I have a few movies from 2021 that really stood out to me, so I thought I’d talk about them. Please mention your top picks as well! Always looking for good, new horror.

Werewolves Within - not only does it have a wonderful cast, the quick witted dialogue mixed with the camp of the town and it’s inhabitants makes this movie a goddamned delight. The pure ingenious of the group of writers with the film (also, all respect to the VG as well) makes this movie easily one of my favorites of the year.

Malignant - sticking with the theme of camp, this movie stepped outside of what I expected from what the trailer had shown and from Wan in general and ran in a gloriously hilarious, creepy, and all around badass direction. I never thought I could like a fight scene so much, and love the catty shade thrown at amnesia tropes within the genre.

False Positive - A24 film written by and starring Ilana Glazer, need I say more? While the twist isn’t difficult to predict, it’s still wholly disturbing once revealed. The movie breaks your heart time and time again while keeping you entirely on edge.

The Night House - I anticipated this movie for months. We didn’t get it in theaters here so god bless prime am I right? Phenomenal acting from Rebecca Hall with a plot that doesn’t assume the audience is an idiot with hand holding but instead lends a hand to subtle plot devices and indications. Wonderfully filmed and written, it carried itself beautiful and was incredibly haunting. I’m still staring at the furniture in my house hoping I dont see humanoid shapes.

Censor - I know most of you agree (I’ve seen it mentioned here a lot) but it’s too good not to put on my list. Holy shit that movie is so good and could easily fly under a horror fans radar simply by hiding on Hulu. I can’t even begin to pick apart anything about it, and it and the night house easily jumped to being two of my favorite horror films of all time.

Also two fever dreams I can’t help but mention are I’m Just F*cking With You and We Need To Do Something. While they don’t necessarily make my favorites for the year (not even close, really) I love a good horror film that leaves my brain spiraling from the sheer “what the hell did I just watch?” madness these both left me feeling.

I’m excited to see what 2022 has in store for horror!

What about you guys? What horror movies did you love that came out this year?

Dreadit's Top Horror Films of 2021

As submitted and voted on by r/horror users

1. Malignant - James Wan

2. Saint Maud - Rose Glass

3. The Night House - David Bruckner

4. Last Night in Soho - Edgar Wright

5. Candyman - Nia DaCosta

6. Psycho Goreman - Steven Kostanski

7. Fear Street: 1994 - Leigh Janiak

8. Fear Street Part Two: 1978- Leigh Janiak

9. V/H/S/94 - Simon Barrett, Timo Tjahjanto, Steven Kostanski, Jennifer Reeder, Chloe Okuno, Ryan Prows

10. Titane - Julia Ducournau

11. Fear Street Part Three: 1666 - Leigh Janiak

12. A Quiet Place Part II - John Krasinski

13. Halloween Kills - David Gordon Green

14. Censor - Prano Bailey-Bond

15. Willy's Wonderland - Kevin Lewis

16. Antlers - Scott Cooper

17. The Green Knight - David Lowery

18. Caveat - Damian McCarthy

19. Werewolves Within - John Ruben

20. The Medium - Banjong Pisanthanakun

21. Lamb - Valdimar Jóhannsson

22. The Advent Calendar aka Le Calendrier - Patrick Ridremont

23. Spiral: From the Book of Saw - Darren Lynn Bousman

24. Wrong Turn - Mike P. Nelson

25. Vicious Fun - Cody Calahan

Voting Thread

Wiki Page

Letterboxd Page

In your opinion, what 2021 horror movie is the best? Is it just me or are there not many good ones that have come out this year? I’d love to hear everyone’s answers though!

These are some of the movies I'm planning to watch [hopefully] in 2021. I'll consistently update the list with more movies, updated release dates and new trailer links for easy access. Each movie's IMDb page is also linked. I'm going to pin this to my profile page for my own convenience and anyone else that wants to follow along for recommendations on upcoming movies.

Movies are listed in order of US release dates, but it's safe to assume there may be further delays coming (Many of these are already reschedules from 2020)...will update accordingly.

Let me know of any others you think I may have missed, thanks.

