audiences, at least) films. Cronenberg often uses the horror genre to reveal greater truths about the human condition. In the case of The Brood, he examines the lingering and irreparable effects of child abuse. It’s a disturbing, ingenious, and insightful horror movie that could only be the result of Cronenberg’s brilliantly twisted talents.
4. Cape Fear (1991)
This remake of the 1962 Gregory Peck/Robert Mitchum-starring thriller is an unrelentingly tense and increasingly horrific film. Robert De Niro gives one of his most terrifying performances as a Bible-spouting, hebephilia-prone ex-convict who aims to make his former defense attorney’s (Nick Nolte) life hell. Cape Fear is one of Martin Scorsese’s few straightforward genre films, and it’s easily one of his most successful, powerful, and undervalued efforts as a director.
3. Frailty (2001)
The late, great Bill Paxton delivered a striking directorial debut with this undeniably horrific film. Paxton also stars as a man who believes to have received orders from God to rid the world of human-formed demons. Paxton’s character is so dogmatic in his beliefs that he instills them in his two young sons, possibly creating demons of his own in the process. Frailty is an unforgettable and disturbing film that uses the horror genre to warn its audience of the dangers of religious fanaticism.
2. The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Robert Mitchum plays what was reportedly his all-time favorite role in this Great Depression-set horror/thriller. Portraying a dangerous conman who poses as a priest, Mitchum’s natural charisma only makes his character all the more threatening when his murderous capabilities are revealed. Director Charles Laughton (with his first and only directorial effort) and cinematographer Stanley Cortez create a darkly beautiful and eerie atmosphere that only further complements the brilliance of Mitchum’s performance.
1. Bone Tomahawk (2015)
There isn’t a more exciting contemporary filmmaker than S. Craig Zahler. As a writer and a director, he’s repeatedly proven himself to have full and unique command over multiple genres. Bone Tomahawk is both the best horror film and the best Western in recent memory. It’s a shockingly violent, completely unpredictable, and anxiety-inducing depiction of the chaotic early days of the American frontier. Though it has elements familiar to many other works, Bone Tomahawk’s ultimate impact is truly and unforgettably one-of-a-kind.
