Top 55 horror movies of all time
Ranking my favorite horror movies. No spoilers
List won't include comedy horror. |
| 55 |  | The Haxan Cloak
Midsommar (Original Score)
MIDSOMMAR
while the plot is somehow predictable and the characters are annoying (but i guess that's the point) the whole movie is direct with majesty by Aster. The whole movie is colorful, trippy and shot in the bright light of day. Haxan cloack's soundtrack fits perfectly the weird over the top situations, plus the northern culture is always interesting and the depiction of grief is one of the most accurate ever.
With a more original plot this movie would be near the top. |
| 54 |  | Philip glass
The Music of Candyman
CANDYMAN
Anti-racism horror before Jordan Peele's (which are pretty good tho) |
| 53 |  | Akira Yamaoka
Silent Hill 4: The Room
CARNIVAL OF SOULS
Shot in 1962 with only 30.000 dollars this movie shows that you don't need a huge budget in order to create a good horror. The macabre organ scene is still creepy nowadays |
| 52 |  | Goblin
Suspiria
I always found Dario Argento overrated. I said it! He hasn't produced a good movie in the last 30 years.
Suspiria is pretty great though. While the plot is pretty bland, the photography is stellar, the oniric atmosphere that surrounds the whole movie supported by Goblin's awesome score makes the entire movie a cult. |
| 51 |  | Locrian
The Crystal World
JU-ON
I'm not a huge fan of rancorous spirits horror movies but Shimizu delivered this kind of J-horror all over the world. The ghosts are pretty uncomfortable to look at, the whole atmosphere is tense and the low budget production makes it even rawer. |
| 50 |  | Fabio frizzi
THE BEYOND (Original Soundtrack)
THE BEYOND
Fulci's depiction of afterlife may be one of the eeriest ever. One of the most original zombie movies ever. Oneiric, esoteric and pretty gory. Sure he has take lot of inspiration by Suspiria, still his original touch made this even better in my opinion. |
| 49 |  | Christopher Young
Sinister
SINISTER
A recent scientific research claimed this is the scariest movie ever....eeeh, actually no. But it has it's moments.
Personally i hate when in horror movies the script explains too much the paranormal entity, the thing that scares the most is the unknown! But for 3/4 of the movie the atmosphere is dreadful, those snuff films are actually pretty scary (lawnmower, anyone?).Bagül is a nice creature (basically a mash up of slipknot's guitarists) and the soundtrack is great too. |
| 48 |  | Korn
Life Is Peachy
BABADOOK
A smart metaphor of depression and guilt. The creature animated with claymation works very well.
Wiseman was great for being just a kid (i must admit that the "why can't you be normal" meme is funny). A great psychological view of the boogeyman. |
| 47 |  | Marco Beltrami
A Quiet Place
A QUIET PLACE.
A silent paradise. If it wasn't for some hyper-hearing carnivore creatures. A smart idea used in one of the most original horror-thriller of the last years. The action scenes are well shot and the creature design is intimidating enough. Some characters makes some pretty retarded choices sometimes but the actors performances makes it forgivable. |
| 46 |  | Big black
Songs About Fucking
GERALD'S GAME
Flanagan's adaptation of King's novel works even better than the book imo. A risky choice that exceeded expectation that managed to keep the audience focused with such a static concept. There are a pair of gruesome scenes that will make the weakest stomachs turns and the night scenes are pretty creepy. |
| 45 |  | Ludwig van Beethoven
"Pathétique" Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13
THE CABINET OF Dr. CALIGARI.
Considered the hugest influence for horro cinema, this expressionist work was something totally new in the 20s. Sure nowadays it won't make the same impact but it's still a must watch, both for importance and surreal imagery |
| 44 |  | Radiohead
In Rainbows
THE INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1978)
This remake of the 50s sci-fi classic adds more paranoia and some practical effects that aged pretty well. Southerland's performance is still iconic, THAT scene became one of the most recognizable ever. |
| 43 |  | Iron maiden
Brave New World
THE WICKER MAN (1973)
the original one, not the one with Mr. Cage screaming AAAH NOT THE BEES.
