Top 10 Black Horror Films
#10: “Tales From The Hood” (1995)
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In this classic horror anthology from actor/writer/director Rusty Cundieff, three men visit a South Central LA funeral home to purchase drugs from its odd owner. The mortician recounts the chilling backstories of deceased people currently at the funeral to his guests. Throughout the movie, social commentary is perfectly weaved into horrifying stories. Despite being made in the 90s, every short is still relevant to modern Black communities today. And there’s also fantastic twists along the way that completely turn the entire tale upside down. Featuring a predominantly Black cast and director, “Tales From The Hood” was groundbreaking for Black horror in the 1990s.
#9: “Beloved” (1998)
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After Oprah Winfrey bought the rights to Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Beloved”, the haunting story was adapted into a film. She starred as a mother named Sethe. After already suffering the horrors of enslavement, the character is forced to deal with supernatural occurrences. Sethe’s story would be a brutal and heartbreaking account about the horrifying effects of slavery on its own. But the supernatural element of being haunted, not only by her traumatic past but by a literal ghost, adds another level of terror. While this Gothic tale went under the radar upon its release in 1998, “Beloved” remains a much-loved Black horror classic.
#8: “Eve’s Bayou” (1997)
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Actress Kasi Lemmons made her writer-director debut with this Southern Gothic set in 1960s Louisiana. Within the tale, a young Jurnee Smollett discovers she has a spiritual gift. At the same time, she’s grappling with her father’s infidelity and its strain on the family. The resulting conflict pushes Eve further to explore her gift and to try using a voodoo doll. “Eve’s Bayou” features a star-studded cast of iconic Black actors. Samuel L. Jackson, Lynn Whitfield, Debbi Morgan and more deliver amazing performances. Although it isn’t considered a traditional horror film, its haunting tone, mysticism, and tragedy pushes the boundaries of the genre.
#7: “Attack the Block” (2011)
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Before he was a Stormtrooper in the epic “Star Wars” franchise, British actor John Boyega was an alien-fighting teenager in “Attack the Block.” In the UK sci-fi horror-comedy, he leads a group of troublemakers who make an astonishing discovery: Aliens are real and very dangerous. Throughout the film, Boyega’s Moses and his allies struggle to survive attacks from furry extraterrestrials with bioluminescent teeth. Writer-director Joe Cornish’s inner city versus outer space genre-mashup boasts tons of laughs and scares with its young and multicultural cast. It also manages to excellently explore issues about classism and gang violence too. Fortunately, fans of this cult classic heard about plans for this unique alien tale to get a sequel in the 2020s.
#6: “The People Under the Stairs” (1991)
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In between creating widely successful franchises “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Scream”, horror legend Wes Craven wrote and directed the often overlooked “The People Under the Stairs.” Brandon Adams starred as Poindexter “Fool” Williams, a 13-year-old boy trying to care for his mother and siblings. With his family facing eviction, Fool goes with his older sister’s friend Leroy to rob their landlords. But they discover the deranged couple lives in a labyrinthine house of horrors of their own creation. Seeing a young African-American boy as the protagonist of a horror film at the time was boundary breaking. Craven’s casting decisions and commentary on gentrification and impoverished minorities made this film ahead of its time.
#5: “Blade” (1998)
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While the half-human, half-vampire named Eric Brooks could’ve spent a life in the shadows, he stepped into the light to confront evil as Blade. His debut live-action film followed the hero’s quest to bring down the sinister Deacon Frost. The day-walking vampire hunter was a total badass, effortlessly cool, and pulled off several iconic action scenes. But the movie also had a few great horror elements to balance out the punches. “Blade” became a quintessential film because of how well it fleshed out its complex lead. After many moviegoers sunk their teeth into the film, its commercial success paved the way for other Marvel movies. The entire MCU might not exist if audiences hadn’t seen how scary Blade could be with his sword.
#4: “His House” (2020)
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This feature debut from writer-director Remi Weekes tells a story about immigrants who are tormented by realistic and supernatural horrors. After two South Sudanese refugees named Bol and Rial receive government housing in England, they struggle to assimilate into the new culture. It doesn’t help that horrifying reminders of their pasts appear within their new home. Since Bol and Rial could lose everything by leaving, they are forced to confront the things that haunt them. “His House” redefines the classic haunted house story by providing a complex reason as to why Bol and Rial would willingly live with supernatural threats. Like many Black horror films on this list, it challenges the audience to consider social issues from a different perspective.
#3: “Candyman” (1992)
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Tony Todd became a permanent horror mainstay after starring as the title antagonist in “Candyman.” The film follows grad student Helen Lyle as she investigates an urban legend in Chicago’s Cabrini–Green Homes public housing project. After she summons the infamous hook-handed specter, the killer Candyman shows us exactly why people should fear him. Todd reprised his role in two sequels. Over time, we learned that Candyman was lynched for having an interracial relationship in the 1800s. Nia DaCosta’s 2021 continuation of “Candyman” (xref) expanded the mythos by tying in relevant themes like unjust murder of Black men and gentrification. Her take is the latest film in the franchise to prove that Candyman is an iconic Black horror character.
#2: “Get Out” (2017)
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Every horror fan remembers where they were when Jordan Peele impressed with his directorial debut “Get Out.” During the film, a young Black photographer named Chris travels upstate to meet his white girlfriend’s family. Although the parents are friendly, a series of odd and shocking events gave us a…sunken feeling in our stomach. The movie was a stunning critique on racism and microaggressions. While Daniel Kaluuya’s breakout performance as Chris earned him a Best Actor nomination, Peele made history when he won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The auteur has continued making thought-provoking horror films with 2019’s scary tale of classicism and doppelgangers in “Us” (xref). He followed that with the sci-fi neo-Western about society’s obsession with spectacle in “Nope” (xref). Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Ganja & Hess” (1973) An Artsy Vampire Tale of Blood, Love, & Addictive Behaviors “Black Box” (2020) A Man Tries to Regain His Memories in a Mind-Bending Experiment “Def by Temptation” (1990) The Classic Morality Tale of Good Versus Evil “Blacula” (1972) Considered to Be the First Blaxploitation Horror Film, It Set the Tone For a Subgenre “Sweetheart” (2019) Kiersey Clemons Delivers a Powerful Performance in This Survival Story
#1: “Night of the Living Dead” (1968)
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George A. Romero’s iconic “Night of the Living Dead” is credited as the first modern zombie film. In addition to kicking off the rise of an entire horror genre, the director famously cast a black actor named Duane Jones in the lead of the film. The performer even had a hand in improving his character’s dialogue. Throughout the film, seeing Ben take charge and survive was uplifting. His brilliant story comes to a crushing end when gun-wielding locals shoot him because they assume he’s another walking threat. It’s incredible to think that the role wasn’t always intended for a Black actor. But thanks to its trailblazing lead and opportunities for social commentary, Romero’s film represents a definite and significant milestone in Black cinema history.
