Great Modern Horror Films
I'm a fan of horror, and often utilize this website to fuel my thriller/horror movie addiction, so I thought I'd give a list of some films that I really liked that might be discovered by others looking for a good scare.
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- DirectorPascal LaugierStarsMorjana AlaouiMylène JampanoïCatherine BéginA young woman's quest for revenge against the people who kidnapped and tormented her as a child leads her and a friend, who is also a victim of child abuse, on a terrifying journey into a living hell of depravity.Not for the squeamish. Probably my favorite horror movie that's come out in a long time
- DirectorJim MickleStarsBill SageAmbyr ChildersJulia GarnerThe Parkers, a reclusive family who follow ancient customs, find their secret existence threatened as a torrential downpour moves into their area, forcing daughters Iris and Rose to assume responsibilities beyond those of a typical family.A very strange movie, on one hand it's very serious in the way that it's executed, but there's an underlying campiness present as well. Oh, and one of the greatest endings ever!
- DirectorJeremy LoveringStarsIain De CaesteckerAlice EnglertAllen LeechDriving to a music festival in Ireland, a new couple become lost and are then set upon by a tormentor with an unknown motive.A nice twist on the 'Home Invasion' genre. This film is original in that the victims are not in a house, but rather a car. There's a lot of nice psychological twists present in this film that make the experience a lot more dreadful (in a good way) then other movies, like 'Ils' or 'The Strangers'. For example, the two protagonists don't even know each other too well, and have only been dating for two weeks when their turmoil begins. Really well done, this one really stuck out for me.
- DirectorAdam WingardStarsSharni VinsonJoe SwanbergAJ BowenWhen the Davison family comes under attack during their wedding anniversary getaway, the gang of mysterious killers soon learns that one of the victims harbors a secret talent for fighting back.You're Next is like if Sam Raimie (Evil Dead, Drag Me to Hell) had directed 'The Strangers'. The humor is really great, as is the gore. Plus it kind of goes from 'Home Invasion' film to 'Revenge' which is refreshing. An all around really cool movie. I imagine if I could direct films, this is the type of horror movie I would dream of making.
- DirectorClaire DenisStarsVincent GalloTricia VesseyBéatrice DalleTwo American newlyweds in Paris experience a love so strong, it almost devours them.The term 'Visceral' is thrown out there way too often in the cinema world today. But 'Trouble Every Day' TRULY deserves it. It's half art-house, half exploitation, and all about mood. As far as gore goes, there's only one scene that's really repulsive, but as I stated in the prior sentence, this movie is about mood. The use of music and filters in Trouble Every Day are masterfully applied in my opinion. The whole time I watched it I had this underlying feeling of dread that was slowly building up. My only complaint is that it seemed too short.
- DirectorChristian AlvartStarsDennis QuaidBen FosterCam GigandetTwo crew members of a spaceship wake up from hypersleep to discover that all their colleagues are missing. Despite this, it appears that they are not alone.A really cool 'Space Horror' movie. I wrote a real review for this one, but to sum it up, Pandorum was surprisingly good. I'm not sure what the budget for this film was, but I imagine it wasn't much compared to some movies, but it makes due with what it has. The sets, make-up and special effects are great, and even more important, tasteful. Even if you're not so much a horror fan, I think Sci-Fi fans would appreciate Pandorum.
- DirectorPaul W.S. AndersonStarsLaurence FishburneSam NeillKathleen QuinlanA rescue crew is tasked with investigating the mysterious reappearance of a spaceship that had been lost for seven years.'Infinite Space. Infinite Terror'
I love that. I remember when Event Horizon first came out, I was a real little kid, but I wanted to see it so bad. I believe at the time it was kind of a flop, but it seems over the years it's gained a reputation as one of the premier space horror films, up there with Alien (it's not that good, but still).
I think the premise for this movie is really cool-basically a ship that travels so far it goes to hell and back. Like a lot of great movies made in the late 90's, Event Horizon relies more on make-up and sets than CGI (don't get me wrong, there is definitely some computer generated effects here, but they're used sparingly), which is a big plus for me.
It's also a genuinely scary film. It has the feverish aesthetic of a nightmare. The imagery and sound-effects are very frightening, which says a lot for me, as I don't get creeped out easily. - DirectorRidley ScottStarsNoomi RapaceLogan Marshall-GreenMichael FassbenderFollowing clues to the origin of mankind, a team finds a structure on a distant moon, but they soon realize they are not alone.The prequel to the 'Alien' films, and probably the best in the series, after the first two (Alien and Aliens). I saw this in theatre a few years back so honestly I don't remember it too well, but I remember being very impressed. As I've said earlier, when done right, space-horror is on of my favorite genres.