A satirical folk horror that never reached some countries because of religious themes. The bizarre atmosphere and cult imagery became so popular that many movies, books and games borrowed the same style. The ending is truly something. |
| 42 |  | Riz Ortolani
Cannibal Holocaust
CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST
While many people thinks that the found footage was invented with the blair witch project (maybe one of the most overrated horror ever) Deodato made it 20 years before. One of the most controversial movies ever for it's disturbing imagery, sexual exploitation, marketing campaign and animal cruelty (which I don't approve). However there is a strong anthropological criticism and a totally new approach to moviemaking that made it a cult even today. |
| 41 |  | Elliot Goldenthal
Pet Sematary
PET SEMATARY (1989)
A nostalgic choice, sure it has it's problems such as idiotic characters that makes idiotic choices but overall is a great adaptation. The whole dark tale atmosphere, the childish approach to death and Gage's scenes contributes to create an enjoyable horror. When i was a kid Zelda scared the shit out of me |
| 40 |  | Mayhem
Chimera
HAXAN (1922)
An old docu-film about witchcraft and satanism. Maybe one of the most aged well movies of the 20s due to it's beautiful dark yet poetic imagery, plus there's the first jumpscare in history. The iconic Chimers album artwork came from Haxan. |
| 39 |  | Converge
Jane doe
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?
Domestic horror/thriller about envy, jealousy and loss of success. The main subject is about an ex child actress being forgotten and the hate she feels for her disabled successful sister. The rivalry between the movie stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford was important for the movie development. |
| 38 |  | Dragged Into Sunlight
Hatred For Mankind
THE DESCENT
If you're claustrophobic stay away from this. A whole movie set into a subterranean cave surrounded by anthropomorphic primal creatures. |
| 37 |  | Joseph Bishara
The Conjuring
THE CONJURING 1&2
The revival of haunted mansion subgenre. While not particularly scared by these it's undeniable that the movies contains some of the best scenes in recent horror. The wardrobe jumpscare is truly frightening, the hauntings are actually dangerous while in most movies the ghosts just seems playful guys, Annabele became an icon and Valak was utterly terrifying before the nun came out (seriously wtf was that). The main characters aretty charismatic even though probably the real ones were charlatans. |
| 36 |  | Pig Destroyer
Prowler in the Yard
THE POUGHKEEPSIE TAPES
Seriously, avoid this if you're somekind of sensible or if home invasion scares you.
This found footage is actually one of the most disturbing movies in recent years, some scenes will stay with you forever. Pretty sick view. |
| 35 |  | Misfits
Walk Among Us
THIRST
A vampire movie by the director of Oldboy (one of the best movies ever).
In a world where twilight saga dominated the vampire romance scenario you got this psychological, sick and passionate movie about a priest affected by vampirism that falls in love with a mistreated wife. I won't spoil anything, go watch it! |
| 34 |  | Deceased
Fearless Undead Machines
TRAIN TO BUSAN
Another South Korean movie, this time about zombies...fast ones, i mean, faster than any zombie ever.
Almost the whole story is set on a train and like most South Korean movies there is a powerful social commentary that represents the real horror. The characters are amazingly written and acted, the zombies are among the best ever in recent cinema. A rollercoaster of emotions. |
| 33 |  | Ice Nine Kills
The Silver Scream
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.
Freddy Krueger. Need something else? Englund's performance as the serial killer haunting Horny teenagers dreams remained one of the most recognizable icons of the 80s. The idea of being chased in your dreams was pretty fucked up too. The only problem i got with this is when Freddy get tricked outside the dream, that scene feels like Home Alone. The rest is delightful. |
| 32 |  | Sigur ros
Untitled 1
THE INNOCENTS
Underrated haunted mansion movie from the 60s. Basically any haunted house horror borrowed something from this. The story is both sad and creepy, the hauntings are genuinely terrifying for the times. A unique atmosphere surrounds the whole mansion. |
| 31 |  | Christopher Young
Hellraiser
HELLRAISER
Barker's novel adaptation contains some of the best practical effects in horror movies, such as the reincarnation scene. The Chenobytes sadomasochistic design is delightful, that weird monster that chases the characters is pretty laughable though, aside from that, a perverted iconic work that still lives today.
