A horror movie is like an acquired taste, some will love it but some will avoid it like the plague. You don’t need to wait for Halloween to get a good fright.
There are plenty of horror movies from all over the world to help you fulfill your desire to jump out of your skin. Here is a list of horror movies with multiple subgenres for you to choose from. It contains timeless horror movies dating back in 1987 to the latest skin crawling masterpieces.
1. Smile (2022)
Psychological Horror
Smile is a very unnerving movie with many chilling moments that can be very hard to watch. This movie revolves around a lady who has severe trauma and loses control of her mental state. She developed the trauma from witnessing her mother’s suicide.
In the movie, this trauma is depicted by a monster, which could be passed on to someone else by causing them to develop suicidal trauma. If you are looking to feel uncomfortable and kept on the edge of your seat, be sure to check this movie out.
2. Us (2019)
Psychological Horror
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A little girl walks into a mirror maze in a carnival to find another person who looks exactly like her. The plot can get a little confusing at first, but you will understand as it progresses. It contains all the right ingredients to keep you entertained.
From the enjoyable plot, soundtrack to the amazing casting, expect an unforgettable experience. The actress in this psychological horror film transfers her emotions to her audience. You can feel her anxiety, fear and discomfort through your screen.
3. Ma (2019)
Psychological Horror, Gore
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A group of teens wanted to buy alcohol but they were underage. They asked a middle aged woman for assistance and she offered them more than just booze. She invited them over to use her basement for their party.
Gradually, things started going wrong and before the teens realized, their lives were in danger. The movie felt like a normal teen flick at first but later it took a dark turn that completely changed the tone. There was violence in the movie and it was tastefully effective to keep your eyes glued to the screen.
4. Gerald’s Game (2017)
Psychological Horror
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Gerald and his wife, Jessie went on a romantic getaway in a secluded lake house. They were trying to fulfill Gerald’s rape sexual fantasy where Jessie gets handcuffed. At one point, Jessie couldn’t take it anymore and told him to stop.
They started arguing about what happened alongside other issues they’ve been having. In the midst of all this, Gerald suddenly collapsed and Jessie was left cuffed onto the bed frame. The scary part actually begins here. Jessie was left alone with no help and her own thoughts. She was taunted by hallucinations bringing up her deepest insecurities and dissatisfaction about the marriage.
Physically deprived and mentally unstable, she falls into a cycle of confusion, denial and anxiety. This movie is a thought provoking masterpiece that will leave you to reflect on your own life.
5. Orphan (2009)
Psychological Horror
After going through a tragedy, a family adopted an 11 year old girl to fill a void. Gradually, the parents started having more arguments and the wife felt something wasn’t quite right with the daughter they adopted. In the movie, the orphan played little tricks to manipulate the children and the adoptive father that made the mother look crazy.
Slowly, details of the orphan’s background were revealed and her presence in the household could be more deadlier than they could imagine. The acting and suspension in the plot were amazingly creepy. This movie is a must-watch if you are into psychological horror and a little gore.
6. You Should Have Left (2020)
Psychological Horror
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A couple went on a vacation in Wales and stayed in a house. On the first few nights they were both having nightmares and felt uncomfortable. They later found out that neither of them booked to stay at the house. When they realize what they got themselves into, it may be too late.
This movie will no doubt keep your eyes on the screen till the end. The backstories of the characters were explained well to give the audience context of the happenings. The movie will not only scare the hell out of you, it will also get you to reflect on yourself and actions.
7. Black Swan (2010)
Psychological Horror
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A ballet dancer named Nina has devoted her life to ballet. When the opportunity for her to take the main role presented itself, she was pleased and went all in during practice. She was to play Odette and Odile in Swan Lake. Her instructor helped her during her training but he thought she was too uptight and had to be more carefree.
During one of the practices, the instructor told Nina to observe a newcomer named Lily. Lily had a similar physique but she had what Nina lacks, carefreeness. Under the pressure and desperation, Nina started to hallucinate and have physical wounds.
If you are a fan of psychological horror thrillers, this is definitely a movie you must watch. Prepare yourself mentally before watching this movie. Black Swan’s dark and eerie plot and twists will get your heart pounding from shock and awe.
8. Annabelle (2014)
Thriller, Supernatural
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It all started with a husband bringing home a china doll for his pregnant wife. Following that, a group of Satanists invaded their home and wreaked havoc, giving birth to Annabelle, a possessed doll that disturbs the household with its sinister presence. Annabelle will imprint its creepy presence in your mind that haunts you every time you see an innocent, girly doll.
