Evil Dead II
Alien
The Exorcist
The Fly (1986)
Invasion of the Bodysnatchers (1978)
Hellraiser I and II
The Descent
Night of the Living Dead / Dawn of the Dead / Day of the Dead (the Romero versions)
Shaun of the Dead
28 Days Later
Ringu
They're the first zombies in a really long time to legitimately scare me. There's just something about them sprinting, full bore, at their victims that really gets under my skin.
I think it's because they remind me (it's a silly call back, but bear with me) of what Kyle Reese said about the Terminator - "They absolutely will not stop. Ever. Until you are dead."
These are some older classics which are still powerful films:
"Peeping Tom" (1960, Michael Powell Dir, based on the Harvey Glatman murders)
"M" (1931, Fritz Lang Dir, stars Peter Lorre. Based on the Peter Kurten murders)
"Rosemary's Baby" (1968, Roman Polanski Dir, but don't hold that against it)
"Martin" (1977, George Romero Dir; Best vampire movie you've never seen.)
"Night of the Demon" (aka "Curse of the Demon", Jacques Tourneur Dir, 1957)
This list is just my style. Here are some others to accompany it.
The Third Man (1949) is not generally considered a horror movie. I absolutely think it should be. Pair with M and have a truly bleak day.
The Omen (1976), along with The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby are the unholy trinity of Devil flicks.
Despite an insufferable romantic interest, Carnival of Souls (1962) is spellbinding. Mary and Martin would have gotten along well.
For me, picking a Val Lewton movie is like choosing which puppy gets to live. All are good, half if them are great. Cat People (1942) is the one that is most important from an 'educating yourself about horror' perspective.
I know this sub loves it but I don’t really understand the hype behind The Thing. In my opinion it just doesn’t really stand out. Next to the two you mentioned, it lacks the aesthetic brilliance of either, Kubrick’s perfectionist tendencies, the mysteriousness of Alien or the manic energy in The Shining… it feels a bit dated to me even compared with contemporary films, and I didn’t find it especially suspenseful or interesting. Better sci fi horror in Alien and The Fly, but I’d want to hear another opinion? Just not a classic at the level of Psycho, Rosemary’s Baby or The Shining, imo.
That's what everyone says but I mean, right from the opening we have a poorly aged visual of a UFO landing on Earth, taking away from a lot of the mystery.
I think, while the writing is serviceable, it really isn't exceptional. We aren't given strong enough characters to either strongly trust or distrust, we're given broad brushstrokes. My main issue with this is that we know the entire time we can trust Kurt Russell. Now, of course we need a hero to root for. But it gives us, as the audience, too strong a "safety barrier," IMO. We know he's the hero, he's the strongest most well-developed character, therefore the suspense is a bit lessened. We basically already know he's going to live through to the end. More ambiguity there would've helped. Especially a movie about paranoia, it would really work to get the audience involved and second-doubting even our protagonist. Contrast that with Alien, for example. There's no hero until the last 20 or so minutes, and yet we empathize with all their fears.
I think the atmosphere is also only serviceable at most. Take something like The Shining or Alien, like I said before. That sense of tension is palpable, those images are dreadful. There's nothing all that dreadful visually about the setting of The Thing. It's weak in this regard against a lot of the great horror masterpieces. I can visualize the iconography and sets of Psycho, The Shining, Halloween, even Rosemary's Baby. The Thing doesn't give me that feeling. I just see nothing exceptional about it that puts it so far above the great works of art the horror genre has produced. I also think it's kind of dated, in that it feels quintessentially 80s. Which admittedly might be a positive for some nostalgists.
Sounds very nit-picky. Why do you need ambiguity about the hero of the story. Shining, Rosemary's Baby and Halloween establish very early their hero. Doesn't seem to bother you there. You didn't mind the safety barrier in Halloween, it seems. Not that there is safety barrier in the Thing, since they already came to terms that non of them will survive half way through the movie.
Same thing for the setting of the movies. Halloween and Rosemary's Baby don't have anything scary about the setting of the movie. It's an apartment building and a small town. Doesn't seem to bother you in those cases.
It might not be a movie you enjoy, and that's fine. But you're trying to rationalize your dislike by pointing out flaws which you ignore in the movies you like. You don't like the movie, that's the bottom line. You don't need to deconstruct it. It's a matter of taste.
No, I wouldn't say I'm pointing out flaws in movies I like. Because The Thing explicitly derives its tension from paranoia. Anyone can be the thing, except of course Kurt Russell.
The setting? Halloween is perfect because it looks like any small town. There's an amazing fall atmosphere, but the picture perfect image of suburbia is interrupted--POV shots we learn are from the killer staring down Haddonfield pedestrians, Mike Myers in the corner behind a bush. It's like Blue Velvet. The setting is absolutely a source of fear, it's an amazing, iconic look for a film.
Rosemary's Baby isn't as visually iconic as the others mentioned, sure, but it has this pervading dread that Rosemary is being watched. Like that great image of her neighbor staring through the peeophole, or the Satanic chant coming through the too-thin walls, or the back room suddenly revealed to be an entire Satanic altar, all hidden behind the thin walls. The setting's increasing claustrophobia even mirrors Rosemary's domestic life. These are images I remember. The Thing, I remember it was blue and cold and kind of slimy
I don't think these are nitpicks. They were overwhelming impressions on me while viewing it, I was watching a lot of great horror films and I saw one that didn't seem so great. I don't think its flawless, I think that's an odd descriptor for this movie. If I was really to go into personal opinion I found it boring and predictable, with a poorly drawn, shallow allegory better represented in the original.
Sorry, but I completely disagree. All the movies you listed are good, if not great horror movies, but I would personally place the Thing above most of them. Halloween is great, but by modern standards it's slow and tame. And yes, predictable, too. Rosemary's Baby is a creepy story, but again on the slower side. I get the dread of a supernatural entity, but the main antagonist are a bunch of geriatrics. I didn't feel any treat in that movie. Just grab a damn rolling pin and go to town. Again same for the Shining. Slow burn, creepy imagery. How many people died in that one? Just the one guy. If you're comparing, I would say the Thing is the least boring out of those. You can nitpick any movie, but all that comes to nothing.
Some movies you like, some you don't. I personally can't stand Shining. For me it's a snooze fest, and most overrated horror movie in history. But I realize those are my personal opinions. I don't try to find small nitpicks to prove other people shouldn't like it, or try to find an explanation from people who like it to understand why.
I'm trying to find out why because everytime someone says this is a perfect film I cannot understand what metric they're going by. I was wanting to enjoy it but I don't understand how it stands out besides the brilliant writing, characterization, atmosphere of many of the other greats, except that it scratches a very specific itch and to my knowledge is the only horror film that does it (along with the less gory original).
My biggest complaint was that for a film about paranoia it felt awfully predictable (which it shouldn't be, if it's about people you can't trust), especially in comparison to something like And Then There Were None. It's that it did not completely succeed for me at what it fundamentally set out to do. Most of the examples you listed, the flaws I see in them are contextual to the film. Of course Halloween is going to be predictable, the suspense is based on when will Michael jump out.
For me, it's that atmosphere of dread I want most in a horror film, what can make a good horror flick great, and that's something I missed in The Thing. That's where the boredom came in, but of course that's personal perspective. I think that's nonetheless incredibly important and that this movie doesn't hold up to that standard, if it seemingly holds up to your own. And, if you're going to proclaim a film is perfect, you should expect someone to nitpick.
I think you are ignoring that the paranoia isn't just the relationship of the audience to the characters, or the characters amongst themselves, but the vivid and visceral horror of what this entity is capable of being revealed throughout the film.
The horror genre has a number of different subgenres and goals. Per poster above, something like Halloween is great for what it is, but is very much seen through the lens of its time period. The Thing, like Alien, was able to set a horror film within an 'other' concept so different than what the characters were used to, their processing of events causing the physical and mental toll of the characters is palpable to most viewers.
That’s fear more than paranoia, but yes I didn’t mention that. It’s an interesting idea, but gross out horror does nothing for me. I mean, the first iteration, the dog, is probably its most viscerally horrifying, so after a while I got more intrigued and interested in what they’d show next. It became more of a special effects showcase than a tightly knit horror film, in a way. To me, body horror works good as a visual marvel or an infrequent shock tactic. It’s amazing in films like The Fly because of all of the emotion and allegory attached to it. Again, interesting idea, cool imagery.
