Horror exists on a spectrum. There is the prestige, elevated fine art of horror seen in things like The Shining and Hereditary; the gross-out splatter horror of Dead Alive and Evil Dead; the psychologically twisted horror of Audition and Repulsion; the body horror of Videodrome and Tetsuo: The Iron Man; the horror comedy wonder of Young Frankenstein and Bubba Ho-Tep; the silly old-school classics like Them! and The Blob; and the important, all-time greats like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Halloween. But for many people, as great as these films are, they aren’t genuinely scary.
Of course, there is also a spectrum of horror viewers. For many people, The Exorcist or The Thing are downright terrifying, but then again, many people are disturbed by Courage the Cowardly Dog. If you’re a seasoned horror fan, having built up a tolerance and become desensitized by years of gore, then it takes something very specific to scare you. However, there needs to be something more than just nasty, sick, morally reprehensible content likely found beneath the Disturbing Movie Iceberg; ‘scary’ and ‘disgusting’ are not directly correlated. Thus, without sinking into the soul-sick depravity of A Serbian Film, Slaughtered Vomit Dolls, or others, for your viewing terror, here are some movies that are genuinely, actually scary. While the list is ranked, don’t take that too seriously. What’s truly terrifying for one person can be just mildly spooky for another.
20 The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
The Autopsy of Jane Doe
Release Date December 21, 2016
Runtime 1h 26m
The Autopsy of Jane Doe is a scary film on many levels. The film stars Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch as a father/son coroner team who are given the body of a mysterious woman to perform an autopsy on. They shortly discover that this body is something far greater and more horrific than they could expect. What begins as a traditional procedural turns into a haunted horror show as the men start to see terrifying visions that make them question their sanity.
Alone in a Room With An Unspeakable Evil
The major twist in the movie about what exactly the body is will leave a lasting impression on viewers days after they watch it. The setting of a morgue is unsettling enough, but as the night unwinds and things get more sinister, audiences will be glued to their seats through a series of frights. Stream Autopsy of Jane Doe on AMC+, Shudder, or Netflix.
19 [Rec] (2007)
Release Date November 23, 2007
Cast Manuela Velasco , Ferran Terraza , Jorge-Yamam Serrano , Pablo Rosso , David Vert , Vicente Gil
Runtime 80
Writers Jaume Balagueró , Luis Berdejo , Paco Plaza
The found-footage genre is often seen as oversaturated, yet there are still stand-outs that continue to push the genre in exciting ways, such as Creep and the V/H/S franchise (depending on the segment). Perhaps the scariest found-footage horror film (outside the mostly gruesome and gross Cannibal Holocaust) is [REC], an excellent Spanish horror film from 2007.
The film follows a TV news reporter (played by the real-life television host Manuela Velasco) as she and a cameraman film a local fire station for a slice-of-life report on their daily lives. However, their documentary turns horrific when a routine call to an apartment building turns out to be ground zero for a deadly zombie-like infection. Mastering the art of the jump scare and tapping into the full potential of found footage, [REC] is legitimately terrifying. The movie also spun off into a franchise with some diminishing returns, though [Rec] 2 still brings the scares in abundance. You can rent [Rec] on Amazon Prime.
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18 The Descent (2005)
Release Date July 8, 2005
Cast Shauna Macdonald , Natalie Jackson Mendoza , Alex Reid , Saskia Mulder , MyAnna Buring , Nora-Jane Noone
Runtime 99
Studio Lionsgate
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The Descent, director Neil Marshall’s perfect follow-up to the phenomenal action-horror flick Dog Soldiers, lives up to its title by descending into an almost literal hell. A cavernous abyss filled with monsters doubles as an allegory for a woman’s psychology. The film has a quick, excellent, and intense beginning opening with a ghastly premonition that teases the horrors that await the protagonist and her fellow spelunkers in depth.
Unspeakable Horrors Lying in the Depths
A bloody, relentless movie, The Descent is brimming with shocking moments and true horror artistry. Those who are claustrophobic will undoubtedly be put on edge by the tight spaces with cannibalistic creatures waiting to pick off each cave diver as they desperately try to seek a way out. The movie has two endings, with the first one considered too bleak for American audiences; watch the original version if you can. You can stream The Descent on Prime Video or Tubi.
