Top 10 Horror Movies Everyone Needs to Watch Once
#10: “Halloween” (1978)
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John Carpenter’s seminal horror film may seem dated when compared to today’s more violent and blood-soaked slashers, but it is absolutely required viewing. Like all great slashers, the story is simple - a group of teenagers are stalked and systematically killed by the masked Michael Myers on Halloween night. Myers is perhaps the most iconic slasher in movie history, and Jamie Lee Curtis makes her brilliant debut as young Laurie Strode. The movie does a lot with a little, generating scares out of a distant figure staring at the characters and various creepy music cues. You can ignore the numerous sequels, but you can’t ignore the 1978 classic.
#9: “Alien” (1979)
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When it comes to space horror, it doesn’t get much better than “Alien.” “Alien” could have been made in the 21st century, such is the strength of its set design, performances, and practical effects. Absolutely nothing about this film has been dated, and it’s just as effective today as it was in 1979. Like “Halloween,” the story is your basic slasher - an alien gets loose on a spaceship and hunts the crew. But Ridley Scott’s assured direction prevents things from getting corny and cliché, and Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley is one of the best protagonists in horror history. It is perhaps the greatest blending of science fiction and horror ever put to screen.
#8: “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)
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What isn’t scary about a crazed lunatic chasing people with a chainsaw? This is perhaps one of the rawest and most visceral films ever released, despite showing no on-screen blood or gore. Made for as little as $80,000, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” has the atmosphere of a snuff film. The cheap, low-budget aesthetic lends it a dirty and grimy feeling, like maybe we’re watching something we shouldn’t be watching. It’s just pure backwoods violence and depravity, and it will likely be too much for some viewers. In fact, the film was highly controversial upon release, with many taking note of its sadistic violence and unsettling storyline. But it’s now rightfully regarded as a masterpiece, and Leatherface remains one of horror’s most terrifying antagonists.
#7: “Night of the Living Dead” (1968)
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George A. Romero created, or at least popularized, the zombie genre with “Night of the Living Dead.” Those looking for “Dawn of the Dead” style gore need not apply, as this movie’s violence is incredibly tame when compared to Romero’s later works. But the movie’s claustrophobic setting, black and white cinematography, and lack of cinematic flourishes lends it a degree of authenticity, as if we’re watching an old home movie of the initial zombie outbreak. The movie also contains an intelligent racial undercurrent, with many seeing Ben as a symbol of domestic racism and an analog to topical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
#6: “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968)
Everyone knows the 60s as a time of great political and cultural upheaval, and like “Night of the Living Dead,” “Rosemary’s Baby” uses horror as a means to explore topical issues - in this case, the women’s liberation movement. At its surface, “Rosemary’s Baby” is about a pregnant woman who believes that her Satanist neighbors are using her baby as a vessel for the Antichrist. It works wonderfully as a simple horror story, but it’s mainly used for allegorical purposes. Rosemary feels progressively helpless throughout the story, unable to turn to anyone for help. Her autonomy is taken away, and she is constantly placed at the whims of outside influences. The feeling of utter vulnerability that the movie horrifically captures is scarier than any demon baby.
#5: “The Exorcist” (1973)
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“The Exorcist” is touted by many as the scariest film ever made, but don’t let that distract you from the movie’s genuinely fantastic execution. It’s certainly scary, but it’s also an impeccably made movie in its own right. Everyone knows about Regan’s demonic possession, which obviously contributes most of the movie’s scares. But at its core, “The Exorcist” is a deeply personal tale about Father Damien Karras, a Jesuit priest suffering from a crisis of faith and harboring deep feelings of guilt in his mother’s recent death. The movie is about finding God just as much as it’s about fighting the Devil. The former lends the movie its emotional heft, the latter its iconic and allegedly heart-attack-inducing frights.
#4: “The Shining” (1980)
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There have been many haunted house movies throughout the years, but “The Shining” is the greatest of them all. Like many movies on this list, “The Shining” uses its haunted hotel trappings to explore deeper and more personal themes. The core story involves the Torrance family moving into a haunted hotel over the winter. Of course, the performances and Stanley Kubrick’s filmmaking are both transcendent, but the movie generates much of its scares from the personal. Exploring themes of alcoholism, child abuse, family dysfunction, and cabin fever, “The Shining” deftly combines its horrifying supernatural scares with a deeply troubling story of mental degradation. We don’t know which aspect is scarier.
#3: “Bride of Frankenstein” (1935)
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This is widely regarded as director James Whale’s masterpiece, and this is the man who gave us classics like “The Invisible Man” and the original “Frankenstein.” Improving on the first film in nearly every way, “Bride of Frankenstein” may just be the greatest sequel ever made. Boris Karloff returns in his iconic role, and this time he’s joined by the classically hairdo-ed Elsa Lanchester as The Bride. The movie is weird and campy, but it also just might be the greatest example of gothic horror ever put to film. It uses Christian imagery to comment on The Monster’s identity as a Man-made abomination, deepening the themes of both the original film and Mary Shelley’s source novel. It is the perfect distillation of the “Frankenstein” mythos.
#2: “Jaws” (1975)
Steven Spielberg’s filmography is generally recognized as being magical, fantastical, and whimsical. And then there’s “Jaws.” Despite its more grounded story of a man-eating shark plaguing the beaches of Amity Island, “Jaws” still retains Spielberg’s dexterous directorial style. He manages to turn the movie into a cinematic tour de force, complete with thrilling camera work, proficient editing, horrific violence, and iconic music cues from John Williams. There’s also the timeless performances from Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss, who help make the action-packed third act just as fun and dramatic as it is terrifying. “Jaws” birthed the summer blockbuster, kept people out of the ocean, and permanently altered our perception of sharks. It’s pure movie magic. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Get Out” (2017) A Nail-Biting Blend of Thriller & Horror, Jordan Peele’s Directorial Debut Is Scary & Topical “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991) Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter Will Never Not Be Scary “Rabid” (1977) A Terrifying Body Horror Zombie Film from David Cronenberg, the Master of the Genre “Carrie” (1976) Stephen King’s Exploration of Bullying Remains Relevant & Horrifying “Scream” (1996) Wes Craven’s Meta Nod to the Slasher Genre Perfectly Merges Horror with Comedy
#1: “Psycho” (1960)
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“Psycho” has lost something in its ascension through pop culture consciousness. The numerous twists are all well-known, so new viewers might not have the same experience as audiences who went in blind back in 1960. But our knowledge of the twists don’t make “Psycho” any less enjoyable. The direction, cinematography, and performances - particularly that of Anthony Perkins - all remain commendable, and the story can still be enjoyed as a thrilling blend of detective fiction and slasher horror. The movie also helped pave new ground in regards to cultural norms, including its depictions of on-screen violence and sexuality. “Psycho” had a profound impact on both cinema and the wider American culture. Therefore, it may just be the greatest horror movie ever made.
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