My Letterboxd 2021 Horror Movies Seen/Ranked List

• Hunted (WATCHED): Survival horror in the vein of 'Little Red Riding Hood'. Synopsis: Eve meets what she thinks is a charming guy in a bar, but things go terribly wrong once she realizes she’s come across a psychopath. They engage in a deadly chase until she decides to fight back with the forest acting as her ally.

  Trailer (spoiler-ish): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjE3LNm48hE

• PG: Psycho Goreman (WATCHED): "PG - Rated R". Horror-comedy written/directed by Steven Kostanski (The Void). Synopsis: After unearthing a gem that controls an evil monster looking to destroy the Universe, a young girl and her brother use it to make him do their bidding.

  Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3dFm_Vm528

  Trailer #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4tizc0IAVQ

• The Queen of Black Magic (WATCHED): Indonesian horror remake written by Joko Anwar (Satan's Slaves , Impetigore). Synopsis: A family travels to the distant, rural orphanage where the father was raised to pay their respects to the facility’s gravely ill director. But his homecoming turns into a terrifying supernatural ordeal that threatens their families’ lives: someone is using dark magic to avenge evil deeds.

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uC7_PFQgCc

• The Night (WATCHED): Synopsis: An Iranian couple living in the US become trapped inside a hotel when insidious events force them to face the secrets that have come between them, in a night that never ends.

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2vsYt_41Co

• Saint Maud (WATCHED): From A24. Synopsis: Follows a pious nurse who becomes dangerously obsessed with saving the soul of her dying patient.

  Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXs2-TY9qok

  Trailer #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP2MlPwflX4

  Trailer #3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuwDfbJF-MY

• The Funeral Home (WATCHED): Synopsis: Bernardo is an undertaker. He runs his mortuary business in the same house where he resides. In the front he has his clients. And in the back, his dysfunctional family lives among coffins, wreaths and mischievous supernatural entities that visit on a daily basis.

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49qeFV6ms58

• The Reckoning (WATCHED): Latest horror movie from Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers , The Descent), starring Sean Pertwee and Joe Anderson. Synopsis: In the aftermath of the Great Plague and amidst the subsequent witch-hunts against women, a young widow grapples with the tragic death of her husband in a society completely consumed by fear and death.

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR0Dj3jcCOM

  Movie clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq9RFgbUdXU

• Reunion (WATCHED): Synopsis: A pregnant woman returns to her recently-deceased grandparents' old family home to spend time with her estranged mother. What begins as a tenuous reunion slowly turns terrifying.

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyAK39k2qzY

• Sator (WATCHED): Synopsis: Secluded in a desolate forest, a broken family is observed by Sator, a supernatural entity who is attempting to claim them.

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e_Ij0S-sBw

• Sacrifice (WATCHED): Lovecraft inspired movie (working-titled The Colour of Madness). Synopsis: After his mother's death, Isaac and his pregnant wife return to his birthplace on a remote Norwegian island to claim on unexpected inheritance. During their visit, the couple discover dark secrets from Isaac's past. Their pleasant trip quickly turns into a nightmare when Isaac and his wife encounter a sinister cult that worships a sea-dwelling deity.

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I56szLBfvUA

• Willy's Wonderland (WATCHED): They had me at: Nicolas Cage fights wave after wave of demonic animatronics.

  Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfh8_X3sH5s

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v27rfaoB2Y

• The Vigil (WATCHED): Synopsis: A man providing overnight watch to a deceased member of his former Orthodox Jewish community finds himself opposite a malevolent entity.

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7vxgt7Adv0

• Wrong Turn (WATCHED): Re-boot/sequel of the Wrong Turn film series.

  Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccaNMcPqpQ0

  Trailer #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HVFMFQGV3o

• Son (WATCHED): Synopsis: When a young boy falls ill to a mysterious illness, his mother must decide how far she will go to protect him from terrifying forces in her past.

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6n-kFcy00k

• Come True (WATCHED): Synopsis: A socially awkward driver and a weary passenger they try to make it to their destination while being haunted by a supernatural threat.

  Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiK9xcfElTo

  Trailer #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe6F2cp5sHs

• The Toll (WATCHED): Synopsis: A teenage runaway takes part in a sleep study that becomes a nightmarish descent into the depths of her mind and a frightening examination of the power of dreams.

  Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UTnLCtU_Uo

  Trailer #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvEfAPRBjOM

• The Banishing (WATCHED): Directed by Christopher Smith (Triangle , Black Death . Severance). The Banishing tells the story of the most haunted house in England. In the 1930s, a young reverend, his wife and daughter move into a manor with a horrifying secret.

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0UlhkBDz1k

• In the Earth (WATCHED): Written/directed by Ben Wheatley (Kill List , A Field in England). Synopsis: As a disastrous virus grips the planet, a scientist and a park scout venture deep into the forest for a routine equipment run. Through the night, their journey becomes a terrifying voyage through the heart of darkness as the forest comes to life around them.

  Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh-fN-ux3lg

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IaFE8LN7K0

• Bloodthirsty (WATCHED): A werewolf movie. Synopsis: Grey is an indie singer who is having visions that she is a wolf. When she gets an invitation to work with notorious music producer Vaughn Daniels at his remote studio in the woods she begins to find out who she really is.

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g63zkB2pGU

• Spiral: From the Book of Saw (WATCHED): Director Darren Lynn Bousman returns to the Saw franchise. Executive produced by and co-starring Chris Rock, along with Samuel L. Jackson. Synopsis: A sadistic mastermind unleashes a twisted form of justice in Spiral, the terrifying new chapter from the book of Saw.

  Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgNlWypWmtw

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mYOAxh2N8A

• Army of the Dead (WATCHED): Written/directed by Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead '04). Synopsis: Following a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries take the ultimate gamble, venturing into the quarantine zone to pull off the greatest heist ever attempted.

  Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H83kjG5RCT8

  Trailer #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI1JGPhYBS8

• A Quiet Place Part II (WATCHED): Sequel written/directed by John Krasinski, starring Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt.

  Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEMwSdne6UE

  Trailer #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpdDN9d9Jio

• The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (WATCHED): The third movie in the main Conjuring series.

  Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Q4zZS2v1k

  Trailer #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N-Xme0N8dY

• Gaia (WATCHED): Synopsis: On a surveillance mission in a primordial forest, a park ranger encounters two survivalists living a post-apocalyptic lifestyle. The boy and his father seem to have their own religion, and a mysterious relationship to nature, but when the cabin is attacked by strange, post-human beings one night, she learns that there is a greater threat in this emergent wilderness.

  Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcQCYL08w6I

  Trailer #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9QbbTp5pE8

• The Forever Purge (WATCHED): The fifth installment of The Purge film series.

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOrXpK-rUaI

• Old (WATCHED): Written/directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Currently per IMDb: Plot kept under wraps.

  Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB1m-WogYeg

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4U2pMRV9_k

• Don't Breathe 2 (WATCHED): Stephen Lang returns. Synopsis: The Blind Man returns to terrorize more unsuspecting people.

  Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRbG2tjHYCA

  Trailer #2 (red band): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tpiDiO8gk8

• The Night House (WATCHED): Directed by David Bruckner (The Ritual , Southbound , V/H/S), starring Rebecca Hall (The Awakening). Synopsis: A widow begins to uncover her recently deceased husband's disturbing secrets.

  Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tshycci2ZA

  Trailer #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8WQGXkif_s

• Candyman (WATCHED): Soft re-boot/sequel co-written/produced by Jordan Peele.

  Teaser #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9O9_-bv5qE

  Teaser #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9uXxOxVe4w

  Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlwzuZ9kOQU

  Trailer #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPBH3XO8YEU

• Malignant (WATCHED): Giallo directed by James Wan.

  Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCG6E1r0PZA

  Trailer #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xafvL1ElRlA

• Prisoners of the Ghostland (WATCHED): Directed by Sion Sono (Exte , Tag , Suicide Club , Strange Circus) and starring Nicolas Cage and Sofia Boutella. Synopsis: A notorious criminal must break an evil curse in order to rescue an abducted girl who has mysteriously disappeared.

