Reader, beware: you’re in for a scare because we’re breaking down the most frightening horror movies ever made.
Since the earliest days of cinema, boils and ghouls of all ages have flocked to theaters to watch terrifying tales of monsters, murder, and mayhem. Even now, horror movies are big business in Tinsel Town, and each year, we get a generous helping of fresh nightmare fuel pumped into our brains courtesy of the bigwigs in Hollywood.
But how do you know which films are worth your time and which to avoid? Well, as “everyone’s entitled to one good scare,” we thought we’d put together a “death-finitive list” of the scariest films ever made to help you sort the great from the good. And don’t worry, whether you’re a dedicated gore groupie who finds Terrifier tame or a horror newbie with a lower tolerance for frights, we’ve made sure to include something for everyone!
102. I Saw the TV Glow (2024)
Director: Jane Schoenbrun
Cast: Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Helena Howard, Lindsay JordanWhat it’s about: Owen is introduced to the late-night TV show The Pink Opaque by a classmate. Soon after, reality and the supernatural blur into one, changing Owen’s perspective on life.Why we like it: I Saw the TV Glow is beyond a movie, it’s an experience. Both spellbinding and transformative, horror fans witness a moment in time that changes how films are made forever. It’s a haunting allegory for transitioning – and frankly, we’re lucky to be looking in from the outside.
Words by Jasmine Valentine
101. Skinamarink (2022)
Director: Kyle Edward Ball
Cast: Lucas Paul, Dali Rose Tetreault, Ross Paul, Jaime Hill
What it’s about: The year is 1995, and Kevin hurts himself while sleepwalking. When he wakes up, he’s in his house – but it’s submerged in darkness, and there are no windows or doors.
Why we like it: Skinamarink is the scariest movie I’ve ever seen as an adult. It made me feel like a child; a wee boy shuffling muffledly, weepily, through sights and sounds I couldn’t even conceive in my worst nightmares. A sense of genuine evil emanates from the film; “Go to sleep,” the face says, and over a year later, I’m still struggling.
Words by Cameron Frew
100. Assassination Nation (2018)
Director: Sam Levinson
Cast: Odessa Young, Suki Waterhouse, Hari Nef
What it’s about: A small town becomes lawless following many of the inhabitants being hacked, leaving a group of teenagers to defend themselves amid the chaos.
Why we like it: Sam Levinson’s fusion of The Purge and Black Mirror is smarter and more entertaining than both, placing several friends at the epicenter of their community’s downfall at the hands of rudimentary cyberterrorism. It’s anarchic, funny, tense, and has a last line so pitch-perfect, other filmmakers should be jealous.
Words by Anthony McGlynn
99. Night of the Hunter (1955)
Director: Charles LaughtonCast: Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian GishWhat it’s about: A criminal goes to great measures to get his hands on a stash of treasure, including pretending to be a preacher and marrying a widow. However, her son doesn’t trust him.Why we like it: A classic film school horror choice, Night of the Hunter is a powerful yet stylish take on mystery. There’s a reason it has been studied frame by frame, and it’s almost too beautiful to actually scare you. It’s also a great chance to enjoy Lillian Gish’s talents without all the… ahem… controversy.
Words by Jasmine Valentine
98. Sleepaway Camp (1983)
Director: Robert Hiltzik
Cast: Felissa Rose, Katherine Kamhi, Paul DeAngelo, Mike Kellin
What it’s about: It’s the summer of 1983, and Angela has just arrived at Camp Arawak with her cousin. She becomes an easy target for bullies, but that should be the least of her worries: a killer is on the loose, offing teenagers in increasingly grim and violent ways.
Why we like it: Sleepaway Camp isn’t a good movie; it’s a low-budget, post-Friday the 13th slasher that’s dourly, sometimes hilariously cynical. But you should be afraid, be very afraid: it ends with the most terrifying image not just of the ‘80s but perhaps all of horror cinema. You won’t see it coming.
Words by Cameron Frew
97. Nope (2022)
Director: Jordan Peele
Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven YeunWhat it’s about: When horses go missing from the Haywood ranch, siblings OJ and Em start investigating and discover that we may not be alone in the universe.Why we like it: A cautionary tale about man’s exploitative relationship with nature and our love of a good show (no matter the risks). Nope is a terrifying tale of the third kind that’s basically Jaws but in the sky. Unsurprisngly, then, you can expect thrills, chills, and a scene so gruesome you’ll be spending the rest of your life flinching at the sight of a hot air balloon.
Words by Tom Percival
96. Tremors (1990)
Director: Ron Underwood
Cast: Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, Reba McEntire
What it’s about: When giant, prehistoric worm monsters start devouring the citizens of Perfection, Nevada, bored handymen Val McKee and Earl Bassett are forced to step in and save the day.
Why we like it: This throwback to the creature features of yesteryear has a little bit of something for everyone. It’s got lovable characters, some great performances, and a unique monster that’ll have you scanning the horizon for the telltale signs of Graboids. Best of all, while it’s definitely a funny film, it never forgets to be scary as well. Basically, it’s perfection!
Words by Tom Percival
95. Strange Darling (2024)
Director: JT Mollner
Cast: Kyle Gallner, Willa Fitzgerald
What it’s about: A prolific serial killer chases a terrified woman, first in a car, then on foot. They end up at a remote house in the woods before the film jumps back in time to earlier in the day, telling its story out of order and doing for horror what Pulp Fiction did for crime movies.
Why we like it: It’s tricky to write about Strange Darling without revealing the movie’s secrets. Writer-director JT Mollner’s script isn’t just about twists and turns, however, as it’s also anchored by two remarkable central performances, with Kyle Gallner and Will Fitzgerald delivering star-making turns that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Words by Chris Tilly
94. Signs (2002)
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Abigail Breslin
What it’s about: When the signs of an alien invasion start becoming noticeable, a former priest and his family must battle with their ideas of faith and unity as they attempt to hold out on their farm.
Why we like it: If The Sixth Sense is Shyamalan’s most famous movie, then Signs is undoubtedly his best. An alien invasion story told in simple form, Shyamalan uses the most basic elements – namely dialogue – to create a truly effective horror story of extraterrestrial contact.
It’s scary without a doubt, and everyone remembers that alien-on-the-news scene, but the horror also comes in the quieter moments, seeping in through the cracks of a family on the verge of falling apart. It is not just one of the best horror movies, but one of the best movies of all time, period.
Words by Jessica Cullen
93. The Others (2001)
Director: Alejandro Amenábar
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Christopher Eccleston, Fionnula Flanagan
What it’s about: In a secluded stately home, a mother protects her photosensitive children from the outside world while waiting for her husband’s return from war. As unsettling events unfold, she begins to suspect the house is haunted.
What we think: In a sea of dead haunted house horrors, The Others elevates itself as a gothic classic. The setting is bordering on suffocating, while its characters and the trauma they’re experiencing are perfectly translated on screen thanks to standout performances (Kidman rarely misses). It’d be outrageous not to shout out the M Night. Shyamalan style twist at the end, but the biggest honorable mention goes to the elderly lady scene that will forever haunt my dreams (no blood required).
Words by Daisy Phillipson
92. Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Director: Tim BurtonCast: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Christopher Walken
What it’s about: Loosely based on Washington Irving’s short story, Sleepy Hollow follows Ichabod Crane, a New York constable sent to the eerie titular town to investigate a series of gruesome beheadings. He uncovers a dark conspiracy connected to the town’s fabled Headless Horseman, a ghostly rider seeking revenge.
What we think: There’s no denying you’ve got to be in the mood for a Tim Burton film. But when better to tune into his best (don’t @ me) flick than Halloween? The filmmaker was undeniably the perfect fit to recreate Irving’s gothic tale, envisioning the grey-hued, foggy world so perfectly that you almost feel like you could step into it. And the balance of humor and horror is sharper than the cast’s cheekbones.
Words by Daisy Phillipson
91. Saint Maud (2019)
Director: Rose GlassCast: Morfyyd Clark, Jennifer Ehle, Lily Frazer, Lily Knight, Marcus HuttonWhat it’s about: Devout young nurse Maud is intent on saving the soul of a dying private patient she’s now in charge of… and she’ll do anything to make sure that happens.Why we like it: Rose Glass you absolute beauty. There’s a big chance you’ve seen her other hit, Love Lies Bleeding, this year – but Saint Maud ups the ante for creepy thrills. There’s something so spin-chilling about Maud’s movements and behavior that you can’t put your finger on it, yet it follows you for a lifetime. This one doesn’t come down to dialogue, so it’s the unspoken horror you need to watch out for.