WE WILL TEAR YOUR SOUL APART. |
| 30 |  | Swans
To Be Kind
THE TENANT
The last of Polanski's apartment trilogy.
This movie is the perfect depiction of persecution mania. The whole neighborhood is hateful, a nice metaphor of immigration. The whole downward spiral that Mr Trelkowski goes through will make you feel uncomfortable. Plus, i love how it's a regular movie for the first half and then the whole story sinks into the abyss. |
| 29 |  | Boris
Boris At Last -Feedbacker-
THE WAILING
South Koreans knows how to make a good plot twist, the whole film is filled with a dreadful sensation and you sit there, awaiting it to explode. The transition from investigating thriller to horror is priceless |
| 28 |  | James Newton Howard
The Sixth Sense
THE SIXTH SENSE
Speaking about plot twists, Shyamalan's paranormal drama contains maybe the most notorious mindfuck in movies. The characters development is pure gold, as like the performances. The whole story is both tragic and hopeful. I wonder how the fuck this guy switched from this to after earth. |
| 27 |  | Howard shore
The Fly (1986)
THE FLY (1986)
Aaaah Cronemberg, the king of body horror. I remember traumatizing my girlfriend with the nail scene. The whole movie depicts the physical and psychological downfall of a scientist after a failed teleportation test. Not for weak stomachs. |
| 26 |  | Fear Factory
Archetype
SAW
Before becoming one of the lamest (and the most famous) sagas in horror, James Wan directed a low budget horror thriller with passion and smart writing. Jigsaw became soon one of the best villains ever, the movie is not about how creative the traps goes but how deep the meaning were. One of the most fun to watch thrillers ever that contains some genuinely scary moments (the pig home invasion). |
| 25 |  | Camille Saint-Saens
Danse macabre, Op.40
NOSFERATU (1922)
Dracula's story recreated and shot with Murnau's masterful hand. |
| 24 |  | Deathspell Omega
Fas - Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum
POSSESSION(1981)
Not to be confused with the 2008 shitfest.
Zulawski's movie is.....something. For the most is not even an horror movie, well it is put just in a psychological subtle way. It's hard to explain. The main subject is Divorce, the movie plays with you making you think always the wrong solution and making you uncomfortable. I swear you'll hate every character and after the movie is over you'll keep wondering about the true meaning. |
| 23 |  | Howard Shore
Videodrome (Vinyl Press)
VIDEODROME
Another Cronenberg's masterpiece. A complicated satire about television, control, manipulation, perversion and human nature. And of course Body Horror.
Death to videodrome. All hail the new flesh. |
| 22 |  | Modest Mussorgsky
A Night on Bald Mountain
IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS
Carpenter perfectly nails the meaning behind Lovecraftian horror, projecting Sam Neil into a spiral of madness and literally into a Lovecraft like novel that becomes reality. |
| 21 |  | Frightmare
Bringing Back The Bloodshed
THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974)
Hooper's soiled masterpiece is one of the rawest movies in the genre. The whole movie feels dirty and disturbingly plausible, being inspired by serial killers like Ed Gein and Dean Corll. Leatherface and family are still an inspiration for many medias such as Resident Evil 7 |
| 20 |  | Mark Korven
The Lighthouse - OST
THE WITCH/THE LIGHTHOUSE
I was undecided about which Eggers movie was better so i put em both.
Both are surrounded by majestic photograpy, slow burning narrative and not so sane characters, the most interesting thing about Egger movies is the doubt. He always plays with it, both with yours and the character's, always questioning what is real and what is not.
