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This is a comprehensive list of the top 20 horror movies of the 21st century, based on aggregated opinions of critics, as well as personal preferences.

The 20 Best Horror Movies of the 21st Century

	Title of the Movie	Year / Country / Director / Cast	Movie Description
1	The Ring	Release Date: 2002 Country: USA, Japan Director: Gore Verbinski Cast: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman, Jane Alexander, Brian Cox, Rachael Bella, Lindsay Frost, Amber Tamblyn, Daveigh Chase, Sandra Thigpen, Richard Lineback, Shannon Cochran, Adam Brody, Tess Hall, Sasha Barrese	Remaking a beloved Japanese cult horror film is a tricky endeavour. It’s often difficult to capture the spirit of the original, and the injection of a Hollywood budget can add unnecessary embellishment in place of worthwhile narrative development. The Ring is an exception to the rule. In fact, it’s the best horror movie remake we’ve ever seen. Every part of it is exquisitely crafted; the drab, muted colour scheme, the contrast of light and dark, the intricacies of the storyline, and of course, the quality of the acting. Even the trailers send shivers down your spine! At the start of the film, two teenage girls discuss a mysterious videotape with a chilling consequence; those who view it receive a phone call, and are cursed to die precisely seven days later. One of the girls, Katie, admits to her friend, Becca, that she watched the tape the previous week. Right on time, Katie is quite literally scared to death. Katie’s aunt, Rachel, is an investigative journalist. She is enlisted by the family to look into the circumstances of Katie’s death. Rachel discovers and watches the tape, then receives the ominous phone call. Inadvertently, her son Aiden also views it. The immediacy of Rachel’s investigation becomes even more critical. Enlisting the help of her ex-husband and Aiden’s father, Noah, Rachel discovers the origins of the tape and the story of the young girl behind it. The Ring is sincerely terrifying; the tension builds throughout, and there are plenty of jump scares to keep the audience on edge. Behind that is narrative excellence that matches the quality of the original. Note that you may find yourself unnaturally concerned by TV static after watching The Ring!
2	Insidious	Release Date: 2010 Country: USA, Canada, UK Director: James Wan Cast: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye, Ty Simpkins, Angus Sampson, Leigh Whannell, Barbara Hershey, Philip Friedman, Heather Tocquigny, Ruben Pla, John Henry Binder, Andrew Astor, Corbett Tuck, Joseph Bishara, J. LaRose	Josh and Renai have moved to a new home with their children Dalton, Foster, and baby Cali. Dalton is immediately drawn to the attic, and when exploring one night, he falls from the ladder and shortly falls into a coma. Doctors are baffled by his condition, and after all treatment options are exhausted, he returns home. This prompts a spate of terrifying events, including voices being heard throughout the house, Dalton sleepwalking, and most terrifyingly, a man-sized figure in Cali’s room. Josh’s mother, Lorraine, has a dream about a red-faced demon standing behind Dalton, and enlists the help of demonologists Elise, Specs, and Tucker. You read that correctly; demonologists. Elise and her team discover that Dalton was never in a coma; instead, he was born with the ability to enter the astral plane, which he had been doing in his sleep. On the night of the fall, his mind travelled into ‘The Further’, full of the souls of the dead. Spirits are using Dalton as a conduit to enter the world of the living, and the demon controlling Dalton’s body is attacking the family. Elise recalls that this scenario occurred with Josh as a youngster. He has no memory of it, but Lorraine admits that his childhood was marred by an event similar to their current predicament. Josh’s ability to travel to the astral plane had been suppressed, but it remains present. Only Josh can rescue his son, by finding him in the astral plane. As with many of the movies on our list, make sure to watch until the very last second. It’s worth the patience!
