Horror films of any era often reflect the collective anxieties of people born in and living during that era. Be it the quality of visual effects, or the inaccessibility of the idea in later years, many horror films feel dated years down the line. However, the best horror movies from the 1980s, for example, not only reflect the collective anxiety over home invasions and losing autonomy over the body, but they’re so timeless that some of them turned into franchises, while others inspired similar films for years afterward.
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While a list of the best Korean horror movies can include entries from the past twenty years, the best Indian horror movies even include a film each from the ’40s and the ’60s. This demonstrates how vast the range of timelessness can be, depending on the cultural context of a horror film. Some anxieties are universal to the human experience, while some films are made to feel so scary that they terrify every generation of viewers. However, some horror films have dated premises, possibly even reflecting archaic ways of thinking, or use filmmaking tactics that fail to terrify viewers today.
10 Classic: Halloween (1978)
Directed by John Carpenter
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9.2/10 Halloween RHorrorThriller
Halloween is a horror film released in 1978 that centers on the fictional town of Haddonfield, Illinois, as a masked serial killer terrorizes it. Over a decade after the brutal murder of Judith Myers by her brother, Michael, Michael escapes from the local Sanitarium to continue his silent killing spree- with teenage Laurie Strode being his new potential victim.
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*Availability in US Director John Carpenter Release Date October 27, 1978 Studio(s) Falcon International Productions Distributor(s) Aquarius Releasing Writers John Carpenter , Debra Hill Cast Donald Pleasence , Jamie Lee Curtis , Tony Moran , Nancy Kyes , P.J. Soles , Kyle Richards , Charles Cyphers Runtime 91 Minutes Expand
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Michael Myers is one of the most iconic horror movie villains of all time. Carpenter’s first Halloween film and its villain were so popular, that it birthed the longest-running franchise of horror movies that ended only a couple of years ago in 2022. An iconic theme song, an unforgettable villain, cinematography techniques that would become staples of the genre in the future, and one of the best final girls across all horror movies, played by the debuting Jamie Lee Curtis, all have cemented Halloween‘s status as a timeless classic in the genre.
The introduction of Michael Myers using the POV of the killer has gone down in history as one of the most terrifying sequences in horror movie history. It perfectly introduces the villain’s source of animosity, the film’s score, which embodies both tension and thrill and the cinematography style of moving through empty rooms of a locked house, which becomes a repeated visual motif throughout the film. Myers’ supposed immortality, the disturbing way he shows up out of nowhere and effectively executes his murders, and the terrifying atmosphere of the film ensure it’ll always be scary.
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9 Not Scary: Children of the Corn (1984)
Directed by Fritz Kiersch
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Children of the Corn RHorrorThriller
Children of the Corn is a horror film based on Stephen King’s short story, directed by Fritz Kiersch. It centers around a couple who stumble upon a desolate town in Nebraska, inhabited only by children following a sinister cult that practices ritualistic murders. The film explores themes of religious fanaticism and the loss of innocence and features notable performances from Peter Horton and Linda Hamilton.
Director Fritz Kiersch Release Date March 9, 1984 Writers George Goldsmith , Stephen King Cast Peter Horton , Linda Hamilton , R.G. Armstrong , John Franklin , Courtney Gains , Anne Marie McEvoy , Robby Kiger , Julie Maddalena , Jonas Marlowe , John Philbin , Dan Snook , David Cowen , Suzy Southam , D.G. Johnson , Teresa Toigo Runtime 92 minutes Expand
The lack of a complex enough story that would fit the whole runtime makes Children of the Corn feel unnecessarily dragged out and boring in places. The child performances make for a mixed viewing experience because if there’s one thing Children of the Corn does right, it’s atmosphere. The opening sequence particularly, with its gore and its smart use of blocking to create a horrifying backdrop, stands out as a testament to the director’s vision. Even then, while the 2020 remake is significantly worse, the ’84 film falls in the middle of a ranked list of Stephen King movies.
Even though Children of the Corn
has possibly lost its fearful charm by now, it is interesting to note that it is a highly influential film that inspired eight sequels and a remake in 2020.