The witch is about a christian family isolated in the woods being involved with witchcraft and the second is a post expressionist work about two lighthouse keepers involved in a toxic relationship and surrounded by a lovecraftian atmopshere |
| 19 |  | Gnaw Their Tongues
An Epiphanic Vomiting Of Blood
REC
A perfectly shot found footage about an infection spreading into an apartment. It perfectly catches the viewer's subjective, the night vision scene is one of the most genuinely tense moments in the last 20 years.
How the fuck did the directors switched from this to the last 2 chapters?! |
| 18 |  | Evildead
Annihilation of Civilization
EVIL DEAD (1981)
While ED2 and Army of darkness are amongst my favorite movies ever clearly belongs to comedy horror.
The first one was shot in a cabin by Sam Raimi and his friends with 100.000 dollars. The result is one of the most well known and well shot horrors ever. The steadicam technique used for the entity's pov is sublime. The low budget effect contribute to create a more organic feeling. |
| 17 |  | The body
I Shall Die Here
FREAKS (1932)
Tod Browning's odd masterpiece was controversial due to the use of real deformed people and a supposing gruesome ending that got literally burned by some audience. The movie is still a masterpiece and the social commentary is still actual after 90 years. |
| 16 |  | John Carpenter
Halloween
HALLOWEEN
Wrongly credited as the godfather of slasher (in fact the first slasher is a bay of blood by Mario Bava).
Carpenter did actually revived the subgenre and commercialized it. Myers as the personification of human evil is still awesome and the home invasion moments still works very well. |
| 15 |  | Maurice jarre
Les yeux sans visage (Eyes Without a Face) OST
EYES WITHOUT A FACE
A poetic yet gruesome story about a doctor who kidnaps girls and removes part of their faces in order to create a new one to his disfigured daughter. The movie contains pretty graphic imagery for being produced in the 60s but still remains elegant and deep. The famous mask inspired Carpenter himself for Myers creation. |
| 14 |  | Jerry goldsmith
The Omen
THE OMEN (1976)
The story of the antichrist. A child adopted and raised by powerful yet good people without knowing who he really his. The whole movie is surrounded by a strange aura of impending doom that was rarely replicated in other movies. The symbolism and subtle horror makes it a timeless masterpiece. The
Movie was even scarier behind the scenes, seems like a lot of accidents and sudden deaths happened around it's productions. |
| 13 |  | The Axis of Perdition
Deleted Scenes From Transition Hospital
SHUTTER (2004)
Avoid the useless american remake. As i said i'm not a fan of rancorous ghosts.
But holy fuck this movie is scary. The presence is always there, the photography is an important theme.in Thai culture so it is for the plot. The ending is maybe the most disturbing and gloomy ever saw in a ghost story. |
| 12 |  | Mike Oldfield
Tubular Bells
THE EXORCIST
Here it is, the most popular horror ever. As an atheist i've never been bothered by demonic possession but this movie was so ahead of it's time. Linda Blair's performance was just perfect, how can a little girl be so intimidating? Kudos also to Ellen Burstyn. I guess that for a religious person this movie is the supreme fear.
However the imagery and effects are still believable to this day and the tense atmosphere teached many generations how an horror is done. |
| 11 |  | Mark Isham
The mist
THE MIST
Underrated gem from Darabont, director of all time favorites like the green mile and Shawshank redemption.
Some people find themselves trapped into a supermarket while a mysterious fog surrounds the city. There are 2 types of horror in this movie. The creatures which represents the fear of the unknown (some desogns are truly chilling) and the people which represents the weakness of humans, finding themselves worshipping a crazy religious lady due to fear of death. |
| 10 |  | Akira Yamaoka
Silent Hill 2
JACOB'S LADDER (1990)
This movie has the merit of inspiring one of the best videogame sagas ever:silent hill.
