10 best horror movies
I’ve always loved best horror movies. It was actually the first genre that got me excited about movies. I remember reading Poe as a kid and trying to work my way through Byron’s poems. I loved losing myself in old, gloomy movies, full of terrifying monsters, spooky castles, and townspeople who seemed completely trapped. Over time, I discovered other cool aspects of the genre, like stories about religious fears or strange folk customs.
These movies usually convey an eerie feeling that’s hard to explain, but you know it when you see it. When I was younger, I was obsessed with movies like Alucarda, The Wicker Man, the crazy stuff by Coffin Joe, and Black Sunday.
I really love this genre, but I know it’s pretty complicated. Personally, I think the best years are long gone. But there are still plenty of directors doing great work in the realm of horror movies. They find cool ways to push the genre forward. Putting together a list of 12 films was super hard. It was even harder to rank them! There were simply too many good mainstream hits, foreign films, and indie films that needed to be mentioned. I selected these 12 based on critics’ opinions and some of my personal favorites. I wanted to showcase the best horror movies films of the 21st century so far.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
“Stoker” from 2013.
The film is about a girl named India Stoker who, after her father’s death, discovers what her uncle Charlie is really like. It was directed by Park Chan-wook. It’s his first English-language film and looks fantastic, but I don’t think it’s really a horror movie.
The Devil’s Bath from 2024.
This film is about a woman named Agnes who becomes very sad because of religion. It turns into something extremely creepy. The film is based on real church records from the 18th century. It’s a really dark but great movie.
The Blackcoat’s Daughter from 2015.
It’s about boarding school students who are left behind during the holidays and discover a demon. It was directed by Osgood Perkins. The movie starts off a bit slow, but it’s worth watching
The Vourdalak from 2023.
It’s about a man living with a family whose grandfather returns from the war as a hungry monster. It’s a fresh take on a vampire story. Last but not least
“The Devil’s Backbone” from 2001.
The film is about an orphan in a haunted boys’ home. Guillermo del Toro shot it long before “Crimson Peak”. It truly set the bar for modern films, and you should definitely check it out.
“JUG FACE” (2013)
A HOLE IN THE GROUND CONTROLS THIS ENTIRE TOWN
In the middle of Jug Face is a pit of red clay that controls the entire town. The pit speaks to a simple potter. He creates a drawing of who should be the next victim for her god. Ada is pregnant and unmarried, and she’s next on the list. She tries to figure out whether she should run away. She’s afraid that if she leaves, it will result in the death of her entire family.
The film swaps a normal church for a hole in the ground. Director Chad Crawford Kinkle makes the Southern Gothic style look great despite an extremely low budget. It’s a story about family secrets and sacrifice. Ada’s inner struggle feels very real and marked by paranoia. The ending will stay with you for a while. The film is simple, and the concept is very unique. I definitely recommend it.
“POSSUM” (2018)
THE DOLL HE CAN’T BURY
In “Possum”, a man named Philip returns to his old, creepy childhood home. He brings along a creepy doll that looks like his own head on a spider’s body. He tries everything to get rid of it. He burns it and drowns it, but it keeps coming back. His uncle Maurice is also extremely mean to him and tells him stories about the “Possum.”
Folk horror films often blend well with gothic horror. This film revolves around family trauma and eerie locations. It’s a slow-paced film that builds tension. The doll is truly creepy. The film is a great example of a dark, gothic aesthetic. The cinematography in this film is beautiful and shows just how much the main character is falling apart inside.
“THE WOMAN IN BLACK” (2012)
TEXTBOOK GOTHIC
Arthur Kipps is a young lawyer who is grieving the death of his wife. He is sent to an old house to settle the estate of a deceased person. The house is surrounded by water at high tide. He learns of a ghost that always appears just before a child dies. Arthur wants to solve the mystery to protect his own family.
I had a hard time deciding where to categorize this movie. It was Daniel Radcliffe’s first major role after the Harry Potter movies. The film is perfect if you’re looking for that classic Gothic vibe. It features gloomy mansions, old-fashioned clothing, and a ghost that just hovers in the background. There aren’t many jump scares, but there’s plenty of atmosphere. The 1989 version is my personal favorite, but since I’m focusing on this century, I had to go with this film.
