These 17 movies proved that only supernatural elements are not scary

The most horrifying movies of horror are not always about ghosts, monsters, or otherwise supernatural forces. Some of the most chilling films ever deal with the dark corners of human nature, and this is where fear finds its roots. From psychological thrillers to down-and-dirty survival stories, these films show that the stuff that is truly scary is not always things we can't control. Most of the time, it is in the minds and deeds of those around us.

1) Psycho (1960)

Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock is an icon in revolutionizing the genre of horror since it portrayed Norman Bates as an ordinary man who becomes one of cinema's greatest villains. In Psycho, it was a psychological horror movie as opposed to horror that involved supernatural forces. There was Bates and his sick and abnormal relationship with his mother which led to such unease. Indeed, it is known for the iconic shower scene pivotal moment of horror history from which future psychological thrillers spring and explore even the darkest depths of the human psyche.

2) The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Psychological horror classic talking about the cold relationship between the FBI agent Clarice Starling and the cannibal Hannibal Lecter. It has no supernatural means to terrify; terror is introduced purely through Lecter's disturbing intellect, and the efforts of Starling to understand the bent mind of Lecter. This brings forth timeless themes of humankind; even obsession and psychological manipulation go through them. Anthony Hopkins' performance in the movie makes Lecter one of the memorable villains in the history of cinema and proves thereby that real horror lies within the hollows of the human mind.

3) Se7en (1995)

David Fincher's movie Se7en is a macabre crime thriller in reality where real horror lurks in the brain of a serial killer of an unusual sort. The ghastly murders emanating from the seven deadly sins reflect a society's decay in moral values in human terms and blunt the atmosphere in which the film is presented. The cold description of Detective Somerset and his younger partner seems to show that even the strongest can turn with that darkness of human nature.

4) The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is an unsettlingly realistic movie, but human horror is a scary one, not supernatural. A group of friends crosses paths with a clan of disturbed cannibals, led by the grotesque Leatherface. The raw and brutal violence is contrasted against the normal, ordinary setting of rural America to remind everyone that some real-life horrors can be worse than the most outrageous fantasy. Gritty realism combined with a chillingly savage portrayal of human savagery leaves an indelible mark on the minds of all viewers.

5) The Strangers (2008)

Strangers is the most primal fear of being stalked by faceless intruders within the confines of your own home. A couple is harassed by three masked attackers, and their motives are almost as disturbing as, if not more than, their actions. It is the fact that most terrifying of all is the concept that horror sometimes truly comes from people as mundane and unremarkable - indeed, even boring. There are no supernatural reasons behind violent acts in this movie: ordinary, stereotypical humans can act, and their brutality has a propensity to terrify.

6) Funny Games ( 2007)

Funny Games is a disturbing meta-horror that considers violence and viewer expectations. There is an Austrian version made by Michael Haneke in 1997 and an American remake in 2007, both showcasing two young men who, for no apparent reason, torture a family while subverting the viewer's expectations with fourth-wall-breaking commentary on violence within the movie. While questioning the senselessness of cruelty-giving us no explanations of the horror-the movie allows the audience to participate in the violence.

7) The Lighthouse (2019)

The Lighthouse probes madness creeping in upon isolation with its very claustrophobic psychological descent being set in a lighthouse. Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson create superb performances as two men who land on a remote island and find themselves spiraling into delirium. The supernatural phenomena are somewhat uncertain; the real horror lies not in that but, rather, inside their mental breakdowns and, of course, the extremely bleak isolation surrounding them.

8) American Psycho (2000)

The American Psycho movie unfolds the mind of Patrick Bateman, a very wealthy and successful New York investment banker who, at the same time, turns out to be a brutal serial killer. Here, the lines between reality and delusion get blurred as his internal conflicts and psychotic tendencies unfurl. The horror lies in that Bateman completely detaches from humanity and finds justification for all his violent acts. The dark humor and chilling display of superficial wealth in the movie expose the scary truth that a materialistic world is a hollow one.