3	The Babadook	Release Date: 2014 Country: Australia, Canada Director: Jennifer Kent Cast: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Hayley McElhinney, Barbara West, Daniel Henshall, Jacquy Phillips, Benjamin Winspear, Chloe Hurn, Bridget Walters, Annie Batten, Lucy Hong, Tony Mack, Tiffany Lyndall-Knight, Carmel Johnson	The day of your first child’s birth should be one bathed in joy. But for Amelia Vanek, it was devastating. Whilst travelling to the hospital, Amelia and her husband Oskar were involved in a car accident. As their son, Samuel, entered the world, Oskar slipped away. Six years later, Amelia is still broken, and Sam displays behaviours, such as insomnia and an obsession with monster-defeating weapons, that causes her great concern. Sam becomes obsessed with a pop-up book called Mister Babadook, and Amelia is horrified when she discovers its content. In the book, the Babadook is a pale and imposing human-shaped creature that terrorises people who become aware of it. Troubled by Sam’s increasingly erratic behaviour and constant mentioning of the Babadook, she destroys the book. Sam still seems to be under its spell, however. After a violent outburst directed at his cousin, followed by a seizure, Sam is prescribed sedatives to help keep him calm. Believing this to be the end of their troubles, Amelia is disturbed to find the restored Mister Babadook waiting on her doorstep. Amelia begins to have visions of a murderous spree, in which she kills the family’s pet dog, then Sam, followed by herself. She realises that the Babadook has taken hold of her, and is directing her thoughts and actions. Amelia must fight to save the lives of her loved ones, and herself, whilst ridding the world of a parasitic demon. The Babadook was heralded as the best horror movie of 2014, and still stands as one of the most genuinely terrifying of all time. The intersection of a well-developed backstory with the immediate narrative of the Vanek family’s possession is highly effective.
4	Paranormal Activity	Release Date: 2007 Country: USA Director: Oren Peli Cast: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Amber Armstrong, Mark Fredrichs, Crystal Cartwright, Spencer Marks, Ashley Palmer, Randy McDowell	The concept of ‘found footage’ as a horror movie staple came to prominence in 1999, thanks to the popularity of The Blair Witch Project. Eight years later, Paranormal Activity deftly bridged the gap between an acted script and the raw horror of a seemingly unfiltered recording. In this movie, we meet Katie and Micah, a young couple moving into a new home. Katie explains to Micah that she has suffered from terrifying nightmares since childhood, which she attributes to the presence of an evil spirit. Unconvinced, but supportive of his girlfriend, Micah installs a camera to record what happens in their room whilst they sleep. Watching the footage back after the first night, the couple notice some small irregularities, which increase in frequency and intensity over the following nights. Katie becomes increasingly withdrawn, whilst Micah infuriates the demon by making provocative and snide remarks about it. An expert, Dr. Averies, is called to assist the couple. He agrees to attend, meet Katie, and review the footage, but he is overcome by the demon’s power and flees before he can provide any support. That evening, the demon pulls Katie from the bed as she sleeps, achieving full possession of her body. She returns in an almost catatonic state, which prompts Micah to decide that they’re leaving the house to stay elsewhere whilst Katie recovers. The demon, using Katie as a conduit, convinces Micah that the situation is under control, and he reluctantly stays. The camera rolls as the relative safety of daytime gives way to the horror of night. It’s the slow ramp of tension that makes Paranormal Activity so effective. A slow burner that consistently unnerves the audience until the final, terrifying scene.
5	Hannibal Rising	Release Date: 2007 Country: UK, Czech Republic, France, Italy, USA Director: Peter Webber Cast: Aaran Thomas, Gaspard Ulliel, Li Gong, Richard Leaf, Helena-Lia Tachovská, Rhys Ifans, Dominic West, Michelle Wade, Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Stephen Walters, Kevin McKidd, Richard Brake, Martin Hub, Joerg Stadler, Ivan Marevich	The Silence of the Lambs is rightly regarded as one of the greatest horror movies of all time. Hannibal Lecter is the diabolical main character, but what of his background? Step forward, Hannibal Rising. In this movie, we are taken back to Hannibal’s youth in wartime Lithuania. It’s 1941, and the Baltic region is under heavy fire from both Germany and the Soviet Union. Wary of escalation, the family decide to evacuate to their hunting lodge in the woods. Three years later, as the Germans are finally retreating, they blow up a nearby Soviet tank; Hannibal’s parents are killed, and only he and his sister Mischa survive. Brother and sister are found by Lithuanian militiamen and Nazi collaborators, who not only take Mischa’s life, but eat her. Flash forward to 1949, and Lecter is back at his family’s castle, which has been repurposed as a Soviet orphanage. He escapes and goes to live with his aunt in Paris, where he commits his first murder; a local butcher who insulted his aunt is the victim. He manages to evade charge thanks to his aunt’s intervention. Several years later, as a medical student, Hannibal injects himself with a truth serum, and is able to recall the night his sister is murdered. This prompts him to return to Lithuania to give his sister a proper burial. While he is there, he encounters one of the murderers, and exacts his revenge. Hannibal then tracks down the remainder of his sister’s killers. As you might expect, the matter is not resolved by cordial conversation. A couple of shock twists later, and Hannibal is on the path to his story in The Silence of the Lambs. A terrifying look at the makings of a murderer.