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDBIKpbOY9M

• Halloween Kills (WATCHED): Sequel to the Halloween 1978 and 2018 timeline.

  Teaser #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHhZDYVoV7w

  Teaser #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_NGjpJxX9c

  Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfgq2ObjueM

  Trailer #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUwVHX3242M

• The Blazing World (WATCHED): Synopsis: Decades after the accidental drowning of her twin sister, a self-destructive young woman returns to her family home, finding herself drawn to an alternate dimension where her sister may still be alive.

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PFP2XlOeTY

• Last Night in Soho (WATCHED): Directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead), starring Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch, Split). Synopsis: A young girl, passionate about fashion design, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters her idol, a dazzling wannabe singer. But 1960s London is not what it seems, and time seems to fall apart with shady consequences.

  Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB9WUIv9KH8

  Trailer #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcVnFrxjPjI

  Trailer #3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgNrL4Kf7yU

• Antlers (WATCHED): Based on the short story "The Quiet Boy", starring Keri Russell (Dark Skies). Was scheduled for February, but delayed again.

  Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEM5HW7q5dY

  Trailer #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aiYxwVuZ1o

  Trailer #3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng5eyOfL8qM

• Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (WATCHED): Per IMDb: Set in 1998, this 'Resident Evil' origin story explains the secrets of the Spencer Mansion and Raccoon City.

  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q6UGCyHZCI

I think “Son” is the creepiest films I’ve seen from the 2021 crop of horror so far. There have been a million low budget, mediocre films and videos. One thing I have to say is that it’s great to see fledgling directors, screenwriters, and other young talent at least able to give it a go these days, given the ease of making full length films with only a minimum of investment.

Best;

5. Candyman 4. Don’t Breathe 2 3. The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It 2. A Quiet Place Part II

1. Censor

Worst;

5. The Banishing 4. Wrong Turn 3. Safer At Home 2. Old

1. Spiral: The Book of Saw

What are your best and worst horrors of this year?

Looking to make a watch list for the boys and I need a list of 10+ movies.

anything from thrillers to horror/gore counts, just looking for good ones.thanks!

EDIT: Some really great suggestions here thanks everyone! Will update with ratings after

Final list we ended up with for this weekend :

1. The Medium - 4/10 religious supernatural horror (baby and dog eating type shit)

2. Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor

3. Deadstream

4. Bodies Bodies Bodies

5. THANKSGIVING

6. The Sadness - 7/10 sexual gorefest

7. Scavengers Reign - 8/10 fantasy/scifi, incredible animation and creativity

8. The innocents

9. Malignant

Hi, horror fans. I thought that I would gauge overall opinions on several 2021 horror films (that includes 2020 movies that were given a wide release this year) that I have not yet had the pleasure to see.

As the title states, I am in the process of getting my Top 10 list together, which I discuss on my podcast along with my co-host, who shares his list as well (DM me if you're interested in checking it out!). I only have a couple of days before recording the next episode, so I want to ensure that I give as many movies that are actually worth checking out a chance. Here's the list of notable films that I haven't seen yet this year:

• Black Friday

• Caveat

• Demonic

• Escape Room: Tournament of Champions

• Howling Village

• In the Earth

• Lamb

• Last Night in Soho (I plan on prioritizing this one)

• The Last Matinee

• The Old Ways

• The Sadness (cannot find this one to stream in the US anywhere so probably irrelevant)

• Spiral: From the Book of Saw

• Superdeep

• Synchronic

• Till Death

• Violation

Anything on here worth seeing that can possibly crack my top 10 or simply deserves to be seen? If not, let me know your thoughts anyway?

On a related note, for fun's sake, what's on your top 10 list for 2021?

Hey guys, as we ramp up for Halloween, I'm looking to host a movie night (or maybe a trip to the movies if something good is out) and am looking for a new movie that is actually very scary. Not necessarily "the best" horror movie of the year, although ticking both boxes would be ideal.

The group wants something genuinely pulse-raising. Any advice greatly appreciated!