9. The Nun (2018)
Supernatural
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The Nun is about the uncovering of a secret from the year 1952 by a Catholic priest and a nun. This movie is relatively fast paced but it has many heavy jump scares that will literally lift you off your chair. The character Valak was terrifyingly creepy to watch and its presence will send chills down your spine.
10. Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018)
Supernatural, Found Footage
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Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is a Korean found-footage horror flick. Get yourself immersed in a journey with the characters in the haunted abandoned asylum. The story itself is not unique to any other found-footage horror flick but the backstories of the characters and their chemistry gets the audience attached to them.
Their anxiety and nervousness gets fluidly transferred into the atmosphere of the room you’re in and you will definitely feel their creeps first hand. The climax and ending were well written that leaves you with closure and a sense of satisfaction at the end.
11. Incantation (2022)
Thriller, Supernatural
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Another great found-footage horror movie is Incantation from Taiwan! A group of adventurous youngsters decided to enter a forbidden tunnel to record what is within for their paranormal show. Two of the boys went inside, a girl who was part of the group stayed outside after finding out she was pregnant.
One of the boys came out of the tunnel in hysterics and the other one was dead. The footage was damaged and was not retrieved by anyone. Incantation is a paranormal horror movie with deadly endings to humans who came in contact with a curse. Watch this if you like a little violence and feeling terrified.
12. Insidious (2010)
Thriller, Supernatural
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After moving into a new house, the family started experiencing paranormal activities that terrified everyone at home. Their son went up the attic, encountered a scary entity and fell. He went into a coma the next day and for a while, he did not wake up.
The family sought help from paranormal experts to reveal that their son could in fact astral travel. This is a classic jump scare movie tastefully infused with visuals and sound effects that keeps you on edge. The psychological terror and realism of it will keep you up at night.
13. The Conjuring (2013)
Thriller, Supernatural
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A family of 7 moved into a farmhouse. One the first few days itself, the family encountered many paranormal activities. There were unsettling incidents like when their dog refused to enter the house, someone woke up with severe bruises, they also found a boarded up entrance to the cellar.
When they found one of the daughters dead, they sought help from a couple of demonologists to get rid of this spirit. This is a well paced movie with moderate but effective jump scares.
14. Don’t Breathe (2016)
Thriller, Gore
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Three thieves planned to rob a war veteran after hearing he had a lot of money in his safe. Moreover, he is blind and alone in his house in the middle of nowhere. Before you feel bad for the thieves, the backstory is that the blind man lost his daughter some time ago.
The person who killed his daughter was wealthy and the murder wasn’t done justice. The man received a big sum of money as an apology for his loss. The storyline is a simple one but don’t expect anything less of an insane thrill ride. The violence, suspense, tension and scares will leave you stressed out. Many times in the movie, you’ll catch yourself holding your breath.
15. IT (2017)
Thriller, Gore
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The “Losers Club” is a group of teens who are terrorized by a shape-shifting, supernatural being who frequently appears to be a clown named Pennywise. The entity has been around for centuries and returns every 27 years to eat the children of Derry, Maine.
In order to defeat Pennywise and prevent it from harming any more children, the Losers Club must confront their own personal demons and work together. The movie was released in two parts, the first of which depicted the characters as children and the second part depicted them as adults.
This movie is packed with chilling scenes, suspense and action. Be ready for a roller coaster ride of emotions if you dare to watch this movie.
16. Crawl (2019)
Thriller
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Crawl is a movie following a woman who was in search of her father during a hurricane warning. As she tried to help her father evacuate, she was confronted by a major flood with an alligator infestation. You will be able to feel the anxiety and fear in her perseverance for survival.
The plot is fairly simple but it is an enjoyable story with some gory moments enough to keep you on your toes.
17. Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City (2021)
Thriller
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Based on the popular video game franchise of the same name. The movie takes place in the mid-1990s and follows a team of Umbrella Corporation soldiers and special agents as they venture into the quarantine zone in Raccoon City to retrieve top-secret information.
As they navigate the zombie-infested city, the team soon realizes that they are not only fighting against the undead, but also against each other as they uncover the dark secrets of the Umbrella Corporation.
The film is a retelling of the events of the first two games in the franchise and offers a fresh take on the Resident Evil universe, showcasing the iconic zombies and bio-organic weapons that have made the franchise so popular.