9) Jaws (1975)

Steven Spielberg's Jaws popularized terror from nature by showing that, after all, the most horrendous things in this world need not be supernatural. It's the eerie feeling that emanates from a huge great white shark as it hunts for food in a disturbing small beach town. Anticipation in the movie comes from an unseen menace lurking beneath the surface, where the inevitable unknown becomes even more terrible than any living thing.

10) Green Room (2015)

This exquisite movie provides a brutal watch of a punk rock band after witnessing a murder in a neo-Nazi skinhead bar. A high-tension thriller with an ever-widening rift between the potent forces of good and evil, it tells of the survival of a band trapped in a crazy situation; hunted down by violent extremists. The horror here does not come from any supernatural forces but from the down-to-earth horror of simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

11) Gerald’s Game (2017)

Based on a novel by Stephen King, Gerald's Game is the story of a woman left handcuffed to the bed in a remote cabin when a sexual game fails. A psychological thriller is quickly transformed into a survival story as terror now comes in the form of both the physical limitations presented in the situation and her repressed memories of the past. The film taps into deep-seated fears of isolation and helplessness, with the ultimate horror stemming from the psychological trauma of her past rather than any supernatural force.

12) Hush (2016)

A home invasion movie, Hush gives us a deaf protagonist who survives against a masked killer in her far-off abode. It is a masterclass in tension, leaving the audience to feel the horror of hearing nothing of impending danger. The horror is not coming from ghosts or monsters but from the determined pursuit of the killer. The movie's pacing keeps us biting our fingernails while maintaining the utmost vulnerability in its lead; this makes Hush an unbelievably effective thriller, offering a very fresh take on the home invasion genre.

13) Misery (1990)

Based on Stephen King's novel, Misery is a psychological thriller where the horror arises from the captivity and torment of a successful author. After a car accident, Paul Sheldon is taken in by his "No. 1 fan," Annie Wilkes, who turns out to be anything but supportive. The movie expertly explores the terror of obsession and the loss of control, with Kathy Bates’ chilling performance as Annie, who oscillates between sweet caregiver and terrifying captor. It’s an unsettling portrayal of a deeply disturbed mind capable of horrific acts.

14) Cape Fear (1991)

Cape Fear is a remake of the classic 1962 movie and revolves around a gist of a dangerous ex-convict stalking the family of the lawyer who, years before, had locked him up. Here is the terror, not in unseen spirits but in sheer psychological manipulation and stalking, both of which Cady carries out towards his victims. Robert De Niro's Cady is menacing and charismatic: a character with pure psychological terror who plays with fear, guilt, and vengeance, rather than the otherworldly.

15) Deliverance (1972)

Deliverance is a very brutal survival movie, taking a group of friends deep into the Appalachian wilderness where they encounter violent locals. It is in the human capacity for cruelty in such an unforgiving environment that the true terror of the film is to be found, with the group experiencing both physical and psychological horrors. The movie is a chilling adaptation of man versus nature, probing the savagery that can spring when civilization's limits fade away and its characters become susceptible to a world where the predator and prey stand on the thin edge of a razor.

16) Speak No Evil (2022)

This is a deeply unsettling psychological horror film based on two families who bond over a vacation but reveal the sinister nature of one family. The movie plays with the discomfort of social niceties as the protagonist grapples with moral dilemmas and increasing tension between the two families. The most horrific aspects of human nature are often just beneath the surface, and Speak No Evil shows how normal social behavior can devolve into something terrifying when crossed with malice.

17) The Nightingale (2018)

The Nightingale is a harsh portrayal of early 19th-century Australia's brutality and violence. As young convict Claire searches for vengeance on a British officer who betrayed her, the movie delves into themes of revenge, trauma, and survival. Horror in The Nightingale does not spring from the supernatural but rather from the human reality of violence and oppression inflicted on the protagonist. The relentless portability of pain and revenge makes this historical thriller, one of the most chilling and poignant films in recent years.