Top 20 MORE Scary Horror Movies You Probably Haven't Seen
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for yet ANOTHER list of underseen and undervalued films from the world of horror. We’ll probably be divulging some important plot points, so a SPOILER ALERT is in effect. What’s the scariest horror film YOU always recommend to your friends? Let us know in the comments!
#20: “The Wailing” (2016)
Top 10 Scary Movies to Watch If You Hate Horror
This movie delves into a number of different genres, from occult horror to police procedurals to classic zombie cinema. Yet, this modern horror classic also manages to feel even more expansive than those solid influences. “The Wailing” takes audiences into a universe of mysticism, leading into an almost impenetrable darkness. Director Na Hong-jin constructs a bleak narrative here, together with more cerebral dialogues on grief, superstition and real-world evil. “The Wailing” asks a lot of questions, and the answers it gives may not exactly leave you feeling good about how the world works, but you will never forget the experience.
#19: “Lake Mungo” (2008)
There have been a number of horror films that utilize the grieving process as a backdrop for their stories. “Don’t Look Now” is a classic example of this, while 2008’s “Lake Mungo” feels somewhat like kin to that seventies shocker, with a solid update to that central dramatic theme. The found footage style utilized within “Lake Mungo” doesn’t feel cheap or out-of-place, but instead serves to ramp up the drama and service the story. The unbelievable tragedy that befalls the family in this film makes it easy to connect with all of the docudrama elements at play, and the overall creepiness of “Lake Mungo” still gives us chills.
#18: “The Black Cat” (1934)
Top 10 Terrifying Pitch Black Scenes in Horror Movies
This collaboration between horror icons Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi may not be as well known as “Dracula” or “Frankenstein,” but it could be argued that “The Black Cat” is actually as significant. There’s a wealth of stylistic influence here from German expressionism, while Lugosi and Karloff’s respective performances certify their greatness as masters of their craft. “The Black Cat” possesses a malevolent atmosphere and enduring, haunting sense of grandeur. This is Golden Age horror polished to gleaming perfection, with a surprising bite that made it subversive and boundary-pushing for its day.
#17: “The Hitcher” (1986)
Top 20 PG-13 Horror Movies That Are ACTUALLY Scary
Certain classic films will never be eclipsed by remakes. This stunning 1986 original stars Rutger Hauer in one of his grisliest and most memorable roles as a demented hitchhiker who relentlessly stalks a young man, played by C. Thomas Howell. Howell and his co-star Jennifer Jason Leigh are more than a match on-screen for Hauer, and it’s the nerve-wracking push-and-pull that serves as the crux of “The Hitcher.” This horror film is pure tension personified, and it’s Hauer’s obsessive performance that’s burned into our collective subconscious forever as a good reason to NEVER pick up a hitchhiker.
#16: “Dead & Buried” (1981)
Top 10 "Of the Dead" Movies
A film is only as good as its script, and 1981’s “Dead & Buried” had a boffo screenwriting team in the form of Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett. Their creativity within the confines of genre cinema shines once again with this film, as it did with “Alien.” “Dead & Buried” at once feels both nostalgic and current. On one hand, the body snatcher tropes going on within the small town of Potters Bluff feel indebted to horror’s old school. The gruesome special effects, however, are most definitely straight out of the “monster kid” playbook. As a result, “Dead & Buried” feels timeless, the sort of film that continues to offer rewards for those who discover its quirky charms.
#15: “Saint Maud” (2019)
You gotta hand it to director Rose Glass. “Saint Maud” was a successful and impressive feature-length debut for a filmmaker who seems destined for more greatness. Horror fans flocked to “Saint Maud'' and its tale of a caregiver who may be losing her grip on reality. Some of the best horror films adapt real-world situations or struggles and lay them out against a tableau of the fantastic. “Saint Maud” delves deep into religious fanaticism and accompanies the theme with striking visuals. Glass’ direction here feels purposeful and assured, and we can only hope she continues on this successfully creative path on future films.
#14: “Stage Fright” (1987)
Center Stage Cast: Where Are They Now?
A number of the films on this list are Italian, and that’s for good reason. “Stage Fright” is only one of the films that sprang out of Italy’s horror industry supernova during the 1970s and ‘80s. Director Michele Soavi was a uniquely creative voice within Italian horror, and his amazing imagination permeated films like “Stage Fright.” Here, the well-worn slasher tropes are given new life by the completely BONKERS idea of giving the killer a giant owl mask to wear. Additionally, the murder set pieces are unrepentantly graphic and sleazy, reveling in the red stuff in a manner Italian filmmakers became known for. Add to this a throbbing score by Simon Boswell and you have a recipe for a Mediterranean horror feast.
