The 10 best horror movies that will haunt you long after the credits roll

You should not undervalue the best horror films ever made. Consume these at your own risk. Or at the very least, schedule some cartoons in between to clear your mind. If you need ideas, our favourite is Scooby Doo. The most thrilling aspect of the best horror films, though, is that no two films would feel the same if you programmed your own personal mini-terror festival. We are aware of the reality, unlike non-horror lovers who envision horrific sequel after gruesome sequel. that the variety of its subgenres is what gives the horror genre its power. Slashers, found footage nightmares, psychological dread, folk horror, and more horrifying genres all wait in the wings to give distinctly unsettling experiences.

The 10 best horror movies that will haunt you long after the credits roll

And that's precisely what waits down there. The numerous terrifying gems, each one frightening in its own special manner. But condensing around a century's worth of cinema into only 30 films hasn't been simple. We had to make some bloody sacrifices in order to create the ideal, if terrifying, list. The films that have been left behind are a mixture of fresh and old horror; ignore the filth on the abattoir floor. Here, you'll find both traditional horror films from the silver screen and contemporary psychological frights, so no matter what mood you're in, you may locate the perfect scary movie. Lock your doors and load up your preferred streaming provider because it's time to watch the greatest horror films ever.

 

10. 28 Days Later (2002)

The movie: First, let's remove the zombie elephant from the room. The scary film by Danny Boyle features zombies. Yes, they have the ability to flee, but it's crucial to see this awful group as descended from Romero's finest. Even if they didn't share a Christmas dinner, they would give the necrotic children cards and perhaps some gift cards. The crucial point is that these zombies are still capable of destroying entire worlds, regardless of how quickly they move. Similar to our friend Rick in The Walking Dead, Jim (Cillian Murphy) wakes up in a hospital bed and stumbles out into a post-apocalyptic London that will never be the same.

Because it feels like a nightmare, 28 Days Later is frightful. This feels like the most accurate representation of the contemporary British apocalypse as Jim and his fellow survivors search for refuge in Scotland, along with a frequently devastating and heart-pounding music. The ruined British landscape is a remarkable achievement in cinematography, while the Infected are extremely horrific and survivors are distrustful. 28 Days Later is a horrific feast for the eyes and the heart thanks to the outstanding performances given by everyone involved.

9. Scream (1996)

The film: By the late 1990s, horror was beginning to lose its lustre. The masked slasher trope was stumbling along in desperate need of an extremely potent cup of espresso. Scream by Wes Craven, which has since been mocked into Inception-levels of postmodern irony, revived the genre with the ideal balance of knowing humour and shocks. Neve Campbell, Rose McGowan, and Drew Barrymore as young people being picked off by a fanatical serial killer while speaking proficient horror movie dialogue? Ah, come on. Scream is a contemporary horror classic when Courtney Cox, then at the heady heights of Friends stardom, plays intrepid news reporter Gale Weathers.

Why it's frightful: Just because something refers to itself doesn't mean it can't be genuinely frightful. Scary Movie may have perverted the Scream mask, which was inspired by Munch's image, into stoned joy, but it still manages to terrify and excite. The scares in Scream continue to be unpredictable. As we become attached to our truly likeable and witty characters, the endgame becomes all the more stressful as we wonder who will make it to the credits. Victims fall to this slasher's knife with unsettling frequency. The scare tactics from Craven's Nightmare on Elm Street ensure continuous horror. Why don't you leave the liver alone?

8. Alien (1979)

The film: Possibly one of the best science fiction film ever made that also happens to be a top horror film. Does this seem right to you? As innocently as any group of puberty-driven teens heading off to an isolated lodge in the woods, the Nostromo crew is sent by Ridley Scott's original Alien to investigate a distress call from an abandoned alien spaceship. And, like those teenagers, not many of them will make it to adulthood. The ideal Final Girl in this scene is played by Sigourney Weaver.