“RAMPO NOIR” (2005)
STORIES BY JAPAN’S EDGAR ALLAN POE
“Rampo Noir” brings together a group of creative directors from Japan. They wanted to showcase the work of Edogawa Rampo. It takes its name from Edgar Allan Poe. Both told similar stories about eerie things. Rampo’s stories are very famous in Japan.
The actors are fantastic. Tadanobu Asano plays a detective named Kogoro Akechi. He has since become a major star. Each short film in this collection has a different look, but they all feel dark and atmospheric. The focus is on love, death, and secrets. It’s a great place to start if you want to learn more about Japanese Gothic films.
“HOKUM” (2026)
A HAUNTED HOTEL WHERE A CORPSE ALREADY LIES
Ohm Bauman is a writer going through a rough patch. He travels to a hotel in Ireland to scatter his parents’ ashes. There, he meets a bartender named Fiona and takes a liking to her. Then she vanishes without a trace. He finds himself trapped in a room with her corpse and a malevolent spirit.
Director Damian McCarthy is a master at making creepy movies featuring cursed objects. “Hokum” seems to be his best work yet. He had a bigger budget to make the location feel truly eerie and gloomy. This is the newest movie on my list, but I think it’s going to become a classic. The scene where it’s revealed what’s really going on is super creepy.
“A TALE OF TWO SISTERS” (2003)
THE HOUSE REMEMBERS WHAT THE FAMILY DOESN’T SAY
Su-mi returns home with her little sister after a hospital stay. They have a new stepmother who is really mean and emotionally unstable. The situation at home escalates and then turns into something very frightening. It all happens very quickly.
Kim Jee-woon gives the story a massive twist. It’s one of the best twists ever in a horror movie. It doesn’t feel contrived, nor does it come out of nowhere. This is a classic Korean film. It’s sad and creepy—exactly as a good Gothic horror film should be.
“THE ORPHANAGE” (2007)
A DARK GAME AND A DESPAIRING MOTHER
In “The Orphanage”, a woman named Laura wants to reopen the place where she grew up to help children. Her son Simón plays a game with an invisible friend. But then the game turns dangerous, and Simón goes missing. Laura searches for him and, in the process, uncovers the building’s dark secrets.
Guillermo del Toro served as a producer. It was directed by J.A. Bayona. It’s a truly sad ghost story. The creepy moments come from the way the tension is built up. The ending is incredibly sad and shocking. You might even cry while watching it, which is rare for a horror movie.
“NOVEMBER” (2017)
SOULS AS BARGAIN CHIPS
The people in this movie make deals with the devil to obtain “Kratts.” These are tiny creatures made from household items that steal things for them. The story is about a girl named Liina who is in love with a boy named Hans. But Hans is interested in a baroness who sleepwalks. It’s a strange love triangle involving black magic.
This movie is in black and white. It’s based on a novel. It’s probably the most unique movie on this list. It has a very folk-like feel to it. It’s a bit strange, but it has a very gothic vibe. Despite the strange elements, it’s a good story about family and superstition. You’ve probably missed this movie, but you should check it out.
“THE OTHERS” (2001)
A HOUSE SHROUDED IN FOG AND FULL OF RULES
Grace Stewart lives in a dark house with her two children. Since they suffer from a condition where light hurts them, they have to keep the curtains closed at all times. New servants show up, and then strange things start happening in the house.
Alejandro Amenábar wrote the screenplay and directed the film. He even composed the music. It’s a very tightly woven story with a famous twist at the end. Nicole Kidman is magnificent as the mother trying to keep everything perfect. This movie is even better the second time around. It’s one of the best movies with surprising twists out there.
“THE LIGHTHOUSE” (2019)
“WHY DID YOU TELL?”
In “The Lighthouse”, two men work on a remote island. Due to bad weather, they’re stranded there for weeks. Their relationship becomes really strange and feels like an ancient myth. The movie is incredibly intense.
The film is shot in such a way that it looks like a square. This makes you feel trapped. Robert Eggers is a great screenwriter. Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson are fantastic in these roles. Dafoe is particularly eerie. The movie is all about how they lose their minds. It’s definitely one of the best works Eggers has ever created.
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