Horror Movies that are actually good.
If you, like me, are sick and tired of horror movies that rely on jump scares and cliche *cough cough James Wan cough cough* then look no further than this handy list.
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- DirectorSam RaimiStarsBruce CampbellSarah BerryDan HicksAsh Williams, the lone survivor of an earlier onslaught of flesh-possessing spirits, holes up in a cabin with a group of strangers while the demons continue their attack.A film that balances laughs and scares dare I say flawlessly. Bruce Campbell is the man. The sequel Army of Darkness is worth a watch but isn't a horror movie in the slightest.
- DirectorPhilip KaufmanStarsDonald SutherlandBrooke AdamsJeff GoldblumWhen strange seeds drift to earth from space, mysterious pods begin to grow and invade San Francisco, replicating the city's residents one body at a time.Cleverly reinventing the Body Snatchers premise into a more urban environment, 1978's Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a masterclass example of how to remake a classic into another classic. The tension is cleverly built up from the very start right up until the halfway mark where it reaches an unparalleled high, the practical effects are restrained yet effective and of course the ensemble cast is stellar. The film deserves credit for casting a young Jeff Goldblum also.
- DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsKurt RussellWilford BrimleyKeith DavidA research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.Nihilistic to the nth degree. John Carpenter's The Thing was ahead of its time in every conceivable way.
- DirectorFrank DarabontStarsThomas JaneMarcia Gay HardenLaurie HoldenA freak storm unleashes a species of bloodthirsty creatures on a small town, where a small band of citizens hole up in a supermarket and fight for their lives.Yes the cgi is piss poor but hear me out, Frank Darabont's film is an impeccable look at the cracks that form when humanity is placed in an impossible situation. Originally The Mist was intended to be shot in black and white which conveniently masks the shoddy effects so be sure to give that a watch if you can.
One cannot go without writing of the divisive original ending which is the killer trifecta of brutal, agonizing and nigh on perfect. - DirectorRobin HardyStarsEdward WoodwardChristopher LeeDiane CilentoA puritan police sergeant arrives in a Scottish island village in search of a missing girl, who the pagan locals claim never existed.Although The Wicker Man is probably more notorious for its embarrassing meme of a remake (featuring unhinged Nicolas Cage at his most bonkers) but the original is a surreal mystery that while scrappy is made incredibly potent by its legendary ending.
Christopher Lee starred in hundreds of films over his illustrious career but he only cited one film as his finest: that honor goes to The Wicker Man.
A fine accomplishment indeed. - DirectorDavid CronenbergStarsJeff GoldblumGeena DavisJohn GetzA brilliant but eccentric scientist begins to transform into a giant man/fly hybrid after one of his experiments goes horribly wrong.Just as much a tragedy as a horror piece. Excellent practical effects, music, performances and atmosphere elevate The Fly to cinematic legend
- DirectorJordan PeeleStarsDaniel KaluuyaAllison WilliamsBradley WhitfordA young African-American visits his white girlfriend's parents for the weekend, where his simmering uneasiness about their reception of him eventually reaches a boiling point.A tightly written psychological thriller with an incredible third act. Did it deserve a Best Picture nomination? Probably not, but then again nothing the Academy chooses does.
- DirectorWes CravenStarsHeather LangenkampJohnny DeppRobert EnglundTeenager Nancy Thompson must uncover the dark truth concealed by her parents after she and her friends become targets of the spirit of a serial killer with a bladed glove in their dreams, in which if they die, it kills them in real life.While somewhat dated, Wes Craven's original A Nightmare on Elm Street evokes a creepy ambience packed with creative set-pieces, ultimately leaving us with one of the most beloved slasher films of all time.
- DirectorChuck RussellStarsHeather LangenkampRobert EnglundCraig WassonA psychiatrist familiar with knife-wielding dream demon Freddy Krueger helps teens at a mental hospital battle the killer who is invading their dreams.Not scary but the perfect 80's cheese. This best Nightmare sequel packs a respect for its predecessor with wonderful creativity, dynamic characters and a kickass end credits tune courtesy of Dokken.