Lamb looks encouraging but wondering if that might be a bit more "weird" that scary.

(2021) Titane 9.5/10

The abstract, violent, graphic nature can seem too weird for ware but the entire package as a whole is such a powerful, messy statement on identity struggles.

(2021) Malignant 8/10

Have you ever wondered what a financially backed horror b-movie would look like from an A-list director in their prime? Look no further baby.

(2021) A Quiet Place: Part II 8/10

This is really well directed by Krasinsky. I just loved the frame work and how well he puts focus on the characters while having the chaos in the background. Even if it all eventually blends together in the end through some sequences, that's really the technique that held the tension for me personally.

(2021) Oxygen 7/10

The dialogue is somewhat sparse for periods and Melanie Laurent does an incredible job driving the plot through pure body language.

(2021) The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It 7/10

I do agree with most people that this is the weakest of the series in some respects but as an overall film, I actually liked it better than The Conjuring 2.

(2021) Godzilla vs. Kong 8/10

This is pretty much everything I wanted from a Godzilla vs Kong film. It has a fuckton of badass fight scenes to counterbalance the usual human story bullshit.

(2021) Old 7/10

There's plenty of body-horror and on-screen violence but the even darker aspects are just situational horrors that are difficult to make sense of.

(2021) Fear Street: 1978 9/10

This is not just the best film of the trilogy but as a standalone film, one of the best slasher films I've ever seen. Barring all the lore, plot-hole explanations and evolution of characters that we see with the third film, just by itself, it's still...just that good. I liked the other two entires but this one stands out.

(2020) Promising Young Woman 8/10

It almost feels offensive to say this but this really feels like a modern day exploitation film and a great one at that.

(2020) The Empty Man 8/10

The movie utilizes the terrifying horror of inevitable, unstoppable forces like The Ring or It Follows. Then in combines them with oneiric, mind-melting scenes. There's so much going on here that it can occasionally seem like too much but David Prior went to fucking work and created something truly special. I love this movie.

(2020) Alone 7/10

Jules Wilcox’s character is emotional, smart, resourceful and simple an engaging person to watch. 

(2020) Freaky 7/10

The practical are awesome and Vince Vaughn playing a teenage girl is fucking hilarious.

(2020) Unhinged 8/10

Russel Crowe kills this fat psycho incel role. His dialogue delivery, posture and deliberate violence just bring his character to life.

(2020) The Devil All of the Time 9/10

This is a heartbreaking movie about how pain, evil and heartbreak is passed down through generations, among a community gripped by fanaticism.

(2020) I’m Thinking of Ending Things 9.5/10

Charlie Kaufman seems unrelentingly obsessed with tearing apart and exposing the male psyche. It’s something I love about his films but it also can be depressing how much I relate to them.

(2020) Possessor 9/10

The cinematography highlights and boasts up some of my favorite performances of the year. The film is filled with hypnotic, psychedelic imagery that’s truly entrancing.

(2020) Run 8/10

Run uses all the tools that we know work with another vein of originality. It's tense as fuck and Sarah Paulson gives us someone tough and resilient to root for.

(2020) Nocturne 7/10

Sydney Sweeney is a great physical actress in this film, her facial expressions and body language both convey more than the dialogue could ever hope to achieve.

(2019) Butt Boy 8/10

Yes, it’s absurd but actually making a successful, darkly funny and engaging film out of a b-movie plot like this is something I appreciate immensely.

(2019) Saint Maud 8/10

This is probably the strongest directorial debut I’ve seen in years. Rose Glass had a clear vision for how she wanted this film to both look and feel.

(2019) Doctor Sleep 8/10

There were huge shoes to fill and Flanagan said fuck it and just came with his own pair, which was the best approach.

(2019) The Art of Self Defense 7/10

It’s incredibly quirky and offbeat but not necessarily in an over-the-top, arthouse, indie vibe. It just has a very strange feel to it in general and once the plot starts to get dark, it’s very hard to know exactly how dark it’s going to get.