Words by Jasmine Valentine
90. Us (2019)
Director: Jordan PeeleCast: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan AlexWhat it’s about: Us follows Adelaide Wilson and her family as they’re hunted down by murderous doppelgangers, the Tethered, who have seemingly appeared out of nowhere.Why we like it: While Us may not have garnered the same pop culture buzz that Get Out did, Peele’s sophomore picture is every bit as sharp as his first effort. On the surface, it’s a shockingly violent and thrilling fight for survival, but look under the film’s red jumpsuit, and you’ll find a withering takedown of class and privilege in contemporary America.
Words by Tom Percival
89. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Director: Dan TrachtenbergCast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, John Gallagher Jr. What it’s about: When Michelle crashes her car, she awakens in a strange bunker with a man named Howard, who claims aliens have invaded the Earth. Is he telling the truth, or does Howard have a more sinister reason for keeping Michelle locked in with him?Why we like it: Genuinely unsettling and agonizingly tense, 10 Cloverfield Lane is a claustrophobic nightmare. That’s down to two things: Dan Trachtenberg’s impeccable direction and clever use of the bunker set and John Goodman’s psychotically mercurial performance. Be warned, it loses itself a little in the third act, but honestly, this is still probably the best film in the Cloverfield franchise.
Words by Tom Percival
88. The Devil’s Backbone (2001)
Director: Guillermo Del Toro
Cast: Fernando Tielve, Eduardo Noriega, Marisa Paredes
What it’s about: Set in Spain in 1939, The Devil’s Backbone begins with a young boy arriving at an orphanage during the Civil War, where he soon finds himself haunted by the ghost of a dead child.
Why we like it: Many of the most memorable scary movies combine horror with tragedy, and The Devil’s Backbone is one of the all-time greats. Directed and co-written by master of the genre Guillermo Del Toro, it’s a gothic scarer where the ghostly elements are terrifying. But they pale in comparison to the heinous acts committed by those still alive, which is where the movie’s true horror lies.
Words by Chris Tilly
87. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (2020)
Director: Haruo SotozakiCast: Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kitō, Satoshi Hino (Japanese) / Zach Aguilar, Abby Trott, Mark Whitten (English)What it’s about: Tanjiro, Nezuko, and their friends join the Flame Hashira on a treacherous mission to slay a demon who’s feasted on over 40 victims.Why we like it: After a long, successful first season, Mugen Train demonstrates the high aspirations of Ufotable for Demon Slayer. The breathing techniques are more captivating, the color and flow more vivid, and the scares more chilling. It’s a thrilling gateway not just into one of the best-animated franchises of modern times but anime as a whole.
Words by Anthony McGlynn
86. eXistenZ (1999)
Director: David Cronenberg
Cast: Jude Law, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ian Holm
What it’s about: Players in a hyper-realistic VR game start questioning reality when a manhunt for the lead designer bleeds into the virtual world.
Why we like it: This film is nauseating. The squelchy sound design and underlying meltdown of what we perceive and the human body combine for something that just sits in your belly, gnawing away. Ever ahead of the curve, Cronenberg sees video games as an unchecked escape where the culture war becomes a psychological minefield. His version is scarier, but it’s a damn sight more exciting too.
Words by Anthony McGlynn
85. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Director: James WhaleCast: Boris Karloff, Elsa Lanchester, Colin Clive, Una O’Connor, Valerie HobsonWhat it’s about: You’ve probably worked this one out – just as Frankenstein is about to ditch his scientific experiments, Dr Pretorius kidnaps his wife. As a result, he must create a new creature to track her down.Why we like it: The old adage claims we shouldn’t open Pandora’s box, but I’m glad Frankenstein did – his brood of monsters made horror history. As far as sequels go, it’s one of the strongest in a series, with the actual terrifying content visual mastery. Bear in mind this was released in 1935, yet its concept has remained timeless. Bravo, Mr. Whale.
Words by Jasmine Valentine
84. Phantasm (1979)
Director: Don Coscarelli
Cast: A. Michael Baldwin, Reggie Banister, Angus Scrimm
What it’s about: A boy called Mike teams up with his big brother Jody and friend Reggie to do battle with the Tall Man, an alien undertaker who turns human corpses into zombie dwarves that then become slaves on his home planet.
Why we like it: Writer-director Don Coscarelli had a very specific vision for Phantasm, crafting a film that feels like it plays out somewhere between dream and waking nightmare. The visuals were shot on a shoestring budget but manage to be both surreal and terrifying, most notably those deadly flying spheres. Meanwhile, Angus Scrimm’s Tall Man is one of the great horror villains.
Words by Chris Tilly
83. Barbarian (2022)
Director: Zach Cregger
Cast: Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, Justin Long
What it’s about: On a rainy Detroit night, a young woman arrives at her Airbnb and finds another man in the house. It must be a double booking… so he says. She walks inside, unaware of the terrors that await her.
Why we like it: You think Barbarian is one thing, and then it’s another… and then it’s another. Cregger plays with your instincts, twisting them like the flesh under your arm – be real, could you resist Bill Skarsgård and a bottle of wine? – until you’ve slipped down the rabbit hole. It’s one of the most exciting horror movies of the decade – just don’t read too much before you knock on its door.
Words by Cameron Frew
82. Evil Dead Rise (2023)
Director: Lee Cronin Cast: Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies
What it’s about: When a teenager reads from a strange book he finds hidden in his apartment’s basement, he inadvertently summons the demonic Deadites, and things only get worse (and bloodier) from there.Why we like it: Ghoulish and gory Evil Dead Rise captures the anarchic dark magic of Raimi’s original trilogy and drags into kicking, screaming, and swearing into the 2020s. Bruce Campbell’s Ash might not make an appearance, but Cronin’s love for the original films is clear from his use of practical effects, terrifying monsters, and gallons of fake blood. Basically, this franchise is still groovy, in my opinion.
Words by Tom Percival
81. Insidious (2010)
Director: James Wan
Cast: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye
What it’s about: After moving into their new house, a couple’s young son mysteriously falls into a coma, and as they attempt to wait it out, Josh and Renai soon find that they’re being followed by several threatening entities wherever they go.
Why we like it: At this point in time, it might be considered a little gauche to still think James Wan’s earlier works absolutely rock, but it’s true. Insidious opened the doors in the early 2010s for horror to be considered scary once again. There are jump scares galore, which isn’t always something to celebrate, but Wan does them so well.
There’s always a darkened corner to look at and always a mysterious sound to investigate, and Wan knows how to play with our minds like little puppets every single time. Long live Insidious, and long live his horror expertise.
Words by Jessica Cullen
80. It (1990)
Director: Tommy Lee Wallace
Cast: Tim Curry, John Ritter, Annette O’TooleWhat it’s about: In Derry, a ragtag group of friends attempts to survive the mischievous and evil clown known as Pennywise as he follows them through their living dreams and time itself to feed off their fear.
Why we like it: Much praise has been given to Andy Muschietti’s two-part reboot of IT, and that’s well-deserved. But without the original ‘90s TV movie that first brought the character to life via the incomparable genius of Tim Curry, Pennywise wouldn’t be the horror diva he is today.
Yes, it’s long and undeniably cheesy, but if you saw the sewer drain sequence as a kid, you’ll know just how unshakable this retro adaptation really was.Words by Jessica Cullen
79. Candyman (1992)
Director: Bernard Rose
Cast: Tony Todd, Virginia Madsen
What it’s about: While completing a thesis on urban legends, a young graduate student finds herself entranced by the legend of Candyman, a ghost who slaughters victims in the Cabrini–Green housing project in Chicago.
Why we like it: The Candyman reboot in 2021 did a fine job of modernizing this urban legend tale, but the original is where it’s really at. From the big coats and leather gloves to the distinguished Tony Todd giving one of the most haunting performances of an on-screen villain ever seen, Candyman is an absolute gem that’s best watched in the dark and alone. Just make sure you’re not around any bees, mind you.
Words by Jessica Cullen
78. Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017)
Director: Issa López
Cast: Paola Lara, Juan Ramón López, Ianis Guerrero
What it’s about: A gang of orphans and street children struggle to survive Mexico’s brutal drug war, as well as a threat that might be more supernatural.
