Top 20 Best Horror Movies of the Last Decade

Peer pressure can be killer - a fact Mia comes to know all too well. In “Talk to Me,” the protagonist and her best friend, Jade, learn about a strange new trend amongst their friend group. Although it initially seems like it may just be a fun party trick, it is soon revealed to be a terrifyingly real gateway to the undead, as Mia grabs hold of a hand and comes face to face with a corpse. Despite the horrifying implications, Mia becomes addicted to the thrill of possession, hoping that she can find her recently deceased mother amongst the crowd. Sophie Wilde is giving her all in the film’s lead role, pivoting from spine-chilling horror to devastating displays of grief with ease.

Rebooting a beloved franchise is a tricky task. When Rob Zombie tried his hand at rebooting “Halloween” in 2007, it became a box office success but a critical failure. Thankfully, David Gordon Green’s 2018 “requel” fared better on both fronts. Although the director’s sequels, “Halloween Kills” and “Halloween Ends,” have been met with mixed reviews from fans and critics alike, Green’s initial “Halloween” was a smash hit. It kept the spirit of the original film alive while adding a modern sense of humor that helped connect the 1978 story with a new generation. It also brought back Jamie Lee Curtis and Nick Castle as Laurie Strode and Michael Myers - resurrecting an iconic acting match-up that hadn’t been seen in forty years.

The prequel we didn’t know we needed! As the seventh film to be released in the “Predator” franchise, it’s understandable that some fans approached “Prey” with a healthy amount of skepticism. But the film’s dedication to melding franchise lore with historical authenticity led to it being one of the film series’ most beloved entries. Even the toothbrushes were meticulously crafted to be era-accurate! At a time when CG reigns supreme, “Prey” also opted to use practical effects for its iconic antagonist - and it paid off in a big way. The film has one of the franchise’s most fearsome depictions of The Predator, and the suit’s real-world physicality adds a layer of authenticity to the acting that can be lost in CGI-heavy productions.

As an American remake of an Italian cult horror film by one of the best directors in the business, “Suspiria” had the odds stacked against it. That it ended up being one of the most interesting horror films to come out of 2018 is nothing short of a miracle. While it’s true the film was divisive, it’s hard not to appreciate its bold narrative departure from its predecessor. It is not a remake interested in simply redoing what came before. It evolves the material and twists it into something new. If nothing else, its transformation of Tilda Swinton into the unrecognizable Dr. Josef Klemperer is something to be admired. “Suspiria’s” lack of a Best Makeup nomination at the Oscars was criminal!

Beginning with its immaculately edited opening credits sequence, “The Black Phone” completely immerses audiences in its late 70s setting, and builds on the real-world fear of child abduction. The late 2010’s popularity of “Stranger Things” led to a boom in modern horror period pieces starring foul-mouthed teenage characters, and “The Black Phone” is one of the better stories to emerge from the trend. Based on a short story of the same name, the film portrays the capture and survival of a young boy named Finney, who finds a phone that connects him to the unnamed Grabber’s past victims. It’s difficult not to become invested as each call adds another piece to the complex puzzle of information necessary for his escape.

Horror is one of the few genres where audience members walking out can be seen as a badge of honor. This movie didn’t just have people walking out, it apparently had some moviegoers leaving in ambulances! Made on a crowdfunded budget of $250,000, “Terrifier 2” was something of a passion project for Damien Leone, who had been developing its antagonist, Art the Clown, for close to two decades prior to its release. Clearly, the director’s dedication paid off, as the film became a surprise hit despite its polarizing gore and violence, earning over $15 million in profits. Actress Lauren LaVera played no small part in this mainstream success, providing the “Terrifier” franchise with its first fully fleshed-out Final Girl, Sienna Shaw.

As a South Korean horror film with a runtime approaching three hours, “The Wailing” may appear to be an intimidating watch to more casual moviegoers. Fortunately, this supernatural horror is so intense and tightly written that you won’t want to peel your eyes away. It focuses on the spread of an infection that causes people to harm those around them indiscriminately. Thought to be brought into Gokseong by a demon taking the form of a Japanese man, the disease leads to mistrust among the community as a series of motiveless murders pile up. At one point, an intense exorcism is even attempted to rid the protagonist’s daughter of the supposed infection… but it cannot stop the unrelenting horror brought by the red-eyed demon.