- DirectorDavid MoreauXavier PaludStarsOlivia BonamyMichaël CohenAdriana MoccaLucas and Clementine live peacefully in their isolated country house, but one night they wake up to strange noise... they're not alone... and a group of hooded assailants begin to terrorize them throughout the night.Another 'Home Invasion-Horror' film.
Has anyone here noticed that 'The Strangers' is not on my list? TBH, I actually liked 'The Strangers' a lot when I first saw it. I recall perfectly in fact, I was in a hospital watching it on FX on one of those tiny little monitors and I remember being surprised that I was actually scared.
Anyway, I chose 'Them' instead of the strangers for my list. I could have, of course, just put them both on here, but IMO, the genre gets old really fast, so if you're thinking of watching one of the two movies, watch 'Ils' (Them) first. It's got that artsy-european cinema thing going for it, which makes it creepier IMO, and the fact that the film is supposedly a racist metaphor for xenophobia makes it even weirder. PC or not, it's a scary film. - DirectorBrad AndersonStarsWoody HarrelsonEmily MortimerBen KingsleyA Transsiberian train journey from China to Moscow becomes a thrilling chase of deception and murder when an American couple encounters a mysterious pair of fellow travelers.Alright, so a lot of people have probably gotten to this point, and are going, WTF is Transsiberian doing on a list for horror films.
Well, you're right-it's not really a 'horror' movie, but it is a thriller, and a damn good one. I loved everything about this movie, the acting, the cinematography, the pace, the plot. And IMO the most bizarre and terrifying things are those which actually happen in real life, the brutality of what human beings can do to each other. I highly recommend this one. - DirectorShane AbbessStarsDaniel MacPhersonGrace HuangLuke HemsworthAn elite 'search and rescue' team transport onto an off-world mining-facility to rescue Whit Carmichael, the lone survivor of a biological outbreak.Infini is not a great movie. There are a lot of flaws, a lot of cliches, but the aesthetic was what made me add it to the list. As previously mentioned, I'm a sucker for Space-Horror, and Infini has some cool ideas. Unfortunately there are a lot of draw backs here as well. There is way too much pointless sputtering and screaming, and some of the dialogue is laughable. I was actually homeless when I first watched this movie (nice little personal fact)-a friend of mine had downloaded it onto a smart phone he found and so we were all watching it in his tent tweaked out on speed which definitely added to the overall feeling of dread. I later watched the movie sober and didn't like it nearly as much, but there is something to it.
- DirectorCharles de LauzirikaStarsJosh LawsonEmma LungRon PerlmanA downtrodden photographer, haunted by the urban violence and decay around him, retreats into an inner world of dark fantasies.Crave is an interesting movie.
What I found best about it was the way that it captured what it feels like to experience thoughts and fantasies. A big fascination of mine has always been serial killers and there thought process, and Crave kind of touches on that.
This is another movie that I wouldn't say is necessarily a 'horror' film so much, but falls into whatever sub-genre of thriller that something like 8mm would belong to as well. Unlike a lot of thrillers about similar topics, I found Crave to be pretty believable, which made it all the more creepy. I think what sums it up best actually is that Crave is not a scary movie, but a creepy one. - DirectorRobert EggersStarsAnya Taylor-JoyRalph InesonKate DickieA family in 1630s New England is torn apart by the forces of witchcraft, black magic and possession.If you're a fan of the paintings of Peter Bruegel, I would highly recommend watching this modern horror film, 'The Witch'. The visuals look like a Bruegel or Heronymous Bosch painting come to life, and if you're familiar somewhat with those great artists, then you'll come to the conclusion that 'The Witch' is a scary movie.
Some might complain about the pace. The Witch is NOT a very entertaining movie, but it builds up a steady sense of unease in a slow and insidious way, and when you finally finish it, you can look back and appreciate the movie for what it was; a piece of art, and an experience.
I actually liked this movie so much that I bought it. The ending is truly creepy, and not in a conventional way at all. It's similar in aesthetic to 'Kill Witch' in a way, in that as a viewer, you're as out of the loop with what is going on as the characters in the movie are-so you don't know the hell to expect, and when it all comes together, you're left feeling shocked and almost violated.
If you're looking for some type of supernatural horror movie entertainment, I do not recommend 'The Witch'. But if you like horror movies that try to expand the confines of the genre and make an artistic statement, you must watch 'The Witch'. - DirectorBrian O'MalleyStarsLiam CunninghamPollyanna McIntoshBryan LarkinHeld in a remote police station, a mysterious stranger takes over the minds and souls of everyone inside.This movie was fantastic! A bizarre mesh of fantasy and horror, as well as being incredibly funny, I found myself laughing out loud throughout the movie, as well as being genuinely shocked by some of the horrific imagery.