Actually this movie it's a psychological thriller for the most, with like 4 or 5 scary scenes. But damn....those scenes are terrifying. I watched it as a kid so the hospital scene stayed with me for a while. The classic silent hill monsters head convulsions that inspired hundreds of movies was created here. |
| 9 |  | Jerry Goldsmith
Alien
ALIEN
Maybe the highest budget horror ever.
Ridley Scott's masterpiece involved Geiger as the designer for one of the best creatures in movie history:the Xenomorph. Accessible even to people who doesn't like horror, this timeless classic should be watched by anyone. |
| 8 |  | David Lynch
Eraserhead OST
ERASERHEAD.
Subconscious horror. Lynch's debut took 7 years to come to life. The result is one of the weirdest and oniric works in movie history. The whole film is like the personification of uncanny valley, perfectly nailing the dreaming sensation throughout surreal and illogic, it's disturbing but you don't even know why. Not for everyone for sure. It was Kubrick's favorite movie, he used to make the actors watch it during the making of shining in order to make them feel uncomfortable. |
| 7 |  | Krzysztof Komeda
Rosemary's Baby
ROSEMARY'S BABY
A Masterpiece, Polanski managed to create anxiety without showing anything. A perfect depiction of paranoia, an illogic fear that something evil is growing inside of you. Like the omen this movie seems surrounded by disgraceful events. |
| 6 |  | Wendy Carlos
The Shining
SHINING
From the mind of a genius it comes both one of the worst adaptation of a book ever and one of the best movies ever. The attention to details is almost manic. The atmsophere is the pure essence of isolation. The true horror is rarely show, it's all around, lurking inside the characters. The actors performances are simply divine. Jack Nicholson basically impersonating himself is something out of this world and Duvall looks genuinely traumatized by the whole experience. |
| 5 |  | John Murphy
28 Days Later Soundtrack
28 DAYS LATER
The movie who reinvented zombie genre.
The rabids feels like a true danger, even if the worst of the horror is still the human being (as Romero teached us). The whole scene of deserted London with East hastings in the background is just perfect.
You can feel empathic with the characters and you'll worry for them, you'll almost feel sorry even for the rabids. The soundtrack is superb too. |
| 4 |  | Bernard Herrmann
Psycho
PSYCHO
Perfection. Hitchcock put himself into this, like shining there is a manic attention to details like the mirror representing duality. This is the first movie ever introducing the MacGuffin. It was unthinkable to change plot, genre and characters in the middle of the movie. The famous shower scene recorded in reverse is another touch of genius. The atmosphere that fills Bates motel is tense and creepy and the acting is sublime, Perkins was god like in this role, especially in the ending. |
| 3 |  | Ennio Morricone
The Thing
THE THING
An unknown alien creatures that perfectly imitates other beings as a metaphor of social mistrust and paranoia.
Hands down the best practical effects OF ALL TIME. The thing perfectly nails the concept of fear of anyone close to you and the lovecraftian atavistic fear of the unknown. |
| 2 |  | Seppuku Paradigm
Martyrs OST
MARTYRS (2008)
Another movie plagued by a nauseating remake.
This baby is hard to watch, really. The faint of heart should avoid it. It starts pretty straightforward but totally changes in the middle becoming something really hard to digest. The large amount of physical violence is nothing compared to the psychological one, but it's not at it's own sake. It has a solid philosophy and meaning. A disturbing masterpiece |
| 1 |  | Goblin
Zombi (Dawn of the Dead)
ROMERO'S TRILOGY OF THE DEAD.
How could i not include all of them at the same place? Any of them as a different flavour.
The night of the living dead is the"most horror" and the movie that created the modern zombie as we know it. A claustrophobic survival horror with some messed up moments for its time. Dawn of the dead has a more social approach, the survivors barricades themselves inside a mall while the living dead blindly follows them (metaphor of consumerism) and introduced the human being as the real horror. Day of the dead contains an heavy anti-militaristic criticism and some of the most gruesome effects ever by Tom Savini. The apex of horror |
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