There’s no denying “Barbarian’s” dark sense of humor, but its well-crafted scares still place it firmly in the horror category. An Airbnb mix-up begins this sordid tale of decades-old secrets, and to say that travelers Tess and Keith are unprepared for what awaits them in their unexpectedly shared living arrangement is an understatement. A series of narrative twists and turns keeps the characters (and viewers) on their toes, as the film slowly unravels the barbaric truth behind the Brightmoor home. That the true monster is not the disfigured woman keeping people captive, but her relatively normal-looking father, is just one of many brilliant subversions by this clever modern horror.

It opens with a mystery. Father-son coroners Tommy and Austin have been tasked with finding out what happened to create the horrific crime scene in the film’s opening. Their first autopsy is more graphic than one you’d see on a primetime crime show, but otherwise fairly run of the mill. But when they start examining the Jane Doe, they begin to find anomalies. Dread begins to set in as more and more interior injuries fail to match up with the condition of the “corpse’s” body. By the time Tommy and Austin realize something supernatural is afoot, it’s already too late. The film’s horror concept is uniquely terrifying, and its open-ended final scene is sure to leave viewers on edge long after the credits roll.

In 2022, Ti West gave us two original horror films, “X” and “Pearl.” Part of a film series, also titled “X,” the movies had unique, well-rounded characters and aesthetics inspired by films of the past. While there is some debate as to which entry comes out on top, we tend to prefer the Technicolor terror that is “Pearl.” Taking cues from the Classic Hollywood era, particularly “The Wizard of Oz,” “Pearl” is a spine-chilling subversion of a visual style typically associated with screwball comedy and exaggerated melodrama. And, of course, the translation of Pearl from the murderous granny in “X” to a bright-eyed German immigrant with big dreams could not have been achieved without the trilogy’s star, Mia Goth. She absolutely kills it!

Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolf Man are among Universal’s more recognizable classic monsters. Typically, The Invisible Man doesn’t get nearly as much love from the studio. So, it was interesting to see his story updated for a more contemporary crowd. Unlike the 1933 film, 2020’s “The Invisible Man” does not cast its titular character as the protagonist, opting instead to follow the deteriorating mental state of a woman who is terrorized by him. This radical perspective change allows for the movie to act as a metaphor for the horrifying reality of abuse and its traumatizing effects. It’s a whole new layer of depth to a once simplistic story of a man corrupted by power.

College can be an important time of transition and self-discovery. Unfortunately for Justine, her first week at veterinary school leads her to discover a taste for human flesh. The main character of “Raw,” Justine initially struggles against her newfound craving, before finally giving in to her desires in increasingly daring ways. The movie depicts this descent in gory, grotesque detail that is certain to make even the most seasoned horror fans squirm in their seats. The fact that “Raw” is the feature debut of its director, Julia Ducournau, only makes its skin-crawling horror all the more impressive. Following in the footsteps of David Cronenberg, Ducournau has brought back the body horror better than ever!

If you’ve ever wondered how long you can hold your breath, try this ninety-minute horror on for size. While we don’t advise doing this literally, it may be hard to stop yourself as the palpable tension builds in “A Quiet Place.” In lieu of much spoken dialogue, this film relies on a thrilling score and expert sound design to build its apocalyptic world. This is because the film’s nameless alien antagonists use super hearing as their primary means of finding prey. While some films of this nature may have relied on the written word for communication between characters, “A Quiet Place” is notable for casting a deaf actress in a leading role and teaching its hearing cast to appear fluent in American Sign Language.

