Top 10 Greatest Psychological Horror Movies

This film is a little bit of everything on the horror scale: psychological terror mixed with art house vibes and surrealistic moments. But, above all else, it is terrifying. The movie follows Tim Robbins as a Vietnam war veteran who begins to experience extremely strange visions. The nature of these visions remains a tantalizing mystery throughout, and you soon begin to question the film’s reality. It will leave you feeling disgusted long after the credits roll thanks to its discomforting scenes and hopeless attitude - but no matter how difficult it may be to stomach, “Jacob’s Ladder” is definitely worth stepping on.

“Repulsion” was director Roman Polanski’s first feature film to be released in English, and what an introduction it was. When the troubled Carol Ledoux is left alone in the apartment she shares with her sister, she begins to experience strange and unexplainable occurrences. The movie is terribly claustrophobic and isolating, a terrifying depiction of a young woman’s slow dip into utter insanity. The acting, Polanski’s use of sound, the startling images, and the filmmaking are all top notch, and the result is a truly unnerving psychological experience.

Another oldie but a goodie, “Don’t Look Now” stars Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie as a depressed couple who travel to Venice. There, they meet a psychic who informs them that their dead daughter is attempting to reach and warn them of impending danger. The movie is arguably a masterpiece, and it still manages to stop the heart all these years later thanks to its horrifying scenes and harrowing depiction of grief. It also has one of the scariest endings in horror movie history, one which is sure to leave you open-mouthed and petrified. It has influenced many filmmakers over the years, and it’s not hard to see why.

“The Others” follows Nicole Kidman as a single mother who begins to suspect that her house is haunted, and even though it’s a modern movie, it gleefully reminds us of old-school horror: there are no cheap jump scares, screeching violins, or buckets of blood. It’s just a creepy haunted house that acts up in subtly horrifying ways, and Nicole Kidman perfectly portrays a troubled and increasingly-desperate mother who only wants the safety of her children. It also has one of the most shocking endings in horror movie history, even if it’s become common knowledge in the years since. “The Others” is a simple, old-fashioned ghost story, and we love it.

“The Babadook” was an unfortunate victim of misleading marketing: many audiences expected another haunted house romp like “The Conjuring” and were left disappointed with this more methodical film. However, those without faulty expectations found a harrowing movie about the destructive power of grief. The story follows a depressed single mother who becomes hunted and influenced by The Babadook, a monster found in her son’s pop-up book. While the Babadook is indeed scary, it’s in the metaphorical nature of the monster where the real scares lie - as Amelia soon becomes enveloped by the madness that the Babadook represents. This is both a depressing and uplifting film, and it’s frightening to boot.

Stephen King has really done it all when it comes to horror: a little gross-out gore here, a ghost story there, and some vampires sprinkled on top. With “Misery,” he tackled non-supernatural, psychological horror, and he succeeded brilliantly. The story, about an author who becomes trapped with a psychotic fan, was adapted perfectly by Rob Reiner, who beautifully transfers the isolation and claustrophobia felt on the pages to the screen. Kathy Bates’ performance in particular is stellar, playing the seemingly pleasant but realistically unhinged Annie Wilkes. It’s a terrific adaptation, and a terrifying look into the dangers of celebrity worship.

Director Darren Aronofsky certainly knows how to explore the dark sides of the human mind, and he does it masterfully in “Black Swan.” This is a movie about a ballerina who descends into insanity due to the immense pressure of landing a coveted role. Natalie Portman shines as Nina Sayers, capturing both the childlike innocence of the White Swan and the dark maturity of the Black Swan, and helping us t feel conflicted about the nature of her character and her sanity. The film explores the dangers of attempting to reach perfection in a beautiful, scary, and unforgettable way. Aronofsky is a true master of the psychological.

“The Silence of the Lambs” is undoubtedly a masterpiece, and it remains the only horror film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, a testament to just how memorable and powerful it is. The film follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling, who seeks the help of an imprisoned cannibal in order to catch a serial killer. She soon forms a fascinatingly therapeutic bond with the cannibal, Hannibal Lecter. Not only is their relationship tantalizingly complex, but also the film itself is rife with unforgettable quotes, nightmarish images, and one of the best villainous performances of all time in Anthony Hopkins. It’s not only a fantastic horror movie, but a fantastic movie too, period.

Three years after “Repulsion,” Roman Polanski returned to cinemas with “Rosemary’s Baby,” and it strengthened his status as one of film’s most disturbing directors. The movie, about a woman who begins to suspect that her neighbors want her baby for cultish reasons, is a horror masterpiece, filled with Polanski’s unique sense of dread and isolation. Just the concept itself – learning that you were raped by Satan and gave birth to his offspring - is horrifying enough. However, it’s Polanski’s filmmaking, complete with a disturbing use of sound and tormenting lack of visuals, that elevates the movie into art.



Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.



“1408” (2007)





“Funny Games” (1997)





“Eraserhead” (1977)

Although the initial reaction to Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece “The Shining” was mixed, it is now widely regarded to be one of the best and scariest movies of all time. The story follows a recovering alcoholic father who slowly loses his sanity due to the malevolent forces of a hotel. Jack Nicholson is simply outstanding in this role, delivering a nuanced performance that is equally terrifying and captivating. Aside from its now-classic scares (like the twin girls and the bloody elevator), the movie explores the petrifying concept of watching a comforting and protective family member descend into murderous insanity. It’s the ultimate psychological horror film, and one of Kubrick’s best.