Why we like it: Writer-director Issa López announced herself on the world stage with this stunning feature that combines unspeakable horror with enchanting magical realism. Gang violence and death lurk around every corner for the children in question, with the central story concerning the search for a pair of kidnapped parents. Both heartbreaking and provocative, Tigers Are Not Afraid is also one of the most visually inventive horror movies of the 21st century.
Words by Chris Tilly
77. Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
Director: Jack ArnoldCast: Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, Nestor PaivaWhat it’s about: A team of experts venture into the Amazon forest and find the Black Lagoon. They enter the water when, surprise, they find an unsightly creature.Why we like it: When you watch a scary movie from the 1950s, you know it’s not scary by how dated it is – yet there’s something so fascinating that you can’t look away. Black Lagoon is the embodiment of that feeling, with our creature (who’s really some poor guy in a heavy suit) rightly a horror icon. The plot is actually just as compelling, the precursor to the likes of Jaws and Alien.
Words by Jasmine Valentine
76. Raw (2016)
Director: Julia Ducournau
Cast: Garance Marillier, Ella Rumpf, Rabah Naït Oufella
What it’s about: A lifelong vegetarian begins veterinary school and undergoes a bizarre hazing ritual that forces her to eat raw meat. This experience triggers a disturbing transformation as she develops an insatiable craving for human flesh, unraveling her sense of self and uncovering dark family secrets.
What we think: Heading to college is a universally awkward experience, so you can only imagine how much worse those first few weeks would’ve been had a hazing ritual turned you into a blood-thirsty cannibal. Ducournau is a master in the body horror realm (if you’ve watched Titane, you’ll know what I’m saying), and Raw is the perfect example. It’s gross, it’s funny, it’s weirdly erotic… and it’ll make you never want to eat meat again.
Words by Daisy Phillipson
75. Mad God (2021)
Director: Phil Tippett
What it’s about: An unnamed figure descends the depths of madness and the macabre on an unscrupulous mission that involves the rebirth of the universe.
Why we like it: It took effects legend Phil Tippett decades to piece together the stop-motion splendor of Mad God, and the finished work is truly mystifying. Spiritual and philosophical machinations grind against dark, grimy pits of nihilism and despair, yet the sense of beauty is omnipresent. This is the work of the eponymous figure, and their powers are magnificent.
Words by Anthony McGlynn
74. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Director: Edgar WrightCast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Lucy DavisWhat it’s about: When the zombie apocalypse begins, Shaun and his mates go to the safest place they know, the pub, and wait for things to blow over. Why we like it: Shaun of the Dead might be the finest horror comedy ever made, perfectly walking the fine line between goofiness and ghoulishness. While it’s probably best remembered these days for its incredibly quotable script and amazing one-liners, you shouldn’t forget it’s a genuinely creepy film with one of the grisliest onscreen deaths I’ve ever seen. RIP David, you were a pr*ck, but you didn’t deserve to go out like that.
Words by Tom Percival
73. Train to Busan (2016)
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Cast: Gong Yoo, Kim Su-an, Ma Dong-seok, Jung Yu-mi
What it’s about: A father and daughter board a train to Busan just as a deadly zombie outbreak sweeps across South Korea. As passengers fight to survive, the line becomes a high-speed battleground, forcing them to make impossible decisions.
What we think: Train to Busan is more than just a zombie flick; it’s packed with emotional depth and social commentary, delivering nail-biting tension alongside heartfelt asides. The relentless pace, claustrophobic setting, and well-developed characters make it a standout in the packed-out subgenre. As for the zombies themselves, these demonic fast boys are all kinds of nope.
Words by Daisy Phillipson
72. The Entity (1982)
Director: Sidney J. FurieCast: Barbara Hershey, Ron Silver, David Labiosa
What it’s about: Adapted from Frank De Felitta’s 1978 novel of the same name, this horrifying ghost story tells the tale of Carla, a single mother who finds herself tormented by a sexually abusive poltergeist.
Why we like it: Harrowing and controversial, The Entity is one of the most disturbing horror films ever made. While its premise may sound exploitative, there’s nothing titillating about this intense thriller, which is made all the more disturbing by Barbara Hershey’s impeccable performance as the tortured Carla. There’s a reason Martin Scorsese considers this one scarier than Psycho or The Shining.
Words by Tom Percival
71. Frankenstein (1931)
Director: James WhaleCast: Boris Karloff, Colin CliveWhat it’s about: Based on Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel of the same name, this fiendish feature tells the story of Doctor Frankenstein and the reanimated mockery of a man he creates. But who’s the real monster: the creature or the man who created him? Why we like it: A classic Frankenstein may not have modern horror hounds hiding behind the couch, but its importance can not be overstated. When you think of Frankenstein, the green flat-topped creature you’re imagining is the monster Karloff played; not only that, it basically codified what a ‘mad scientist’ looks like from the white coat to the frantic cries of “It’s alive” and even the hunchbacked assistant.
Words by Tom Percival
70. Saw (2004)
Director: James Wan
Cast: Tobin Bell, Leigh Whannell, Shawnee Smith, Cary Elwes
What it’s about: Two strangers wake up in a filthy bathroom, chained to pipes, and discover they are part of a twisted game orchestrated by the sadistic Jigsaw killer. To survive, they must follow his horrifying rules, all while unraveling the mystery of how they got there.
What we think: “I want to play a game,” a simple sentence that would go on to send chills down the spine of horror fans worldwide. This is where it all began, and it remains the best Saw movie ever made.
With its unique premise and innovative Medieval-style torture traps, this disturbing thriller redefined the genre. The inventive, low-budget approach and its unforgettable twist ending make the first Saw an enduring cult classic, spawning the horror mega-franchise it is today.
Words by Daisy Phillipson
69. The Changeling (1980)
Director: Peter Medak
Cast: George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere, Melvyn Douglas
What it’s about: Following the death of his wife and daughter, composer John Russell retires to a Seattle mansion. Unfortunately, John’s hopes for peace are dashed when things start going bump in the night, prompting him to investigate what’s causing the haunting.
Why we like it: Deeply unsettling and surprisingly moving, this melancholic haunted house flick should be a blueprint for all other ghost stories. I’m not quite sure what the magic ingredient is here. It could be Scott’s brilliant performance or perhaps Medak’s penchant for an uneasy visual, but there’s something, appropriately, haunting about this eerie thriller.
Words by Tom Percival
68. Paranormal Activity (2007)
Director: Oren Peli
Cast: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Mark Fredrichs
What it’s about: A couple moves into a suburban home and starts experiencing increasingly disturbing paranormal occurrences. Through a series of home video recordings, they capture escalating supernatural activity as a malevolent force threatens their safety.
What we think: Say what you want about where the franchise has gone in recent years, but I dare naysayers to watch the OG at night with the lights turned off and not need a chaperone to the bathroom for the rest of the night. Paranormal Activity redefined not only the supernatural subgenre but horror as a whole. It’s one of few mainstream movies that masters the art of subtlety – what we can’t see will always be scarier.
Words by Daisy Phillipson
67. A Quiet Place (2018)
Director: John KrasinskiCast: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah JupeWhat it’s about: When alien creatures that hunt using sound attack the Earth, one family struggles to survive in silence. Why we like it: Boasting a relatively unique concept and some stellar performances, most notably from Simmonds, A Quiet Place is a quietly powerful piece of filmmaking. It’s also bloody frightening as well, yet I guarantee it’s not the aliens you’ll remember after you finish watching it. It’s Emily Blunt’s poor foot!
Words by Tom Percival
66. Creep (2014)
Director: Patrick Brice
Cast: Mark Duplass, Patrick Brice
What it’s about: A videographer takes a seemingly simple job documenting a man’s last days before he dies of a terminal illness. However, as the day progresses, the man’s strange behavior becomes increasingly unsettling, revealing a much darker and twisted reality.
What we think: The first Creep breathed new life into the found-footage subgenre, mastering the art of keeping it simple. Duplass’s impeccably unhinged performance makes for a deeply uncomfortable yet hilarious ride.It thrives on unpredictability, with chilling moments that keep you on edge throughout its short but memorable runtime. The twist ending perfectly paved the way for Creep 2 (also worth adding to your watchlist this Halloween), while establishing Peach Fuzz as an unexpected horror icon.