17 Ringu (1998)
Ringu
Release Date January 31, 1998
Director Hideo Nakata
Cast Nanako Matsushima , Hiroyuki Sanada , Rikiya Otaka , Miki Nakatani , Yûko Takeuchi , Hitomi Sato , Yutaka Matsushige
Runtime 95 Minutes
Writers Hiroshi Takahashi
One of Japanese horror’s most groundbreaking and unforgettable films, Hideo Nakata’s Ringu was a massive success in the country and profoundly affected Western cinema. Based on the chilling novel of the same name, the spine-tingling film focuses on a journalist who sets out to investigate the death of her young niece and ends up stumbling upon a cursed videotape that kills whoever dares watch it a week later.
A Deadly Curse Felt Worldwide
The horror hit featured the vengeful spirit Sadako Yamamura, who appears to her victims after climbing out of a TV in a white gown with dark hair masking her face, an image that terrified audiences everywhere. Ringu’s creepy atmosphere and slow-burn storytelling instantly put viewers on edge, as their anticipation for what’s to come is even worse than the fright depicted on the screen. You can stream Ringu on Shudder, AMC+, The Criterion Channel, Tubi, or Screambox.
16 Hereditary (2018)
Release Date June 8, 2018
Runtime 2h 7m
In his directorial debut, Ari Aster quickly established himself as one of the horror genre’s most talented newcomers. His cinematic triumph, Hereditary, follows a grieving family terrorized by a malevolent presence after its mysterious matriarch passes away. The sinister picture is unsettling from the beginning, and Aster doesn’t shy away from inducing unease and an intense sense of dread that sticks with audiences throughout the film.
Ari Aster’s Explosive Debut
Toni Collette delivers one of the most phenomenal performances of her career, and Hereditary examines parental fears and complex family dynamics in the intense flick. Those brave enough to sit through the intense movie will never look at nut allergies and car rides quite the same again. The film even traumatized the cast, with actor Alex Wolff saying the work took an emotional toll on him. You can stream Hereditary on Kanopy, or rent it on Apple TV, Prime Video, or YouTube.
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15 The Strangers (2008)
Release Date May 29, 2008
Runtime 107
Studio Universal Studios
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Nothing is more terrifying than a strange knock at the door late at night. The Strangers perfectly taps into that fear. Centered around a young couple in a remote cabin, their picturesque existence is disrupted when three masked assailants attack them. These kills are not for any religious or personal reasons; the couple is only targeted for the simple fact that they were home and the killers wanted to.
Home Invasion Horror
The Strangers is a nihilistic film that leaves little hope but only dread and terror. Anyone who chooses to watch this one will want to make sure they are not home alone and lock their doors just to be safe. The movie did spin off into two sequels, but the original is by far the most terrifying experience, capturing the paranoia of an unwarranted home invasion with extreme intensity. You can stream The Strangers on Max.
14 They Look Like People (2016)
Release Date February 26, 2016
Director Perry Blackshear
Cast MacLeod Andrews , Evan Dumouchel , Margaret Ying Drake , Mick Casale , Perry Blackshear
Runtime 80 Minutes
Writers Perry Blackshear
Written and directed by Perry Blackshear with his usual cast (Evan Dumouchel, MacLeod Andrews, Margaret Ying Drake), They Look Like People is a real outlier. Though it’s a beautiful study of friendship and mental illness, it also has some of the most unsettling imagery and moments in recent horror, from an almost subliminally horrifying beginning to sudden bursts of terror.
Mounting Paranoia Between Two Friends
Following two friends who reunite after some time, one suffering from either a bad breakup or a psychotic episode, They Look Like People digs deep into insecurity and paranoia as it grows between the two friends till one’s delusions of shadowy figures take over the other. As an audience aware of what is happening, it is a truly terrifying decline to watch. You can stream They Look Like People on AMC+, Tubi, or Plex.
13 Session 9 (2001)
Tensions rise within an asbestos cleaning crew as they work in an abandoned mental hospital with a horrific past that seems to be coming back.
Release Date August 10, 2001
Runtime 100 minutes
Session 9 is a film that blurs the line between what is real and what is not, asking the viewer to question what they see and hear as supernatural events or just the horrors of what the human mind can turn into. The film follows an asbestos crew cleaning up an abandoned mental asylum. They soon begin looking into the past of the hospital and listening to horrific recording sessions by former patients. This, along with the hectic work schedules and tensions between the members, begins to play at their mental state, collapsing while frightening haunts happen around them.
The Dark Secrets of an Abandoned Mental Hospital Unearthed
The fact that the film was shot at the real Danvers State Mental Hospital gives it authenticity and a truly horrific atmosphere that would not be as scary if it was a constructed set. The movie is a cult hit; anyone who has watched it can attest to how unnerving it is. Session 9 is a haunting movie in many meanings of the word, from the atmosphere to the subject matter. You can rent Session 9 on Amazon, Apple TV, or YouTube.