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However, overall, the execution simply doesn’t hold up years later. The source material for the film, King’s short story by the same name, was significantly different and, of course, shorter, and the changes made to create a feature film only make things more sentimental, cutting down on the scare factor. It doesn’t help that the children don’t seem to be simply amoral, but villainous. In a feature-length film, the lack of exposition regarding this simply makes Children of the Corn seem lazily made. Furthermore, the dated visual effects aren’t even that scary.
8 Classic: The Evil Dead (1981)
Directed by Sam Raimi
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9/10 The Evil Dead RHorror
The Evil Dead is a horror movie from 1981 starring Bruce Campbell and directed by Sam Raimi. The film follows Ash Williams, who after visiting a cabin in the woods, is tormented by deadites and must fight for his life after his friends are possessed. The Evil Dead not only started a long-running horror franchise, but it is also the film responsible for putting both Raimi and Campbell on the map as a director and actor, respectively.
Director Sam Raimi Release Date September 10, 1981 Studio(s) New Line Cinema Distributor(s) New Line Cinema Writers Sam Raimi Cast Bruce Campbell , Ellen Sandweiss , Richard DeManincor , Betsy Baker , Theresa Tilly , Philip A. Gillis Runtime 85 minutes Expand
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While later installments in the franchise, particularly the reboot, and its sequels, have switched from horror to comedy, the original The Evil Dead remains one of the scariest zombie films of all time. The production is far from polished, and the plot is paper-thin, but the visuals are so overwhelmingly terrifying that one can’t help but be taken aback by the cinematic achievement of The Evil Dead. The barrage of gory visuals that are made further scary by the incessant erratic movement of the camera, ensures viewers get no respite from the grueling violence.
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It might seem surprising that The Evil Dead holds up after so many years, given the low budget and the DIY nature of the practical effects, but the frantic energy explains why it’s a timeless classic. There’s no time spent on fleshing out characters or making the world feel lived in, almost all the attention has been paid to making the horrors affect viewers, by turning up both the extent of violence and the extreme nature of it.
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7 Not Scary: Paranormal Activity (2007)
Directed by Oren Peli
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Paranormal Activity RHorrorMystery
After moving to a suburban house, Katie and Micah are increasingly disturbed by a strange demonic presence. So they decide to try to record the phenomenon on video, but neither of them was prepared for the events that follow.
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*Availability in US Director Oren Peli Release Date October 16, 2009 Writers Oren Peli Cast Katie Featherston , Micah Sloat , Mark Fredrichs , Amber Armstrong , Ashley Palmer Runtime 86 minutes
Despite not even being two entire decades old, Paranormal Activity has gone through phases. Upon its release, it was widely regarded as a genre-defining horror movie that’ll go down in history as one of the greats. Soon after, it started losing its charm, and by now, only a cult following still unironically regards it as one of the scariest horror films. Most claim it is too ridiculous to be terrifying. While exceptions like Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum exist, the found-footage genre of horror feels like it has overstayed its welcome, and Paranormal Activity is the perfect demonstration of that.
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The central couple of the film consistently make choices that are detrimental to their well-being, the man is particularly toxic, and both of them lack survival skills. Add to that a dark color palette where horror lurks in every corner, but never truly makes itself visible, and the whole affair seems to be more imagined than real. If within a horror film, the source of horror starts feeling questionable regarding how it is supposed to scare viewers. The many sequels don’t help either, because despite the weak execution, Paranormal Activity had a somewhat unique premise, which got fatiguingly overused.
6 Classic: The Exorcist (1973)
Directed by William Friedkin
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9/10 10/10 The Exorcist RHorrorSupernatural
The Exorcist is a supernatural horror film based on the novel released in 1971 and was directed by William Friedkin. When a young girl is passed by a powerful demon, two Catholic priests are brought to her home to attempt an exorcism to expunge the demon.