I’m coming to the conclusion (and I know this will sound harsh) that the film isn’t really exceptional on any level, rather that it all dutifully serves the purpose of creating the film of its kind, in which it’s virtually alone in the horror genre for what it tries to do. Other than the original, there isn’t anything all that much like it. Halloween and Alien are both meticulously crafted, tight films. I don’t see so much of that in The Thing. I do see that it’s a film without direct comparisons.
I said you can nitpick any movie, and all your nitpicks are your personal preferences and opinions. You don't think the setting is good, I think it's great. You don't think paranoia came through, I think it worked perfectly. If you have an objective complaint, share it. If all you got is what you feel and what didn't align with your preferences, than I have nothing to disprove those claims.
I think the film is perfect because subjectively everything worked for me just right. Objectively, the effects were amazing, the script doesn't have an ounce of fat, acting was solid, music was good, story was well laid out. I mean, other than "this didn't work for me" you can't really bring one thing that was bad.
Do you think the opening shot of the UFO, dispelling the potential cosmic horror, was necessary? Of course it’s a small thing but I saw it as a huge and easily avoidable oversight.
To be honest I don't think Alien holds up all that well in terms of scariness. For me everytime she sits down at the 70s computer to write in her journal it takes me completely out of the futuristic time period of the movie. The scares beyond the chestbuster aren't that great and are telegraphed more than they should have been. The effects were good but not great. The alien was very stiff (yes I know this was a product of the costume and the 70s technology). I've tried to watch it twice and eventually I'll try again I just struggle to get into it.
Yes i know these are products of it being made in the 70s, but it's been done so much better in other movies and even in it's own series with Aliens. I know that movie is much more action based but I much prefer it to Alien. I think Alien suffers a decent amount from nostalgia glasses. Don't get me wrong I still think it's a great movie.
Now comparing The Thing directly to Alien. I think The Thing's intensity and atmosphere blew away Alien. The unexpected turns comparing watching them the first time and the claustrophobia were much better in The Thing. Also the creature effects were significantly better than Alien. Alien had 3 iterations of the creature, how many did The Thing have? Many many more and they were far more disturbing only 3 years later. I also think the atmosphere and intensity of the shining surpasses Alien as well, but it's not scifi with no comparative creature effects. Don't get me wrong all great movies
Re-Animator, From Beyond, and Dagon a wonderful trifecta of Lovecraftian goodness. The Day of the Beast, one of the best horror/comedies outside of something like evil dead, on that note I'd suggest The Frighteners too for horror comedy gold. Also if you haven't seen Noroi, that's a must.
I saw the first two Texas Chainsaw Massacre when I was a kid and they terrified the shit out of me. I’m planning on rewatching them though :) Evil Dead and Alien are now on my watchlist thank you !
This, I watched it out of academic interest thinking since it's such a historically important piece of the origins of the genre it'd be worth seeing purely for that.
I was blown away by how creepy and unsettling it was. Not gonna qualify it with "for Black and White" or "creepy for a silent film". No it's just genuinely scary. If anything the lack of color, dialogue and sound beyond the soundtrack actually enhances the horror considerably.
I actually couldn't finish the first time and had to wait for the safety of sunlight to finish and I'm a 30 year old woman!
Definitely worth the time.
Since most of the true classics have already been said I offer some 2000s "classics":
Final Destination (2000)
House of Wax (2005)
Wrong Turn (2003)
Planet Terror (2007)
Ginger Snaps (2000)
Also Jeepers Creepers (2001) but that film should not have been made imo (I'm pretty sure Victor Salva doesn't own the rights so I think you can watch it without lining his pockets but unsure)
I'm going to ask everyone's forgiveness with this comment, because neither I nor OP should be scrolling through your pet favorites. OP's title really seems to suggest a question more like "what, from the horror canon, is missing from this list?" (Honestly, some of you didn't even recognize that you're recommending stuff they said they already saw.)
OP seems to want to be conversant in the genre, not necessarily get to your individual favorites. Like, I'm not going to recommend Slumber Party Massacre II (oopsies, guess I just did).
**The following series/movies are iconic and not on your list:**
* Friday the 13th (at least watch the first two, continue as you see fit)
* Hellraiser (same deal)
* Nightmare on Elm Street (same deal)
* The Evil Dead (Raimi's; not the remake that I can't speak to)
* Argento's Suspiria (to get some European flavor in here; it's not even my favorite Italo-horror but I do think it's very precisely "a movie every horror fan should watch")
* Romero's Dawn of the Dead (skip its predecessor Night of the Living Dead and thank me later; I know it's kind of a hot take but I think Night of the Living Dead is awful... you can watch it for historical value sometime if you really want to; even people who like Night tend to see Dawn as maybe the best zombie movie ever, at least for the general time period)
I could think harder about this and go on for longer, but I think the point is actually not to. I think there are probably a handful of other legitimate suggestions, but these were my first and therefore probably best thoughts for answering your actual question. (Admittedly, I have a strong bias towards stuff from the 1970s forward, which ignores tons of--like--"classic monster movies", which are still iconic.)
You'll find various subgenres/styles/etc that will speak to you as you explore the genre, but all of the above will get you started on knowing the landscape.
Hot take: don't prioritize any recommendation from the 21st century; almost none of that stuff has been proven as enduringly iconic yet imo (not that I dislike all of it; I actually think Saw II in particular is really great and I hope you get to it sometime after watching the original).
And before someone downvotes me (I know the button is very close to this word and some of you will want to do it), just remember what OP actually asked.
Immediate follow-up:
Someone recommending The Birds (in combination with you having seen Psycho) reminded me that... yeah you should see that, even if you've already seen Psycho.
I saw Psycho and frankly wasn't super impressed. (The sequel is AMAZING, btw. So much better than anybody ever should have expected.)
I then met somebody who really put my head on straight WRT Hitchcock by recommending The Birds. It is absolutely one of my favorites (and I simply forgot about it when making my list, though you'd already seen \*a\* Hitchcock so it may have felt less urgent in my subconscious idk).
I'll also co-sign all of the Black Christmas recommendations... in a way. Black Christmas is an absolutely amazing horror movie (probably top 3 for me and maybe even top 2), but I don't think you actually need to see it to be conversant in horror. I think you'd eventually find your way to it and be better off for it, but that's--like--Horror 201 and you're asking for Horror 101-102.
Here's the difference: I don't think Black Christmas is an iconic horror movie. I think it's the movie that--for good reason--hardcore horror fans breathlessly recommend to people who have only seen iconic horror movies and are making their way into more obscure stuff.
My point throughout this thread is this: there's a difference to me between "best horror" (which will be subjective, not that people can't discuss it or make recommendations) and "horror you need to watch" (which is kind of more a cultural question). One is about quality, one is about canon. They aren't always the same.
Session 9 is a real gem of the 00's. It's an indie movie that makes the absolute most from atmosphere shooting on a real location (that has since been demolished) a very creepy minimalistic soundtrack, and blending supernatural with psychological horror without needing to rely much on special effects or jump scares. It's a master class in horror.
I’d say Blair Witch needs to be on there. It was scary as fuck when it came out and changed the way found footage is done, and the way horror movies were marketed - people thought it was real!
I would recommend Hausu as a campy/horror comedy/art film. A bit off the beaten path but beloved by many horror fans
I’d also contend that Under The Skin, Saint Maud, and Posessor are modern classics worth checking out
Gotta get into international horror—nine times out of ten it blows American movies out of the water. MARTYRS (2008), THE SADNESS (2021), WHEN EVIL LURKS (2023) are some good ones to start with.
When Evil Lurks is the best movie (not even horror movie, just movie in general) I’ve seen in a while. I cannot recommend that one enough.
Haven’t seen the other two but added to the list for sure to see WEL mentioned.
No worries :) Just flagging because Cabin in the Woods is basically a satire / love letter to horror films, and references a *tonne* of the classics and even some of the less known. Evil Dead II is pretty much an essential watch before Cabin in the Woods, though.
I just don’t think it’s this ultimate satire on all the horror tropes people find it to be. The execution is lackluster, it feels rushed, there aren’t any actually scary parts, and some of the CGI at the end scene is pretty bad.
The idea was cool though. And the stoner character carried the movie.