6	28 Days Later	Release Date: 2002 Country: UK Director: Danny Boyle Cast: Alex Palmer, Bindu De Stoppani, Jukka Hiltunen, Cillian Murphy, David Schneider, Toby Sedgwick, Emma Hitching, Naomie Harris, Kim McGarrity, Noah Huntley, Christopher Dunne, Alexander Delamere, Brendan Gleeson	A story of rampant contagion and rapid societal breakdown, 28 Days Later is a dystopian horror movie that floats on the edge of terrifyingly possible. It begins with the release of an infected chimpanzee by animal rights activists; the chimp promptly bites one of the protesters, who quickly descends into a rabid frenzy. From that first human case, the disease spreads at lightning speed, leaving the majority of the nation either dead or infected. A small group of healthy survivors is scattered across the country, including Jim, who is in hospital having suffered an unrelated coma. He wakes up to find himself entirely alone. In one of the most iconic sequences of cinema this century, Jim wanders around a deserted London; litter-strewn streets completely devoid of its usual crowds. The scene, which was filmed in short bursts on early Sunday mornings to achieve the authentic appearance of desolation, is terrifyingly eerie. Jim is soon discovered by other survivors, who embark on a journey to a mysterious compound in Manchester, which is claimed to be the safest location for healthy individuals to assemble. However, upon arrival at the fortification, it becomes clear that the leader, Major Henry West, has sadistic and exploitative intentions. Dissent is punished heavily, and Jim soon finds himself seized and sentenced to execution. After surviving the spread of a deadly infection, Jim does not accept that his fate should be determined by someone so mercilessly intoxicated on power. 28 Days Later is a thrilling movie, made even more exquisitely horrific by the fact that it’s an entirely plausible path that humanity could someday find itself on. Pleasant dreams!
7	Let The Right One In	Release Date: 2008 Country: Sweden Director: Tomas Alfredson Cast: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar, Karin Bergquist, Henrik Dahl, Peter Carlberg, Pale Olofsson, Ika Nord, Mikael Rahm, Anders T. Peedu, Cayetano Ruiz, Karl-Robert Lindgren, Patrik Rydmark, Johan Sömnes	If the Twilight series put you off vampire movies, allow us to lead you back to the immortal sub-genre with this beautifully-crafted Swedish masterpiece. Set in the 1980s, Let The Right One In tells the story of Oskar and Eli, who meet in a housing estate in Stockholm. Oskar is 12 and lives with his mother, Yvonne, and sporadically visits his father in the idyllic Swedish countryside. He is bullied at school and imagines gruesome methods of exacting revenge. Eli, meanwhile, lives with Hakan, an older man who is assumed to be her father. After meeting one evening in a playground, Oskar and Eli strike up a firm friendship, tapping messages in Morse code to one another through the wall that divides their homes. Oskar confides in Eli that he is being bullied, and she encourages him to stand up for himself. Oskar takes the advice to heart, and begins training to become stronger. It becomes clear that the pale and strange Eli is actually a vampire, and Hakan is responsible for ensuring she can feed regularly. After Eli kills a man in hunger-fuelled desperation, it becomes increasingly difficult for Hakan to secure what Eli needs, and he sacrifices himself both to allow her to feed, and to prevent her from having to commit another murder. Eli reveals her status to Oskar, and although he is initially disturbed by her need to kill people, she explains that their desires are not dissimilar. Their bond is strengthened and they make a pact to protect one another. This oath is tested when Oskar’s bullying situation intensifies to a deadly climax. It’s up to Eli to save her new companion. Let The Right One In is more complex than a standard vampire movie; part coming-of-age story, part complicated romance, with a hefty dash of horror and a sprinkle of redemption. A must-see!