(2019) The Vigil 7/10

There's one scene in particular which really elevates the entire movie and you'll know it when you see it. It establishes the entire suffocating nature and traps you right there with the protagonist.

(2018) The Purity of Vengeance 8/10

Journal 64 explores some of the really sick, twisted and morally depraved recesses of humanity and it almost breaks my heart to know it’s not unrealistic. Fantastic performances by everyone involved and it’s just a really well-produced film. The cinematography is bold but clean, they really isolate your focus to the story itself.

(2018) Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum 7/10

There's some shitty sequence editing and shitty everything editing but it doesn't take away from it being scary and I'm never scared so hey, here it is.

(2016) 10 Cloverfield Lane 8/10

This is the most genre-fluid film I’ve seen in a long time and even with a rewatch, the tension, the isolation and the claustraphobia still holds up.

(2015) The Final Girls 8/10

When you talk about meta-horror films, this just has to be included in the conversation. 

(2012) Rubberneck 8/10

This movie is very stripped down, not overly dramatic in any way and it makes certain critical moments that much more powerfu

(2011) The Skin I live In 9/10

I've never felt more transported to a different era of film since The Love Witch. This looks and feels straight out of the 1970's and highlights the story driven movies from that time period.

(2009) Thirst 8/10

The most interesting aspect of any vampire story has always been the transformation, which this film highlights in sickening, erotic detail.

(2007) The Mist 8/10

Frank Darabont did a fantastic job at creating this evil universe that actually feels dangerous. There’s really not a moment where I felt like any amount of plot armor could protect these characters, especially towards the end.

(2007) Sunshine 9/10

This isn't an unknown film by any means but it certainly has become divisive, being a Christopher Nolan-level sci-fi epic, that also exists in the horror genre. There's a certain tonal shift in it that some hate, some tolerate and few adore. I'm firmly in the latter category.

(2006) Apocalypto 9/10

When Gibson isn’t busy hating Jews, I think he’s one of the more talented filmmakers out there.

(2005) House of Wax 7/10

I will suspend my disbelief for any horror movie but especially for one that has no ceiling on the intensity like this one does. The kills and gore are 99% practical effects and creatively cringe-inducing, in a great way.

(2004) Dawn of the Dead 9/10

I was 15 years old when this came out and I’ve never wanted to see a movie more badly in my life. I was kicked out four fucking times for being underage before finally getting to see it. The hype couldn’t have been higher and it delivered tenfold.

(2002) Cabin Fever 7/10

I fucking love it and Roth’s horror fandom is woven in beautifully with ridiculous side characters, overall campiness and off-beat cinematography.

(1999) The Mummy 7/10

Brendan Frasier was such an otherworldly personality , this movie is my entire childhood.

(1993) Jurassic Park 9.5/10

Even just typing that title blows my mind, this movie was made in 1993 and 27 years later, it still looks better than most modern monster movies. Do genetically engineered Dinosaurs that devour everyone on an island constitute a horror film?

(1988) Fright Night Part 2 8/10

Not that the first one even needed a sequel but I guess, why the fuck not? This one kicks off immediately where the last one left off, even providing us with a little “previously seen on” refresher.

(1988) The Blob 8/10

This movie is fucking amazing and seriously some S-tier, 80's body horror. It's wildly campy and the practical effects are ridiculous. 

(1986) Manhunter 9/10

I fucking love this movie and it’s been a while since I’ve seen the latest iteration but I’m going to go ahead and say I enjoy it more than Red Dragon.

(1986) The Deliberate Stranger 8/10

Mark Harmon is an excellent Bundy. He’s charming but realistically so. There’s something about his performance that just worked for me on every level.

(1984) A Nightmare on Elm Street 8/10

The blood fountain scene is so beautiful it makes my heart hurt.

(1983) Barefoot Gem 9/10

The initial sequences are subversive of the nations oppressive regime through brightly colored anime and pre-2000's, family-friendly atmosphere. When the bomb drops, the bomb fucking drops and it's pure, unadulterated horror. The visuals are just astounding and gut-wrenching.