Words by Daisy Phillipson
65. The Woman in Black (2012)
Director: James Watkins
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds
What it’s about: A widowed lawyer travels to an isolated house where he must sort through the possessions of a deceased woman, only to find during the dark and empty nights that her spirit still haunts the village and the children within it.
Why we like it: If you’ve seen the stage play, then you might (wrongly) assume that Susan Hill’s ghostly tale couldn’t get any scarier. Well, The Woman in Black is one of the best literary horror adaptations around. Daniel Radcliffe puts in one of his greatest post-Potter performances, and James Watkins does what he does best: make you want to pull out your own eyes just so you won’t have to witness the horrors.
Words by Jessica Cullen
64. Midsommar (2019)
Director: Ari Aster
Cast: Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Will Poulter
What it’s about: In the wake of an unimaginable tragedy, Dani joins her boyfriend Christian and his friends on a trip to Sweden for a historic midsummer festival. However, their “acclimation” to the wacky culture of the commune’s insular residents grows increasingly sinister.
Why we like it: Ari Aster is keener on what goes bump in the head, not the night – aptly, Midsommar is a daymare like nothing you’d ever wish to experience. Beautiful and perverse; a bad trip in celluloid, as overwhelming emotional, lurid, and numbing as that can be. Skål!
Words by Cameron Frew
63. Peeping Tom (1960)
Director: Michael Powell
Cast: Carl Boehm, Moira Shearer, Anna Massey
What it’s about: Mark Lewis is an aspiring film director who makes a living as a photographer. But his subjects little realize that Mark is also a serial killer, murdering women with a blade concealed in his camera’s tripod and filming their reactions as they die.
Why we like it: The same year that Psycho was receiving plaudits and becoming a box office sensation, the similarly themed Peeping Tom was putting an end to Michael Powell’s directing career. Critics lambasted the controversial subject matter and extreme violence at the time, but more than 70 years on, Peeping Tom has lost none of its power. The film’s themes of voyeurism and perversion – which trigger questions about audience responsibility and participation – are more timely than ever.
Words by Chris Tilly
62. The Orphanage (2007)
Director: J. A. Bayona
Cast: Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Príncep
What it’s about: Laura García Rodríguez dreams of restoring the abandoned orphanage she grew up in, but that fantasy becomes a nightmare when the spirits in the building take an interest in her young son.
Why we like it: One of the scariest films I’ve ever had the misfortune to sit through (on first watch, I actually stopped halfway through I was so disturbed) The Orphanage brilliantly plays with audience expectations building to a climax so horrifying it still sends shivers down my spine nearly two decades after its release.
Words by Tom Percival
61. Oculus (2013)
Director: Mike Flanagan
Cast: Karen Gillan, Brenton Thwaites, Katee Sackhoff
What it’s about: Siblings Tim and Kaylie reunite to smash a haunted mirror that they’re convinced drove their father insane… it’s better than it sounds, we promise.
Why we like it: Before he was a household name, Mike Flanagan made Oculus a mind-bending and truly unnerving thriller about a haunted mirror. Yes, that sounds like a lame episode of Twilight Zone, but this relatively simple concept is elevated by Flanagan’s keen eye for a horrific visual, a creepy atmosphere, and superb performances from Gillan and Thwaites.
Words by Tom Percival
60. The Sixth Sense (1999)
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Colette, Olivia Williams, Donnie Wahlberg
What it’s about: Cole Sear is a child who can communicate with the dead, with his parents seeking the help of Dr. Malcolm Crowe. Rather than help Cole out of his problems, Malcolm gets dragged into them.
Why we like it: If you’ve managed to go this long without learning what the twist is, you’ve got the best cinematic experience of your life ahead of you. Bruce Willis deftly turns his hand to a nuanced role packed with emotion, and Shyamalan has never been as Shyamalan-y since. Throw in a troubled child and you have a story that you’ll struggle to ever forget.
Words by Jasmine Valentine
59. The Wailing (2016)
Director: Na Hong-jin
Cast: Kwak Do-won, Hwang Jung-min, Chun Woo-hee, Jun Kunimura
What it’s about: Just as a mysterious stranger arrives in Gokseong village, a bizarre infection spreads among the townspeople. When the local police officer Jong-goo’s daughter becomes infected, he becomes convinced there’s a connection between the stranger and the virus.
Why we like it: A deviously delightful mystery, The Wailing is a veritable all-you-can-eat buffet for horror fans. You name it, it’s got it. Zombies? Yes. Demonic possession? You betcha! A downbeat ending that’ll leave a void in your soul. Hoo boy, yes!
Words by Tom Percival
58. Grave Encounters (2011)
Director: The Vicious Brothers
Cast: Sean Rogerson, Ashleigh Gryzko, Merwin Mondesir, Mackenzie Gray, Juan Riedinger
What it’s about: A TV crew locks themselves in an abandoned psychiatric hospital overnight, hoping to capture paranormal phenomena on film. Their naivety comes at a price, and soon, they understand the true meaning of a grave encounter.
Why we like it: A horror movie that backs itself on how many times people watched its trailer shouldn’t be good. Grave Encounters defies the odds, both as a charming, affectionate ode to ghost-hunting entertainment and a genuine chiller. There’s a gripping mystery at its core, and like any good found-footage film, you quickly forget their fate is a foregone conclusion.
Words by Cameron Frew
57. Ju-on (2000)
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Cast: Yūrei Yanagi, Chiaki Kuriyama, Hitomi Miwa
What it’s about: When the Murakami family moves into their new home, they’re tormented by the spirits of the previous occupants who were brutally murdered.
Why we like it: Ju-On is probably one of the creepiest and most unsettling films I’ve ever seen. While the pacing is all over the place and the plot haphazard, you’ll be too busy buying your face in a cushion, so you don’t have to look at the screen anymore, to notice.
Words by Tom Percival
56. Dracula (1931)
Director: Tod BrowningCast: Bela Lugosi, David Manners, Helen ChandlerWhat it’s about: When Renfield travels to Transylvania to help the eccentric count Dracula rent Carfax Abbey, he unwittingly sets a bloodthirsty vampire on the good people of England. Why we like it: It’s funny to think of a Dracula film being seen as a risky proposition, but when the film was released, Hollywood execs weren’t sure audiences were ready for the Count. Thankfully, audiences were as beguiled by Dracula as poor Lucy Weston, and the film became a phenomenon, cementing Lugosi’s place in the horror hall of fame and making Dracula an icon of the genre.
Words by Tom Percival
55. The Birds (1963)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast: Tippi Hedron, Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy
What it’s about: Over the course of a few days in Bodega Bay, California, flocks of birds suddenly, violently, and inexplicably attack the locals.
Why we like it: Loosely based on a short story by Daphne du Maurier, The Birds was turned into a terrifying celluloid experience thanks to a combination of cutting-edge visual effects, and the pacing and framing of director Alfred Hitchcock. All of which was helped by his somewhat questionable tactic of flinging actual birds at star Tippi Hedron, meaning her terror is frequently real.
Words by Chris Tilly
54. Suspiria (1977)
Director: Dario ArgentoCast: Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé, Alida ValliWhat it’s about: American student Susie travels to Berlin to attend a prestigious dance school. Once she gets there, something feels off… and girls start going missing.Why we like it: The King of Giallo movies (which is basically Italian horror) is truly at his peak with his most famous film. Bewitching and stylized like you’ve never seen before – bonus points to the soundtrack here – Suspiria is truly a fever nightmare from beginning to end. Don’t compare it to Luca Guadagnino’s remake; it’s completely different.
Words by Jasmine Valentine
53. Jennifer’s Body (2009)
Director: Karyn KusamaCast: Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, J. K. Simmons, Amy SedarisWhat it’s about: Jennifer becomes possessed after being sacrificed to Satan – and as a result, she spends her days killing boys at school. After finding out, it’s up to best friend Anita to stop her.Why we like it: She has the cops in her back pocket… she’s f**king a cadet, remember? Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried’s twisted sapphic connection defined girl crushes for an entire generation. Jennifer’s Body is far from perfect, but its unique premise and (frankly hot) take on zombies means you’ll want to revisit it again and again.
Words by Jasmine Valentine
52. 28 Days Later (2002)
Director: Danny Boyle
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston
What it’s about: After waking from a coma, a man discovers that a rage-inducing virus has decimated the UK’s population – either they’re dead or they’re zombies. As he joins a small group of survivors, they must navigate through a lawless and terrifying world overrun by the infected.What we think: Ever since 28 Days Later first dropped, I’ve said “in a heartbeat” it’s in the top five zombie movies ever made, and my opinion hasn’t changed. Boyle’s horror tour de force made zombies scary again, bringing fast boys back into the mainstream.