8	Saw	Release Date: 2004 Country: USA Director: James Wan Cast: Leigh Whannell, Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Ken Leung, Michael Emerson, Dina Meyer, Paul Gutrecht, Benito Martinez, Shawnee Smith, Mike Butters, Makenzie Vega, Ned Bellamy, Alexandra Bokyun Chun, Monica Potter, Avner Garbi	Although there have now been so many sequels to Saw that the premise has been stretched to a point of translucence, the original still has the power to shock, thrill, and disgust. In short, it’s a great horror movie. Adam and Lawrence awake to find themselves inside a decrepit bathroom, both chained to fixed pipes on opposites sides of the room. Between them lies a dead man, shot in the head, with a gun in one hand and a cassette recorder in the other. There’s also a bag in the room which contains two hacksaws. After trying unsuccessfully to cut through their chains, Adam and Lawrence realise the tools are intended to be used to amputate their feet. Both are understandably horrified. Through flashbacks and character recollections, we begin to piece together the tangled web of intersecting stories that bring the two together. Lawrence is an oncologist who was previously suspected of committing a spate of murders under the alias of ‘Jigsaw Killer’. The detective responsible for the investigation, David Tapp, still asserts the Lawrence is the Jigsaw Killer, even though he has a solid alibi. It transpires that David has been stalking Lawrence in an attempt to catch him out. Adam, meanwhile, is a photographer with a link to both Tapp and Lawrence. Both men have been captured by the elusive Jigsaw Killer, and must face horrific decisions to give themselves even the smallest chance of escape. Saw is not an easy watch. It’s gruesome and deeply disturbing. It also has an enthralling storyline that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. A great watch; just don’t concern yourself with the sequels!
9	The Cabin in the Woods	Release Date: 2012 Country: USA Director: Drew Goddard Cast: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Jesse Williams, Fran Kranz, Richard Jenkins, Brian White, Bradley Whitford, Amy Acker, Dan Payne, Jodelle Ferland, Tim DeZarn, Tom Lenk, Dan Shea, Maya Massar	A trip to a cabin the woods for the weekend sounds idyllic, right? For a group of college students, their relaxing getaway soon descends into a mysterious and terrifying nightmare. The strange occurrences begin with a visit to the cellar, where the friends find a selection of unusual objects, including a journal that documents the sadistic abuse of a woman named Patience Buckner. By reciting incantations within the journal, one of the students inadvertently summons the undead Buckner family. Not the best start to a vacation. Meanwhile, in a secret underground bunker, scientists are working on a covert mission. They have control of the cabin, and are able to use mind-altering substances to manipulate the behavior of those inside it. The group is then subjected to a series of deadly events, controlled by the technicians within the facility. One by one, the friends meet gruesome ends in events that are both improbably and unfortunate. Two of the group manage to evade murder, and find a hidden entrance to the underground facility. Once inside, they encounter an array of fabled creatures, including zombies, unicorns, witches, and goblins. Realizing that whatever occurs in the bunker is directly related to the violence of their retreat, they release the creatures, who promptly maim and kill most of the staff. The pair then discover the true purpose of their torture, and its terrifying scale. Can these unlikely heroes save humanity? Do they even want to? Be prepared to suspend your grasp on reality and dive straight into this strange, wonderful movie!
10	It	Release Date: 2017 Country: USA, Canada Director: Andy Muschietti Cast: Jaeden Lieberher, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, Nicholas Hamilton, Jack Dylan Grazer, Bill Skarsgård, Jake Sim, Logan Thompson, Wyatt Oleff, Jackson Robert Scott, Owen Teague, Stuart Hughes	Never trust a clown in a storm drain. If you’re to absorb any take-home message from this film, let it be that. The 2017 re-boot of Stephen King’s novel, which was also made into a terrific miniseries starring Tim Curry in 1990, is a dark and devious affair. It begins during the latter end of the 1980s, with the disappearance of a young boy named Georgie. As his home-made sailboat meanders down the street outside his home, then into a storm drain, we’re collectively willing him to just go home and make a new one. However, the naïve little Georgie, in his distinctive yellow waterproof ensemble, is enticed by an eerie-looking clown named Pennywise. He vanishes, seemingly into thin air. A year later, Georgie’s brother, Bill, and his friends are being tormented by local bullies. Firmly believing his brother to still be alive, Bill embarks upon a dangerous mission to retrieve him. Bill and his friends soon find themselves tormented by a furtive apparition, which presents itself in different forms to each individual. They realise that they are being haunted by the same demon, and after some research, discover that the town experiences strange occurrences like this every 27 years, when the creature emerges to devour a child, then retreats to its underground dwelling. The kids pledge to rid their town of this curse, once and for all. A battle ensues, during which Bill and his friends are taunted with visual, physical, and psychological tricks by Pennywise. Their friendship is contested by Pennywise’s actions, but they stand united. It is crafted with exquisite tension throughout, and an ending that leaves the audience eager for more.