12 Goodnight Mommy (2014)
Goodnight Mommy
Release Date September 16, 2022
Director Matt Sobel
Story By Veronika Franz , Severin Fiala
In the Austrian psychological horror film Goodnight Mommy, ten-year-old twin brothers Elias and Lukas begin to suspect the woman claiming to be their mother might be an impostor after she returns to their remote lake house after undergoing intense cosmetic facial surgery. The siblings become progressively uncertain and frightened as their mother’s behavior and personality completely change, and the tension keeps building and building as the movie works towards its jaw-dropping climax.
A Family Broken Down
Goodnight Mommy left viewers squirming in their seats with its deeply disquieting atmosphere and extremely graphic visuals of torture and violence. The terror-fueled ride will undoubtedly stick with audiences long after the final credits have rolled. Goodnight Mommy is a great starting point for those wanting to expand their horizons with international horror. You can stream Goodnight Mommy on Prime.
11 Antichrist (2009)
Release Date May 20, 2009
Runtime 108
Lars Von Trier’s film Antichrist masters a mood of menace, even if it isn’t genuinely scary for roughly half its runtime. That first half, however, is perfectly filmed and purposefully haunting, as two unnamed characters (everyone else in the film has their faces blurred out) suffer the loss of their young son and head into the woods for a therapeutic retreat.
Chaos Reigns
What follows is an escalation of disturbance and a study of depression and the fear of women in a film that feels demonic. The movie also captures the horror of nature in all its chaos, with the words of a dying fox being one of the most unsettling visuals ever committed to celluloid. The climax of Antichrist is also bound to make any man squirm in their seat. You can stream Antichrist on Kanopy.
10 Insidious (2011)
Release Date September 13, 2010
Runtime 102
Lauded for its exceptional ability to build an overwhelming feeling of suspense and dread, James Wan’s supernatural horror hit Insidious tells the story of married couple Josh and Renai Lambert (Patrick Wilson & Rose Byrne), who will stop at nothing to keep their son safe when he goes into a comatose state after they move into a home haunted by a demonic entity.
What Lurks in the Shadows
Though it doesn’t hesitate to utilize some jump scares, the creepy flick thrives on its ability to make moviegoers anxious about what might be lurking around every corner. The angst-ridden film was accurately described by the Associated Press as “the kind of movie you could watch with your eyes closed and still feel engrossed by it,” and its horrific visuals and overall sense of terror helped launch a lucrative and frightening franchise that remains some of the horror genre’s greatest offerings. You can stream Insidious on MGM+ or Pluto TV.
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9 Martyrs (2008)
Martyrs
Martyrs (2008) explores themes of trauma and suffering, following a young woman’s quest to uncover the truth behind her childhood abduction and the brutal conspiracy she unravels. The film navigates intense emotional and psychological landscapes, challenging viewers with its harrowing narrative and unflinching depiction of human endurance.
Release Date September 3, 2008
Cast Morjana Alaoui , Mylène Jampanoï , Catherine Bégin , Robert Toupin , Patricia Tulasne , Juliette Gosselin , Xavier Dolan , Jean-Marie Moncelet , Jessie Pham , Erika Scott , Louise Boisvert , Isabelle Chasse , Emilie Miskdijan , Tony Robinow , Anie Pascale , Mike Chute , Gaëlle Cohen
Runtime 99 Minutes
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Martyrs is a grimy but brilliant example of the New French Extremity movement, which shocked the world with excessive gore, sexuality, and misanthropy. High Tension, Inside, and Raw are all excellent examples of this, but Martyrs may be the scariest.
A Stand-Out in the French Extremity Movement
Following a woman who was seriously abused in her youth. Martyrs studies her maturation and revenge but complicates any easy ethics by utilizing supernatural imagery. Something the French movement often shies away from in its depiction of purely human horrors, Martyrs incorporates some significant jump scares in its mix of intense violence, psychological horror, and pure terror. The movie was remade, but stick with the original. You can stream Martyrs (2008) on Tubi or Plex.
8 Oculus (2014)
Release Date April 11, 2014
Runtime 103
Distributor(s) Entertainment One
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Filmmaker Mike Flanagan may have transitioned to TV with great series like Midnight Mass, but his films (especially the earlier ones) show the director’s roots in crafting pristine horror experiences. He’s one of the few filmmakers who can inject genuine emotion, heartbreak, and character development into horror films, tackling big themes like family, religion, addiction, and more.