Impeccable writing, outstanding performances, and its gritty atmosphere generate an emotional depth that makes 28 Days Later more than just a horror; it’s also a meditation on survival, human nature, and society’s collapse.
Words by Daisy Phillipson
51. The Invisible Man (2020)
Director: Leigh Whannell
Cast: Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Storm ReidWhat it’s about: An invisible man… what did you expect?Why we like it: This clever and thrilling update to the classic story The Invisible Man puts a feminist spin on the terror of the unseen. When we say terror, we mean it. This is a seriously scary film that’s as distressing as it is gory. Seriously, Emily’s death still haunts me four years after I first saw it.
Words by Tom Percival
50. Gremlins (1984)
Director: Joe Dante
Cast: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Polly Holliday, Frances Lee McCain
What it’s about: Billy’s dad gets him a new pet for Christmas, but it’s not a dog or a cat; it’s a mogwai, a fuzzy, big-eared, mysterious creature. It comes with three instructions: no sunlight, no water, and no food after midnight. In this case, some rules aren’t made to be broken.
Why we like it: Gizmo is the single cutest creature in all of cinema (sorry, Grogu, but he got there first). But there’s more to Gremlins than its singing mogwai: it’s a gleefully macabre, delightfully frightening bedtime story that’s the perfect gateway horror movie for kids and a timeless treat for adults.
Words by Cameron Frew
49. Talk to Me (2022)
Directors: Danny and Michael PhilippouCast: Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Joe BirdWhat it’s about: A group of teenagers start using a mysterious porcelain hand to contact the spirit world. Sadly it turns out this hand’s grip is harder to break than any of them realize. Why we like it: A haunting exploration of grief and addiction, Talk to Me is as creepy as it is traumatic. Arguably, though, what makes this film so impressive are the startling ghosts who are brought to unlife by the clever use of practical effects and Sophie Wilde’s superb performance.
Words by Tom Percival
48. The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Director: James WanCast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick WilsonWhat it’s about: Based on the real-life misadventures of Ed and Lorraine Warren, this sequel sees the paranormal investigators travel to Enfield to deal with a troublesome poltergeist. Why we like it: James Wan doesn’t make movies. He makes thrill rides, and few of his films are as thrilling as The Conjuring 2, which might just be the definitive haunted house movie. Seriously, it’s got everything you could want: a ghostly presence, a creepy kid, and a larger threat pulling the strings behind the scenes. What’s not to love?
Words by Tom Percival
47. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Director: Jonathan Demme
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Ted LevineWhat it’s about: While working on the disturbing and unresolved case of a serial killer, FBI trainee Clarice Starling is sent to gain insight from the cannibalistic Hannibal Lecter, a highly intelligent killer who seems to know her better than she knows herself.
Why we like it: While Silence of the Lambs is more of a thriller than anything else, there are moments in this crime adaptation that rival even some of the best modern horrors. From the visceral imagery inspired by real-life serial killers to a hauntingly shot climax, everything about Silence of the Lambs is designed to get under your skin. And that it does, in such a way that you’ll find yourself thinking about it for weeks on end.
Words by Jessica Cullen
46. Speak No Evil (2022)
Director: Christian Tafdrup
Cast: Morten Burian, Sidsel Siem Koch, Fedja van Huêt Karina Smulders
What it’s about: While on holiday in Italy, a small Danish family meets a Dutch couple with a mute young boy. They’re a bit rude but also quite refreshing. Once they’re back home, they visit their rural country home, and awkward moments snowball into something far more malicious.
Why we like it: Speak No Evil brilliantly and squirmingly asks one question: how uncomfortable do you need to be before you break the politeness barrier and risk mortifying yourself? It tests your limits, showcasing the terror in inadvertent servitude, and unlike its excellent, but more palatable remake, this is one of the most harrowing horror movies of the decade.
Words by Cameron Frew
45. The Mist (2007)
Director: Frank DarabontCast: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden
What it’s about: When a strange mist full of monsters traps the citizens of Bridgton, Maine, in a supermarket, the desperate townsfolk must band together to survive. But is the real threat in the fog or in the store with them?Why we like it: A brutally cynical story, The Mist examines humanity’s worst impulses and is a powerful reminder that under the superficial wrapping of civilization, people are b*stards. It’s probably the best film based on any of King’s horror stories (Sorry, Kubrick fans), but that’s hardly surprising when you consider Darabont, the master of the King adaptation, made it.
Words by Tom Percival
44. Let the Right One In (2008)
Director: Tomas AlfredsonCast: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per RagnarWhat it’s about: An adaptation of John Ajvide Lindqvist’s novel of the same name, Let The Right One In follows Oskar, a young boy who befriends a vampire. Why we like it: A clever reimagining of the vampire formula, Let The Right One In is a restrained and morbid film that captures the melancholy and loneliness of eternal life. While the story’s darker than a black wall in a goth’s bedroom, you shouldn’t think it’s all doom and gloom; there’s a surprising amount of bloodletting that’ll catch you off guard.
Words by Tom Percival
43. Drag Me to Hell (2009)
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver, Dileep Rao, David Paymer
What it’s about: Christine Brown refuses an old lady an extension on her loan, then all hell (pun intended) breaks loose. She gets the curse of the Lamia placed on her, and that speaks for itself.
Why we like it: My dad didn’t take me to the cinema often as a kid, but the few times he did, it ended up being unhinged horrors like this. Drag Me to Hell is a truly hideous spectacle, but the kind you can be genuinely scared of and laugh at simultaneously. For as long as I live, I will never forget our beloved demon vomiting directly into Alison Lohman’s mouth.
Words by Jasmine Valentine
42. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Director: John LandisCast: David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Griffin DunneWhat it’s about: When David’s attacked by a mysterious beast while hiking in the Yorkshire Dales, he’s taken to London for treatment. While there, though, he begins to undergo a horrifying transformation.Why we like it: While American Werewolf is rightfully remembered for its iconic transformation sequence, which was brought to life through Rick Baker’s incredible prosthetic work, it’s easy to forget that there’s a great horror film under the wolf’s fur. I’ve always found the werewolf Nazi dream sequence oddly scary, and who could forget the undead Jack’s slowly decomposing visage.
Words by Tom Percival
41. Longlegs (2024)
Director: Oz PerkinsCast: Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Blair Underwood, Alicia WittWhat it’s about: Young FBI agent Lee Harker is tasked with taking down Longlegs, a serial killer who seemingly murders his victims without being anywhere near the crime scene. As she digs into the case, however, she finds a horrifying secret that links the killer to her childhood.
Why we like it: Described by some as one of the scariest movies ever made, Longlegs is a genuinely terrifying experience that takes devilish delight in its atmospheric thrills.
The true stars of the show, though, are Monroe, who sells the scares, and Cage, who gives one of the most grotesque and unhinged performances in a career full of grotesque and unhinged performances. If you’ve not seen it, I can’t recommend it enough, and if you have, why not watch it again and play a fun game of Spot Satan? It’s like Where’s Waldo for occultists!
Words by Tom Percival
40. X (2022)
Director: Ti West
Cast: Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Martin Henderson
What it’s about: A group of actors set out to make an adult film in rural Texas under the noses of their reclusive elderly hosts. Predictably, their sex shenanigans are quickly exposed, and let’s just say things get weird from there.
What we think: X put a new spin on the sexy slasher flick. Boasting characters you could empathize with — and sympathetic killers — Ti West clearly understood that the secret to making a memorable movie lay in making horror as relatable as possible.
Words by Lucy-Jo Finnighan
39. Krampus (2015)
Director: Michael Dougherty
Cast: Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner
What it’s about: Krampus puts a horrific twist on Santa Claus based on the ancient legend about a pagan creature who punishes children on Christmas. A warring family who have forgotten the true meaning of the holiday is about to find out about him in this brilliant Christmas horror movie.
What we think: Mike Dougherty’s Krampus uses creepy lore, a snowstorm setting, and witty family dynamics in this excellent horror-comedy. What would have been straight-to-DVD trash in someone else’s hands is a wildly creative festive nightmare in his, with a cruel sense of humor and wicked mythology.