11	The Descent	Release Date: 2005 Country: UK Director: Neil Marshall Cast: Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder, Oliver Milburn, MyAnna Buring, Leslie Simpson, Nora-Jane Noone, Molly Kayll, Mark Cronfield, Craig Conway, Stephen Lamb, Catherine Dyson, Julie Ellis	Sarah has had a difficult year. Her husband and daughter were killed in a car accident and, at a time when she needed her the most, her best friend Juno has been distant. A year after the accident, Juno has finally reached out to Sarah and arranged a weekend away caving with a group of their other girlfriends. Sarah agrees to attend, but is cold toward Juno, which the latter accepts. The group head toward a cave system chosen by Juno. It soon transpires that the caves are unknown, and the friends become trapped within them. Juno explains that the adventure was designed to bring her and Sarah closer again, but Sarah rebuffs her again. As terrifying as it is to become trapped within an unchartered cave system, the situation pales in comparison to discovering a violent species of humanoid creatures that are intent on killing your entire party. Of course, that’s exactly what happens to our intrepid cavers. Sarah and Juno’s friends are picked off by these creatures, known as crawlers, with terrifying efficiency. Sarah and Juno become separated, and while they are apart, Sarah realizes the reasoning behind Juno’s absence after the car accident. When they reunite, Sarah confronts Juno, and delivers revenge. But that’s not all! Like the greatest horror movies, there’s an outrageous twist at the end. Don’t miss it!
12	The Conjuring	Release Date: 2013 Country: USA Director: James Wan Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Lili Taylor, Shanley Caswell, Ron Livingston, Joey King, Hayley McFarland, Kyla Deaver, Mackenzie Foy, Shannon Kook, Marion Guyot, Morganna Bridgers, John Brotherton, Sterling Jerins, Amy Tipton	The Perron family have moved into a spooky, rundown farmhouse in Rhode Island. Their dog, Sadie, sensing something is amiss, refuses to enter the new home. The Perron’s five daughters, however, are initially thrilled by their new surroundings. That is, until Sadie mysteriously dies in the middle of the night. The Perrons are then plagued by strange noises, nasty spirits, and a terrifying game of hide and clap (which is quite scary in the first place, to be honest). The family enlists the help of professional demonologists and married dream team, Ed and Lorraine Warren, who analyse the situation and recommend an exorcism. They explain to the Perrons that their home is haunted by a suspected witch, Bathsheba, who sacrificed her own child, cursed all of her former land, and killed herself. Since her death in the late 19th century, the area has been plagued by murders, suicides, and reports of Bathsheba’s haunting presence. Pending permission from the Catholic church to perform the exorcism, events take a turn for the worse, and the family’s matriarch, Carolyn, becomes fully possessed by Bathsheba. She lashes out violently at her children, which prompts the Warrens to perform the exorcism without permission. The spirit leaves Carolyn, but in the classic style of all great horror movies, that’s not quite the end of the matter. A twist during the final scene sends a chill down the spine of the audience. Given the events of the film, applause is not recommended.
13	It Follows	Release Date: 2014 Country: USA Director: David Robert Mitchell Cast: Bailey Spry, Carollette Phillips, Keir Gilchrist, Loren Bass, Lili Sepe, Debbie Williams, Charles Gertner, Maika Monroe, Daniel Zovatto, Ruby Harris, Leisa Pulido, Olivia Luccardi, Jake Weary, D.J. Oliver, Linda Boston	Your Sex Ed teacher probably ran through countless reasons to be careful in your romantic liaisons, but did they ever mention being stalked and attacked by a mysterious ethereal entity? Probably not. But that is precisely the premise of It Follows. Jay and Hugh have just started dating, and after sleeping together, Hugh explains that he is being followed by a creature that only he can see. It moves slowly, at just a walking pace, but intends to catch and murder him. The only way to rid oneself of the curse is to pass it on, and the only way to pass it on is…well, you get the idea. There’s a caveat. If the entity reaches its latest target, it moves back through the transmission path, chasing former targets infinitely. Hugh encourages Jay to sleep with someone else as soon as she can, in order to pass the curse on again. His motive, of course, is not entirely altruistic; he knows that if Jay is killed, he’ll be next. Jay begins to notice an entity, in various forms, slowly following her as she tries to come to terms with what has happened. She enlists the help of her older sister, Kelly, and her friends, Paul and Yara. Jay manages to pass the curse onto a neighbor called Greg, but he is swiftly dispatched by the entity. As the next in line once again, Jay must act fast. A horror movie with a strange cautionary tale about the dangers of sleeping around? We’ll take it!
