Terrifier 2
Art the Clown made a huge splash during his debut silver screen appearance Terrifier, and so hopes were high for his inevitable follow-up. Terrifier 2 blew most people’s expectations out of the water: doubling the gore, doubling the depravity, and doubling the ghoulish humour. While the initial movie already had a reputation for extremity, the sequel proved you can always take things further.
Mother!
Mother! isn’t scary in the way that most horror movies are; it’s low on jumpscares, there’s no faceless supernatural threat and the home invasion elements play out in the least traditional way possible. However, its slow descent into chaos, madness and destruction is deeply disquieting in a way that more bombastic horror movies would struggle to replicate, leading to a truly nightmarish experience.
Hereditary
Horror movie meditations on grief and trauma are ten a penny nowadays, but very few can match the haunted desolation of Hereditary. While it has plenty of supernatural jump scares, lots of twisted body horror and a smattering of gore, it’s the palpable despair and hopelessness that makes this movie such a hard and heavy watch. From beginning to end, this is a film without levity.
Antichrist
The first of three movies in Lars von Trier’s depression trilogy, Antichrist begins as a slow-burn portrait of a deeply unhappy couple reeling from the death of their toddler. However, things quickly escalate from sumptuous, surrealist horror to brutal grindhouse gore and back again. Difficult to watch moment-to-moment, but equally hard to look away from on the whole, Antichrist is beautifully torturous.
Possessor
If you closed your eyes and imagined a movie made by the son of body-horror legend David Cronenberg, you’d probably expect a lot of goopy flesh, various goos and peeling skin. Possessor, written and directed by Brandon Cronenberg, does have its fair share of melting faces and surrealist body-melding but, for the most part, its scares come from its disturbing psychological implications.
Mad God
For many people, their knowledge of animated horror doesn’t extend past Coraline and the Nightmare Before Christmas. Mad God, a passion project by legendary visual effects artist Phil Tippett that was thirty years in the making, is as far away from Tim Burton as Santa Sangre is from Halloween. Lovingly animated and brought to life, Mad God is a ceaseless dirge of surrealism, nihilism and hopelessness.
Audition
Audition, a 1999 Japanese horror film, has been a cult classic basically since its release. Though its premise of an obsessed girlfriend who takes her love and devotion to truly unhinged levels is not that original, the performance of Eihi Shiina is beyond chilling. Not only that, but the relentless escalation from scary to sickening to grotesque gives the viewer no opportunity to catch their breath.
The Devil’s Rejects
Rob Zombie’s Firefly series, which centers on a family of murderous, merciless degenerates, has a reputation for being all style and no substance. However, the trilogy’s middle installment, The Devil’s Rejects, even garnered praise from Roger Ebert. Don’t be fooled though, this movie joyously explores humanity’s worse impulses, and even the joking moments only serve to illuminate the depths of the Firefly family’s nauseating hatred.
Evil Dead (2013)
The original Evil Dead is a camp classic, one that spawned numerous sequels, a comic book series, and even a musical. However, while the original does have its scary moments, it’s nothing on the drenched-in-blood requel that hit cinemas in 2013. This soft reimagining of the story shifted the tone enormously, making the deadites more competent, more terrifying, and much harder to defeat.
Toxic Avenger
The Toxic Avenger has had a weird pop culture journey over the years and decades. Nowadays, his legacy includes action figures, a children’s cartoon and a musical, all of which have a goofy and upbeat tone. Given all this, it’s sometimes easy to forget that the original 1984 Troma Entertainment movie is one of the most mean-spirited, cruel and capricious movies ever made.
Goodnight Mommy
This 2014 Austrian slow-burn horror recently received a 2022 remake directed by Matt Sobel and starring Naomi Watts. Goodnight Mommy plays into fears regarding family and what happens when someone you know becomes someone you don’t recognize, while also tackling grief. The creepy atmosphere and the terrifying young twins make this a hard watch.
REC
2007 was a major year for found footage films with the release of both the original Paranormal Activity, and the first film of the Spanish zombie franchise REC, which became an iconic staple of the subgenre. The POV technique is employed to incredible effect here, slowly ramping up the tension to deliver high-stakes jump scares, causing some to call it the scariest film ever.
Pulse
Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s supernatural thriller Pulse was released in 2001. With terrifying, slow burn moments of technological terror, this film has earned legendary status amongst horror fans. Several key scenes from this film set it apart from its J-horror counterparts, utilizing a clinically cold and barren set and tense moments.
