Recently we talked about our Top 10 Classic Horror Movies to Watch This Halloween, but now it’s time to go through the more recent ones that may eventually also become classics.
The movies aren’t in any particular order of preference or date, so just pick them out and have fun. Happy Halloween!
The Descent (2005)
IMDB | Rated 85% on Rotten Tomatoes
We follow a caving expedition of a few women who are trying to cheer up a friend, but what they find in an unexplored cave is more than just the usual kind of unpleasant. Claustrophobia plays a big part here - characters are often squeezing through terribly enclosed spaces in desperation, but the action is just as important, being just as frenetic and violent as you would expect in a situation like this. But the best thing is how these women fight for their lives without the help of ANY man.
[REC] (2007)
IMDB | Rated 90% on Rotten Tomatoes
This movie scared the bejesus out of me. A big part of is that before starting, I had no idea what it was about - not even that it was a horror movie. It starts very innocently, so much so that I couldn’t tell it was a horror movie until later on - and when things got real, my defenses were completely down. I’m fine now, but it was traumatizing at the time. Not seeing trailers or reading about a movie can lead you to amazing experiences such as this one.
There were four sequels made after this one, and an american remake. The sequels are mostly serviceable, but lack the first movie’s mystery and tension, to the point of getting silly. And the remake is horrible - it copies the original almost shot per shot, adding NOTHING new - except it’s more confusing and not scary.
Let The Right One In (2008)
IMDB | Rated 98% on Rotten Tomatoes
More of a drama/romance, but the spice of horror is what makes all the difference. A little boy falls in love with a vampire who looks roughly the same age he does. Their weird relationship is both touching and unsettling, and you can’t help but want to see where it’s going. Also, there is one scene near the end I guarantee you will never forget - you’ll know which one when you see it.
An american remake was made in 2010, retitled to Let Me In. It’s a decent flick on its own right, but like most remakes, it’s simply not necessary.
Martyrs (2008)
IMDB | Rated 52% on Rotten Tomatoes
Easily the most divided out of all the movies on this list. The Rotten Tomatoes verdict is the lowest one, but just for the sake of context, this movie was also called “the greatest horror film of the 21st century.” What do I think? Well, I can clearly see where a lot of people would have trouble with it - it’s brutal. Absolutely brutal. But far from being a torture-porn mess, it’s actually surprisingly ambitious - it pulled the rug on me every 20 minutes with a new direction, and there are at least two moments near the end that I can say were some of the most disturbing imagery I have ever seen in any movie. I’ve seen it only once when it came out and never forgot about those horrible moments. And to me at least, that counts as a good thing.
Surprise, surprise, there was a remake made in 2015. I haven’t seen it, nor do I intend to.
It Follows (2015)
IMDB | Rated 97% on Rotten Tomatoes
It’s not without its flaws, but DAMN was it good to see a classy, well-directed, original idea made into horror. The premise is simple: a teenage girl contracts a different kind of STD from a one night stand - an entity that literally follows her, non-stop, until it gets to her. The movie is brimming with suspense, because you know at all times, no matter where she is, that thing is slowly creeping closer - the problem is that you rarely know how close it is, what it will look like, and WHY.
The Babadook (2014)
IMDB | Rated 98% on Rotten Tomatoes
A lot of people were disappointed at The Babadook for not having a silly monster that provides jumpscares, but considering what they got was a deep horror story with layers of subtext dealing with real horrors like depression, grief and guilt, I’d say these people are very ungrateful and don’t understand what good horror is. But what do I know? You should see it for yourself!
Triangle (2009)
IMDB | Rated 82% on Rotten Tomatoes
This is a lost gem. The structure is incredibly complex and allows for multiple viewings, leading to several different interpretations and discoveries. If you haven’t seen it, don’t make any research, don’t see any trailers - just get it anywhere you can, and watch it right now. Be ready for some mind-bending horror - and thank me later.
A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
IMDB | Rated 85% on Rotten Tomatoes
God damn this movie. Seriously. There I was watching an interesting horror movie and getting all into the story when out of nowhere they give me the creepy girl with wet hair - my biggest fear. But even without that particular God forsaken element, it would still be a terrifying movie. The atmosphere is almost unbearable, the soundtrack is upsetting, and the twists and turns of the story only add to the horror.
There was an American remake - is that even a surprise anymore? This one was retitled The Uninvited and it’s actually quite alright, but again, not really necessary, since it doesn’t add or change much of anything. Stick to the original.
The Witch (2016)
IMDB | Rated 91% on Rotten Tomatoes
Easily the best horror movie I’ve seen this year, because I love movies that favor atmosphere instead of cheap scares. The Witch is slow, sad, cold and very unsettling. Of course, the slower pace has led some to claim this was nothing but a borefest - something I strongly disagree with - but I guess you’ll have to see it and decide for yourself. The soundtrack alone scares me enough, and if you think I’m joking, listen to this and tell me you don’t want to look behind you:
The Evil Dead (2013)
IMDB | Rated 61% on Rotten Tomatoes
The Evil Dead remake is an exception within a sea of unnecessary remakes - produced by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, respectively, the creator and star of the original series, the movie gives new blood Fede Alvarez the chance to do everything they couldn’t at the time due to budget limitations. The set up is fast and simple, the demons are scarily obscene, the gore is as graphic as ever, and even some of the campy humor is sprinkled here and there. The only major flaw is the acting, which is a little choppy sometimes, but luckily the main role is filled by the great Jane Levy, who totally KILLS in every scene she’s in. No pun intended.
Shutter (2004)
IMDB | Rated 56% on Rotten Tomatoes
Don’t let the weirdly low rating trick you. Maybe you won’t be as surprised as I was at the time (in 2004), because since then, there was an American remake (*sigh*) and many movies and games copying these scares. And it’s precisely because it’s so under appreciated that I say it deserves a shot. Believe me, there are some phenomenal scares here, not the kind that settles for making a loud noise and calling it a day. There is a silent scare on the first act that still makes me pee a little every time I see it.
Goodnight Mommy (2014)
IMDB | Rated 86% on Rotten Tomatoes
Perhaps the most commercially unappealing of this list - Goodnight Mommy is way slower than your traditional horror movie, but it’s worth noting it was a deliberate choice, not a mistake. The trailer for this movie was considered the scariest trailer of all time last year, but I strongly suggest you skip it - it’s scary for sure, but it’s very misleading on the movie’s true intentions. If you’re curious, I suggest going straight to the actual movie - just be prepared for a different rhythm.
Don’t Breathe (2016)
IMDB | Rated 87% on Rotten Tomatoes
Maybe not the best script ever, but man, what a tense ride this is. Fede Alvarez (from The Evil Dead remake) once again shows his great talent behind the camera and delivers on an incredibly tense movie with sublime sound design and great attention to detail - with a few sins, but no movie is ever perfect, right? Oh yeah, and it comes with another great performance by Jane Levy, who seems to be in as much trouble as her character sometimes.
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