14	The Others	Release Date: 2001 Country: USA, Spain, France, Italy Director: Alejandro Amenábar Cast: Nicole Kidman, Fionnula Flanagan, Christopher Eccleston, Elaine Cassidy, James Bentley, Alakina Mann, Eric Sykes, Renée Asherson, Keith Allen, Gordon Reid, Michelle Fairley, Ricardo López, Aldo Grilo, Alexander Vince	The end of the Second World War should be a time for euphoric celebration on the Channel Islands, but resident Grace Stewart is not in the mood for jubilation. Her husband, Charles, was killed during the war, and her two children, Anne and Nicholas, are suffering from a mysterious disease that renders them extremely sensitive to light. Grace takes on three new servants; Mrs. Bertha Mills, gardener Edmund Tuttle, and a mute girl named Lydia. Mrs. Mills informs Grace that she had previously worked at the house, and the children explain to Mrs. Mills that an incident in which ‘mummy went mad’ had been caused by the departure of previous servants. Grace tries to dismiss their accusations as childish prattle. Strange events begin to plague the home. Anne claims to have seen ghosts, Grace find a ‘book of the dead’, containing portrait photos of people who have died in the house, and strangest of all, Charles returns. However, he admonishes Grace when he learns she has accidently injured Anne in an attack prompted by a realistic vision. Grace is perplexed by the ghosts, one of whom she knows to be a boy named Victor, and sets about trying to find their graves. What she discovers is more terrifying than she, or we, can imagine.
15	The Witch	Release Date: 2015 Country: USA, UK, Canada, Brazil Director: Robert Eggers Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, Lucas Dawson, Ellie Grainger, Sarah Stephens, Viv Moore, Daniel Chaudhry, Axtun Henry Dube, Julian Richings, Bathsheba Garnett, Athan Conrad Dube, Karen Kaeja, Brandy Leary	In 17th century New England, witchcraft is considered to be the scourge of the time. After a disagreement over interpretation of the New Testament, William and his family are ejected from a Puritan plantation. He moves with his wife Katherine, daughter Thomasin, son Caleb, and twins Mercy and Jonas, to a new farm on the edge of a forest. The family is blessed with another addition; a baby boy named Samuel. However, Samuel soon disappears, and whilst the family is left in the dark as to the circumstances, the audience is shown a witch murdering the boy. Katherine is distraught, and turns to intensive prayer to help her cope. She becomes suspicious of her family’s involvement, particularly William and Thomasin. Caleb’s subsequent disappearance, mystery illness, and death tips Katherine over the edge, and she demands that Thomasin is sent away to serve another family. The family’s goat, Black Philip, is not as innocent as he seems. The twins claim that he speaks to them, and it transpires that they are not alone in this experience. Black Philip becomes central to the terror inflicted upon the family. The Witch is full of twists and turns, and you as you might expect, witchcraft plays a pivotal role. Enjoy the closing twist!
