Horror movies are a cornerstone of cinema. Each decade has brought a new type of horror to the screen, and filmmakers continuously explore its limits. From found-footage and slasher films to layered horror dramas, various compelling movies have been released over the years that are now considered classics. Here’s a list of 20 such movies that are terrifying for various reasons and should probably be watched with friends or family.
1. The Exorcist
No horror movie list is complete without The Exorcist. This 1973 movie directed by William Friedkin, terrorized America when it was released. People fainted and could not envision a young girl, Regan, being possessed by a demonic entity. Famous scenes like Regan revolving her head 360 degrees, left an impact. The movie might feel dated in parts, due to old technology, but is compelling nonetheless and should be watched alone with caution.
2. The Ring (1998)
Nothing compares to J-horror or Japanese horror movies. Movies like The Ring, have inspired multiple American versions. Directed by Hideo Nakata and based on a novel by Koji Suzuki, The Ring, is a horror movie that follows the mystery of a cursed video tape that kills anyone who watches it within seven days. The film's scene where the evil entity crawls out of the TV is memorable. With an unsettling storyline, make sure not to watch it alone.
3. In the Tall Grass
Directed by Vincenzo Natali and based on a novella by Stephen King and Joe Hill, In the Tall Grass, is a horror drama about a brother and sister, who are traveling to San Diego but hear the cries of a boy among the tall grass fields. As the siblings enter the grass to help, they experience supernatural occurrences and are unable to find their way out. The movie has a claustrophobic atmosphere and should not be watched alone.
4. Hereditary
One of the most influential horror movies of recent times, Hereditary, is a layered horror film that tackles important themes like family dynamics and trauma. With a stirring performance by Toni Collette, the movie revolves around a family that is grieving the death of their grandmother and begins to experience supernatural incidents. Directed by Ari Aster, the movie received widespread acclaim and has a bleakness. Watch this alone with caution.
5. The Blair Witch Project
Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez, The Blair Witch Project is a cult classic in the world of horror cinema. Filmed in the style of found footage and mockumentary, the independent movie has received acclaim and revolves around three students who hike to the Black Hills in Maryland to investigate a local myth. The last shots of a frightened friend, before the camera cuts, make the movie one of the scariest. Try not to watch this alone.
6. L’Interiuer
Also known as The Inside, L’Interiuer, is a French horror slasher directed by Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo. This 2007 film revolves around the relatable fear of home invasion and focuses on a pregnant widow, who must save herself from a mysterious and determined intruder before Christmas day. The film is considered a part of the New Extremity movement, which groups together French films with graphic violence. Surrounded by an atmosphere of dread and brutality, do not watch this alone.
7. The Thing
A classic movie by the revered director John Carpenter, The Thing, is a sci-fi horror movie based on a novella by John W. Campbell. The film triggers the fear of the unknown as it revolves around a group of researchers in Antarctica, that get invaded by an alien that imitates and kills. Starring Kurt Russell, the movie is a pop culture staple and instills the feeling of being trapped. Watch this with some friends.
8. Hush
Directed by Mike Flanagan, who has earned repute as a horror director, Hush is a horror slasher about a deaf and mute successful author, Madison Young (Kate Siegel), who goes to stay in an isolated cabin to write more. But things take a turn when a masked killer decides to invade her space. The movie is tense and terrifying and can feel overwhelming alone. But it has a clever cat-and-mouse chase, which makes it a compelling watch.
9. The Shining
A psychological horror classic, The Shining, is directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on a novel by Stephen King. The movie has many memorable scenes like the disturbing twin sisters seen by the son, and blood flowing out of the elevators, that are regularly referenced in pop culture. Starring Jack Nicholson, it focuses on an aspiring author, who takes his family to an isolated resort hotel and goes insane. Set in an empty hotel and featuring a haunting background score, it's a terrifying watch.