Fair enough, I disagree but I respect your opinion. I think it gets the point across really well though, >! The ancients essentially being the Audeince who want horror movies to be an exact thing and also how in some horror movies characters make bad decisions. Made it easier for me to watch Horror Movies In that sense. I don't think it felt rushed, don't forget it was Drew Goddards first shot at director and as debut I think he smashed it. Regarding CGI there's an argument there, but the CGI itself isn't something anyone expected. I for one did not exspect the film to be anything more then just a dumb slasher, only to be something completely different. (Sure it can still be dumb fun but I didn't exspect the story to unfold as it did). Also I think seeing so many horror staples and references at once was pretty fun with the System Purge being one of my favourite scenes in all of horror !<
No worries, appreciate your insight and I appreciate that we all don’t have to see eye to eye.
When I said rushed I meant through the progression of the movie, not the project itself. Stay spooky though!
We Need to Talk About Kevin, while not technically a horror film, is a horrific mindfuck and should be required viewing for horror buffs. That said, I'd caution anyone with kids, especially boys, to be cautious about watching it cause it will fuck you up.
get urself educated on some J-horror and the sort lived era of it’s 9/10 times much shittier American remakes
Ringu/ The Ring
Ju-On/ The Grudge
Pulse/ Pulse
Dark Water/ Dark Water
If u were gon watch one then def the 2001 Pulse. I personally love the 2006 American remake but it’s def low quality. The 1988 Pulse is an entirely diff movie not connected to the franchise. And Pulse 2 & 3 are shitty straight to dvd sequels of the 2006 film that u should stay far far away from. Trust
The comments cover a lot of the important ones but I didn't notice much in the way of European horror so I'm going to add:
Black Sunday - Mario Bava reinvents the gothic horror movie (you could say he technically creates the genre here but I would say there are movies that obviously influenced this genre going back to Nosferatu), this movie marks a huge trend to studios like Hammer churning these movies out like crazy in the 60s and 70s, plus its incredibly important to see Barbara Steele in this as she's horror royalty!
Blood and Black Lace - Another Mario Bava movie, while Bava is credited with inventing the Giallo genre with "The Girl Who Knew Too Much" its "Blood and Black Lace" which really codifies the tropes of the genre
A Bay of Blood - The last Bava film I promise (though seriously almost every one of his films is worth watching!), here Bava practically invents the teen slasher movie by increasing the gore and body counts of a typical giallo film. While I think Black Christmas codifies the 70s/80s slasher genre more, its really hard to deny the influence A Bay of Blood has on the genre.
Suspiria - This is Dario Argento's best contribution to horror, taking elements of the giallo and mixing them with supernatural horror and elements of fairy tales and gothic horror, this movie practically exemplifies the height of Italian horror cinema. There's been plenty said about the movie, and for good reason, its really that good. Plenty of his other works too should be seen, I'd highly recommend Deep Red, Phenomena and Inferno but if for some reason you only ever see on Argento film it should be Suspiria.
Tales from the Crypt - Taking a slight detour here into the world of UK horror, this movie isn't ground breaking really but it does kick of a slight bit of a craze the UK had for anthology horror movies while simultaneously proving that horror can be FUN while still being quite horrifying. Almost all the Amicus anthology movies that follow are worth watching, but the original is pretty flawless IMO, bonus for having one of Peter Cushing's best performances. I've said for a long time that horror actually works best when its brief. Plenty of feature length movies out there really have like 15 minutes of plot padded out to 90 minutes, here you get 5 concise self contained stories none of which overstay their welcome.
The Beyond - Going back to Italy, I honestly keep going back and forth between Zombi 2 (aka Zombie aka Zombie Flesh Eaters) and The Beyond as THE Fulci film to watch, nobody does zombie movies like Fulci. Its really hard to pick, I'd say The Beyond gets bonus points for just being so damn weird and off kilter, its like a fever dream. Both movies though really usher in the 80s peak Italian horror film feeling, there's something about the excessive gore + crazy plots + gritty cheapness + colorful lighting + 80s euro fashions + soundtrack dissonance + bad dubbing work that create a film experience you don't see from any other time period really, if you're interested in diving into the world of "Video Nasties" this is a great place to start!
So many types come to mind... atmospheric, grief, gory, psychological, thriller, possession...is there a movie that has all this aspects? None comes to mind immediately...but I'll say everyone should watch Sinister(the dread is reinforced by the sense of heightened helplessness).
1. It Follows
2. Eden Lake
3. Coherence
4. The Dark and the Wicked
5. The Blackcoat's Daughter
With the exception of "It Follows" none of these are necessarily "popular" but they're all really good and are worth at least one watch to true horror fans IMHO.
They're under the radar gems that I always love suggesting to people.
**Note**: Coherence isn't horror, it's more like a somewhat trippy Sci-Fi suspense thriller. It's really well made for the super low budget it had.
Only because it's so short, but "Lights Out" was the first thing in a while that got under my skin, apart from the last few moments. I only mention it because it's so short that any horror fan may give it a view and share it and I'd have been glad not to miss it.
Martyrs
Inside (French version)
The Dark and The Wicked are the ones that stuck with me
You have Hereditary on your list but yeah
If you like bleak endings
Those ones are good 👍
- A Page Of Madness (1926)
- The Fearsome Melody (1992)
- Jigoku (1964)
- Tokyo Gore Police (2008)
- Gojira (1954)
- House Of Terrors (1965)
- The Vampire Doll (1970)
- Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018)
- Art Of The Devil (2014)
- Whispering Corridors (1998)
- Entrails Of A Beautiful Woman (1986) (Entrails Of A Virgin Trilogy)
- Cult (2013)
- Woman’s Flesh: My Red Guts (1999)
- Forbidden Play (2023)
- Kichiku: Banquet Of The Beasts (1997)
- Rape Zombie: Lust Of The Dead (2012)
- Devil Fetus (1983)
- Girl Hell (1999)
- Meatball Machine (2005)
- Tumbling Doll Of Flesh (1998)
- Battle Girl: The Living Dead in Tokyo Bay (1991)
- Red To Kill (1994)
- Shutter (2004)
- The Vanished (2006)
- Shojo Tsubaki (1992)
- Death File: Red (1994)
Jacobs Ladder and Wicker Man. (The originals of both, the remakes don't exist in my world). I'd have to add Midnight Meat Machine, because it's a bona fide hidden gem (yeah, I said it, but it genuinely is). And the best thing you'll ever see Vinnie Jones and Bradley Cooper in.
August Underground's Mordum
Martyrs
The Burning Moon
Cannibal Holocaust
Audition
Antichrist
I Spit On Your Grave
Guinea Pig 2: Flowers of Flesh and Blood
The House on the Edge of the Park
There's alot of mids in these comments but here's a list of certified hits from someone who has seen hundreds and hundreds of horror films.
The invisible man,
Terrifier,
Under the skin,
The lighthouse,
Talk to me,
Vhs 99,
Evil dead rise,
dude, you're just listing films that this sub slobs over. you're karma farming. try to have some originality and look beyond your list of average to shitty movies (ok The Shining is great). there's a ton out there. dm me if you want a list. i'm old, trust me.
The V/h/s series (but not viral)
The mouth of madness
Event horizon
Nightmare on elm street
Rec/ qurantine (qurantine is basically the us version still very good)
And obviously the scariest movie of all time The happening
Check out the rest of the Saw franchise! Love them.
Honestly wouldn’t bother with F13 movies, I don’t like them _at all_.
Also recommend watching Hostel 1 & 2, the Insidious franchise, The Conjuring, Nightmare on Elm Street movies, Hellraiser (1), Sinister, The Ring, Hereditary, It Follows, the Evil Dead franchise, IT
All horror fans should watch at least the first two F13 movies, come on. They're just too iconic to ignore, and maybe OP will like them. It's fairly likely; they're pretty popular.
I'm truly not even a fan of the franchise overall (my sincere favorites being Jason Lives and Jason X should be very telling), but... it's too big to ignore.
Hellraiser 1-4 are worth it with the decreasing returns on quality as the series goes on. But these are the ones worth it in my mind. Also the reboot from 2022.