16	Drag Me To Hell	Release Date: 2009 Country: USA Director: Sam Raimi Cast: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Dileep Rao, Lorna Raver, Adriana Barraza, David Paymer, Chelcie Ross, Kevin Foster, Reggie Lee, Molly Cheek, Alexis Cruz, Ruth Livier, Shiloh Selassie, Bojana Novakovic, Flor de Maria Chahua	Nobody likes a difficult discussion with the bank, but there’s no need to place a curse on the loan officer. Mystical grandmother Sylvia Ganush obviously didn’t get the memo, as that’s exactly what happens at the beginning of Drag Me To Hell. Upon rejecting Sylvia’s third mortgage extension, bank worker Christine Brown is told in no uncertain terms that revenge will be sought. Brushing it off as an outburst born of disappointment, Christine is praised by her boss, Jim, who indicates that her decision places her in good stead for a promotion. After finishing work, Christine is attacked by Sylvia in the parking lot, but fights back to deliver mortal injuries. In the melee, Sylvia rips a button from Christine’s coat and places a curse upon it, afflicting Christine in the process. Christine begins to experience grotesque hallucinations, and in a desperate bid to rid herself of the curse, goes to visit Sylvia. However, she discovers that Sylvia has in fact died. A fortune teller named Rham Jas takes an interest in Christine’s predicament, and informs her that as she is the owner of the cursed item, Christine will be haunted by the demon Lamia for three days, before being dragged into hell. Understandably alarmed, Christine becomes fixated on ridding herself of the curse. She makes (literal) sacrifices, commits horrific acts, and delves into the darkest spaces of depravity. She believes her efforts have been successful, and embraces a fresh start, but we all know that’s just not how horror movies work. Keep watching until the final few moments for an exhilarating twist!
17	The Mist	Release Date: 2007 Country: USA Director: Frank Darabont Cast: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Toby Jones, Andre Braugher, William Sadler, Frances Sternhagen, Jeffrey DeMunn, Chris Owen, Sam Witwer, Robert C. Treveiler, Nathan Gamble, Alexa Davalos, David Jensen	David Drayton and his son Billy make a seemingly innocuous visit to the grocery store. Normality is immediately disturbed by a military policeman, who tells them to leave immediately. Before they have a chance to leave, a thick mist shrouds the store, alongside violent tremors. The patrons are locked in as a precaution. The devout Mrs. Carmody believes this to be the beginning of the Armageddon, whilst the majority are skeptical of such hysteria. However, they soon witness the true menace of the mist; a monster with large tentacles. The store’s glass panels are considered to be a substantial weakness, and the patrons work to block them up. However, the attempt to protect the store and its occupants ultimately turn out to be futile, and the creature manages to force its way in. Several people are attacked, maimed, and murdered. An attempt to secure supplies from a neighboring pharmacy is thwarted by giant insects. Mrs. Carmody begins to attract support, and becomes one of the de facto leaders, with David in the opposing camp. Whilst David looks for a scientific explanation, Mrs. Carmody becomes focused on human sacrifice. After a horrific escape attempt, David and Billy, alongside several of their neighbors, manage to drive away from the store. However, the creature in the mist seems unstoppable. David is faced with a horrific dilemma. As horrible as that choice is, just wait for the agonizing twist at the end. It’s brutal!
18	A Quiet Place	Release Date: 2018 Country: USA Director: John Krasinski Cast: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Cade Woodward, Noah Jupe, Leon Russom	Silence is an atmospheric tool often used in horror movies, but in A Quiet Place, it becomes almost a character in itself. Earth is largely uninhabited due to an infestation of killer creatures with acutely sensitive hearing, armoured skin, and a thirst for blood. Lee and Evelyn Abbott, alongside their children Regan, Marcus, and Beau, are human survivors. They move from place to place, trying to gather supplies. Regan is profoundly deaf, and all of the family communicate using sign language, which has the added benefit of allowing them to correspond without speaking – which would alert the creatures to their location. Beau becomes fascinated by a Space Shuttle toy, but is not allowed to play with it, as the toy makes noise. Believing she is doing her brother a favour, Regan gives him the Space Shuttle. Unbeknownst to the rest of the family, Beau has found some batteries and installed them in the toy. While they are walking back across a bridge, Beau’s Space Shuttle begins making a noise. A creature appears and devours Beau before his father is able to reach him. A year later, the family are struggling to move past the loss of Beau; particularly Regan, who feels responsible for his death. Evelyn, alone in the house, goes into labour earlier than expected, and her screams alert the creatures to her whereabouts before she has time to make it down to the soundproof basement. Marcus and Lee scramble to find Regan and create a distraction to move the creatures away from Evelyn. Can they make it in time? The power of A Quiet Place lies not only in a clever script and superb acting, but the uniqueness of a narrative that plays out largely without spoken words. An unmissable experience!