Mike Flanagan’s Early Masterpiece
Following his creepy short film Oculus: Chapter 3 – The Man With a Plan, Oculus documents a brother and sister’s attempts to understand an antique mirror through science, as they believe it is responsible for the horrible tragedies of their youth. The mirror seems to induce a violent psychosis, so their studies soon become dangerous. The interactions with the mysterious mirror ultimately lead to horrifying moments. This is Flanagan’s most frightening, depressing film. You can stream Oculus on Prime or Plex.
7 The Invisible Man (2020)
Release Date February 24, 2020
Runtime 2h 4m
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After many failed attempts to relaunch their Universal Monsters, the studio finally found the right formula with The Invisible Man. Taking the initial premise of the story but updating it for the 21st century with new characters and ideas, The Invisible Man takes the classic movie monster and makes him truly terrifying once more. Shifting the perspective from the killer to his victim, here is the abused ex-girlfriend, played by Elisabeth Moss; one truly sees how horrifying this concept is.
A Terrifying Update on the Universal Monster
The filmmakers play up the idea of The Invisible Man as a representation of abuse and how the lasting impact hangs over a victim and can truly feel like it is always present. The viewer is left in constant fear that the monster is present in every scene, but the viewer won’t know until he strikes. That is a clever twist on the concept without mentioning how terrifying it is to imagine somebody watching you when you can’t see them. The Invisible Man taps into a primal fear of being watched but also the genuine horrors of toxic and abusive relationships. Stream on Peacock.
6 Pulse (2001)
5/5
Kairo (Pulse)
After college student Taguchi (Kenji Mizuhashi) commits suicide, a number of young adults living in Tokyo witness terrifying visions transferred across the Internet. As more people disappear throughout the city, the Internet becomes a breeding ground for malevolent spirits. Three seemingly disconnected stories follow Michi (Kumiko Asô), Ryosuke (Haruhiko Katô) and Harue (Koyuki) as they attempt to solve the mystery behind the ghostly visions that are seeping beyond their computer monitors.
Release Date February 3, 2001
Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Cast Kumiko Asô , Koyuki , Jun Fubuki , Kôji Yakusho
Runtime 1h 59m
Writers Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa made a series of masterful, horror-adjacent films in the late ’90s and early 2000s, including Cure, Charisma, and Séance, but Pulse (or Kairo) is the most legitimately scary. The extremely prescient 2001 Japanese horror film loosely follows a computer virus of sorts and the various ways ghosts pass from the digital realm into the physical one.
The Loneliest Horror Film Ever Made
Combining dark imagery with a few perfect jump scares and an apocalyptic tone, Pulse is the kind of movie that sticks with you. There is a reason why people consider Pulse to be the loneliest horror movie ever made. Part of the terror comes from the film capturing the technological age’s potential for extreme isolation, a sentiment that only becomes more relevant with time. This is another case where you want to skip the remake, as the American version loses the dark edge that made this Japanese film such a stand-out. You can stream Pulse (2001) on AMC+, The Criterion Channel, or Plex.
5 Talk to Me (2023)
Release Date July 28, 2023
Director Danny Philippou , Michael Philippou
Cast Sophie Wilde , Joe Bird , Alexandra Jensen , Otis Dhanji , Miranda Otto , Marcus Johnson
Runtime 94 minutes
Writers Bill Hinzman , Danny Philippou
Production Company Causeway Films
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Teenagers in Adelaide have found a new party trick: a cast hand that invites a spirit to take over the body for a brief period when held and welcomed into the holder. Mia becomes obsessed with the trip after believing she may have met her mother in an incident. However, when her little brother tries it, he welcomes a malicious spirit that takes over his body. Mia, now suffering from possessions and visions even when not holding the artifact, must figure out the hand’s origin to save her brother and herself.
A Devilish Party Game
What begins as a typical teenage-antic-filled party film quickly transitions into a horrific tale of possession. The transformation of Mia’s brother and the subsequent brutal self-mutilation is a truly unforgettable scene and one that sets the tone for the rest of the movie. The mix of extreme gore, jump scares, and ghastly creature design makes this nail-biting Australian horror flick such a shocking and frightening experience. Released by A24, the movie forgoes the more artistic approach to horror for a more visceral experience. You can stream Talk to Me on Paramount+.
4 When Evil Lurks (2023)
Inhabitants of a quaint countryside town uncover chilling news: a demon is on the verge of being born in their midst. In a race against time, they attempt to flee before the malevolent force comes to life, but escaping may already be out of reach.
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Three locals are tasked with disposing of a man whose body has become bloated, possessed by an evil force that is slowly rotting him from within. However, they lose their bounty on the road, and the creature finds a hiding place. This places a curse on the town that seeps into every corner, causing horrible deaths and causing others to perform shocking deeds.