Stars liam cunningham from Game of Thrones. I highly recommend this movie-especially if you like genre mashups like Evil Dead 2 and You're Next. - DirectorJoel AndersonStarsRosie TraynorDavid PledgerMartin SharpeStrange things start happening after a girl is found drowned in a lake.Probably the most beautifully done 'Found-Footage' or faux-documentary film ever made in the horror genre. Lake Mungo is incredibly powerful, well acted, and best of all, believable.
- DirectorTi WestStarsSara PaxtonPat HealyKelly McGillisDuring the final days at the Yankee Pedlar Inn, two employees determined to reveal the hotel's haunted past begin to experience disturbing events as old guests check in for a stay.Ti West once again shows his great talent for crafting horror films with this ghost story. The acting and over-all character dynamic is what makes this movie a true gem.
- DirectorAlexandre AjaStarsCécile de FranceMaïwennPhilippe NahonBest friends Marie and Alexia decide to spend a quiet weekend at Alexia's parents' secluded farmhouse. But on the night of their arrival, the girls' idyllic getaway turns into an endless night of horror.Like 'Martyrs' and 'Kill List', Alexander Aja's 'High Tension' provides a truly unique vision for the horror movie genre. The originality comes not so much in the nature of the plot, but rather in the execution, setting it far above movies like 'Ils', 'The Strangers', and 'Citadel'. If I had to list my top three favorite horror movies made in the last decade, this one would be up there with 'Martyrs' and 'Kill List'.
This is a true gem that's way more than your average run-of-the-mill splatter fest. It keeps your heart pounding all the way through the final end. Wonderful editing and soundtrack as well. - DirectorBen WheatleyStarsNeil MaskellMyAnna BuringHarry SimpsonNearly a year after a botched job, a hitman takes a new assignment with the promise of a big payoff for three killings. What starts off as an easy task soon unravels, sending the killer into the heart of darkness.If I were to pick the three horror films made in the last decade that impressed me the most in terms of genuine scares, I would pick Kill List first, and following behind it would be 'High Tension' and 'Martyrs'.
Kill list is such an interesting and unique concept for a horror movie. It basically starts off as a standard hit man movie, but as the assassinations build up, Ben Wheatley drags the viewer down the same nightmarish hell that his confused anti-heroes find themselves in.
I would pick 'Kill List' as my favorite horror film of the 2000's because it is such a unique spin on the genre, and ultimately incredibly unsettling. A true masterpiece-Visceral and terrifying. - DirectorJohn Erick DowdleStarsPerdita WeeksBen FeldmanEdwin HodgeWhen a team of explorers venture into the catacombs that lie beneath the streets of Paris, they uncover the dark secret that lies within this city of the dead.I watched this movie for free on HBO and was very pleasantly surprised. Finally a very original concept for a found-footage horror film. I guess I'm kind of a sucker for movies where the protagonists enter a hell-like realm, but 'As Above/So Below' throws some great angles in there, making it a truly uncomfortable and weird viewing experience. I really did not expect much from this movie as I recall it got pretty low reviews, but I liked it a lot. Like 'The Pyramid' but 1000x better.
- DirectorBarry LevinsonStarsWill RogersKristen ConnollyKether DonohueChaos breaks out in a small Maryland town after an ecological disaster occurs.Another unique spin on the 'found-footage' sub genre. What makes 'The Bay' so good though is that unlike most mindless horror movies, this one has a clear message, stepping it up a few notches in terms of intelligence, than say, the 'Paranormal Activity' movies.
- DirectorMarcel SarmientoGadi HarelStarsShiloh FernandezNoah SeganCandice KingTwo high school boys discover an imprisoned woman in an abandoned mental asylum who cannot die.This movie was a real surprise for me. I originally watched it because I had nothing better to do, and it turned out to be one of my favorites. If you like dark comedy, you'll probably enjoy this one.
- DirectorEduardo SánchezStarsAdam KaufmanCatherine ManganBrad William HenkeFifteen years ago, a group of men's lives were forever changed by a strange occurrence. Now, the same group of men will spend a night together ... in terror.From the director of 'Blaire Witch', a great Sci-Fi/Horror/Thriller. I love this movie for it's special effects. It really shows what someone can do with a low budget. Highly recommend it.
- DirectorGreg McLeanStarsNathan PhillipsCassandra MagrathKestie MorassiThree backpackers stranded in the Australian outback are plunged inside a hellish nightmare of insufferable torture by a sadistic psychopathic local.Great Australian Serial Killer about the 'back pack murderer'. Great performances on all sides, and an overall creepy movie. There's definitely some gore in here, but it's not really exploitive in my opinion. Willow Creek got right what a lot of similar movies fail to do; create a realistic killer.