As an ardent lover of the horror genre, I have always felt that the art of horror never falls away. It grows over time. New discoveries are made in ways to frighten and disturb, and while the classics like Susperia and Night of the Living Dead are classics for a reason as they will remain relevant and brilliant pieces of artistry for years and years to come, there is still equal and even exceeding brilliance coming out of the horror world.
1. House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
As Rob Zombie’s directorial debut, this film was not generally given much credit, but in my opinion, this beautifully horrifying and incredibly artistic film about a family of backwoods serial killers chills the viewer to the bone and leaves a mark that cannot be washed out any easier than blood.
2. The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
This sequel to House of 1000 Corpses follows the murderous and sadistic Firefly family we have all come to know and love as they are hunted down by a squad of vengeful police officers, bringing to light the true horror that we, the good guys, may not be any better than the murderers.
3. The Conjuring (2013)
This is easily one of my most favorite horror films of all time. It is flawlessly shot and follows a storyline that is inventive and engaging. I love the way it pays homage to the classic horror films of the 1970s, namely films like The Omen and The Exorcist, but still remains true to its own style and genuinely creepy atmosphere. Not to mention, it involves a couple of the greatest jump scares in horror history…clap, clap.
4. The Babadook (2014)
It is rare that a horror film bases itself on a theme quite so meaningful. This Australian “boogie man” story explores the concept of grief and how, if pushed to the side and not dealt with, it can take over one’s entire life, tearing apart friends, family and even one’s own psyche.
5. 28 Days Later (2002)
This is a far cry from your basic shambling zombie movie. After the spread of an inexplicable and incurable virus throughout the entirety of the United Kingdom, a small band of survivors are faced with a nearly impossible challenge: stay alive.
6. 1408 (2007)
This is a film that perfectly executes what later film Oculus failed to do, create an experience of complete and total dreamlike confusion in which nothing can be trusted, not what you’ve seen, not what you’ve heard and not what you think you’ve done.
7. The Descent (2005)
As horror films go, none play on deep-seeded human fears the way The Descent does. A group of women go spelunking together, and find that in these cramped, dark, and nearly inescapable caves…they are not alone. If you are claustrophobic, afraid of the dark of are seized with gripping terror at the idea of being hunted, this is probably not for you, or perhaps it is…
8. The Devil’s Backbone (2001)
This beautiful and mournful film by horror expert Guillermo del Torro will stop your heart and break it, too. Set in an orphanage in the wake of the bloody Spanish Civil war, we follow young Carlos as he uncovers the tragic mystery of the young ghost haunting the orphanage.
9. The Last House on the Left (2009)
Though many horror fanatics would say that the original Last House on the Left was the revenge film of the century and should have never been remade, I found this to be a terrifying and exceptionally gory reimagining of the 1972 classic. Be warned, however, triggers abound.
10. Saw (2005)
Saw was a brand new concept that became an old classic. Though it spawned a rather laughable and seemingly endless stream of lesser sequals, the original film was creative, disturbing and a true work of horror brilliance in its exploration of human survival instinct.
11. Septic Man (2013)
This little known indie film is neither for the faint of heart nor the sensitive of stomach. A small town sewage worker is trapped inside the town’s septic system during a mysterious water contamination crisis and discovers that the cause of the contamination is more horrifying than he ever could imagine. You might not feel comfy drinking water after this one.