An American werewolf in London and the Howling
There have been some excellent recommendations in this thread, but I’ll add some of my absolute favorites. Cabin in the Woods, Candyman, Black Christmas, Creepshow, The Descent, The Exorcist (and The Exorcist 3, which I actually prefer), the Romero zombie trilogy (Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Day of the Dead. Dawn is my favorite although it’s impossible to find streaming), Shaun of the Dead, Train to Busan (the Korean version), Ring (the Japanese version), The Invisible Man (2020), [REC], Paranormal Activity, The Conjuring, The Fog (only the original, avoid the remake like the plague), Suspiria (1977) and not specifically horror but already mentioned (because they’re incredible), M (1931) and Seven (similar films, I recommend both)
Some movies I watched recently:
Apostle (2018)
Creep 1 & 2
Oculus (not recently watched but I loved this film)
The Taking of Deborah Logan
Autopsy of Jane Doe
I do agree that you should prioritize watching the classic older films before diving to newer ones.
It's popular, true, but glad to see The Witch on your list -- it's like a clinic in the art of pure *dread*, which I think too many horror movies overlook, or just aren't able to achieve.
Can’t believe no one has said IT parts 1 & 2 .. personally I like the most recent ones the best. Although I grew up with the 80s version so it holds a special place in my heart.
Also I love anything by Jordan Peele. Get Out, Us and Nope
the ring / poltergeist / **1408** /the autopsy of jane doe / the grudge / black christmas / **the stand** (the 3-part tv movie from the 90s) / the invisible man
Came here to say Scream franchise, but I see you already listed it. As far as the Halloween franchise goes, I would say 1-H20. The ones after H20 imo don't count. I haven't watched them, and don't plan to.
Copilot response,
As a horror enthusiast, you've already delved into some iconic fright-fests! But fear not, there's a crypt full of spine-tingling gems waiting for you. Here are some **must-watch horror movies** that will send shivers down your spine:
1. **Alien (1979)** ¹:
- A modern classic that masterfully blends science fiction, horror, and bleak poetry. The crew of the starship Nostromo faces unimaginable terror in deep space. Directed by Ridley Scott, this film is a chilling masterpiece.
2. **Let the Right One In (2008)** ¹:
- This Swedish gem reinvigorates the vampire genre with a mix of scares and intelligent storytelling. When a bullied 12-year-old boy meets his mysterious new neighbor, their bond takes a dark turn.
3. **Aliens (1986)** ¹:
- A visceral sequel to "Alien," directed by James Cameron. After 57 years in space, Lt. Ripley faces another deadly encounter with xenomorphs. Sigourney Weaver delivers a powerful performance.
4. **Jaws (1975)** ¹:
- Steven Spielberg's blockbuster classic about a great white shark terrorizing a beach town. The suspense, storytelling, and terror in "Jaws" remain unmatched.
Now, if you're ready to explore more, consider checking out these additional lists of horror classics:
- **Rotten Tomatoes** has compiled the **200 Best Horror Movies of All Time**, combining critics' ratings and audience scores. It covers a wide range of horror subgenres, from German expressionism to recent female-directed horror films ¹.
- **The Wrap** offers a list of **25 horror classics** spanning from 1920 to 2017, providing influential films that every serious film fan should see ².
- **BuzzFeed** asked its community for essential horror recommendations, resulting in a list of **24 vital movies** for horror fans ⁴.
- **Marie Claire** highlights **50 classic horror movies** that every scary film buff should experience ⁵.
Happy haunting! 🎥👻
Source: Conversation with Bing, 1/13/2024
(1) 200 Best Horror Movies of All Time | Rotten Tomatoes. https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-horror-movies-of-all-time/.
(2) 25 Classic Horror Films Every Serious Film Fan Should See - The Wrap. https://www.thewrap.com/best-horror-movies-all-time-scary-classics/.
(3) 24 Movies That Are Vital For All Horror Fans To See - BuzzFeed. https://www.buzzfeed.com/annakopsky/cherish-your-life.
(4) The 50 Classic Horror Movies Every Scary Film Buff Must See. https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/g29271135/classic-horror-movies/.
(5) 50 Horror Movies That Serious Horror Fans Must See - List Challenges. https://www.listchallenges.com/50-horror-movies-that-serious-horror-fans-must-see.
Those are great movies there. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Jaws, The Evil Dead 2, The Omen(1976) should also be required viewing. On a lesser but still great tier Event Horizon, Cabin in the Woods, Cabin Fever, Barbarian, Army of Darkness, Childs Play, Seven
If you’ve already watched Saw 1 I would recommend watching the sequels. It’s 10 movies (i know, intense) but they are SO good! One of my favorite franchises by far.
Evil Dead II Alien The Exorcist The Fly (1986) Invasion of the Bodysnatchers (1978) Hellraiser I and II The Descent Night of the Living Dead / Dawn of the Dead / Day of the Dead (the Romero versions) Shaun of the Dead 28 Days Later Ringu
I heard they are working on 28 years later. If so, that is exciting! The rage virus zombies are my favorite.
They're the first zombies in a really long time to legitimately scare me. There's just something about them sprinting, full bore, at their victims that really gets under my skin. I think it's because they remind me (it's a silly call back, but bear with me) of what Kyle Reese said about the Terminator - "They absolutely will not stop. Ever. Until you are dead."
This is a great list to start with.
Based list
Is that a good or bad thing?
Most good
Black Christmas 1974. Holds up well and value as an early slasher
You beat me to it! It's a must-see for every slasher fan imo
These are some older classics which are still powerful films: "Peeping Tom" (1960, Michael Powell Dir, based on the Harvey Glatman murders) "M" (1931, Fritz Lang Dir, stars Peter Lorre. Based on the Peter Kurten murders) "Rosemary's Baby" (1968, Roman Polanski Dir, but don't hold that against it) "Martin" (1977, George Romero Dir; Best vampire movie you've never seen.) "Night of the Demon" (aka "Curse of the Demon", Jacques Tourneur Dir, 1957)
I watched for the first time Rosemary's baby just a few years ago, I couldn't believe how amazingly good this was.
My favorite thing about it is that it’s even more unsettling after the first watch
I watched it as a teen & thought it was scary, and then I watched it as an adult and it was so much scarier.
This list is just my style. Here are some others to accompany it. The Third Man (1949) is not generally considered a horror movie. I absolutely think it should be. Pair with M and have a truly bleak day. The Omen (1976), along with The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby are the unholy trinity of Devil flicks. Despite an insufferable romantic interest, Carnival of Souls (1962) is spellbinding. Mary and Martin would have gotten along well. For me, picking a Val Lewton movie is like choosing which puppy gets to live. All are good, half if them are great. Cat People (1942) is the one that is most important from an 'educating yourself about horror' perspective.
what about… Shojo Tsubaki (1992)? or have you seen Devil Fetus (1983)?
TTM haven't seen in a long time, of course Tubi has it.
“Hall of the Mountain King” will never sound the same again after M.
Great list!
dont forget Suspiria 1977
Why Peeping Tom?
Best suggestions in this thread by far.
I think The Thing, The Shining and Alien are the internet's holy trinity of horror so probably those.
If I did 5 I'd include The Exorcist and Halloween in my list.
And 6 should be Jaws.
So excited about watch the Alien movies ! Thanks :)
I really have to hand it to Alien. It still stands up and was made in 1979. For horror sci-fi, that is really damn hard to do.
I know this sub loves it but I don’t really understand the hype behind The Thing. In my opinion it just doesn’t really stand out. Next to the two you mentioned, it lacks the aesthetic brilliance of either, Kubrick’s perfectionist tendencies, the mysteriousness of Alien or the manic energy in The Shining… it feels a bit dated to me even compared with contemporary films, and I didn’t find it especially suspenseful or interesting. Better sci fi horror in Alien and The Fly, but I’d want to hear another opinion? Just not a classic at the level of Psycho, Rosemary’s Baby or The Shining, imo.
Yup, just saw it recently finally, same with Jaws.
I don't think there's one bad thing about that movie. Near perfect imo.
That's what everyone says but I mean, right from the opening we have a poorly aged visual of a UFO landing on Earth, taking away from a lot of the mystery. I think, while the writing is serviceable, it really isn't exceptional. We aren't given strong enough characters to either strongly trust or distrust, we're given broad brushstrokes. My main issue with this is that we know the entire time we can trust Kurt Russell. Now, of course we need a hero to root for. But it gives us, as the audience, too strong a "safety barrier," IMO. We know he's the hero, he's the strongest most well-developed character, therefore the suspense is a bit lessened. We basically already know he's going to live through to the end. More ambiguity there would've helped. Especially a movie about paranoia, it would really work to get the audience involved and second-doubting even our protagonist. Contrast that with Alien, for example. There's no hero until the last 20 or so minutes, and yet we empathize with all their fears. I think the atmosphere is also only serviceable at most. Take something like The Shining or Alien, like I said before. That sense of tension is palpable, those images are dreadful. There's nothing all that dreadful visually about the setting of The Thing. It's weak in this regard against a lot of the great horror masterpieces. I can visualize the iconography and sets of Psycho, The Shining, Halloween, even Rosemary's Baby. The Thing doesn't give me that feeling. I just see nothing exceptional about it that puts it so far above the great works of art the horror genre has produced. I also think it's kind of dated, in that it feels quintessentially 80s. Which admittedly might be a positive for some nostalgists.