Having sex in a horror film is a recipe for disaster. In “Scream,” Randy even lists it as the first of three rules to surviving a horror movie. “It Follows” takes the trope up a notch, giving its characters the ability to pass their nightmarish stalkers on like STDs. Understandably opposed to transferring her fate over to an unsuspecting victim, Jay does everything in her power to try and kill off her ever-changing followers without hurting anyone else. Her quest plays out like a bad dream that’s impossible to wake up from, complete with an unclear sense of time and space. We’d hate to be a part of it, but we’d be lying if we said we didn’t want one of those shell phones!

For her first feature-length film, Ana Lily Amirpour invites audiences into an enchanting black-and-white world that plays with societal ideas about vampires and womanhood. Its small crowdfunded budget forced Amirpour to be creative in the film’s construction, but didn’t hinder its stylish visuals or its strong feminist themes. She even shot the Iranian-set film in California to avoid any censorship of its content - which includes controversial subjects like sex work, drug use, and generational trauma. An eerie atmosphere haunts every moment of this slow-paced horror, adding a healthy dose of fear to its significant social messaging.

Unless you’ve been living in the sewers this past decade, you’re likely aware of this 2017 Stephen King adaptation. Upon release, the film held the record for the R-rated film with the biggest theatrical opening, boasting over $200 million in profits. While some of this success can be attributed to the movie’s extensive marketing campaign, it also must be said that it’s just that good. Bill Skarsgård brilliantly brought life to Pennywise, striking fear into a new generation with updated scares and a whole new look, while the teen actors helped carry the film’s necessary emotional weight. Along with Skarsgård, Sophia Lillis received the brunt of the film’s praise - including several individual award nominations!

Wouldst thou like to live deliciously? Robert Eggers’ slow-burn horror might not be for everyone, but for those in tune with his dark aesthetic and sinister sensibilities, it's nothing short of a masterpiece. Set in 1600’s New England, “The Witch” focuses on an exiled family who become the victims of a series of devastating misfortunes, beginning with the death of their newborn child. Though it’s hard to believe given the plethora of top-notch performances she’s delivered afterwards, the film also starred Anya Taylor-Joy in her feature film debut as the family’s daughter, Thomasin. Eggers would later go on to highlight the talents of Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson in the tense psychological thriller, “The Lighthouse.”

Whether or not you see “The Babadook’s” titular antagonist as a metaphor for grief or depression (or both), there’s no denying its extraordinary take on the horror genre. Notably, it is a film that is as sympathetic as it is scary - a breath of fresh air in a sea of genre films eager to undermine their mentally unstable heroes. This makes it stand out from the crowd of not only its predecessors, but those who attempted to mirror its success with similarly analogous monsters. The delivery of the fearsome Babadook’s background is equally inspired, as the audience is introduced to his mythology through the unsettling illustrations in a children’s story.

After establishing himself as an actor and comedian, Jordan Peele made a surprising career turn with “Get Out.” Beginning as a darkly comedic psychological thriller, the film’s biggest antagonist initially appears to be racism. This is, of course, still the case by the film’s end, but its shocking last-act twist really brings the terror to a whole new level. With an instantly gripping script, and stellar performances, it should come as no surprise that “Get Out” became one of the few horror films to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Peele would follow this success up with the equally impressive “Us” and “Nope,” becoming one of the decade’s best (and most consistent) horror directors.

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

A Punk Band Realizes Too Late That Something “Ain’t Right” About Their New Venue

This Dolly’s Dance Moves Are Deadly

Mike Flanagan Mixes King’s Words & Kubrick’s Vision for This Unique “Shining” Successor

A Compelling Argument for Practicing Abstinence With Cars

COVID Restrictions Inspired This Creative Computer Horror

Annie is not okay. Following a sudden death in the family, the grieving mother begins lashing out at her son Peter and turning to supernatural means to communicate with the one she lost. The already horrific situation ramps up in intensity, culminating in a climax that still gives us nightmares. The film’s uniquely volatile portrayal of generational trauma was a smash hit for indie studio A24, and even heralded by one critic as the “scariest movie of 2018.” Director Ari Aster’s follow-up folk horror, “Midsommar,” took things up a notch in the shock department, but “Hereditary” remains his masterpiece and the gold standard for all horror films that follow in the next decade.