Words by Trudie Graham
38. Jurassic Park (1993)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum
What it’s about: Bringing dinosaurs back to life stands among the greatest of Spielberg’s achievements. Along the way, the filmmaking wizard manages to wrap up a tense, gory slice of survival horror in what seems like a family adventure. The visitors trapped in the eponymous park narrowly avoid velociraptors and a T-Rex, though some aren’t so lucky.
What we think: Some cognitive dissonance is created by John Williams, whose soaring themes embrace the wondrousness of science. There’s a lot to admire about Isla Nublar, not least that Spielberg managed to make something so entertaining out of Michael Crichton’s much drier novel. But if one thing is clear by the end, it’s that we’re better off leaving dino fossils at the museum.
Words by Anthony McGlynn
37. House of Wax (1953)
Director: Andre de Toth
Cast: Vincent Price, Frank Lovejoy, Phyllis Kirk
What it’s about: Set in 1900s New York, House of Wax follows a talented yet vengeful sculptor. After a fiery betrayal leaves him disfigured, he rebuilds his wax museum with startlingly lifelike statues. As the city grapples with mysterious disappearances, a dark secret behind the museum’s eerily realistic exhibits is revealed.
What we think: House of Wax is a cinematic jewel that melds horror with artistry, bolstered by the fact it was one of the first movies filmed in 3D. Its rich atmospheric setting, combined with hauntingly detailed wax figures, offers a chilling exploration of the boundary between life and art. Alongside 1900s New York as its backdrop, the film’s macabre allure is amplified by Vincent Price’s impeccable performance.
Words by Daisy Phillipson
36. The Ring (2002)
Director: Gore Verbinski
Cast: Naomi Watts, Brian Cox, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman
What it’s about: After a supposedly cursed videotape leads to the death of her niece, a reporter decides to investigate exactly what happened. She watches the film, and moments later, she receives an ominous warning over the phone: “Seven days.”
What we think: Gore Verbinski’s US adaptation of Hideo Nakata’s chiller is one of the best translations of a foreign text not just in horror, but cinema as a whole. The grimly infectious tape, the reckoning call of “You’re gonna die in seven days”, the deft use of VFX in bringing Samara and her curse to life. An artful, mainstream remake.
Words by Cameron Frew
35. It Follows (2014)
Director: David Robert Mitchell
Cast: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Olivia Luccardi
What it’s about: When Jay decides to have sex for the first time, she ends up the unwitting recipient of a deadly curse passed on by her boyfriend. Stalked by a relentless and ever-changing presence that only she can see, Jay must either pass on the curse or find a way to defeat it.
What we think: It Follows is one of the finest modern horrors, and a severely underrated horror movie at that. Director David Robert Mitchell creates an unbearable tension through the second-hand paranoia the audience feels watching Jay’s experience unfold. From striking, nightmarish visuals to a truly epic score, and inch-perfect production design, It Follows is a technical masterclass and offers a fascinating allegory for the anxieties of teenage life.
Words by Jakob Barnes
34. The Babadook (2014)
Director: Jennifer Kent
Cast: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Hayley McElhinney
What it’s about: After reading a horrifying children’s book, a grieving mother becomes convinced that some otherworldly spirit is tormenting her and her son.
What we think: Rich in subtext and scarier than a trip to the morgue, The Babadook manages to be both an effective examination of mourning and fears around parenthood while also being one of the most terrifying films of the new millennium.
Kent’s monochromatic vision of a world ripped apart by grief and the clear, simmering hatred the mother feels for her son only adds to the uncomfortableness of this unsettling picture. While the Babadook himself may have gone on to become an LGBTQ+ icon, it’s important to remember that when we first met him in this movie, the only letters he was interested in were LGTBQ (Let’s Get That Boy Quickly)… I’m so sorry.
Words by Tom Percival
33. The Strangers (2008)
Director: Bryan Bertino
Cast: Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman
What it’s about: A couple in an isolated vacation home are tormented by three strangers in the depths of the night. Why? Because “they were home.”
What we think: Horror can be flamboyant, otherworldly, fantastical, but it can also be nerve-rattlingly simple. The Strangers taps into one fear: what if there was an intruder in your home, and you didn’t even know it? As one masked killer emerges from the shadows and then simply disappears, your chin will remain attached to your shoulder.
Words by Cameron Frew
32. The Descent (2005)
Director: Neil Marshall
Cast: Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid
What it’s about: A group of women embark on a caving expedition, which goes horribly wrong, and they find themselves trapped underground and at the mercy of bloodthirsty monsters.
What we think: The dark has always been the impetus of many horror movies. But when you’re in the dark, trapped miles underground, with a group of expert predators on your tail, the terror seems even greater. Claustrophobic to the point of distress, The Descent is truly a trip into Hell.
Words by Jessica Cullen
31. Alien (1979)
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Tom Skerritt, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm
What it’s about: The crew of a spacecraft, the Nostromo, intercepts a distress signal from a planet and sets out to investigate it. However, to their horror, they are attacked by an alien, which later invades their ship.
What we think: If you haven’t reenacted a supernatural creature bursting from your chest, you haven’t lived. Sigourney Weaver is Sigourney-ing hard in the most iconic role of her career, with the thrill of the chase leaving her co-stars being picked off one by one. The final scene is true heart-in-mouth goodness, prompting a horror that’s really the survival of the fittest.
Words by Jasmine Valentine
30. Ichi the Killer (2001)
Director: Takashi Miike
Cast: Tadanobu Asano, Nao Omori
What it’s about: In the seedy underbelly of Tokyo, sadomasochistic yakuza Kakihara searches for his missing boss and encounters Ichi, a deranged killer with a penchant for ultra-violence.
What we think: A man’s entire back melted off by a pan of bubbling tempura oil; another slowly slicing off his tongue with a samurai sword; real semen oozing out of a potted plant – this is Takashi Miike’s grotesque world, and we’re just living in it.
His hilarious yet brutal tour de force, based on Hideo Yamamoto’s manga of the same name, is unlike any conventional yakuza film. With its unflinching portrayal of sadomasochism, psychological turmoil, and moral ambiguity, Ichi the Killer is certainly not to everyone’s taste.
But for those who can stomach it, the film’s mesmerizing and unapologetic exploration of humanity’s darker instincts makes it a definitive cult classic in the annals of transgressive cinema. But I’d still recommend having the sick bucket close by… just in case.
Words by Daisy Phillipson
29. Child’s Play (1988)
Director: Tom Holland
Cast: Brad Dourif, Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon
What it’s about: Dying murderer Charles Lee Ray uses black magic to put his soul inside a doll named Chucky – which Karen Barclay then buys for her young son, Andy. When Chucky kills Andy’s babysitter, the boy realizes the doll is alive and tries to warn people, but he’s institutionalized.
What we think: The founding moment for when Chucky became Chucky, and talking dolls became a must-have in horror. Originally banned in the UK for appearing too close to home to a real-life murderer, this horror classic is an all-out 80s romp that paved the way for a new kind of scary originality.
Words by Jasmine Valentine
28. The Witch (2015)
Director: Robert Eggers
Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie
What it’s about: A zealous Puritan family is banished from their village and is forced to confront an unspeakable and profane evil living in the woods near their new home.
What we think: A diabolical slow burn, The Witch doesn’t rely on jump scares or monsters to terrify its audience. Instead, through subtle character work, impressive sound design, and the bleak reality of 17th-century living, it builds a sinister, unsettling, and oppressive atmosphere of dread that’ll have you desperate to strike a deal with Satan to escape.
Words by Tom Percival
27. Poltergeist (1982)
Director: Tobe Hooper
Cast: JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Beatrice Straight
What it’s about: When their young daughter is abducted by ghosts two parents’ American dream turns into a nightmare.
What we think: The pairing of director Tobe Hooper and writer Steven Spielberg is Poltergeist’s secret sauce. Hooper’s knack for bone-chilling thrills fused with Spielberg’s enamoring sense of wonder makes for a powerful draught. The result is a unique and timeless concoction of what’s cozy and familiar mixed with the desperate terror of the unknown.
Words by Tom Percival
26. Kill List (2011)
Director: Ben Wheatley
Cast: Neil Maskell, MyAnna Buring, Michael Smiley
What it’s about: An out-of-work hitman takes a job on the promise of big money, only to be sucked into a maelstrom of paranoia, mystery, and ancient rituals.