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*Availability in US Director William Friedkin Release Date December 26, 1973 Studio(s) Hoya Productions Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers William Peter Blatty Cast Max Von Sydow , Linda Blair , Lee J. Cobb , Ellen Burstyn , Jason Miller , Kitty Winn , Jack MacGowran Runtime 122 minutes Expand
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While there exists a raging debate among fans of horror as to whether The Exorcist is genuinely scary or not, one can’t deny that its exploration of the themes of Catholicism and its metaphorical use of the concept of sin makes it a timeless classic. Some of the practical effects may not hold up as scary in today’s time, but that doesn’t take away from the real horror – a child losing her bodily autonomy and a couple of men deciding they know what’s best for her. Overall, The Exorcist still holds up over five decades later.
The Exorcist
is one of the finest examples of horror filmmaking.
A child floating above her bed while lightning flashes through the sky in the background, illuminating her room, will always be a scary visual. Excessive puking too will always seem disgusting, regardless of whether the action itself looks comical to some viewers. It may not be the scariest movie ever made, a reputation it had built up at one point in time, but The Exorcist is one of the finest examples of horror filmmaking. It patiently develops the lore, spaces out the terror so the concepts and themes can be explored, and abandons all hold on reality in the climax.
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5 Not Scary: The Birds (1963)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
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The Birds PG-13HorrorRomanceMysteryDrama
The Birds is a 1963 horror film from director Alfred Hitchcock, telling the tale of a small town in Northern California that is plagued by hundreds of violent birds. Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, and Jessica Tandy star in the film, which has since become one of Alfred Hitchcock’s most iconic movies.
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*Availability in US Director Alfred Hitchcock Release Date March 29, 1963 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Evan Hunter Cast Tippi Hedren , Suzanne Pleshette , Jessica Tandy , Veronica Cartwright , Rod Taylor Runtime 119 minutes Expand
Alfred Hitchcock is famous for designing shots and frames which drip with suspense and fear. Any source of terror that could cause a viewer to scream while looking at a screen was found by Hitchcock and employed as a scare tactic. And yet, most of his work is refreshingly horrifying and thrilling, nothing ever feeling like a gimmick. Even The Birds, though not always terrifying, has a unique filmmaking technique that’s rarely found in any movie – a complete absence of a background score.
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Conceptually, The Birds is horrifying, especially because there’s no real canonical explanation offered for the sudden attack of the birds, although The Birds movie ending can be explained. This not only makes the attack seem too random to survive but also implies it could happen again at any time. However, the horror is undercut by the suspenseful and thrilling journey of Tippi Hedren’s character. The balance between humor, adventure, and horror is well executed, but without a score and with dated practical effects, while The Birds remains a timeless example of masterful filmmaking, it doesn’t necessarily hold up as a horror movie.
4 Classic: The Thing (1982)
Directed by John Carpenter
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10/10 11 9.5/10 The Thing RHorror Sci-FiMystery
A team of researchers set out to study an alien spacecraft found in Antarctica, where they also discover an alien body on the site. The alien buried in ice is actually alive and has the ability to imitate human form. The group must find a way to distinguish who the real person is from The Thing and stay alive. John Carpenter’s 1982 film is a remake of 1951’s The Thing from Another World and stars Kurt Russel as the hero RJ MacReady.
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*Availability in US Director John Carpenter Release Date June 25, 1982 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Bill Lancaster Cast T.K. Carter , David Clennon , Keith David , Kurt Russell , wilford brimley Runtime 109 minutes Expand
Few filmmakers have shaped the horror genre like John Carpenter has. Apart from being the mastermind behind the highly influential Halloween, Carpenter also introduced the world to The Thing – a shapeshifting alien who can also take human form, and hide in plain sight. In fact, debate still rages on among fans of the film regarding the ending and if The Thing survived, and if it did, whose form it took at the end of the film. Among other usual genre conventions, some of which Carpenter popularized with The Thing, what stands out most is the use of paranoia.
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Terrified characters work against each other in what they perceive to be their best interests, based on their inability to trust each other anymore. Add to that, terrifying gory visuals which could scar viewers for life, and an atmosphere of cold, spine-chilling fear and anxiety, and it’s apparent why The Thing is one of the best monster movies of all time. The fear of the unknown remains one of humankind’s biggest fears, and Carpenter employs it with sharp precision to create a terrifying atmosphere that doesn’t let the viewer relax even after the film is over.