Pushing The Boundaries of Acceptable Horrors
Director Damian Rugna may be the best horror director working today, with When Evil Lurks marking the follow-up to his equally shocking Terrified. What makes the movie so terrifying is how evil has no limits, targeting anyone and anything and disposing of its victims in the most disturbing ways imaginable. Children, dogs, and the elderly. When it comes to pure evil, it does not discriminate in how it tortures its victims. The effects of the possessed are also spectacular, gory messes that barely resemble the humans they once were.
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3 Longlegs (2024)
Longlegs is a horror thriller film by writer-director Osgood Perkins. When FBI agent Lee Harker is assigned to a serial killer cold case, their investigation leads them down a rabbit hole riddled with disturbing discoveries and the occult at the center of it all. When the trail of evidence reveals a personal connection, it becomes a race against time to prevent another murder.
Release Date July 12, 2024
Runtime 1hr 41min
Studio Automatik Entertainment, C2 Motion Picture Group, Neon
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Astute FBI agent Lee Harker becomes involved in a long-running and stalled investigation of a killer known as Longlegs. With her ability to sense things other agents can, the case starts to push forward. Each revelation only leads to a deeper mystery as to how the long-running killer was able to extract his ritualistic killings. Things become more complex when Harker learns that her family may have ties to the infamous killer and the force behind him.
A Crime Thriller Turned Unforgettable Horror
Nicolas Cage as the titular killer is reason enough to check out this dark mystery turned demonic horror feature. Yet, director Oz Perkins excels in crafting an alarming crime thriller that devolves into unspeakable evil. Investing in the investigation lures the viewer in depth; when things turn horrific, it is hard to shake that sense of impending dread–like watching a car crash in slow motion. Longlegs is set to become a modern classic, cherished for years to come. You can rent Longlegs on Apple TV, Prime Video, or YouTube.
2 Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Made (2018)
Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Made
Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Made is a 2018 horror film directed by David Amito and Michael Laicini. It presents itself as a cursed film from the 1970s, supposedly causing deaths and misfortune to those who watch it. The movie follows a brother and sister who perform an occult ritual to save their pet’s soul that drags them into a dangerous supernatural situation.
Release Date October 14, 2018
Director David Amito , Michael Laicini
Cast Nicole Tompkins , Rowan Smyth , Dan Istrate , Circus-Szalewski , Shu Sakimoto , Kristel Elling , Lucy Rayner , Pierluca Arancio , A.J. Bond , Nathan Fleet , Brock Fricker , Assen Gadjalov
Runtime 95 minutes
Main Genre Horror
Writers David Amito , Michael Laicini
Studio(s) Else Films
Distributor(s) Uncork’d Entertainment , Else Films
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Presented as a cursed film unearthed, Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Made follows a mother and son as they head into the forest to confront an ancient evil. As the mother tells the son stories of the importance of their task at hand, they come across others in the forest who worship an ancient deity, feeding their sacrifices through a ghastly torture device. The lines are blurred between reality, fiction, and the mother’s mental health as things become more dire for the two, with violent killers operating just outside their devious tasks.
Blurring the Lines Between Reality and Fiction
Billed as a movie that caused death to anyone who watches it, Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Made relies on the viewer immersing themselves into the concept to get the full effect. The flick pays homage to the exploitation and horror of the 70s, nailing its aesthetic and giving it a gritty edge, and the purposeful degradation and messing with the ‘film stock’ also makes the unearthed aspect feel real. Antrum offers a fully immersive experience in terror and one that feels utterly unique in execution and storytelling. It is a movie that may not kill you, but it sticks with you long after the credits roll. You can stream Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Made on Prime Video, Screambox, Tubi, or Freevee.
1 The Exorcist (1973)
Release Date December 26, 1973
Runtime 2hr 2min
There’s a reason classic films remain so esteemed and admired even decades after their release. William Friedkin’s ’70s masterpiece The Exorcist continues to prove that oldies are definitely goodies when it comes to the horror genre. Famously centering on a young girl (Linda Blair) possessed by a demonic presence and the great lengths a determined priest goes to save the child, the groundbreaking film terrified audiences all across the world with its graphic imagery, mounting tension, and spine-tingling premise.
One of the Most Shocking Movies Ever Made
Over fifty years after its release, The Exorcist still has the power to frighten and downright disturb new viewers, just as it did when it first hit theaters and caused moviegoers extreme duress, resulting in many fleeing the cinema in a panic. The Exorcist remains one of the most influential and respected horror films ever made. You can stream The Exorcist on Max.
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