Top 10 Terrifying Horror Movies That Don't Rely On Jump Scares

Admit it; this movie had you looking over your shoulder for weeks. After Jay has sex with her date, she is haunted by an entity that can take any human form. This is why the film works so well; it only follows its victims slowly, which makes nearly every extra step a potential killer. Rather than giving us quick, cheap jolts, the scares are slow and ultimately more effective for it. From the inciting incident, nothing ever feels safe, and the lack of information about the entity makes it all the more dread-inducing; how can it be defeated? The movie doesn’t answer all the questions, but that just serves to make that unnerving feeling last.

A god-fearing family in 1630s New England moves to an isolated farm on the edge of the woods to worship God as they see fit. But, this list isn’t about feel-good movies, is it? “The Witch” is a slow burn of one unnerving event after another. The family is tormented by something in the woods that slowly tears apart their once strong familial bonds. Not a single shot of the film feels safe, as Robert Eggers’ masterful sense of tone keeps you on the edge of your seat, without ever resorting to cheap scares.

While Jordan Peele proved that he could beat the so-called sophomore jinx with 2019’s “Us,” we’ve got to go with his directorial debut for this list. “Get Out” skillfully mixes horror and humor with extremely relevant racial themes, all while presenting Peele’s unique narrative and visual style. And thanks to a cleverly crafted screenplay that’s brought to terrifying on-screen life through its talented cast members, there’s no need for tons of big jump-scares. Instead, Peele thrills and chills us slowly, building the suspense until the truth about Chris’ girlfriend’s family is revealed - leaving both the characters and the audience stunned, shocked and disturbed. Is it any wonder the movie was nominated for 4 Oscars and won 1 for Best Original Screenplay?

There’s only one thing scarier than Satan: children. Put them together and you get this horror classic. When Robert and Katherine’s son mysteriously dies shortly after birth, Robert secretly adopts Damien. But when Damien turns five, strange and disturbing events begin to unfold, including a truly horrific suicide. Damien doesn’t take well to animals or churches, and it soon becomes clear that he’s no normal boy. The film is a slow descent into Hell as the truth about Damien slowly unfolds and the bodies begin to pile up. Suspense builds as unseen forces manipulate and terrorize the protagonists, whose excellent character development adds the sting of sympathy to our sense of dread and terror.

The legendary Stanley Kubrick adapted the work of Stephen King for this unforgettable chilling tale. Jack, Wendy and Danny Torrance take up residence in the confined Overlook Hotel so Jack can serve as the winter caretaker and focus on his writing. Danny is the first to uncover that there are malevolent presences at the hotel, who reveal themselves in terrifyingly effective ways. Jack’s behavior becomes more and more unsettling and Kubrick’s innovative camerawork keeps us wondering what’s real and what’s in his head. Whether it’s ghosts, madness, or isolation, the movie presents horror tropes with such style and purpose that it remains a unique exercise in fear, even decades later.

Big spooky houses are nothing new to the horror genre, but director Alejandro Amenábar creates a uniquely eerie atmosphere. Nicole Kidman’s impeccable performance as Grace, a woman convinced her house is haunted, helps the movie work with her every expression of terror and unease. There’s an overarching aura throughout each scene that something truly bizarre is occurring in the house, and as a viewer there’s a morbid curiosity as to what exactly that is. We won’t give away the ending here, but it’s safe to say that once you watch this movie, scary as it is, you’ll want to watch it all over again.

Pregnancy can undoubtedly be a harrowing experience, but Roman Polanski turns it into absolute hell. After having a strange nightmare on the night she and her husband conceive a child, Rosemary’s life becomes a living nightmare. The odd behavior of her friends and her strange pregnancy symptoms arouse suspicion about the nature of her child. The unfolding of the truth isn’t about the ultimate reveal, though, as Mia Farrow takes us on a dreadful journey leading to the climactic, horrifying discovery. Centring a film on witchcraft that occurs right under our very noses understandably disturbed audiences in 1968, and the film today remains among the scariest of all time.

It’s a testament to the quality of this acclaimed movie that it’s the only horror film to win an Oscar for Best Picture. Following Clarice Starling as she works with convicted cannibal Hannibal Lecter to catch the murderous Buffalo Bill, this movie is the complete package, with exquisite performances, precise direction, and marvellous writing; not once does it rely on a jump scare. Anthony Hopkins’ performance is instantly recognizable as one of the creepiest ever put to screen, and his scenes with Jodie Foster remain some of the most frightening to be found in the genre.

When the Graham family experiences a tragedy, their grief sours into unspeakable horror. First-time feature film director Ari Aster pulls horror out of the bleakest emotions in an unapologetically dark tale; it’s a terrifyingly unique film. Each scare carries emotional weight and there are images and sounds more viscerally disturbing than you would expect to experience, even in a horror context. To give away too much would ruin the experience, but it slowly builds up to an absolutely bonkers third act that will linger with you long after the film has ended. Most horror films should scare you; “Hereditary” will emotionally bludgeon you.



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



“The Babadook” (2014)




“Let the Right One In” (2008)





“Carrie”

The “Paranormal Activity” series might lead you to believe that found-footage horror films are nothing but an amalgamation of jump scares, but the movie that popularized the style proves otherwise. Heather, Michael and Joshua head into the Burkittsville woods to investigate the legend of the Blair Witch. Rather than throwing random spooks at the audience, it builds an uneasy and uncertain tension by teasing us with an unseen villain and allowing us to fill in the blanks. The movie took a bold risk by playing with form and reality, ushering in a new century of horror.