3 Not Scary: The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez
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The film that popularized the found-footage genre of horror filmmaking also marks the steady decline in the quality of films within the subgenre. Part of the popularity of The Blair Witch Project was based on the myth that it was not staged. In the early ages of the explosion of the Internet around the globe, there were hushed discussions on forums regarding the origin of the footage of The Blair Witch Project, but once the myth was busted, the film quickly lost its charm. While it still enjoys a cult following today, most viewers agree that it fails to hold up today.
The biggest cultural footprint of The Blair Witch Project is undoubtedly its box office record as a found-footage horror film, a record that no successor in the subgenre could ever hope to break. While it doesn’t rely on jumpscares for the horror, The Blair Witch Project feels too gimmicky with its erratic and frantic camera movement and editing. Without the added anxiety of believing this is real, the low quality of production simply doesn’t provide enough material to create immersion for viewers on a level that might personally impact them.
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2 Classic: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Directed by Tobe Hooper
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10/10 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre RHorror
Five friends traveling through rural Texas encounter a family of cannibals led by the terrifying Leatherface. As they fall victim one by one to the gruesome horrors, they must fight for survival against relentless and unimaginable terror in a macabre and chilling fight for their lives.
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*Availability in US Director Tobe Hooper Release Date October 11, 1974 Writers Kim Henkel , Tobe Hooper Cast Marilyn Burns , Allen Danziger , Paul A. Partain , William Vail , Teri McMinn , Edwin Neal Runtime 83 minutes
Leatherface is arguably the most iconic horror movie villain of all time. His slow movement, his lack of speech, and his terrifying weapon, all help to create a screen persona that has understandably haunted viewers for years. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is an onslaught of horror right from the beginning. It dives into the lore through a voiceover that sets up the premise and within half an hour, an unexpectedly high number of murders have been committed. The speed of the initial killings creates the perfect disturbing atmosphere needed to immerse a viewer and horrify them to the core.
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As far as B-grade horror filmmaking is concerned, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre not only provided the blueprint for many of the modern horror B-movies, but it remains to date the best of its kind. It is the best summer horror movie. The use of colors to subconsciously affect the viewer’s mind into becoming more susceptible to the scares, and the use of a barren backdrop where death feels inevitable, guarantee an uncomfortable viewing experience that any horror aficionado will enjoy. While it’s not a typical slasher film, Texas Chain Saw Massacre also arguably features the first final girl ever.
1 Not Scary: The Sixth Sense (1999)
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
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8/10 7.3/10 The Sixth Sense PG-13ThrillerDramaHorrorMystery
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense is a psychological thriller about a young boy who can see and communicate with ghosts. Bruce Willis as Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist who tries to help Cole, played by Haley Joel Osment, while grappling with his own personal demons. The movie features a twist ending that has become iconic in pop culture.
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*Availability in US Director M. Night Shyamalan Release Date August 6, 1999 Studio(s) Disney Distributor(s) Disney , Dimension Films Writers M. Night Shyamalan Cast Bruce Willis , Toni Collette , Haley Joel Osment , Olivia Williams , Donnie Wahlberg Runtime 107 minutes Expand
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Featuring perhaps the most spoiled movie twist of all time, The Sixth Sense feels less like a horror movie and more like a mystery thriller. It is arguably Shyalaman’s Magnum Opus, but the horror element barely manages to scare viewers today. Instead, Bruce Willis’ brilliant performance, the masterfully composed slow-burn that builds up to the famous twist at the end, and the cinematography that adds suspense to the setting, interest viewers today.
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The film isn’t devoid of horror, of course, as it features a few jumpscares, and the atmosphere is decidedly creepy, but the eeriness mostly ups the suspense instead of the fear. The Sixth Sense isn’t a classic horror movie in the sense that its horror elements don’t necessarily hold up today, but as a suspense thriller, it’s iconic. The Sixth Sense has scary scenes, though, the film uses the aspects typical of a horror film to build anticipation in the viewers regarding the mystery that the protagonist has set out to solve.
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