 Why it's frightful: Giger's extraterrestrial is as horrible a creature as you could hope for, and there is no place more terribly isolated than a starship light years from Earth. But the fear extends far beyond teeth and claws. With its own shape praying on a raft of primordial horrors, this monster symbolises a multilayered, bottomless pit of psychosexual dread. Additionally, Scott's last act visual ambiguity is a complete masterclass in "What's that in the shadows?" tension. Turn out the lights, skip the current xenomorph-filled films, and watch this and Alien to rediscover your love for the genuine horror of Scott's vision.

7. Jaws (1975)

The film: There was Jaws, Steven Spielberg's toothy horror, before Jurassic Park, before ET, and aeons before the majority of the Ready Player One ensemble were screamed into being. Additionally, this is a horror film. One of the first blockbusters was Jaws, which is horrific. People practically queued around the block to see it before scurrying out of the theatre in fear. Even though the shark now appears a touch ropey up close, the tale of Amity Island's bloody summer season, during which Chief Brody frantically tries to keep swimmers out of the ocean, is the stuff of horror legend. And, let's face it you can already hear the music in your head.   

Why it's scary: Jaws leaves you feeling uneasy long after the final credits have rolled. One encounter with this exceptionally vengeful shark may potentially ruin every seaside excursion. Each soft stroke as the water lapping at your toes. all thin dips. Anything less than the Titanic's perilous voyage out onto the waves. Similarly, Spielberg doesn't hold back. Children die, dogs die, and heads come floating out of sinking boats. Nobody in this situation—especially not the three men who go out to sea to battle the monster—is guaranteed to see the credits. Jaws is the quintessential creature feature, featuring iconic performances and a monster that will never leave you.

6. Halloween (1978)

Who would have imagined that a vintage Star Trek mask could be so terrifying? When he handed his villain a blank William Shatner mask to wear while he hunts babysitters around the made-up hamlet of Haddonfield, Illinois, director John Carpenter produced a contemporary classic. Jamie-Leigh Curtis, who would go on to become a scream queen in her own right and the role model for all final girls, was also made into an icon by the film. Who cares that the opening scene is illogical? If the opening scene of this film, in which a little boy kills his sister while donning a clown mask, is not frightening, you need to have your status as a horror lover revoked right away.

Why it's frightful Halloween, which is essentially the first stalk-and-slash, established standards that have seldom been surpassed. Carpenter mixes claustrophobia and terrified exposure, frequently at the same time, to create a genuinely unsettling sensation of vulnerability no matter where you are or what is occurring. Carpenter composes his pictures to keep you continuously wondering. Moreover, that music track. written by Carpenter personally. There's a reason why crushing doom-synth continues to be the gothic horror genre's go-to music. Get the 2018 follow-up into your eyes as a fantastic continuation. The new Halloween does an excellent job of depicting the true anguish of growing up as The Shape himself as a victim by removing all those messy earlier sequels.

5. The Exorcist (1973)

Here we are in the top five of this list of the finest horror films. The fact that William Friedkin's masterwork, which is currently in its 50th year, continues to rank among the best horror films almost seems predictable at this point. This is the story of Regan, a popular movie actress's daughter who spends some time playing with a ouija board in the basement one day. If you've ever wondered why your parents forbid you from playing with this innocent-looking toy, it undoubtedly has something to do with a young Linda Blair. As the titular exorcist explains, an unwanted visitor enters the young girl through the ouija board.

Why it's frightful: The Exorcist is not safe, just as The Shining. This film is unpredictable, visceral, and primal; even in its happiest scenes, it is unquestionably anxiety-inducing. It is founded on the most basic of concepts. With a now almost mythical production, William Friedkin's insatiable quest for 'authenticity' required that his performers be physically pulled across sets to mimic the demon's strength and, of course, covered in heated pea soup. As a result, you'll probably never say you actively love a horror film, but you'll find yourself going back to see it again just to experience the utter fear of Friedkin's struggle between good and evil in all its unsettling beauty once more.

4. Hereditary (2018)

Home is where the heart is, according to the movie. The worst terror is also hidden there, just below the surface of the ideal family life. Toni Collette, as the mother of a mourning family, is the star of Ari Aster's debut (!!) feature film. Her own mother's passing has shocked everyone in their home, and, to avoid giving any plot details away, the future doesn't seem too, um, hopeful either.