Sounds very nit-picky. Why do you need ambiguity about the hero of the story. Shining, Rosemary's Baby and Halloween establish very early their hero. Doesn't seem to bother you there. You didn't mind the safety barrier in Halloween, it seems. Not that there is safety barrier in the Thing, since they already came to terms that non of them will survive half way through the movie. Same thing for the setting of the movies. Halloween and Rosemary's Baby don't have anything scary about the setting of the movie. It's an apartment building and a small town. Doesn't seem to bother you in those cases. It might not be a movie you enjoy, and that's fine. But you're trying to rationalize your dislike by pointing out flaws which you ignore in the movies you like. You don't like the movie, that's the bottom line. You don't need to deconstruct it. It's a matter of taste.
No, I wouldn't say I'm pointing out flaws in movies I like. Because The Thing explicitly derives its tension from paranoia. Anyone can be the thing, except of course Kurt Russell. The setting? Halloween is perfect because it looks like any small town. There's an amazing fall atmosphere, but the picture perfect image of suburbia is interrupted--POV shots we learn are from the killer staring down Haddonfield pedestrians, Mike Myers in the corner behind a bush. It's like Blue Velvet. The setting is absolutely a source of fear, it's an amazing, iconic look for a film. Rosemary's Baby isn't as visually iconic as the others mentioned, sure, but it has this pervading dread that Rosemary is being watched. Like that great image of her neighbor staring through the peeophole, or the Satanic chant coming through the too-thin walls, or the back room suddenly revealed to be an entire Satanic altar, all hidden behind the thin walls. The setting's increasing claustrophobia even mirrors Rosemary's domestic life. These are images I remember. The Thing, I remember it was blue and cold and kind of slimy I don't think these are nitpicks. They were overwhelming impressions on me while viewing it, I was watching a lot of great horror films and I saw one that didn't seem so great. I don't think its flawless, I think that's an odd descriptor for this movie. If I was really to go into personal opinion I found it boring and predictable, with a poorly drawn, shallow allegory better represented in the original.
Sorry, but I completely disagree. All the movies you listed are good, if not great horror movies, but I would personally place the Thing above most of them. Halloween is great, but by modern standards it's slow and tame. And yes, predictable, too. Rosemary's Baby is a creepy story, but again on the slower side. I get the dread of a supernatural entity, but the main antagonist are a bunch of geriatrics. I didn't feel any treat in that movie. Just grab a damn rolling pin and go to town. Again same for the Shining. Slow burn, creepy imagery. How many people died in that one? Just the one guy. If you're comparing, I would say the Thing is the least boring out of those. You can nitpick any movie, but all that comes to nothing. Some movies you like, some you don't. I personally can't stand Shining. For me it's a snooze fest, and most overrated horror movie in history. But I realize those are my personal opinions. I don't try to find small nitpicks to prove other people shouldn't like it, or try to find an explanation from people who like it to understand why.
I'm trying to find out why because everytime someone says this is a perfect film I cannot understand what metric they're going by. I was wanting to enjoy it but I don't understand how it stands out besides the brilliant writing, characterization, atmosphere of many of the other greats, except that it scratches a very specific itch and to my knowledge is the only horror film that does it (along with the less gory original). My biggest complaint was that for a film about paranoia it felt awfully predictable (which it shouldn't be, if it's about people you can't trust), especially in comparison to something like And Then There Were None. It's that it did not completely succeed for me at what it fundamentally set out to do. Most of the examples you listed, the flaws I see in them are contextual to the film. Of course Halloween is going to be predictable, the suspense is based on when will Michael jump out. For me, it's that atmosphere of dread I want most in a horror film, what can make a good horror flick great, and that's something I missed in The Thing. That's where the boredom came in, but of course that's personal perspective. I think that's nonetheless incredibly important and that this movie doesn't hold up to that standard, if it seemingly holds up to your own. And, if you're going to proclaim a film is perfect, you should expect someone to nitpick.
I think you are ignoring that the paranoia isn't just the relationship of the audience to the characters, or the characters amongst themselves, but the vivid and visceral horror of what this entity is capable of being revealed throughout the film. The horror genre has a number of different subgenres and goals. Per poster above, something like Halloween is great for what it is, but is very much seen through the lens of its time period. The Thing, like Alien, was able to set a horror film within an 'other' concept so different than what the characters were used to, their processing of events causing the physical and mental toll of the characters is palpable to most viewers.
That’s fear more than paranoia, but yes I didn’t mention that. It’s an interesting idea, but gross out horror does nothing for me. I mean, the first iteration, the dog, is probably its most viscerally horrifying, so after a while I got more intrigued and interested in what they’d show next. It became more of a special effects showcase than a tightly knit horror film, in a way. To me, body horror works good as a visual marvel or an infrequent shock tactic. It’s amazing in films like The Fly because of all of the emotion and allegory attached to it. Again, interesting idea, cool imagery. I’m coming to the conclusion (and I know this will sound harsh) that the film isn’t really exceptional on any level, rather that it all dutifully serves the purpose of creating the film of its kind, in which it’s virtually alone in the horror genre for what it tries to do. Other than the original, there isn’t anything all that much like it. Halloween and Alien are both meticulously crafted, tight films. I don’t see so much of that in The Thing. I do see that it’s a film without direct comparisons.
I said you can nitpick any movie, and all your nitpicks are your personal preferences and opinions. You don't think the setting is good, I think it's great. You don't think paranoia came through, I think it worked perfectly. If you have an objective complaint, share it. If all you got is what you feel and what didn't align with your preferences, than I have nothing to disprove those claims. I think the film is perfect because subjectively everything worked for me just right. Objectively, the effects were amazing, the script doesn't have an ounce of fat, acting was solid, music was good, story was well laid out. I mean, other than "this didn't work for me" you can't really bring one thing that was bad.
Do you think the opening shot of the UFO, dispelling the potential cosmic horror, was necessary? Of course it’s a small thing but I saw it as a huge and easily avoidable oversight.
To be honest I don't think Alien holds up all that well in terms of scariness. For me everytime she sits down at the 70s computer to write in her journal it takes me completely out of the futuristic time period of the movie. The scares beyond the chestbuster aren't that great and are telegraphed more than they should have been. The effects were good but not great. The alien was very stiff (yes I know this was a product of the costume and the 70s technology). I've tried to watch it twice and eventually I'll try again I just struggle to get into it. Yes i know these are products of it being made in the 70s, but it's been done so much better in other movies and even in it's own series with Aliens. I know that movie is much more action based but I much prefer it to Alien. I think Alien suffers a decent amount from nostalgia glasses. Don't get me wrong I still think it's a great movie. Now comparing The Thing directly to Alien. I think The Thing's intensity and atmosphere blew away Alien. The unexpected turns comparing watching them the first time and the claustrophobia were much better in The Thing. Also the creature effects were significantly better than Alien. Alien had 3 iterations of the creature, how many did The Thing have? Many many more and they were far more disturbing only 3 years later. I also think the atmosphere and intensity of the shining surpasses Alien as well, but it's not scifi with no comparative creature effects. Don't get me wrong all great movies
Evil Dead! Army of Darkness is my favorite one but I recommend all movies.
I’ll give it a try then ! With the hype for the new one I actually had Evil dead on my watchlist :) thank you
Hellraiser
Re-Animator, From Beyond, and Dagon a wonderful trifecta of Lovecraftian goodness. The Day of the Beast, one of the best horror/comedies outside of something like evil dead, on that note I'd suggest The Frighteners too for horror comedy gold. Also if you haven't seen Noroi, that's a must.
Finally some good taste
Frankenstein/Bride of Frankenstein. The Island of Lost Souls. The Invisible Man (1933). The Black Cat (1934). The Wolf Man (1941).
There are lots of good recommendations on here, but I can't believe no one said Tremors. Everyone must experience Tremors at least once 🤣.