Fire in the Sky
Whether you’re scared of aliens or not, after watching Fire in the Sky you might be a little more tentative about leaving your house at night. Acclaimed film critic Roger Ebert said of the 1993 film’s alien abduction scene: “They convincingly depict a reality I haven’t seen in the movies before, and for once I did believe that I was seeing something truly alien.”
The Descent
A real masterclass in preying on the innate human fear of the dark, and creating a truly claustrophobic viewing experience, The Descent is a hard film even for horror fans to get through. This is especially the case if you manage to get a hold of the European ending of the 2005 film, which presents a much bleaker and darker reality for the protagonist Sarah.
Eden Lake
Nobody should walk into Eden Lake expecting a campy and fun romp, as the 2008 British horror starring Kelly Reilly and Michael Fassbender excruciating to get through. As well as packing in the gore and the violence, it’s an oppressively bleak film with an ending that will eradicate all sense of optimism you may have gone into Eden Lake with.
The Platform
When this film was released on Netflix it went viral almost instantly. The Spanish science fiction film directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia may not appear to be a horror film from its premise but the consequences are terrifying. With a violent and harrowing presentation, the film explores cannibalism, poverty, purity, and more to incredible effect.
Host
The reason that Host is so terrifying even for hardened horror fans is that it brings horror into a realm of familiarity in an unprecedented way. Even with a low budget, this 2020 Shudder original film builds tension and suspense beautifully, while delivering the scares – all through one extended real-time webcam call.
It Follows
Have you ever been convinced that someone is following you? Or that there’s a danger you can’t escape that’s just waiting to catch up to you. It Follows expertly tackles these fears while crafting a world that is at once familiar and unknown. The threat is relentless, even ending the film suggesting that the characters aren’t out of the woods just yet.
28 Days Later
Many critics would argue that 28 Days Later is the greatest zombie film ever created. It’s violent, brutal, and unrelenting. But what makes it even more terrifying is that the real threat comes not from the undead creatures, but the humans themselves. Danny Boyle expertly raises a mirror to society and Cillian Murphy excels in his performance.
The Invisible Man
This decade has produced many horror films that have experienced mainstream success and Leigh Whannell’s 2020 retelling of The Invisible Man starring Elizabeth Moss was perhaps the first in this trend. Fans of the film have found the invisible lurking threat and abuse endured by Moss’s character to be absolutely terrifying and executed amazingly.
Suspiria
If you consider yourself a horror fan and haven’t seen Suspiria, you have to add it to your watchlist this instant – but be prepared for the visual and auditory assault of Dario Argento’s masterpiece. Combined with the extremely graphic nature of the deaths (specifically the barbed wire death), it’s a primal experience watching this 1977 classic.
Rosemary’s Baby
Despite its release over six decades ago, Rosemary’s Baby remains one of the most popular and terrifying horror films ever made. Directors cannot escape from the influence of Roman Polanski’s most popular creation, and the horrifying reality of gaslighting, control over woman’s bodies, and creeping paranoia.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
You believe that when you’re asleep you’re safe. However, Wes Craven’s 1984 supernatural slasher proves otherwise when the monstrous child murderer, Freddy Krueger begins stalking teens while they’re asleep. There’s no escaping him, there’s no resting from the terror – it’s an oppressive threat, and utterly terrifying.
Les Diaboliques
The Edinburgh International Film Festival declared this 1955 French thriller to be “One of the most terrifying films ever made” while others have called it “one of the creepiest, scariest thrillers ever made.”. Revealing too much bout the plot would ruin the impact of Henri-Georges Clouzot’s film but it’s one that needs to be seen ASAP.
Saló
Some may argue that Salo (or 120 Days of Sodom) isn’t a true horror film. However, there’s no denying that it’s a deeply, disturbing film. Based on the tale by the Marquis de Sade, this exploration of fascism and power is one of the most unpleasant, sexually violent films ever created. Even the most dedicated genre fans will have a hard time sitting through this.
The Changeling
Many of the scariest horror films will pack scenes full of gore, using pints upon pints of fake blood. But what makes The Changeling truly scary is that it explores the power of grief without the need for this, but with an intensely atmospheric construction and scenes that slowly build tension. George C. Scott and Melvyn Douglas shine in the 1980 film.
The Children
There’s something incredibly unnerving about children committing acts of violence. Their innocence juxtaposes these horrific deeds and strikes a chord within us, preying on our worst fears. That’s what makes British director/co-writer Tom Shankland’s 2008 film The Children so hard to get through, as well as the horrific death sequences.