10. Skinamarink
One of the more popular lo-fi horror movies that are characterized by grainy visuals, low budgets, and low production values, Skinamarink, is a modern classic. Directed by Kyle Edward Ball, the film is about a brother and sister, who wake up every night and find out that their house is slowly disappearing. An experimental movie, it taps into the childhood fear of darkness and has unique cinematography—which is quite unsettling. Not recommended for a solo watch.
11. Paranormal Activity
This classic film from 2007, led the comeback of the found-footage genre. Directed by Oren Peli, a young couple is distraught over a supernatural presence in their house, captured by their security cameras. The film executes the “less is more” strategy as most of the scenes build up slowly to an outburst of supernatural activity. While the movie spawned several sequels, the original movie still has the edge and can get under one’s skin when watched alone.
12. The Descent
Another horror movie that excels in tapping into claustrophobia and horrifying creatures is The Descent. Directed by Neil Marshall, the British horror flick is about six women who enter uncharted caves and encounter cannibals. Regarded as one of the best horror films of the 2000s, it humanizes the characters while maintaining a suffocating atmosphere. The female-led movie focuses on the fight for survival and must be watched with friends or family.
13. Alien (1979)
Alien is one of those horror movies from the 1970s and 1980s that has left an indelible mark on cinema. The popular movie spawned a whole franchise, which keeps getting rebooted to this day. The first movie, starring Sigourney Weaver and directed by Ridley Scott, follows a space crew that investigates an old spaceship, only to bring a deadly alien aboard.
14. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
A highly influential horror movie, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, gave birth to the slasher genre and has various sequels. But the fright of the original is unmatched. The 1974 movie, directed by Tobe Hooper, is about a group of friends who come across a cannibalistic family. The movie’s graphic murders and unsettling masks, make it disturbing and gory. Its aggression also makes it a terrifying movie to be watched alone.
15. The Night House
Starring Rebecca Hall and directed by David Bruckner, The Night House, is a psychological horror movie about a widow who discovers the dark past about the house built by her dead husband. The movie begins slowly but assuredly and has a powerful emphasis on grief and loneliness. Eventually, the lurking supernatural takes over and the movie’s finale is remarkable and heartbreaking. While Hall gives a determined performance, the movie’s heavy emotionality makes it a difficult solo watch.
16. The Exorcism of Emily Rose
A movie that is intense, brutal, and unflinching, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, is a popular part of pop culture. Directed by Scott Derrickson, the legal horror drama is inspired by a famous real-life case and follows the gradual possession, extreme behavior, and unsuccessful exorcism of Emily Rose, that results in a court battle. The film’s disturbing visuals like the levitating of Emily, have left a mark upon viewers and is, therefore, a difficult solo watch.
17. Under the Shadow
Under the Shadow is a Persian-language psychological horror film that made waves at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Directed by Babak Anvari, the film is set in 1980s Tehran and is about a mother and daughter, who have a haunting presence in their home. Set amidst the War of the Cities, the film has political themes, which it blends with Islamic mythology. The film’s themes of oppression are compellingly portrayed and it is a heavy watch for one person.
18. It Follows
Another modern movie that has become an instant classic, It Follows, is directed by David Robert Mitchell and revolves around a young woman, who has an intimate encounter but then begins to be followed by a supernatural entity afterward. The film’s unique premise and compelling performances have made it one of the best horror movies of the 2010s and it has received both critical and commercial acclaim. Insidious and unnerving, make sure to have someone along while watching.
19. Evil Dead (1981)
Directed by Sam Raimi, Evil Dead, is a cult horror film that has been an important part of pop culture and has spawned a franchise. The original is about a group of friends, who take an isolated cabin in the woods for holidaying, and accidently release evil entities after playing a mysterious audio tape. The movie's graphic visuals of entities springing up from the floors, make it unsuitable for solo viewing.
20. It Comes at Night
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It Comes at Night, is a psychological horror movie that garnered much praise. Directed by Trey Edward Shults, the movie is set amidst an apocalyptic Earth, where a contagious disease has taken over humans. Amidst this, a healthy family hides in the forest, until another family shows up and requests to let them stay. The movie plays with the viewer’s mind with its non-linear psychological aspects and it is better not to watch it alone.
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