(1982) The Thing 9.5/10

This movie is everything to me and I feel like I'm mainlining life straight into my soul every time I watch it. It's the absolute perfect blend of psychological, cosmic and body horror.

(1982) White Dog 8/10

This is one of the better obscure exploitation films I've seen to date. It fits the breed of the sub-genre with overt manifestations of fear but the subtext of it all holds true to, even in todays society. We're blinded by issues and loved ones that we're simply too close to.

(1981) Possession 9/10

Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill put on two of the strongest performances to date. Their physical display of emotional torture is sickening and despite some psychosexual, body-horror visuals towards the latter half, it’s those performances that drive the horror aspect.

(1980) The Shining 9.5/10

I think about the last frames of the movie a lot and while my mind wants to fantasize about some supernatural purgatory, I know the real intentions are anything but.

(1975) Footprints 8/10

You might think you're getting into some dated, cheesy, sci-fi material but what it transitions to is a psychedelic, fever dream. The final scene of the struggle on the beach is just gorgeous. The slow-motion, fading color gradient and hypnotic length just instantly burned it in my brain.

(1974) Spasmo 7/10

I love the theme of mannequins in horror and this was definitely a unique entry in the Giallo genre. It’s a very psychologically horror focused film and I felt that with the story and performances, it all played out really successfully.

(1973) Theater of Blood 8/10

I’m surprised more people don’t talk about how Price stars in so many films that culminate is the most impressive fire sequences. This one was particuarly amazing.

(1972) A Warning to the Curious 7/10

Peter Vaughn was great and the overall editing was genuinely creepy at times.

(1971) Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde 7/10

Martine Beswick puts on an effortlessly good performance through sheer body language alone and absolutely sells this ridiculous role. The plot is definitely a little silly but it almost makes me appreciate a film more when it works in spite of that.

(1971) The Mephisto Waltz 7/10

This is a pretty good little 70’s satanic thriller but unfortunately, it doesn’t really stand out among its contemporaries. Even with that being said, I loved all the dream sequences, the dialogue and the female leads.

(1971) The Black Belly of the Tarantula 7/10

This is my first Paolo Cavera film and really just delivers the way I expect a good giallo to. Ennio's score, especially with the seductive scenes, just cultivates that atmosphere that I crave.

(1970) The Bird with the Crystal Plumage 7/10

I’m not all the way through Argento’s filmography but I can say this might be his first really good giallo.

(1967) Our Mother’s House 8/10

Jack Clayton, simply for directing The Innocents, is one of my favorite directors. He manages to capture super poignant emotional moments unlike no one else. We have some great modern directors working today that do the same but in terms of 1960’s horror, it was harder to come by.

(1964) Onibaba 9/10

Kaneto Shindo knows the importance of visuals and the cinematography, as well as the environment itself, which are almost separate roles within the film.

(1963) The Girl Who Knew Too Much 7/10

This should be included in any basic guide to giallo films and the straightforward story coupled with super clean cinematography make it also one of the easiest to approach.

(1963) Matango 7/10

Ishiro Honda is a legend and I’m glad I finally got around to watching this one. I absolutely loved the story, the characters, the pacing and just the atmospheric nature of the entire film. 

(1960) House of Usher 8/10

This another Corman/Poe adaptation and it’s one of the best one. Price’s character is absolutely sinister and he sells the role completely. Besides the wonderfully creepy, yet beautiful atmosphere, he’s the entire film.

(1957) The Curse of Frankenstein 7/10

It’s colorful, straightforward and truthfully has more of a Re-Animator vibe than a Frankenstein one. I’m not saying it’s a body-horror epic, but you know, aesthetically speaking.

(1954) Them! 7/10

Yes this is formulaically a 50’s monster movie but it’s also a cold war exploitation film. It plays out like an episode of the Twilight Zone and is way more intelligent than need be.

(1954) Creature from the Black Lagoon 7/10

Honestly, this is just a straight-up monster movie. It's a classic, well-produced film about people endagering themselves through ignorance and greed.

(1946) The Spiral Staircase 8/10

This film is a such an excellent murder mystery in the same vein of Hitchcock. It’s super atmospheric and the effects work is actually fantastic (for the most part).