The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence)
If you’ve been on the internet in the past two decades, there’s no way you won’t have heard about this iconically gross and twisted film franchise. The sequel to The Human Centipede pushes the boundaries even further. If you can sit through it without turning away from the gross-out surgery scenes, body horror, and intense themes, then you’re braver than most.
The Wailing
The 2016 film The Wailing has quickly become a favorite of genre fans. Director Na Hong-jin masterfully crafts this film into a truly tense experience, slowly revealing more and more about the remote world he’s focused upon while leading the viewer to constantly question what it is they feel they know. The body horror and SFX are expertly executed as well.
The Sadness
Despite only being released two years ago, Rob Jabbaz’s Taiwanese zombie film has made huge waves. There’s little this film shies away from with extreme gore and violence abound. Horror website Bloody Disgusting declared the film “a vicious anthem that keeps you in its grip, forces you to stare into the abyss, and dares you to look away.”
Relic
For some people, there’s little more terrifying than aging. Losing your memory, your cognitive function, and your independence are enough to make the concept utterly horrifying. The 2020 horror film Relic grapples with this and what mourning someone when they’re still alive really feels like.
Funny Games
There’s a reason why Funny Games is such an iconic film. You’ll see the 1997 original or the 2007 American remake feature in most lists of top 100 horror films. Villains who attack for the sheer pleasure of violence put us all in danger, exposing how vulnerable we really are. Michael Haneke’s villains Peter and Paul are the stuff of nightmares.
Martyrs
Make sure you’ve planned a great evening of cuddles, sweet treats, and cozy vibes after watching Martyrs – you’ll need it. This psychological horror film delivers all the gore you could ever want, as it shows very graphic torture scenes. The 2015 remake is actually executed very well but there’s no beating the sheer dread and depression of Pascal Laugier’s French 2008 original.
Raw
When it comes to films that are difficult even for true horror fans to watch, look no further than New French Extremity films. The subgenre showcases unrelenting films that push the boundaries in every way – just like Raw. This 2016 coming-of-age horror film features a veterinary student who develops a taste for raw meat (largely of the human variety).
Evil Dead Rise
The most recent installment of the long-running franchise, Evil Dead Rise presents another visceral, nightmarish depiction of demonic possession. The setting switches from the typical cabin in the woods to an inner-city family apartment, with (for the first time in Evil Dead history) children in the path of the monstrous Deadites. The cheese grater scene is enough to make most people squeal and look away.
Hostel
If you’ve seen Eli Roth’s iconic 2005 horror film Hostel, you’ll be wary of any shots focusing on the back of people’s ankles. On top of the graphic violence, Hostel plays on the sheer terror of finding yourself in an unfamiliar setting, alone, and stalked by a force you’re not yet aware of. The gore is extreme and the threat is horrifying.
Inside
Another New French Extremity staple, Inside attacks a sincere primal fear. Alysson Paradis is Sarah, a heavily pregnant woman who is stalked by an unnamed villain (Béatrice Dalle), who seeks to take her child by whatever means necessary – and on Christmas Eve, no less. Dalle proves a terrifying antagonist, and the ending is guaranteed to leave you feeling uneasy.
I Spit on Your Grave
Starting an entire sub-genre of revenge films, 1978’s original I Spit on Your Grave is entirely memorable but for all the wrong reasons. Director Meir Zarchi explores intense themes of sexual assault, abduction, torture, and the vulnerability of being a woman. It’s an incredibly hard film to watch, but Camille Keaton – who plays the final girl, Jennifer Hills – gives an incredible performance.
Let the Right One In
Exploring childhood, vulnerability, the loss of innocence, connection, found family, and more, the vampire thriller Let the Right One In is a masterclass in building atmosphere and delivering on truly nightmarish scares. Tomas Alfredson’s 2008 Swedish film features some intense and grotesque sequences of horror. It’s a near-perfect film and has to be seen, although 2010’s US remake Let Me In is also worth watching.
I Stand Alone
Reviews of I Stand Alone call the movie “a descent to hell”, “not easily forgotten”, and “not for the weak, of body or mind”. Gaspar Noé’s sequel to Carne is utterly depraved, exploring issues of mental health, poverty, and the downward spiral of one man. The 1998 film is terrifying in its reality and is difficult even for the most hardened fans to sit through.