Why it's frightening: It's fair to say that Hereditary never feels secure. There are no points in the film's two hours that allow you to pause, catch your breath, or even predict what will happen next. Has this been a supernatural film? Is this a grieving exercise like the Babadook? Does the distinction between these two concepts even exist? Every scene of Collette's artist laboriously building miniature dioramas feels dangerous, and each awkward exchange between the family's two teenagers gives you the sickest sensation in your stomach. Why? It's difficult to pinpoint the precise cause. Hereditary is a masterwork of contemporary filmmaking, despite the fact that it divided moviegoers.

3. The Thing (1982)

The film: It's possible that you missed John Carpenter's ultimate creature flick because you were under a foot of snow. Totally comprehensible. Why don't you defrost by getting closer to the fire? The monster, which stars Kurt Russell as R.J. MacReady, is one of the most delightfully splattery and suspenseful horror films ever made. A crew of Americans in an Antarctic research facility must battle an extraterrestrial, well, monster that infects blood. Although it may begin with eliminating the canine friends, it truly doesn't stop there.

The Thing is a physical movie, which is why it's frightful. The party starts to disintegrate as the illness spreads, and there is a lot of severe paranoia and horror mixed in, but what makes this story so unsettling is how real and approachable the nasties are. The real stars of the show are the practical effects, which were created by a teenage Rob Bottin and an uncredited Stan Winston. Arms become chests, heads are severed and grow legs, and bodies are stretched and enlarged. It is never anything less than pure nightmare fuel to witness these homicidal demons at work in such a gruesome manner.

2. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

The film: Some movie names are ambiguous, allowing you to decipher their meaning as the story unfolds before your eyes subtly like a delicate flower in tea. Then there is the ugly, sweating horror film from Tobe Hooper. Nothing delicate is involved in this. Although The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a blunt tool of terror, its namesake weapon needs to be sharp. Five young individuals leave the protection of the outside world and travel through dusty America in this tour de force of violence. When they innocently enter a house looking for gas, what they discover inside is such horror and depravity that, decades later, watching the movie is still a terrible endurance test.

Why it's scary: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is amusing - and there is humour here, it's just not there on the first watch - in that there is actually very little blood. There is the infamous Leatherface, who was modelled after Ed Gein in terms of his meaty face covering, and a death scene involving a hook that will make you check to see if your corpse is still there, but there is very little viscera. Your mind mentally splashes gore all over the place in an effort to deal with the horror that is being shown here, to deal with the utterly terrifying screams, and to deal with the very terrible soundtrack. Over the years, it has been the subject of numerous imitations, not to mention a Michael Bay-produced glossy cash cow remake, yet nothing can match the blatant desperation.

1 .The Shining (1980)

The film: The Shining is a movie that everyone has heard about even if they haven't seen Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece. You'll be familiar with Jack Nicholson's (obviously improvised) "Heeeeeeeere's Johnny," and you might even know that if a hotel gives you the key to room 237, you might want to switch it for another suite. What if you haven't, though? What if you were stranded in a weird hotel while it was snowing and had no other guests than hedge animals? In The Shining, a man and his family are followed as he assumes the position of winter caretaker at a resort hotel called The Overlook. Given that this is a Stephen King adaption (albeit one that he detested so much that he made his own film), the winter season doesn't really go in with the story.

Why it's scary: This is at the top of a huge pile of cries for a reason. The Shining has a bad vibe. This is a movie that never lets you feel comfortable, from Jack Nicholson's insane acting as a guy spiralling into deadly insanity to Kubrick's unrelenting directing as we hypnotically follow Danny exploring the hotel halls on his bike. The Shining is comparable to being driven by a drunken lunatic, just like Hereditary previously on this list. What will happen next? Blood lifts? mutilated young girls? The horror that resides in room 237's bathroom? Kubrick's film is a lurking, deadly beast that sticks with you long after your TV has turned off; it is not a horror film comprised of jump scares or cheap tactics.