18. The Human Centipede (2010)
Thriller, Gore
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The human centipede is a masterpiece that is like no other horror movie. A surgeon abducted some tourists to create a creature of his imagination by connecting them anus-to-mouth. Some people who got abducted were not a good match for his specimens so they were murdered.
The specimens who were alive were drugged and underwent surgical procedures to their bodies to fit the human centipede model. If you have a weak stomach, do not watch this movie. The story contains horrific happenings to the characters that you cannot even imagine before watching this movie.
19. Jigsaw (2017)
Thriller, Gore
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The Saw movie franchise is known for its gruesome and twisted plotlines and graphic violence. Jigsaw is no exception as it features a series of intense suspense. Jigsaw is about a group of people who found themselves trapped in a series of puzzles and if they don’t overcome the challenges presented, they will not survive.
Be prepared to feel uneasy as this film is full of violence and gore that will enhance the fear in you. The incredible camera angles and sound effects are a major part of the scares that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
20. Pengabdi Setan (2017)
Supernatural
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“Pengabdi Setan” is a Indonesian horror film directed by Joko Anwar and follows the story of a family who moves into a haunted house, only to discover that it is inhabited by ghosts.
The eldest daughter, Rini, is the only one who can see the spirits, and as she investigates the family’s dark past, she uncovers the truth about the haunted house and the evil spirits that reside within it. The film is known for its suspenseful atmosphere, eerie score, and memorable scenes.
21. Barbarian (2022)
Thriller
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In town for a job interview, a young woman arrives at her Airbnb rental late at night only to find that the house has been mistakenly double-booked and a strange man is already staying there.
Against her better judgment, she decides to stay the night anyway, but soon discovers that there is much more to be afraid of in the house than the other house guest.
22. Eli (2019)
Thriller, Supernatural
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A young boy named Eli (played by Charlie Shotwell), who suffers from a rare disease that makes him allergic to almost everything. His parents take him to a mysterious, isolated clinic to receive treatment, but strange and frightening things begin to happen.
As Eli and his family begin to uncover the secrets of the clinic and its staff, they realize that the cure for his disease may be far more sinister than they ever could have imagined. The film explores themes of trust, fear, and the lengths people will go to for the sake of their children.
23. The Silence of the Lambs (2019)
Psychological Horror, Supernatural
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A young FBI trainee looks to a cannibalistic serial killer for help to track down another serial killer she needs to catch. The plot itself is very intriguing so if you are up for a scary movie with a great storyline, you’re in good hands with this one.
Serial killers and cannibalism is the main theme in this movie but what makes it scary is the suspense and psychological aspects of it. The unsettling feeling you’ll have will be the hunger that keeps you wanting more from this movie.
24. A Quiet Place (2018)
Thriller
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A post-apocalyptic world where a family must live in complete silence in order to avoid deadly creatures that hunt by sound. The family communicates through sign language and goes to great lengths to make sure they don’t make any noise that could attract the creatures.
The film follows the family as they navigate their way through this dangerous world, facing new challenges and struggling to survive in silence. The film is both a suspenseful thriller and a touching family drama, as it explores the relationships between the characters and the lengths they will go to protect each other.
25. Lights Out (2016)
Supernatural
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The Mummy is an action-adventure horror about a soldier who got cursed after disturbing the tomb of an ancient Egyptian princess. This thrilling film features supernatural elements of the dead and undead.
The creepy sound track and effects will make you feel uneasy on your seats. The film is also packed with action and creatures with unsettling appearances. Be sure to buckle down for an entertaining ride with this one.
26. Sinister (2012)
Supernatural
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True-crime writer Ellison Oswalt (played by Ethan Hawke) as he moves with his family into a home where a horrific murder took place. In an effort to research his next book, Ellison begins to investigate the crime and soon discovers a box of mysterious home movies that seem to depict other grisly murders.
As he continues to dig deeper, he realizes that the murders may be connected to a supernatural entity that is targeting his family. The film is a chilling and suspenseful ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat as Ellison races against time to uncover the truth and protect his family from the evil force that is hunting them.
27. Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)
Supernatural
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The movie is set in 1967 and follows a widowed mother and her two daughters who run a séance scam business. They unknowingly invite an evil presence into their home when they use a Ouija board during one of their sessions.
The evil spirit begins to torment the family and possess one of the daughters, leading the mother to seek the help of a local priest to save her daughter and get rid of the evil presence. The movie is a prequel to the 2014 film “Ouija.”