Eyes Without a Face
The haunting visuals of Eyes Without a Face will stick with audiences for years after viewing, but the plot is just as terrifying. The black and white aesthetic of this 1960 French horror sets a stark tone that matches the desperation of the characters and unsettling atmosphere that director George Franju crafts. The film really makes you consider just how far you’d go for family.
The Orphanage
Many of the aspects of the 2007 Spanish horror film The Orphanage feel fairly usual for the genre. However, the team behind the film managed to take the aspects of an abandoned orphanage, supernatural scares, and the relationship between a mother and son, and create something totally uniquely and utterly horrific to watch.
The Green Inferno
While The Green Inferno may be considered a modern classic of the genre, many horror fans have found the film too hard to get through, citing the huge amounts of realistic gore. From the director of Hostel (Eli Roth), the film doesn’t shy away from any disturbing sequences including characters being chopped up and eaten by a cannibalistic tribe.
Begotten
With such a low budget of just $33,000, it’s incredible that this American experimental film is still being talked about today, but Begotten has received an almost cult-like status as completely horrifying. There are themes of birth, death, mythology, and religion throughout the 1989 film, but it really must be seen for you to understand the disturbing brutality of it.
The House That Jack Built
Lars von Trier (director of Melancholia, Antichrist, and Nymphomaniac) doesn’t rely on the horrific gore of The House that Jack Built to scare viewers. Instead, the psychological horror film is incredibly smart, making a statement about art to create a complex portrait of a serial killer, with a jaw-droppingly beautiful vision of Trier at his most uncompromising.
In My Skin
Playing on the human aversion for self-injury and the horrifying descent into addiction that many people are liable to fall prey to, In My Skin follows a marketing professional who begins to become obsessed with inflicting more and more damage to herself. This is an underrated gem of the New French Extremity movement that is unflinchingly brutal.
The Poughkeepsie Tapes
Pulled from distribution by MGM after its 2007 release, The Poughkeepsie Tapes have been subject to discussion by movie fans for years, with many people initially believing that the found footage-style film showed actual murders. The kidnap and indoctrination of one of the victims is a horrifying reality to even consider, never mind to witness.
Dr. Lamb
Dr. Lamb is a horror/crime film from Hong Kong released in 1992 and has been grossing out fans for the last three decades. After several young women are killed by a disturbed taxi driver, Inspector Lee joins the case to catch the criminal. The film gets even harder to watch when you realize it’s based on a true story.
Who’s Watching Oliver
The best word to describe the experience of viewing Who’s Watching Oliver is simply, uncomfortable. It must be seen to be understood. The film is disturbing for much more than just its horrific acts of violence and sexual crimes. Russel Geoffrey Banks puts on the performance of his career in this Richie Moore horror film as the deranged and creepy Oliver.
Snowtown
Sadly, the events of this horrific movie are based on real crimes in South Australia. The 2011 film (otherwise known as The Snowtown Murders) explores just how insidious homophobia, child abuse, and toxic masculinity can be through the disturbing tale of a family and those close to them. One reporter claimed the film was “as close to a snuff movie as I ever wanted to see.”
Hush
Mike Flanagan is really beginning to make a name for himself in the horror scene. Hush was released relatively early in the director’s career, coming out in 2016, but still delivers his signature unsettling atmosphere and incredible character work. You’ll become so attached to the deaf-mute protagonist Maddie, that you’ll be screaming for her survival by the end.
The Innocents
Another film that subverts the innocence of children to really horrify the viewers, The Innocents follows a group of children who find out that they possess supernatural powers. Reviewers have said that the 2021 film is “absolutely smothering in its intensity and “audaciously unique”. If you missed this one, it should be added to your watch list now.
Speak No Evil
Since its 2022 release, Speak No Evil has been awarded many monikers including “absolutely traumatizing”, “a social satire with razor-sharp teeth”, and “deeply disturbing” – all of which are absolutely befitting of Christian Tafdrup’s seventh directorial foray. If you can stomach the film until the last act, it features a finale that is sure to completely destroy you.
Ichi The Killer
Before the success of brutal classics like Hostel and Saw came a film that’s even more disgustingly graphic in its gore and violence. Ichi the Killer is a 2001 award-winning Japanese crime film by director Takashi Miike. The cult classic has been banned in many countries since its release, but had an incredible impact on Western cinema.