19	Sinister	Release Date: 2012 Country: USA, UK Director: Scott Derrickson Cast: Ethan Hawke, Juliet Rylance, Fred Dalton Thompson, Michael Hall D'Addario, James Ransone, Janet Zappala, Clare Foley, Tavis Smiley, Victoria Leigh, Cameron Ocasio, Rob Riley, Danielle Kotch, Ethan Haberfield, Blake Mizrahi	Ellison Oswalt, a true crime writer, moves into a new home with his wife Tracy, their 12-year-old son Trevor, and 7-year-old daughter Ashley. Ellison becomes aware that the house was the scene of a family murder, and intends to use it as the basis of his next work. He also finds a box in the attic, containing a projector and rolls of Super 8 film. What appears to be a set of innocent home movies is actually graphic footage of various murders committed by an unseen attacker. Horrified, Ellison notices a common symbol in the films. He discovers this to be related to the Babylonian deity Bughuul, who murdered families and retained only one child in order to consume their soul. After making enquiries with the police, Ellison discovers that several whole-family murders have occurred with one child having seemingly disappeared. They all have a connection to the Oswalt’s new home. Ellison decides to move the family back to their old home to avoid the curse. However, it turns out that all the murders took place in the victims’ old homes, after they had moved back in. By moving the family, Ellison has sealed their fate. What isn’t expected is the identity of the attacker. Prepare yourself for a terrifying twist!
20	The Strangers	Release Date: 2008 Country: USA Director: Bryan Bertino Cast: Alex Fisher, Scott Speedman, Kip Weeks, Liv Tyler, Gemma Ward, Glenn Howerton, Laura Margolis, Peter Clayton-Luce	James and his girlfriend Kristen are having a difficult evening. He proposed to her at a friend’s wedding reception, but she refused. Back at his childhood summer home, relations are frosty. James asks his friend Mike to pick him up the next day. Ouch. In the middle of the night, there is a knock at the door. James answers to find a blonde woman, asking for Tamera. James tells her that nobody is there with that name, and she walks away, nonchalantly stating she will see him later. Once daylight breaks, and with tensions still high, James goes for a drive. He starts a fire in the hearth before he leaves, and when Kristen tries to open the flue, the smoke causes a fire alarm to go off. Whilst trying to resolve the problem, there’s another knock at the door. The blonde lady again. Freaked out, Kristen tries to call James, but runs out of battery. Her unease turns to unbridled terror when she realizes that the landline has been cut. Someone else has been in the house. When James returns, the couple discover that there are three people tormenting them; the woman, now in a doll mask, a man in a cloth mask, and another woman in a pin-up mask. James and Kristen are chased and tormented throughout the house, and hide with just a shotgun to help them survive. James fails to remember that Mike is on his way… The Strangers doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking, but it’s a great horror; plenty of scares and a lingering sense of unease!

What makes a great horror movie?

The quality of horror films can range from the ridiculous to the sublime. The use of overdone tropes can eliminate the effectiveness of an otherwise good script, so it’s best to avoid any horror movies that rely on a long stream of jump scares or merciless gore. What constitutes the perfect mix? Let’s take a look at these top five characteristics.

Tension
We’ve mentioned the pacing of tension in several of the reviews above. A slow-building, persistent sense of dread is far more effective than unrelenting jolts. The key is to torment the audience with so much trepidation that the anticipated scare actually brings an odd sense of relief. Paranormal Activity is especially good at this.

Plausibility
Want to really unnerve an audience? Make the story plausible. We’ve seen stories of contagion countless times, but when it was brought to the deserted streets of London in 28 Days Later, viewers realised that humanity is only a few missteps from that horrific scenario being a conceivable reality.

Sound effects
Auditory tactics are a huge part of horror. The building intensity of the soundtrack alerts an audience to pivotal moments in the film. It can also be subverted to bring on a latter jump scare.

Embracing the uncanny
A great many horror films benefit from aspects of a scene being slightly off. A picture that changes location between shots, the unexplained slamming of a door, static from a television, an intense stare, the movement of a curtain, flickering lights, and unexpected contexts. All of these small tweaks bring about a sense of unease in the viewer. Using Paranormal Activity as an example again, the first few nights have little to offer in terms of tangible terror. But it’s the tiny instances of something being off that sends the audience into a nervous frenzy.

A good old-fashioned scare!
A horror film is no good if the audience comes away feeling relaxed and serene. They are fair game for a solid scare session! However, these moments of terrifying brilliance are achieved, be it growing dread, relentless violence, or a classic jump scare, they must be sufficiently pronounced to give the audience what it wants.