- DirectorWes CravenStarsHeather LangenkampRobert EnglundJf DavisA demonic force has chosen Freddy Krueger as its portal to the real world. Can Heather Langenkamp play the part of Nancy one last time and trap the evil trying to enter our world?Very meta. The blueprint for the Scream franchise and one of the few Elm Street movies to go for scares over comedy.
- DirectorWilliam FriedkinStarsEllen BurstynMax von SydowLinda BlairWhen a young girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.The clout surrounding The Exorcist may overshadow the contents of the film itself but make no mistake it's iconic for a reason. The way the director, William Friedkin, fuses his shocking scenes of horror with religious thematic depth shall forever be astounding.
- DirectorClive BarkerStarsAndrew RobinsonClare HigginsAshley LaurenceA woman discovers the newly resurrected, partially formed, body of her brother-in-law and lover. She starts killing for him to revitalize his body and escape the demonic beings that are pursuing him after he escaped their underworld.Few movies can get under your skin quite like Hellraiser...
...if you can overlook how stupid every character is.
Jesus wept indeed. - DirectorNicolas RoegStarsJulie ChristieDonald SutherlandHilary MasonA married couple grieving the recent death of their young daughter are in Venice when they encounter two elderly sisters, one of whom is psychic and brings a warning from beyond.Don't Look Now is a contemplative, thoughtful 70's chiller of gargantuan proportions. The city of Venice has never looked so ominous as it does as the backdrop for this tale of grief, clairvoyance and tragedy. The final twist of the picture is magnificent in its delivery, never leaving my mind since the first viewing.
- DirectorStuart GordonStarsJeffrey CombsBruce AbbottBarbara CramptonAfter an odd new medical student arrives on campus, a dedicated local and his girlfriend become involved in bizarre experiments centering around the re-animation of dead tissue.Gory and goofy, Re-Animator has always been a blast to watch even three decades on.
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsJodie FosterAnthony HopkinsScott GlennA young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.There were serial killer thrillers before The Silence of the Lambs and there sure as hell were a lot more afterwards.
But never has it been surpassed... - DirectorDrew GoddardStarsKristen ConnollyChris HemsworthAnna HutchisonFive college friends head out to a remote cabin for a getaway, but things don't go as planned when they start getting killed. They soon discover that there is more to the cabin than it seems.If it wasn't for New Nightmare then this would've been the most "meta" film on this list. Cabin in the Woods somehow manages to balance between being a subversive horror film and a loving homage like the most skilled of tightrope walkers.
Also it's nice to see some of the cast members from Angel crop up in the supporting cast. Man do I miss that show. Its cancellation has really dampened my life in the fourteen years since. Damn, 5 seasons of entertaining horror/fantasy/drama with some of the finest character development I've ever seen (Alexis Denisof as Wesley immediately springs to mind) yet they struck it down in its prime. Curse you, the now defunct WB network! Seriously season 5 is incredible it produced some hilarious not to mention creative stand-alones (Smile Time is the best example) but some of the most heart-wrenching episodes ever produced (Hole in the World) and of course one of the best season finales ever devised. Even the somewhat adrift first season was a fun time but that couldn't stop bs network politics from derailing the whole endeavor. Oh no! Of course it couldn't life is apathetic and cruel. Go watch Angel.
Oh God, I can't believe I ranted about a canceled cult tv show for longer than the chosen film itself. Perhaps now you understand why I have no friends, preferring to spend my time in the shadows devising lists on IMDB no one ever bothers to read. - DirectorYeon Sang-hoStarsGong YooJung Yu-miMa Dong-seokWhile a zombie virus breaks out in South Korea, passengers struggle to survive on the train from Seoul to Busan.More action than horror but since it's classed as horror and features zombies Train to Busan has made the list. Viewing this film with friends is the best way to watch.
- DirectorRon UnderwoodStarsKevin BaconFred WardFinn CarterNatives of a small isolated town defend themselves against strange underground creatures which are killing them one by one.Tremors knows what it is and rolls with it. What follows is an indomitably enjoyable horror comedy- undoubtedly a delight even if it will never be considered one of the greats.
