Fear comes in many forms. If you don’t believe that, then take a look at the long history of horror movies. From jumpscares to intense character outbreaks, these movies have all the scares you can ever have. Since watching all the movies from the genre is an impossible task, we have narrowed down some of the best ones.
Stream these movies and let us know which ones you liked the most in the comments below. You can also use the Spotflik App to add these movies to your watchlist.
Saw (2004)
Many people know Saw as some kind of torture porn. Yes! It does have some disgusting sequels. However, the original movie is actually brilliant and valuable addition to the genre. The demonic character Jigsaw toying with and asking them to decapitate themselves give the audience a different level of bone-chilling scare. Leigh Whannell and James Wan made this movie on a shoestring budget and it went on to become an iconic horror flick with a cult following of its own.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Nothing can feel more safe and secure than sleeping in your bed. However, with Robert Englund’s Freddy around, you will not be waking up if you fall asleep. Unlike the normal slasher movies, A Nightmare on Elm Street has its manic lurking in people’s dreams to end their lives. With his murder gloves and sharp blades, Fredy is the ultimate boogeyman and no amount of caffeine is gonna help you save your life. Johnny Depp’s spectacularly splattery death scene alone is enough to watch this iconic horror classic.
Evil Dead 2
For those who thought that Evil Dead 2 is a sequel, it is actually more of a ‘requel’. Keeping the essence of the original movie, this perfect horror-comedy has Campbell’s Ash and his girlfriend Linda fighting Evil released by the Necronomicon. The movie finds a subtle charm in its skillful blend of horror and comedy. Evil Dead 2 is so iconic that it went on to inspire many horror-comedies that came after it. However, none came anywhere close to the original movie.
The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Soon after Evil Dead became a big hit at the box office, numerous studios in Hollywood started to work on the same formula and create their version of the horror movie. The deserted cabin in the middle of the forest and bunch of twenty-ish characters deciding to stay there for the night was one of the most recurring themes for such movies. The 2011 movie, The Cabin In The Woods takes the premise and presents it in a truly entertaining manner. With Chris Hemsworth playing one of the lead roles, the movie does a wonderful job in mocking the genre cliches, why keep the story safe from being a parody.
Paranormal Activity (2007)
The fascinating thing about Paranormal Activity is that it makes things feel real and deadly serious. While The Blair Witch Project was used the found-footage style to tell the story, this movie uses security footage as the storytelling device. The reason why this technique makes the movie so nerve-jangling is because of the helplessness that the audience feels. We know what is lurking around the corner. We are seeing what the characters are not seeing. Yet, there is no way to let them know what is awaiting them. The tension that builds up is nerve-racking and that is why this movie is an important addition to this list.
A Quiet Place (2018)
This one does not fit into the conventional horror movie genre. However, it deserves a place on this list. This alien/monster movie is undoubtedly one of the best edge-of-the-seat thrillers of our time. The characters are on the run and in constant fear of being hunted down and killed. The stakes are even higher when your wife and children to protect in a nightmarish post-apocalyptic world. With what seems like a simple premise, A Quiet Place does give us sheer muscle-clenching tension and fear.
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Many people know Zack Synder from his highly stylized slow motions and the even more popular #releasethesyndercut campaign. However, only a few know that the director actually started his career with a zombie movie. Though Dawn of the Dead is something entirely different from the director’s style, it is 100% a zombie movie. The movie literally brought the zombie genre back to life and gave back its main screen appeal.
Oxygen (2021)
French film director Alexandre Aja is known for his horror movies. After the success of Crawl, the director decided to do another horror thriller with a woman as the central character. The french-language science fiction psychological survival horror movie revolves around a woman who wakes up in a cryogenic chamber with no recollection of how she ended up there. With only a little supply of air, she has to find a way out before he runs out of air.
House of Wax (1953)
If you are a fan of old-school horror movies, then this is one movie that you should really watch. Directed by Andre de Toth, this period mystery-horror film is about a Wax sculptor named Henry. In order to claim insurance, his business partner burns down their wax museum with Henry inside. He miraculously survives and is out for vengeance.
The Babadook (2014)
There were a lot of scary tales that spooked us when we were young. Tales of monsters lurking in the closet and the evil red glowing eyes underneath the bed are all spine-chilling thoughts that gave us nightmares even before we fell asleep. Imagine any of those tales becoming real. The Babadook is a movie about a single mother who tries to keep her son away from a monster that is lurking in the house.
The Descent (2005)
Neil Marshall’s truly terrifying claustrophobic creature feature is horrifying in every sense. Six women take on an adventure in a cave system. What awaited them in the darkness are humanoid creatures. With nowhere to run or no one to help, the women must somehow find a way to survive and get out alive.
[Rec.] (2007)
If you thought that Paranormal Activity was scary, then this found-footage horror is going to blow your mind. What makes this movie unique is how its makers blend the zombie and found footage subgenre so brilliantly. The movie does not take advantage of the genre conventions to shy away from any scares. It is a well-crafted piece of horror cinema that has a growing list of fans.