A Serbian Film
Banned in 46 countries, A Serbian Film is well known across the internet for just how provocative and horrendous the film is. Even fans of unsettling films like Hostel, I Spit on Your Grave or Martyrs cannot stomach this 2010 Serbian exploitation film by Srdjan Spasojevik. It’s become infamous for the disgusting acts it depicts.
The Funhouse
Sadly, this 1981 slasher isn’t as well known as other slasher films of its era, even though The Funhouse was directed by Tobe Hooper – who was already known for the horrifying Texas Chainsaw Massacre and would go on to release Poltergeist the next year. This expertly constructed horror was banned in the UK as a video nasty.
Peeping Tom
Michael Powell’s Peeping Tom has been spoofed and referenced many times over the decades. However, many may have forgotten just how scary the 1960 film actually was. The way the viewer is thrust into a voyeuristic position as Mark Lewis commits various violent acts of murder is seriously uncomfortable in all the best ways.
Carrie
Exploring the complexities of entering womanhood, escaping oppressive family structures, and the power of religion, Carrie is a seriously twisted film adapted from the horrifying debut novel of infamous writer Stephen King. Director Brian De Palma handles the material incredibly well. Reviews say it’s one of the “most terrifying movies I’ve ever seen”.
Dead of Night
Despite being released in 1945, Dead Of Night still remains a successful horror anthology. The sequence ‘The Ventriloquist Dummy’ is impossible to forget. Director Alberto Cavalcanti tells one of the most unsettling stories you’ll have ever seen or heard as a ventriloquist descends into a dark and murderous path.
Don’t Look Now
The twist at the end of Don’t Look Now is impossible to guess and works perfectly as a part of this tale of grief and murder. Released in 1971, this occult thriller starring Donald Sutherland is a stylistic story of a couple visiting Italy following the loss of their daughter. It’s incredibly haunting and will stick with you for years.
The Exorcist
Winning two Oscars and remaining in the public consciousness for decades, The Exorcist is a true classic of the horror genre. William Friedkin’s 1973 film is consistently voted the scariest movie ever, with audiences walking out of screenings when it premiered, and many religious groups attempting to get the film banned.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Tobe Hooper’s American horror film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre both has gruesome gore that is almost impossible to sit through and a seriously horrifying premise that is sure to induce nightmares. A group of teens find themselves stranded and picked off by a vicious and murderous family, led by a chainsaw-wielding psycho in a mask of human skin.
Compliance
While there’s little violence in this scary film Compliance, it’s sure to have you tossing and turning in the early hours, truly disturbed by what you just watched. Based on true events, fast food workers find themselves violating an innocent woman based on their faith in a supposed authority figure. Written and directed by Craig Zobel, this is a psychologically rigorous film.
We Need to Talk About Kevin
What makes a murderer? Is it the way they’re raised, or are they just born twisted? We Need to Talk About Kevin tries to join this debate, exploring a fictitious family haunted by a troubled son. Tilda Swinton’s incredible acting prowess provides a serious emotional core to the 2011 film, while Ezra Miller’s portrayal of the dark and disturbed Kevin will leave you feeling unsettled for months.
Hippopotamus
The concept of being locked up in a room with little connection with the outside world, legs that don’t work, and no explanation is enough to cause madness. But Edward A. Palmer’s Hippopotamus goes even further, driving both the characters and the viewer into a twisted path towards madness as the stark surroundings and repetitive nature of the days begins to feel oppressive.
Gerald’s Game
Some horror fans might find the emotional and psychological strain of 2017’s Gerald’s Game too tough to bear. For others, the visceral and disturbing scene of Jessie’s self degloving may be the point where they have to turn the film off. Either way, director Mike Flanagan has created a horror film that is both utterly unbearable and excellent.
August Underground
Banned in the US for a number of years, August Underground is the first film in a film trilogy from Fred Vogel. The found footage style film follows a serial killer and each murder is shown in full graphic detail. Early in the film, their sadistic acts result in scenes of graphic violence that even hardcore disturbing film fans cannot stomach.
Anything for Jackson
This Shudder original horror comedy is beloved by most audiences, earning a 97% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, for those who find twisted depictions of corpses and occult practices disturbing, then it’s going to be a tough watch. 2020’s Anything for Jackson is sickeningly entertaining and twisted.
Malum
While many horror fans would be wary of a remake, the remake of 2016’s Last Shift is utterly horrifying. If you can make it through the 92-minute run time, you’ll be rewarded with a truly well-made psychological and supernatural horror film, but beware of horrifying jump scares, an increasingly creepy and tense atmosphere, and truly disturbing visuals.