- DirectorJames GunnStarsNathan FillionElizabeth BanksMichael RookerA small town is taken over by an alien plague, turning residents into zombies and all forms of mutant monsters.A much overlooked horror classic. Director James Gunn may have made his name from the Guardians of the Galaxy films, but Slither was his foot in the door. Comprising his well-regarded wit with mature B-movie sensibilities to spectacular effect.
- DirectorZack SnyderStarsBen AffleckHenry CavillAmy AdamsBatman is manipulated by Lex Luthor to fear Superman. Superman´s existence is meanwhile dividing the world and he is framed for murder during an international crisis. The heroes clash and force the neutral Wonder Woman to reemerge.The fact that this movie was made as terribly as it was is scarier than anything else on this list.
- DirectorEli CraigStarsTyler LabineAlan TudykKatrina BowdenAffable hillbillies Tucker and Dale are on vacation at their dilapidated mountain cabin when they are mistaken for murderers by a group of preppy college students.This movie really shouldn't have worked but it did largely due to its two leads.
- DirectorEdgar WrightStarsSimon PeggNick FrostKate AshfieldThe uneventful, aimless lives of a London electronics salesman and his layabout roommate are disrupted by the zombie apocalypse.This now iconic teaming of Simon Pegg with Nick Frost is a timeless zombie homage.
Even if you're not particularly invested in horror as a genre I can guarantee you will still have a great time with Shaun of the Dead - DirectorGeorge A. RomeroStarsDuane JonesJudith O'DeaKarl HardmanA ragtag group of Pennsylvanians barricade themselves in an old farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls that are ravaging the Northeast of the United States.If it weren't for George Romero, zombies as we know them would never have existed. While Night of the Living Dead is well-regarded for its high profile black protagonist lending a great deal of social relevance to its prescient ending, the film is first and foremost an engaging survival horror story. One for the annals of cinema history.
- DirectorGeorge A. RomeroStarsDavid EmgeKen ForeeScott H. ReinigerDuring an escalating zombie epidemic, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter and his TV executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.Twelve years passed and Romero unexpectedly returned with a sequel on par with if not superior to the original. Transplanting the groundbreaking zombie premise into a shopping mall gifts this film with a zesty social commentary in addition to its gory magnificence.
The remake is surprisingly decent too - remaining Zack Snyder's first and only good film. - DirectorGeorge A. RomeroStarsLori CardilleTerry AlexanderJoseph PilatoAs the world is overrun by zombies, a group of scientists and military personnel sheltering in an underground bunker in Florida must decide on how they should deal with the undead horde.Some may say it is the weakest of the three; but just because it isn't as groundbreaking or socially relevant as its forefathers doesn't mean it isn't an impressive film on its own merit.
- DirectorStuart GordonStarsJeffrey CombsBarbara CramptonTed SorelA group of scientists have developed the Resonator, a machine which allows whoever is within range to see beyond normal perceptible reality. But when the experiment succeeds, they are immediately attacked by terrible life forms.From the makers of Re-Animator, From Beyond adapts another HP Lovecraft story into a gloriously neon self-aware 80's horror classic. Jeffrey Combs once again stars to spectacularly watchable effect.
“It ate him… bit off his head… like a gingerbread man!” - DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsDonald PleasenceJamie Lee CurtisTony MoranFifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again.Catapulted John Carpenter into the pantheon of great directors for good reason. Halloween will always remain the prototypical example of a traditional slasher flick
- DirectorDan O'BannonStarsClu GulagerJames KarenDon CalfaWhen two bumbling employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to rise again as zombies.Completely reinvigorated the zombie sub genre unlike anything that wasn't directed by George Romero. A film that's just a hell of a lot of fun. An 80's classic not to be missed.
- DirectorDon CoscarelliStarsBruce CampbellOssie DavisBob IvyWhen residents of their nursing home start dying of dubious causes, an aged Elvis and an African-American senior who claims to be President John F. Kennedy discover that the perpetrator is an Egyptian mummy with murderous intentions.A premise this insane has never been pulled off with such heart and poignancy. Bruce Campbell as an aging Elvis injects so much to this quirky film that it's worth watching just for him.