#13: “The Golem” (2018)
Top 20 Scariest Horror Movies You Probably Haven't Seen
Golems, creatures from Jewish folklore, have appeared now and again in film throughout the years. Michael Mann’s “The Keep” comes to mind, as does the series of silent horror films that bore the creature’s name back in the 1920s. This titular “Golem” from 2018, however, successfully adapts the golem’s origin story from a man-made monster into something with far more emotional resonance. Here, themes of parenthood and marital strife are counterbalanced against scenes of horror and violence, yet “The Golem” never feels heavy-handed. If anything, it’s quite the opposite, and this is a horror film with a lot of worthwhile emotional layers.
#12: “A Bay of Blood” (1971)
Top 10 Horror Movies Where No One Dies
We return to Italy for our next pick, a fine example of how that country’s giallo genre of graphic murder mysteries went on to influence the American slasher scene. Scenes from 1971’s “A Bay of Blood” would be essentially lifted by movies like “Friday the 13th: Part 2,” like the sequence involving an amorous couple who are attacked while in bed. Director Mario Bava was already a film legend prior to helming “A Bay of Blood,” yet it would be this film’s intense levels of violence that would earn him true international infamy. There are no heroes here, only victims for the body count. “A Bay of Blood” is a frenzied whodunnit that pushed some serious boundaries in ’71, and remains relevant viewing today.
#11: “A Tale of Two Sisters” (2003)
Top 10 Least Scary Horror Movies
Horror fans in North America have long sought out imported shockers from Europe, Asia and beyond, all to receive a properly balanced cinematic diet. “A Tale of Two Sisters” was one of the earlier examples of South Korean horror that made crossover headway overseas, however, and was a critical and commercial cult classic. The film is a ghost story, sure, but “A Tale of Two Sisters” also knows how to dance around genre conventions to hit its own creative beats. There’s a lot of darkness here, a tragic tale that isn’t for those seeking out easy answers or happy endings tied up in a bow. Instead, “A Tale of Two Sisters” presents a psychologically messy family drama, with an extra side helping of supernatural scares.
#10: “Tales From the Crypt” (1972)
Top 10 Horror Movie Remakes of Classic Fairy Tales
The horror anthology has always been a great medium with which to tell a variety of stories. The original “Tales From the Crypt” from ’72 is arguably one of the best of these, and packs some serious star power. Joan Collins, Peter Cushing, Patrick Magee and more all lend their talents to this wonderfully creepy anthology full of thematic schadenfreude for those who face The Crypt Keeper, played by Ralph Richardson. These are mini-morality plays with the sort of classy execution that was a hallmark of British horror in the 1970s. There’s no doubt that “Tales From the Crypt” is some of the best horror ever produced by the U.K.
#9: “Kwaidan” (1964)
“Tales From the Crypt” isn’t the only awesome horror anthology film on this list. “Kwaidan” hails from Japan, and was released back in 1964, yet it still possesses some seriously scary staying power, decades later. “Scary,” that is, if you can get past just how gorgeous this film looks. The cinematography, set design and visual style of “Kwaidan” are sumptuous and impossible to forget. At the same time, its tales of terror bring to the screen stories that are ghostly morality tales with plenty of spooky visuals. “Kwaidan” is a film that’s astonishingly atmospheric, and guaranteed to put you in the Halloween spirit. Just be sure to start this one late at night, when the moon is full…
#8: “The Burning” (1981)
Top 10 Horror Movies Based on Urban Legends
The 1980s were a halcyon decade for the slasher movie, particularly during its earliest years. “The Burning” may not be spoken of as often as its peers, but there are more than enough elements here to make it worth your time. For starters, there’s the presence of future stars Jason Alexander and Holly Hunter, appearing here in the infancy of their careers. Additionally, the special effects from Tom Savini are off the charts in terms of execution, particularly on the infamous “raft scene.” Meanwhile, Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman delivers a wonderful score that’s quirky and creepy in equal measure, and the ending bucks “final girl” slasher convention.
