Top 10 Best Horror Movies of 2019

Octavia Spencer as a villain in a horror movie was far from what we expected, but life is full of surprises. She plays the titular Ma, Sue Ann Ellington, a lonely but seemingly hip woman who invites high school students to party at her house. However, things start turning bloody, and the typical horror shenanigans ensue. With this movie, Spencer proves that she can play anything, including a vengeful murderer, and the movie is worth watching just for her performance. That said, it also tells a rather intriguing story about revenge, and if that’s your thing, then “Ma” is your movie.

We don’t see many monster-flicks in the horror category nowadays. Luckily, we got a good one this year. “Crawl” served as a wonderful and nostalgic throwback to old-timey monster movies, this time concerning alligators who stalk the survivors of a devastating hurricane. As with most creature features, you’re not supposed to take the movie seriously. It’s just a good bit of fun, and it delivered all that it promised and more. It features a superb lead performance from Kaya Scodelario, some quote “bloody creature violence” (as the MPAA so beautifully puts it), and surprisingly good production values. It also did great at the box office, scoring a $90 million worldwide haul, proving that there is still a market for harmless, cheesy horror.

It’s no easy feat to follow up a masterpiece like Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”, but if there’s any director most fit for the task, it’s the man behind such modern horror hits like Haunting of Hill House and Hush, Mike Flanagan. “Doctor Sleep” acts a sequel to the 1980 version of The Shining, as well as an adaptation of Stephen King’s 2013 book “Doctor Sleep”, and while there are a few hiccups in finding the right tone for the movie, Flanagan and his cast deliver a thrilling new addition to the Overlook canon. Ewan McGregor brings home an extremely nuanced performance as Danny Torrance, while the film offers a few bone-chilling scares and nods to the source materials that will be sure to keep you up at night.

Was anyone clamoring for a “Child’s Play” remake? Not really, especially seeing as how the original series is still ongoing. But we got one anyway! This “Child’s Play” updates Chucky by making him a high-tech doll gone haywire rather than the trapped spirit of a murderer. It’s an original and topical update to the story, and it puts a fresh twist on the whole Andy-Chucky dynamic. Mark Hamill also makes for a sinister Chucky, and Aubrey Plaza does an admirable job as Andy’s mother. It’s not as instantly iconic as the original “Child’s Play,” but as far as remakes go, it’s pretty darn good.

It was a long time coming, but it’s finally here! It’s the controversial series of kids’ books, released throughout the 80s and early 90s, and the source of a national stir due to their disturbing content. While the stories themselves were quite spooky, it was Stephen Gammell’s horrifying illustrations that were instantly burned into the minds of children everywhere. Guillermo del Toro helped bring this movie adaptation to life, and it lovingly recreated some of the most iconic monsters from the books, including Harold and the Pale Lady. There’s a little something here for everyone, whether it’s young children experiencing their first foray into horror or adults wanting to bask in the glorious nostalgia of their own childhoods.

This is arguably THE horror comedy of 2019. The film stars the critically acclaimed Samara Weaving as Grace Le Domas, a newlywed who is hunted by her new in-laws as part of a bloody family ritual. It’s like “Get Out,” “Game Night,” and “You’re Next” were all thrown into a blender, as it effortlessly combines elements of the psychotic family horror, gory game-inspired thrills, and tension-breaking laughs. It’s more of a dark comedy than straight horror, as it places a large emphasis on goofy laughs, but unlike a lot of films of its type, the jokes are actually funny, and the horror elements are actually scary. It’s the best horror-comedy blend we’ve seen in some time, and we can’t recommend it enough.

“It” proved to be one of the biggest hits of 2017 thanks to its established brand, inventive scares, and stellar “Stranger Things”-esque cast. And more often than not, the second chapter proved to be a respectable and often horrifying follow-up. The scares were numerous and chilling, and this sequel included a fantastic cast that kept the movie afloat throughout its slower moments. Plus, we got more of Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise, and that’s always a bonus. “It Chapter Two” proved to be a worthy conclusion to the story, and it is absolutely worth seeing for fans of the genre. Experiencing the story of “It” is practically a horror rite of passage at this point.

“Midsommar” had a lot to live up to, as it was following Ari Aster’s instant classic, “Hereditary.” And for the most part, “Midsommar” proved to be a haunting movie that provided a unique twist on an established horror subgenre. Aster is a confident and assured director, and he controls this bizarre and deeply disturbing story with an impressive mastery of his craft. Florence Pugh was also a standout, and we can’t wait to see more of her work in the future. If you’ve seen “The Wicker Man”, you’ll probably get a similar experience with “Midsommar,” but make no mistake: this 2019 entry is as unique as it is bright...literally.

Just as we were waiting for Ari Aster’s follow-up, Robert Eggers’s latest film was also highly anticipated. Eggers is known for “The Witch,” which is often hailed as one of the best horror movies of the decade. “The Lighthouse” is arguably even better, and honestly, it will be hard for him to top this one. At a time when engaging original movies seem to be dwindling, “The Lighthouse” comes along and proves to everyone that there is still tons of potential to mine and explore within the horror genre. It’s creepy, surreal, gorgeously filmed, and led by some truly commanding performances from Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. It’s one of this decade’s, let alone the year's, greatest horror accomplishments.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“The Perfection” (2019)

“Velvet Buzzsaw” (2019)

“Pet Sematary” (2019)

“The Hole in the Ground” (2019)

“Brightburn” (2019)

“Annabelle Comes Home” (2019)

In the age of endless reboots, remakes, and sequels, “Us” was an exceptional and highly ambitious film, and we need to encourage more of its kind. It features stellar performances, haunting cinematography, in a highly tense and scary movie with a topical theme to think about. And while some think that it fell apart as a story, we would argue that it was never concerned with telling a straightforward story, at least not as straightforward as “Get Out.” It’s an allegory, and like most allegories, it asks us to contemplate, discuss, and come to understand something about a particular theme or topic. And in that regard, “Us” succeeded in spades, leaving us with a breathtaking horror movie that we’re still thinking about today.