What we think: Kill List is the ultimate rugpull. On first appearances, you might think Ben Wheatley crafted a gritty British gangster thriller. But as its dark and sinister tension takes hold, the exceptional sound design enveloping viewers with a sense of dread, the familiar trappings of crime cinema give way to a nightmarish tableau of a cult-led horror.
The violence is sparing, which you’ll be thankful for when you witness Wheatley’s unique brand of brutality, and there’s some unexpected but welcome humor throughout, all of which builds up to a climax that’ll have you fast-tracking your next therapy session.
Words by Daisy Phillipson
25. Don’t Look Now (1973)
Director: Nicolas Roeg
Cast: Julie Christie, Donald Sutherland
What it’s about: A couple mourning the death of their daughter travels to Venice to save their marriage. While healing those wounds, they meet a psychic who sees more tragedy in their future and repeatedly glimpses a figure that looks like their little girl.
What we think: Based on the short story of the same name by Daphne Du Maurier, Don’t Look Now is an emotionally charged examination of grief. But as sightings of that mysterious figure become more frequent, director Nic Roeg packs the film with disturbing imagery that’s pure nightmare fuel, building up to the infamous finale, which will stop your heart while at the same time breaking it.
Words by Chris Tilly
24. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Director: George A. Romero
Cast: David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott Reiniger, Gaylen Ross
What it’s about: In Dawn of the Dead, George A Romero picks up right where Night of the Living Dead left off, showing the widespread chaos of desolation. Police and the army are gunning through cities now crawling with the undead, and their efforts are increasingly useless. Four stragglers – two news producers and two SWAT officers – jump into a helicopter for salvation. They find an abandoned shopping mall, safely nestling themselves in the warm embrace of consumerism.
What we think: Romero underscores the end times with a potent satire of capitalism, zombies mindlessly clamoring towards the one thing they remember: buying more crap they don’t need. The dead are reanimated as bloody, grey corpses through the magic of Tom Savini. It would be funny if it wasn’t so apocalyptic and ceaselessly relevant.
Words by Anthony McGlynn
23. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Director: Wes Craven
Cast: Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon, Ronee Blakley, Robert Englund
What it’s about: A suburban nightmare, the story unravels in a seemingly peaceful town, but beneath its calm surface lurks a malevolent force: Freddy Krueger, a disfigured boogeyman with razor-sharp claws. As the line between dreams and reality blurs, the town’s youth find themselves hunted in their nightmares, desperately seeking a way to escape Freddy’s deadly grasp.
What we think: One, two, Freddy’s coming for you… this is where it all began. Wes Craven knows a thing or two about creating horror icons, and Freddy Krueger is one of his best. A hand like a knife rack, a devilish smile, and an uncanny ability to haunt his victims’ nightmares – it’s these elements that make A Nightmare on Elm Street a timeless classic, accelerated by the wicked charisma of Robert Englund and Craven’s masterful direction. It’s fun, it’s freaky, and it’s well worth a revisit.
Words by Daisy Phillipson
22. It Chapter One (2017)
Director: Andy Muschietti
Cast: Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer, Bill Skarsgård, Sophia Lillis, Jaden Lieberher, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, and Jeremy Ray Taylor
What it’s about: Based on the novel by Stephen King, It Chapter One follows a group of outcast kids in Maine as they face off against an ancient evil spirit masquerading as a clown who comes out of hiding every 27 years to eat children.
What we think: While King has a lot of scary movies under his belt, It Chapter One takes his work and cranks it up a thousand notches. Pennywise is absolutely frightening in this film and you can truly feel how scared the kids are as he preys on their fears. Very chilling indeed.
Words by Kayla Harrington
21. Carrie (1976)
Director: Brian De Palma
Cast: Sissy Spacek, John Travolta, Piper Laurie
What it’s about: Based on Stephen King’s first novel, Carrie is about a young girl who discovers she has telekinetic abilities and uses them to take revenge on those who tormented her.
What we think: The horror of Carrie lies not in the psychic abilities of its title character or the murderous rampage she goes on. No, the true terrors of this film come in the form of bullies and abusive parents, two things far worse than any creature from the unknown or spook from the underworld. Carrie, ultimately, works because it reminds us that monsters are real and they look like you and me.
Words by Kayla Harrington
20. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Director: George A. Romero
Cast: Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Marilyn Eastman
What it’s about: Something is bringing the dead back to life, so a rag-tag band of survivors barricade themselves in a farmhouse to try and outlast the zombie apocalypse.
What we think: George A. Romero is the godfather of gore, and Night of the Living Dead set a new benchmark for what was acceptable in terms of movie violence. Especially during a scene where a young girl chows down on her mom. However, as well as being a scary horror movie, Night of the Living Dead is also a powerful political statement about the grim state of race relations in America at the time. One that kicked off may be the most interesting trilogy in horror history, with Dawn of the Dead satirizing consumerism and Day of the Dead going after the military-industrial complex.
Words by Chris Tilly
19. Seven (1995)
Director: David Fincher
Cast: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow
What it’s about: Detective William Somerset takes on a new partner, David Mills, for his final case involving a depraved serial killer who’s targeting victims based on the Seven Deadly Sins.
What we think: David Fincher’s no stranger to thrills, but Seven might be his darkest picture to date. While it’s probably best remembered for the inventiveness of its kills – the victim of lust remains one of the most traumatizing deaths in cinematic history (two words: Knife dildo) – that’s not what makes this film so terrifying. Instead, it’s the feeling of hopelessness that pervades the film, as though Somerset and Milla are trapped in some weird urban purgatory, already dead; they just don’t know it yet. Words by Gabriela Silva
18. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Director: Roman Polanski
Cast: Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon
What it’s about: When Rosemary and her husband move into an idyllic New York City apartment building, she soon finds herself driven insane by the idea that those around her have ulterior motives for her and her unborn child.
What we think: Rosemary’s Baby is an expert depiction of gaslighting and suspicion, all framed around the ever-unnerving subject of female bodily autonomy. There’s little gore compared to some of her counterparts on this list, but that’s what makes the creeping, foreboding atmosphere all the more powerful.
Words by Jessica Cullen
17. The Wicker Man (1973)
Director: Robin Hardy
Cast: Christopher Lee, Edward Woodward, Britt Ekland
What it’s about: A deeply religious police officer visits an island off the coast of Scotland to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. But the locals claim she never existed and block his efforts to find her at every turn.
What we think: That’s the set-up for The Wicker Man, where the residents of Summerisle couldn’t be more strange, and their customs couldn’t be more creepy. But The Wicker Man is all about pay-off, and the film’s climax is one of the most shocking in all of cinema. Edward Woodward has never been better as the pious policeman in question, while Christopher Lee is a walking, talking nightmare as man-with-the-plan Lord Summerisle.
Words by Chris Tilly
16. The Thing (1982)
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Kurt Russell, Keith David, A. Wilford Brimley
What it’s about: A group of researchers in Antarctica discovers an ancient extraterrestrial life form buried in the snow — and it’s capable of assuming the form of any being it touches.
What we think: “Man is the warmest place to hide”, an idea that defines the nauseous, chilly paranoia of John Carpenter’s The Thing. Its domino effect is a merciless marvel, with explosive, grotesque effects crashing against the icy current of menace. Close encounters have never been so vicious.
Words by Cameron Frew
15. The Conjuring (2013)
Director: James Wan
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor
What it’s about: In 1970, paranormal investigators and demonologists Lorraine and Ed Warren are summoned to the home of Carolyn and Roger Perron. The Perrons and their five daughters have recently moved into a secluded farmhouse, where a supernatural presence has made itself known.
What we think: Fans love fictional Ed and Lorraine so much (yes, they were real people) that we’ve now had an entire horror franchise dedicated to them. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson’s chemistry is off the charts, with the film’s modern supernatural film moving away from old stereotypes.
Words by Jasmine Valentine
14. Suspiria (1977)
Director: Dario Argento
Cast: Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci
What it’s about: Suzy is an American dancer who enlists at a German ballet academy but feels out of place and uncomfortable in her new environment. Eventually, she realizes that she’s stumbled into a world of horrific murder, satanic rituals, and witchcraft.
What we think: Dario Argento is one of the best horror filmmakers of all time, and Suspiria is his masterpiece. A surrealist nightmare complete with piercing sound design, graphic violence, and technicolor terror, Suspiria will chill you to the bone. It’s artistic, experimental, and incredibly visceral, and it’s everything a horror movie should be.