(1943) The Leopard Man 8/10

Tourneur uses this gentle but effective approach of simply time-spent-on-screen to signify the importance of victims. To me, it’s actually one of the most clever methods of early exposition

(1943) I Walked With A Zombie 9.5/10

It's hard to not think about Darby Jones whenever this movie pops into my head. His character seemed to me to be a literal manifestation of the central themes presented and added a physical element to that feeling of being enslaved. The shots of him in the cornfield are straight-up haunting.

(1939) The Hunchback of Notre Dame 8/10

I’ve seen quite a few iterations of this story dating back to the silent film era and I can confidently say that this is the definitive version. Charles Laughton is Quasimodo.

(1933) The Mad Doctor 7/10

It may be difficult to put yourself in a child’s mindset but hearing 5+ minutes of Pluto cry for his life is really fucked up.

(1932) Island of Lost Souls 8/10

The writing in this is very pulpy and so are most of the performances outside of Laughton, which while eccentric, is just excellent under any light. 

(1927) The Cat and the Canary 7/10

It makes total sense that Paul Leni made this film because he’s so great at having that one iconic scene in his movies. In this one, it’s definitely Annabelle getting her necklace snatched while she’s sleeping.

(1926) Faust 9.5/10

This might just be the most remarkable looking silent film I’ve ever seen. The first 30-minutes reignighted my passion for movies that I had pre-covid depression. I have no idea how Murnau managed to top Nosferatu but here we are. This is peak German expressionism, up there with The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

(1921) The Phantom Carriage 9/10

Much Like Fritz Lang’s Destiny, this film uses these gorgeous layering techniques for the special effects and it’s something that truly holds up a century later.

(1920) The Penalty 8/10

It’s a story about taking back your pride but at its core, it’s a revenge movie. I think it’s a staple of its era and one that shouldn’t be glossed over.

I've been binging the top 50 horror movies from 2021 and 2022 (2020 is next and I'm also taking recommendations) and here's a list of movies that found enjoyable in no particular order:

A Wounded Fawn (highly recommend, the tension is palpable and highly unsettling)

The Menu (maybe my favorite, dark comedy)

The Sadness (foreign) (action packed, fast paced, zombie-esque)

Soft & Quiet (unsettling/realistic)

Speak No Evil (unsettling/realistic)

Smile (supernatural)

Sissy (classical kill party)

X (classical kill party)

Pearl (artsy character study)

What Josiah Saw (chaptered thriller)

Fresh (thriller)

Terrifier 2 (gory slasher)

The Medium (foreign) (supernatural slowburn but worth it)

Malignant (thriller)

Superdeep (fun, zombie style action)

Wrong Turn (unsettling/realistic)

I'll admit that I'm a bit picky when it comes to horror movies - I only really like ones that have some supernatural/paranormal/creature-feature element to them. That said, I have not come across a horror film that I've really liked for quite a while now. The last one I watched that was recent - and that I enjoyed a lot - was Hereditary (2018). Have there been any new horror films since that time that you would recommend I try? I've watched a few that were released since then, but would not rate any of them very highly.

I’m not a huge horror buff these days but the wife and I want to watch a horror movie every weekend this October! I used to watch pretty much everything that came out pre 2010 but have fallen off of it since getting older. I tend to prefer easily accessible supernatural horror and at least relatively light on gore if possible. My favorite horror movie of all time is The Ring, so anything with that bleak, yet still accessible vibe would be perfect. I think the last horror movie I saw was Sinister, which I loved 😅

Also if you are watching a horror movie for each day of October, what movie are you watching next? I'm trying to get more ideas for my "horror movies to be watched" list since it's getting shorter and shorter

What do you think the best horror films are from the past three years? I honestly haven’t watched many films from this time period but here are some: “Possessor” “Scream” “X”

Thank you guys, love to hear what you think!

NY Times just did a top 100 Movies of the 21st Century, where they asked notable filmmakers for their 10 favorite of the century so far, and I'm curious what you all would put as your top 10 HORROR Movies of the 21st Century.