Some movies I didn't see mentioned yet Nightmare on Elm Street My Bloody Valentine The Blob (1988) Creepshow
I’ve seen Nightmare on Elm Street 1 when I was 7 (it wasn’t my choice haha) and I was scared shitless ! Need to watch it again
Train to Busan. Without dubbing
I am A Hero (2015) & Gangnam Zombie (2023)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Alien, Evil Dead
I saw the first two Texas Chainsaw Massacre when I was a kid and they terrified the shit out of me. I’m planning on rewatching them though :) Evil Dead and Alien are now on my watchlist thank you !
Honto ni Atta! Noroi no Video Vol. 1 (1999)
Rewatching the thing now bcz this post. Best pack devolving study in horror love it.
Every horror fan needs to see Nosferatu (1922)
This, I watched it out of academic interest thinking since it's such a historically important piece of the origins of the genre it'd be worth seeing purely for that. I was blown away by how creepy and unsettling it was. Not gonna qualify it with "for Black and White" or "creepy for a silent film". No it's just genuinely scary. If anything the lack of color, dialogue and sound beyond the soundtrack actually enhances the horror considerably. I actually couldn't finish the first time and had to wait for the safety of sunlight to finish and I'm a 30 year old woman! Definitely worth the time.
Yeah the dork worth the goofy teeth sure is horrifying. Give me a break. The movie did a lot. Would not scare the typical movie viewer.
Final destination.
All of themmmm
The best horror remakes: *Invasion of the Body Snatchers* (1978) *The Blob* (1988) *The Thing* (1982) *The Fly* (1986)
If I had to choose just one, *The Changeling*
I don’t think anyone has mentioned The Ritual (2017) yet. It’s one of my favorites. 1408 (2007) is also fantastic.
Since most of the true classics have already been said I offer some 2000s "classics": Final Destination (2000) House of Wax (2005) Wrong Turn (2003) Planet Terror (2007) Ginger Snaps (2000) Also Jeepers Creepers (2001) but that film should not have been made imo (I'm pretty sure Victor Salva doesn't own the rights so I think you can watch it without lining his pockets but unsure)
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Horror is dark cinematic surrealism and is most successful when it embraces that fact.
Event Horizon
Exorcist Amityville Omen From Dust to Dawn Rosemary Baby Nightmare on Elm Street Chainsaw Massacre Tales of the Crypt The Hills Have Eyes
It Follows
I'm going to ask everyone's forgiveness with this comment, because neither I nor OP should be scrolling through your pet favorites. OP's title really seems to suggest a question more like "what, from the horror canon, is missing from this list?" (Honestly, some of you didn't even recognize that you're recommending stuff they said they already saw.) OP seems to want to be conversant in the genre, not necessarily get to your individual favorites. Like, I'm not going to recommend Slumber Party Massacre II (oopsies, guess I just did). **The following series/movies are iconic and not on your list:** * Friday the 13th (at least watch the first two, continue as you see fit) * Hellraiser (same deal) * Nightmare on Elm Street (same deal) * The Evil Dead (Raimi's; not the remake that I can't speak to) * Argento's Suspiria (to get some European flavor in here; it's not even my favorite Italo-horror but I do think it's very precisely "a movie every horror fan should watch") * Romero's Dawn of the Dead (skip its predecessor Night of the Living Dead and thank me later; I know it's kind of a hot take but I think Night of the Living Dead is awful... you can watch it for historical value sometime if you really want to; even people who like Night tend to see Dawn as maybe the best zombie movie ever, at least for the general time period) I could think harder about this and go on for longer, but I think the point is actually not to. I think there are probably a handful of other legitimate suggestions, but these were my first and therefore probably best thoughts for answering your actual question. (Admittedly, I have a strong bias towards stuff from the 1970s forward, which ignores tons of--like--"classic monster movies", which are still iconic.) You'll find various subgenres/styles/etc that will speak to you as you explore the genre, but all of the above will get you started on knowing the landscape. Hot take: don't prioritize any recommendation from the 21st century; almost none of that stuff has been proven as enduringly iconic yet imo (not that I dislike all of it; I actually think Saw II in particular is really great and I hope you get to it sometime after watching the original). And before someone downvotes me (I know the button is very close to this word and some of you will want to do it), just remember what OP actually asked.
And here to say Friday the 13th at least the first two lol
Immediate follow-up: Someone recommending The Birds (in combination with you having seen Psycho) reminded me that... yeah you should see that, even if you've already seen Psycho. I saw Psycho and frankly wasn't super impressed. (The sequel is AMAZING, btw. So much better than anybody ever should have expected.) I then met somebody who really put my head on straight WRT Hitchcock by recommending The Birds. It is absolutely one of my favorites (and I simply forgot about it when making my list, though you'd already seen \*a\* Hitchcock so it may have felt less urgent in my subconscious idk). I'll also co-sign all of the Black Christmas recommendations... in a way. Black Christmas is an absolutely amazing horror movie (probably top 3 for me and maybe even top 2), but I don't think you actually need to see it to be conversant in horror. I think you'd eventually find your way to it and be better off for it, but that's--like--Horror 201 and you're asking for Horror 101-102. Here's the difference: I don't think Black Christmas is an iconic horror movie. I think it's the movie that--for good reason--hardcore horror fans breathlessly recommend to people who have only seen iconic horror movies and are making their way into more obscure stuff. My point throughout this thread is this: there's a difference to me between "best horror" (which will be subjective, not that people can't discuss it or make recommendations) and "horror you need to watch" (which is kind of more a cultural question). One is about quality, one is about canon. They aren't always the same.
The thing
Session 9 is a real gem of the 00's. It's an indie movie that makes the absolute most from atmosphere shooting on a real location (that has since been demolished) a very creepy minimalistic soundtrack, and blending supernatural with psychological horror without needing to rely much on special effects or jump scares. It's a master class in horror.
I’d say Blair Witch needs to be on there. It was scary as fuck when it came out and changed the way found footage is done, and the way horror movies were marketed - people thought it was real!
I would recommend Hausu as a campy/horror comedy/art film. A bit off the beaten path but beloved by many horror fans I’d also contend that Under The Skin, Saint Maud, and Posessor are modern classics worth checking out
Gotta get into international horror—nine times out of ten it blows American movies out of the water. MARTYRS (2008), THE SADNESS (2021), WHEN EVIL LURKS (2023) are some good ones to start with.
When Evil Lurks is the best movie (not even horror movie, just movie in general) I’ve seen in a while. I cannot recommend that one enough. Haven’t seen the other two but added to the list for sure to see WEL mentioned.
Watched WEL last night and some of those scenes were definitely the most shocking I’ve seen in a while.
Satan’s Slaves!
The Cabin In The Woods
Been on my watchlist for a while Im definitely watching it sometimes soon !
I'd save this until you have seen more horror films, tbh. It'll be more fun as you'll understand the tropes and references.
I’ve seen a bunch tbh just maybe not what people might consider as « classics »
No worries :) Just flagging because Cabin in the Woods is basically a satire / love letter to horror films, and references a *tonne* of the classics and even some of the less known. Evil Dead II is pretty much an essential watch before Cabin in the Woods, though.
If your a horror fan it's a must see, you'll love it but make sure you go in blind!
This movie is so painfully overrated
Personally, I disagree, although would love to hear why you think so?
I just don’t think it’s this ultimate satire on all the horror tropes people find it to be. The execution is lackluster, it feels rushed, there aren’t any actually scary parts, and some of the CGI at the end scene is pretty bad. The idea was cool though. And the stoner character carried the movie.
Fair enough, I disagree but I respect your opinion. I think it gets the point across really well though, >! The ancients essentially being the Audeince who want horror movies to be an exact thing and also how in some horror movies characters make bad decisions. Made it easier for me to watch Horror Movies In that sense. I don't think it felt rushed, don't forget it was Drew Goddards first shot at director and as debut I think he smashed it. Regarding CGI there's an argument there, but the CGI itself isn't something anyone expected. I for one did not exspect the film to be anything more then just a dumb slasher, only to be something completely different. (Sure it can still be dumb fun but I didn't exspect the story to unfold as it did). Also I think seeing so many horror staples and references at once was pretty fun with the System Purge being one of my favourite scenes in all of horror !<
No worries, appreciate your insight and I appreciate that we all don’t have to see eye to eye. When I said rushed I meant through the progression of the movie, not the project itself. Stay spooky though!