Words by Jakob Barnes
13. The Fly (1986)
Director: David Cronenberg
Cast: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz
What it’s about: An ambitious but unconfident scientist trying to invent teleportation accidentally fuses his DNA with a common housefly, undergoing a horrifying and humiliating transformation.
What we think: A haunting metaphor for disease and the corruption of one’s own flesh, The Fly is director David Cornenberg’s sticky monument to the grotesque. Yet beneath the ooze and viscera of The Fly’s awe-inspiring practical effects lies a haunting romantic tragedy about the power of love and redemption.
Words by Tom Percival
12. Jaws (1975)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
What it’s about: The killer shark tale that started it all. When a giant white shark fatally attacks swimmers on the shores of Amity Island, Chief Martin Brody teams up with a marine biologist and a local fisherman to hunt down the creature.
What we think: Yes, the animatronics aren’t amazing – but when you’re five years old being forced to watch Jaws by your cousins, the nightmares last for a lifetime. Packed with rousing speeches, suspenseful moments, and chum-tastic explosions, Jaws is a timeless horror classic that can never be rewatched too many times.
Words by Jasmine Valentine
11. Psycho (1960)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast: Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, Janet Leigh
What it’s about: A Phoenix secretary goes on the run after stealing a huge amount of money from her employer. She spends the night at Bates Motel, whose owner seems to have a highly controlling mother.
What we think: Psycho, which is considered by some to be Alfred Hitchcock’s best work, has shaped cinema as we know it. Even if you’ve never seen it, you’ve no doubt seen its iconography. It mastered the art of both the second and third-act twists, and there’s no topping Bernard Herrmann’s theme. Just don’t watch the Vince Vaughn remake.
Words by Lucy-Jo Finnighan
10. Halloween (1978)
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Nick Castle
What it’s about: Fifteen years after being locked away in a mental asylum, Michael Myers escapes and returns home to Haddonfield just in time for Halloween, where he hones in on his next victims – including Laurie Strode.
What we think: Peering behind a bush, standing between wafting bedsheets, observing an impaled teen on a wall; the pastel-white inhumanity of Michael Myers – he’s even referred to as The Shape – makes him an apex on-screen predator, stalking us in our safest spaces. John Carpenter created one of the tensest, most influential horrors of all time, with a killer soundtrack to boot.
Words by Cameron Frew
9. Hellraiser (1987)
Director: Clive Barker
Cast: Doug Bradley, Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence
What it’s about: After years of searching, the hedonistic Frank Cotton finally gets his filthy hands on the Lament Configuration, a legendary puzzle box that promises the user ultimate pleasure. Yet, little does Frank know that the line between pleasure and pain is a razor-thin one…
What we think: One for the sickos; Hellraiser is the thinking pervert’s movie. It’s a film that delights in the depraved, degenerate, and dirty, yet despite its frankly filthy nature, there’s a wonderful charm to this plucky, low-budget chiller. It could be the gooey practical effects; it might be the sensational Cenobites or Clare Higgins’ unforgettable performance. Whatever it is, there’s just something about Hellraiser that really gets its hooks into me. Words by Tom Percival
8. Martyrs (2008)
Director: Pascal Laugier
Cast: Mylène Jampanoï, Morjana Alaoui, Catherine Bégin
What it’s about: A young woman seeks vengeance against her childhood tormentors, leading her and a fellow abuse survivor on a haunting odyssey into the depths of human cruelty.
What we think: Some call it torture porn, but I say it’s a ferocious paragon of French horror, one that challenges audiences to look beyond the visceral intensity to consider profound existential questions.
Don’t get me wrong: Martyrs is about as brutal as you can get. But the film offers something more than your run-of-the-mill horror, promoting deep philosophical inquiry that confronts uncomfortable truths about suffering, the search for transcendence, and the lengths people will go to understand the unknown. And if you don’t agree with the above, one thing’s for certain: you won’t be forgetting this movie in a hurry.
Words by Daisy Phillipson
7. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Directors: Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez
Cast: Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, Joshua Leonard
What it’s about: Three student filmmakers venture into the Black Hills near Maryland’s Burkittsville to make a documentary about an urban legend: the Blair Witch.
What we think: Local folklore and spooky bedtime stories are the bedrock of our horror lives. Therein lies the allure of The Blair Witch Project, a found-footage masterpiece that dares to wander into the woods; one so convincing, that many believed it to be real. The film’s unfiltered “what the f*ck was that?” hysteria makes it entirely authentic. “I’m scared to close my eyes, I’m scared to open them.”
Words by Cameron Frew
6. The Exorcist (1973)
Director: William Friedkin
Cast: Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb
What it’s about: As a young girl’s strange behavior becomes increasingly unhinged, her mother seeks the help of a priest, who soon realizes that she’s been possessed by a demon.
What we think: The Exorcist carries a blood-curdling legacy, but its elemental power compels you without the summon of Christ. Even after 47 years, it’s the definitive possession movie, with ghastly make-up, petrifying imagery, and a truly scary story, one to make any pure soul cower from Pazuzu.
Words by Cameron Frew
5. The Shining (1980)
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers, Danny Lloyd
What it’s about: Jack Torrance takes a job looking after the Overlook Hotel in the Colorado mountains; it seems like the fresh start he and his family need. Sadly, the horrors that haunt the hotel have other ideas.
What we think: The Shining isn’t a film that relies on jump scares or ghouls to frighten its audience (Although some grisly ghosts do make an appearance). Instead, it relies on slowly ratcheting up the tension and the hint of unrealized domestic violence, which eventually explodes like a broken boiler into a horrifying reality. That’s what makes The Shining so frightening, it’s not the ghosts it’s the unshakable feeling that Jack’s violent outburst was always going to happen, the Overlook just gave him the push he needed.
Words by Kayla Harrington
4. Get Out (2017)
Director: Jordan Peele
Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Lil Rel Howery
What it’s about: Chris, an African-American man, decides to visit his Caucasian girlfriend’s parents during a weekend getaway. Although they seem normal at first, he is not prepared to experience the horrors ahead.
What we think: Marking Jordan Peele’s first foray into filmmaking, Get Out was quick to receive wide critical acclaim — and rightly so. Toeing the balance between flat-out horror and shrewd psychological thriller, Get Out is a thrilling story that will stick in your head for a lifetime. Not only is Daniel Kaluuya haunting in his performance, but discovering the film’s midpoint isn’t what it seems is a cinematic moment to remember.
Words by Jasmine Valentine
3. Scream (1996)
Director: Wes Craven
Cast: David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox
What it’s about: When a murderer in a gruesome ghost mask and a strange obsession with horror movies starts attacking the people of Woodsboro, local teen Sidney Prescott and her friends find themselves in the killer’s crosshairs.
What we think: Wes Craven’s meta-commentary on the horror genre spawned a franchise that’s gone on to become a pop-culture juggernaut. Still, when it comes to Scream, you can’t beat the original, which balances an intriguing mystery with memorable scares and scenes of violence so horrifying they’ll have you too scared to answer the phone again. Do you like scary movies? You will after watching Scream.
Words by Gabriela Silva
2. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Director: Tobe HooperCast: Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal
What it’s about: Five friends traveling across rural Texas stumble upon an abandoned house and unwittingly become the prey of a family of cannibals.
What we think: “Who will survive and what will be left of them?” A harrowingly apt tagline for the king of slashers. Leatherface’s first appearance, like a klaxon of doom across the sticks, sums up the film’s “mad and macabre” horror in seconds: its power is more than what we see.
Where to stream: Peacock, Shudder, and AMC+
Words by Cameron Frew
1. Hereditary (2018)
Director: Ari Aster
Cast: Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro
What it’s about: In the wake of their secretive, “difficult” matriarch’s death, a sinister force drives the Graham family towards unimaginable terrors.
What we think: During my screening of Hereditary, my fiancée openly wept for three-quarters of the film, and multiple couples, shielding their sight, leaped for the doors in the final act. To the eyes that just rolled, let me assure you: it is that scary, but sacrificing your sleep will pale next to the film’s rewards. It’s a once-in-a-generation nightmare machine, with Toni Collette giving the best performance in all of horror. Say it once, say it again: hail.
Words by Cameron Frew
If you love thrills and chills, then check out our lists of the best Netflix horror movies and the best 80s horror movies.