28. The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)
Based on Real Story
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The film follows the trial of a Catholic priest who is charged with negligent homicide after performing an exorcism on a young woman named Emily Rose. The priest claims that Emily was possessed by demons, while the prosecution argues that she was suffering from a severe form of epilepsy.
As the trial unfolds, flashbacks are shown that depict the events leading up to the exorcism and the terrifying experiences of those who were present. The film raises questions about faith, science, and the existence of evil forces, as it explores the horrifying events surrounding Emily’s possession and exorcism.
29. Blair Witch (2016)
Found Footage, Supernatural
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“Blair Witch” is a supernatural horror film released in 2016. The movie is a sequel to the 1999 classic “The Blair Witch Project” and follows a group of college students as they venture into the Black Hills Forest in Maryland to uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of James and Heather, the filmmakers from the original movie.
Armed with cutting-edge technology and determined to uncover the truth, the students soon find themselves lost and pursued by an unseen force that may be the legendary Blair Witch. The film builds upon the found-footage style of its predecessor, creating a tense and suspenseful atmosphere that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats.
30. Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)
Supernatural
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Ju-On: The Grudge is a Japanese movie about a haunted house. Anyone who entered the house was cursed and did not make it out alive. If you attempt to watch this, you should definitely have someone else around. It is a terrifying film that will keep you on your toes for days in your own house.
31. The Babadook (2014)
Supernatural, Psychological
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A story of a single mother and her young son who get terrorized by a children’s book monster. This movie is made with a limited budget yet the effect it leaves on the audience is disturbingly satisfactory.
The movie explores more than just physically frightening entities but psychological fears. It brings to light what grief and trauma could do to people. Though psychological threats are not seen to be as terrifying as physical threats, this movie portrayed it well with the main antagonist that will make a mark in you even after the credits roll.
32. Train To Busan (2016)
Zombie
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A father takes his daughter on a trip to Busan for her mother’s birthday. They boarded a train but things took an unexpected turn when they realized they were caught in a zombie apocalypse. The South Korean movie industry is known for their great productions and this is no exception.
The beginning of the story was a little slow but when things get real, they get really intense. The visual effects and soundtrack made sure that there were no gaps between tense moments for your toilet breaks. It is a nightmare for anyone with claustrophobia to even relate to any of the characters.
This horror film wasn’t just about scaring the audience. It had depth. The emotions derived from the characters factors into the whole experience that will keep your heart racing at the same time full of emotion.
33. Coming Soon (2008)
Supernatural
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A man who works in a cinema records the movies that are showing in the cinema to sell. His biggest mistake is to record a horror movie that is haunted by the main character. This movie will keep you thoroughly entertained. The plot is very engaging and has no lack of scary moments that will keep you up in your bed.
34. Art of the Devil 2 (2005)
Supernatural, Gore
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6 teenagers meet up after not seeing each other for years. In the past they have caught their teacher, who was married to one of their fathers having sex with a coach. They secretly video taped it and broadcasted the video to everyone to show her infidelity.
The teacher held a grudge against them for years. So when they came over to pay their respects to her husband’s death, she took her chance to get revenge. This movie is slow in the beginning but it gets extremely gory and anxiety-inducing. It is filled with surreal murders and gruesome tortures. We won’t promise that you can stomach this movie.
35. Pet Sematary (2019)
Supernatural, Thriller
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A new family who just moved into a New England house discover some terrifying secrets and mystery about their neighborhood. Dr Louis Creed and his family lose their pet cat in an accident and bury it in a nearby cemetery. However, this unleashes a darkness that soon haunts the Creeds in terrifying ways.
36. The Curse of La Llorona (2019)
Supernatural
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A family finds the Mexican folk tale of the Weeping Lady, a paranormal specter that returns from the dead to torment the living. The Conjuring cinematic universe expands once again with an interesting storyline.
37. The Invisible Man (2020)
Thriller
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“The Invisible Man” is a science fiction film released in 2020, directed by Leigh Whannell. The movie is loosely based on the novel by Ralph Ellison and follows the story of a man named Cecilia Kass who is trapped in a violent, controlling relationship with a wealthy scientist named Adrian.
After Cecilia escapes and Adrian supposedly dies, she begins to suspect that he has used his scientific expertise to become invisible, and is now stalking her. As she fights to uncover the truth and stop Adrian’s reign of terror, Cecilia must confront the monster she fears most – the invisible man.