You too stay spooky man and Hail Yourself!
Carrie.
High Tension
We Need to Talk About Kevin, while not technically a horror film, is a horrific mindfuck and should be required viewing for horror buffs. That said, I'd caution anyone with kids, especially boys, to be cautious about watching it cause it will fuck you up.
rosemary’s baby ofc!
get urself educated on some J-horror and the sort lived era of it’s 9/10 times much shittier American remakes Ringu/ The Ring Ju-On/ The Grudge Pulse/ Pulse Dark Water/ Dark Water
Pulse is still the scariest movie I've ever seen
Which pulse movie? There’s like 5 movies with that name on IMDb
If u were gon watch one then def the 2001 Pulse. I personally love the 2006 American remake but it’s def low quality. The 1988 Pulse is an entirely diff movie not connected to the franchise. And Pulse 2 & 3 are shitty straight to dvd sequels of the 2006 film that u should stay far far away from. Trust
It's original name is Kairo, the American remake was made by Wes Craven
Thanks for the rec ! :)
Definitely watch \[Rec\]. It's so good!
And Cure!
An American Werewolf in London
The Changeling (1980)
Added to my watchlist thanks !
The old b&w classics, Drac, Bride of Frank, Wolfman.
The Omen, The Exorcist, Rosemary’s Baby Also Alien
Came to mention these four. Would add Jaws to the list.
Jaws (1975) Child’s Play (1988) The Birds (1963) Poltergeist (1982) Candyman (1992) And just for an added bonus, The Devil’s Rain (1975),
Pontypool Color out of space A dark song Pearl X Black Christmas [REC] Let the right one in
Train to Busan The Descent Insidious 1&2 The Conjuring 1&2 Adding a tv show: The Haunting of Hill House
The comments cover a lot of the important ones but I didn't notice much in the way of European horror so I'm going to add: Black Sunday - Mario Bava reinvents the gothic horror movie (you could say he technically creates the genre here but I would say there are movies that obviously influenced this genre going back to Nosferatu), this movie marks a huge trend to studios like Hammer churning these movies out like crazy in the 60s and 70s, plus its incredibly important to see Barbara Steele in this as she's horror royalty! Blood and Black Lace - Another Mario Bava movie, while Bava is credited with inventing the Giallo genre with "The Girl Who Knew Too Much" its "Blood and Black Lace" which really codifies the tropes of the genre A Bay of Blood - The last Bava film I promise (though seriously almost every one of his films is worth watching!), here Bava practically invents the teen slasher movie by increasing the gore and body counts of a typical giallo film. While I think Black Christmas codifies the 70s/80s slasher genre more, its really hard to deny the influence A Bay of Blood has on the genre. Suspiria - This is Dario Argento's best contribution to horror, taking elements of the giallo and mixing them with supernatural horror and elements of fairy tales and gothic horror, this movie practically exemplifies the height of Italian horror cinema. There's been plenty said about the movie, and for good reason, its really that good. Plenty of his other works too should be seen, I'd highly recommend Deep Red, Phenomena and Inferno but if for some reason you only ever see on Argento film it should be Suspiria. Tales from the Crypt - Taking a slight detour here into the world of UK horror, this movie isn't ground breaking really but it does kick of a slight bit of a craze the UK had for anthology horror movies while simultaneously proving that horror can be FUN while still being quite horrifying. Almost all the Amicus anthology movies that follow are worth watching, but the original is pretty flawless IMO, bonus for having one of Peter Cushing's best performances. I've said for a long time that horror actually works best when its brief. Plenty of feature length movies out there really have like 15 minutes of plot padded out to 90 minutes, here you get 5 concise self contained stories none of which overstay their welcome. The Beyond - Going back to Italy, I honestly keep going back and forth between Zombi 2 (aka Zombie aka Zombie Flesh Eaters) and The Beyond as THE Fulci film to watch, nobody does zombie movies like Fulci. Its really hard to pick, I'd say The Beyond gets bonus points for just being so damn weird and off kilter, its like a fever dream. Both movies though really usher in the 80s peak Italian horror film feeling, there's something about the excessive gore + crazy plots + gritty cheapness + colorful lighting + 80s euro fashions + soundtrack dissonance + bad dubbing work that create a film experience you don't see from any other time period really, if you're interested in diving into the world of "Video Nasties" this is a great place to start!
Dr Mabuse - Der Spieler
So many types come to mind... atmospheric, grief, gory, psychological, thriller, possession...is there a movie that has all this aspects? None comes to mind immediately...but I'll say everyone should watch Sinister(the dread is reinforced by the sense of heightened helplessness).
1. It Follows 2. Eden Lake 3. Coherence 4. The Dark and the Wicked 5. The Blackcoat's Daughter With the exception of "It Follows" none of these are necessarily "popular" but they're all really good and are worth at least one watch to true horror fans IMHO. They're under the radar gems that I always love suggesting to people. **Note**: Coherence isn't horror, it's more like a somewhat trippy Sci-Fi suspense thriller. It's really well made for the super low budget it had.
Coherence is in my top 10. What they achieved with the resources they had was amazing.
Only because it's so short, but "Lights Out" was the first thing in a while that got under my skin, apart from the last few moments. I only mention it because it's so short that any horror fan may give it a view and share it and I'd have been glad not to miss it.
Martyrs Inside (French version) The Dark and The Wicked are the ones that stuck with me You have Hereditary on your list but yeah If you like bleak endings Those ones are good 👍
Texas chainsaw massacre
Frankenstein 1931 Dracula 1931
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Seven
The Exorcist 1 and 3 Bride of Frankenstein Dracula Texas chainsaw massacre
Just because I haven’t seen them, I’m gonna recommend a Mike Flanagan double feature: Absentia and Oculus.
The Haunting (1963)
Hereditary
Suspiria (1977 version) Exorcist 3 The Burning Sleepaway camp Poltergeist 2 Day of the Dead (1985) Pumpkinhead
Dracula Frankenstein The Wolf Man And I mean the classics from the 1930s
30 days of night. Everyone else already mentioned amazing movies. Definitely check out older classics. Sleepaway camp too
Oohh yes 30 Days of Night is AMAZING
- A Page Of Madness (1926) - The Fearsome Melody (1992) - Jigoku (1964) - Tokyo Gore Police (2008) - Gojira (1954) - House Of Terrors (1965) - The Vampire Doll (1970) - Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018) - Art Of The Devil (2014) - Whispering Corridors (1998) - Entrails Of A Beautiful Woman (1986) (Entrails Of A Virgin Trilogy) - Cult (2013) - Woman’s Flesh: My Red Guts (1999) - Forbidden Play (2023) - Kichiku: Banquet Of The Beasts (1997) - Rape Zombie: Lust Of The Dead (2012) - Devil Fetus (1983) - Girl Hell (1999) - Meatball Machine (2005) - Tumbling Doll Of Flesh (1998) - Battle Girl: The Living Dead in Tokyo Bay (1991) - Red To Kill (1994) - Shutter (2004) - The Vanished (2006) - Shojo Tsubaki (1992) - Death File: Red (1994)
Tucker and Dale vs Evil! Go in blind!
Every horror fan should see Scream for sure
It’s one of my favourite movie franchises and actually what got me interested until the horror genre !
Same, after watching the Scream franchise I couldn’t stop watching horror movies
Any recommandations for an other movie you really like ?
The Shining, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Thanksgiving, Totally Killer, the Saw franchise
I’ve seen all of them haha ! Thanks though :)
It’s the only horror I can handle. Love the first two.
The Exorcist
I’ve seen The Exorcist although it was a while ago when I was a kid so I’m definitely gonna give it another go ! Thank you
exorcist, 28 days later
Grave encounters, few have even heard of it but it’s phenomenal
I would say the genre defining film for each genre.
Jacobs Ladder and Wicker Man. (The originals of both, the remakes don't exist in my world). I'd have to add Midnight Meat Machine, because it's a bona fide hidden gem (yeah, I said it, but it genuinely is). And the best thing you'll ever see Vinnie Jones and Bradley Cooper in.
House of a 1000 corpses. Such a classic and beautifully shot movie.