#7: “In the Mouth of Madness” (1994)
Top10 Horror Movies That Are Scarier the Second Time
Director John Carpenter is lauded for films like “Halloween” and “The Thing,” and rightfully so. However, fans would be wise not to sleep on some of his later work, including this banger from 1994. “In the Mouth of Madness” is Carpenter indulging in some seriously occult, Lovecraftian vibes, but doing so with his own, inimitable flair. The question of fantasy versus reality is very present as “In the Mouth of Madness” revolves around the works of fictional horror novelist Sutter Cane. Answers here aren’t exactly clear-cut, and Carpenter’s film has a great time going off the deep end in terms of atmosphere, excitement and impressive visuals. “In the Mouth of Madness” is a must-watch.
#6: “Demons” (1985)
Top 10 Unbelievably Scary Demons from Movies
There are few Italian horror films from the 1980s that possess as much sinful glee as 1985’s “Demons.” Director Lamberto Bava had this stuff in his blood, since his dad was the aforementioned maestro, Mario Bava. “Demons” is substantially more popcorn fare than much of the elder Bava’s work, but this is in no way a slight. In fact, this is one of the reasons why “Demons” is so successful. It keeps plot points (and extraneous locations) to a minimum, setting up the story where people are locked inside of a movie theater full of bloodthirsty creatures. “Demons” is heavy metal horror turned up to the max, with insane special effects and a pace that never lets up. It’s pure escapist pleasure.
#5: “Don’t Torture a Duckling” (1972)
Top 10 Brutal Torture Scenes in Horror Movies
“Don’t Torture a Duckling” is very different than “Demons” stylistically, despite being produced in the same country. Director Lucio Fulci was often referred to as Italy’s “Godfather of Gore,” but this film proves that the man certainly wasn’t defined by this moniker. Instead, “Don’t Torture a Duckling” tackles small-town persecution, religious fanaticism, murder and abuse in perhaps the bleakest manner possible. Fulci’s direction is strong and stylish, but never at the expense of the story. Meanwhile, Florinda Bolkan’s performance is at once both tragic and mesmerizing, helping elevate “Don’t Torture a Duckling” towards the apex of Italy’s horror pantheon.
#4: “The Changeling” (1980)
Top 20 Least Scary Horror Movies
Are you looking for a slow-burn, creepily atmospheric horror film to keep you warm on those cold winter nights? Then might we suggest “The Changeling,” from 1980? This Canadian horror film is often cited as one of the country’s best international horror offerings, and with good reason. Newer generations have been discovering this spook show and becoming captivated by its story and performances. George C. Scott in particular shines in the lead role, as a grieving man who moves into a house that may (or may not) be haunted. John Russell lost everything after the untimely deaths of his wife and child, and “The Changeling” channels this loss to charge nearly every frame with melancholy, beauty and, yes, fear.
#3: “Cemetery Man” (1994)
“Cemetery Man” is yet another film from Michele Soavi to make our list, a testament to the director’s timeless power. This flick may be Soavi’s crowning achievement as a filmmaker and proof that Italian horror still had something to say during the nineties. The film stars a young Rupert Everett as a cemetery caretaker who keeps having to take care of the annoying living dead who rise from their tombs every night. Soavi injects “Cemetery Man” with sexuality, violence and an anarchic sense of humor that goes a long way in keeping this film unlike anything you’ve likely ever seen. Additionally, can we just say that it also includes what just has to be the greatest Grim Reaper ever committed to film? [1]
#2: “Opera” (1987)
Dario Argento was already well-established as a horror icon prior to directing “Opera” in 1987. The director’s groundbreaking work with films like “Deep Red” and “Suspiria” helped cement Italy as an international voice for genre cinema, yet “Opera” proves that Argento still had plenty of gas left in the creative tank. Graphic murders are taking place within an opera house that’s gearing up for a high-profile production of “Macbeth.” What does this have to do with Mara Cecova, and why is she being forced to watch? The answers aren’t so simple, and honesty takes a backseat to all of the wild ‘n crazy set pieces that make “Opera” such idiosyncratic viewing. This one may be one of Argento’s most unhinged works.
#1: “The Innocents” (1961)
Top 20 Best Horror Movies of the 2010s
This incredible film from 1961 is an all-time classic ghost story, a masterpiece adapted from Henry James’ novella “The Turn of the Screw.” The film is all about atmosphere, with a growing sense of unease, paranoia and self-doubt building to a feverish pitch. This is filmmaking that takes its time ramping up tension, and the end results make this ride utterly worth the wait. The idea of childhood innocence is juxtaposed against ghostly possessions and hallucinations that may (or, again, may not) be stress-induced. The special effects, and particularly the haunting music, remain powerful today, making “The Innocents” a film experience well ahead of its time.