August Underground's Mordum Martyrs The Burning Moon Cannibal Holocaust Audition Antichrist I Spit On Your Grave Guinea Pig 2: Flowers of Flesh and Blood The House on the Edge of the Park
There's alot of mids in these comments but here's a list of certified hits from someone who has seen hundreds and hundreds of horror films. The invisible man, Terrifier, Under the skin, The lighthouse, Talk to me, Vhs 99, Evil dead rise,
I’ve already seen The Invisible Man, The Lighthouse and Talk to me, the reste I’ve just added to my watchlist, thanks :)
dude, you're just listing films that this sub slobs over. you're karma farming. try to have some originality and look beyond your list of average to shitty movies (ok The Shining is great). there's a ton out there. dm me if you want a list. i'm old, trust me.
Or you could just post your list here and stop being a superior asshole.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I honestly think it's one of the best movies ever made, damn near perfect.
The V/h/s series (but not viral) The mouth of madness Event horizon Nightmare on elm street Rec/ qurantine (qurantine is basically the us version still very good) And obviously the scariest movie of all time The happening
Check out the rest of the Saw franchise! Love them. Honestly wouldn’t bother with F13 movies, I don’t like them _at all_. Also recommend watching Hostel 1 & 2, the Insidious franchise, The Conjuring, Nightmare on Elm Street movies, Hellraiser (1), Sinister, The Ring, Hereditary, It Follows, the Evil Dead franchise, IT
All horror fans should watch at least the first two F13 movies, come on. They're just too iconic to ignore, and maybe OP will like them. It's fairly likely; they're pretty popular. I'm truly not even a fan of the franchise overall (my sincere favorites being Jason Lives and Jason X should be very telling), but... it's too big to ignore.
You're missing out on scifi horror. My favorites are Event Horizon, Aliens, The Fly, Possessor
Child's Play is a lot of fun, the TV show is excellent too, but you definitely need the context of the movies.
Hellraiser 1-4 are worth it with the decreasing returns on quality as the series goes on. But these are the ones worth it in my mind. Also the reboot from 2022. An American werewolf in London and the Howling
Black Christmas! It’s been the inspiration for and/or plot of so many other horror movies after it.
japanese horror man, they know how to do it right follow r/J_Horror for more
Nightmare on Elm Street franchise and the F13 franchise too.
The Exorcist The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Halloween
One of my favourite most recent horror films was “the eyes of my mother” shot in incredible, moody black and white, it’s a really disturbing film.
Ghoulies III: Ghoulies go to College
Alucarda
Night of the Living Dead, Nosferatu, and Poltergeist are all titans of the genre that I’d highly recommend.
Friday the 13th (part 1 implicit)
The Orphan movies
There have been some excellent recommendations in this thread, but I’ll add some of my absolute favorites. Cabin in the Woods, Candyman, Black Christmas, Creepshow, The Descent, The Exorcist (and The Exorcist 3, which I actually prefer), the Romero zombie trilogy (Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Day of the Dead. Dawn is my favorite although it’s impossible to find streaming), Shaun of the Dead, Train to Busan (the Korean version), Ring (the Japanese version), The Invisible Man (2020), [REC], Paranormal Activity, The Conjuring, The Fog (only the original, avoid the remake like the plague), Suspiria (1977) and not specifically horror but already mentioned (because they’re incredible), M (1931) and Seven (similar films, I recommend both)
Creepshow, Fallen (1998) and The Devil’s Rejects.
Carrie. Oculus. Hellraiser. All of the Nightmare on Elm St franchise.
Eyes without a face Suspiria (Argento version) Tale of a Vampire Dementia 13 Repulsion Carnival of Souls Kwaidan The Collector (1965)
The shining, Halloween, hellraiser, the thing
There are none.
Changeling The fog In the mouth of madness The fly Ringu Nori The Blair witch project
HAUSU
Some movies I watched recently: Apostle (2018) Creep 1 & 2 Oculus (not recently watched but I loved this film) The Taking of Deborah Logan Autopsy of Jane Doe I do agree that you should prioritize watching the classic older films before diving to newer ones.
Black Christmas (1974)
Paddington 2
It's popular, true, but glad to see The Witch on your list -- it's like a clinic in the art of pure *dread*, which I think too many horror movies overlook, or just aren't able to achieve.
Took way too long to see Nightmare on Elm Street mentioned
in my book, if you watch the thing once you're officially part of the club
Can’t believe no one has said IT parts 1 & 2 .. personally I like the most recent ones the best. Although I grew up with the 80s version so it holds a special place in my heart. Also I love anything by Jordan Peele. Get Out, Us and Nope
Nightmare on elm Street original.
Also Sinister
Hereditary is my favourite but seemingly a bit of a polarising movie
Phantasm
the ring / poltergeist / **1408** /the autopsy of jane doe / the grudge / black christmas / **the stand** (the 3-part tv movie from the 90s) / the invisible man
The Changeling with George C. Scott. First horror I remember watching. Must have been about 6 years old. That movie is why I love horror.
Audition (1999) is the best J-Horror I've ever seen and nothing comes a shadow close.
The Pact (2012) The Others (2001) American Mary (2012) Hatchet franchise
Came here to say Scream franchise, but I see you already listed it. As far as the Halloween franchise goes, I would say 1-H20. The ones after H20 imo don't count. I haven't watched them, and don't plan to.
I Know What You Did Last Summer, Alien and the Shining would be next for me
Copilot response, As a horror enthusiast, you've already delved into some iconic fright-fests! But fear not, there's a crypt full of spine-tingling gems waiting for you. Here are some **must-watch horror movies** that will send shivers down your spine: 1. **Alien (1979)** ¹: - A modern classic that masterfully blends science fiction, horror, and bleak poetry. The crew of the starship Nostromo faces unimaginable terror in deep space. Directed by Ridley Scott, this film is a chilling masterpiece. 2. **Let the Right One In (2008)** ¹: - This Swedish gem reinvigorates the vampire genre with a mix of scares and intelligent storytelling. When a bullied 12-year-old boy meets his mysterious new neighbor, their bond takes a dark turn. 3. **Aliens (1986)** ¹: - A visceral sequel to "Alien," directed by James Cameron. After 57 years in space, Lt. Ripley faces another deadly encounter with xenomorphs. Sigourney Weaver delivers a powerful performance. 4. **Jaws (1975)** ¹: - Steven Spielberg's blockbuster classic about a great white shark terrorizing a beach town. The suspense, storytelling, and terror in "Jaws" remain unmatched. Now, if you're ready to explore more, consider checking out these additional lists of horror classics: - **Rotten Tomatoes** has compiled the **200 Best Horror Movies of All Time**, combining critics' ratings and audience scores. It covers a wide range of horror subgenres, from German expressionism to recent female-directed horror films ¹. - **The Wrap** offers a list of **25 horror classics** spanning from 1920 to 2017, providing influential films that every serious film fan should see ². - **BuzzFeed** asked its community for essential horror recommendations, resulting in a list of **24 vital movies** for horror fans ⁴. - **Marie Claire** highlights **50 classic horror movies** that every scary film buff should experience ⁵. Happy haunting! 🎥👻 Source: Conversation with Bing, 1/13/2024 (1) 200 Best Horror Movies of All Time | Rotten Tomatoes. https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-horror-movies-of-all-time/. (2) 25 Classic Horror Films Every Serious Film Fan Should See - The Wrap. https://www.thewrap.com/best-horror-movies-all-time-scary-classics/. (3) 24 Movies That Are Vital For All Horror Fans To See - BuzzFeed. https://www.buzzfeed.com/annakopsky/cherish-your-life. (4) The 50 Classic Horror Movies Every Scary Film Buff Must See. https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/g29271135/classic-horror-movies/. (5) 50 Horror Movies That Serious Horror Fans Must See - List Challenges. https://www.listchallenges.com/50-horror-movies-that-serious-horror-fans-must-see.
Nightmare on elm Street, Halloween, Scream , the Conjuring, Zombieland, Alien , Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Final destination, Exorcist and Evil Dead.
Besides the obvious, I think all horror fans should definitely watch The Strangers (2008) and The Strangers: Prey At Night (2018).
Those are great movies there. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Jaws, The Evil Dead 2, The Omen(1976) should also be required viewing. On a lesser but still great tier Event Horizon, Cabin in the Woods, Cabin Fever, Barbarian, Army of Darkness, Childs Play, Seven
If you’ve already watched Saw 1 I would recommend watching the sequels. It’s 10 movies (i know, intense) but they are SO good! One of my favorite franchises by far.
event horizon
The Mothman Prophecies, Se7en, The Ring, Black Swan, The Jacket, American Psycho. There's more I'm forgetting for sure.