While the horror genre is often wrongly considered a cheaper or lower form of art, it is in fact home to some of cinema’s most inventive and striking filmmaking. Many highly acclaimed directors, fromKubricktoHitchcock,have produced some of their greatest masterpieces in the horror genre, taking advantage of the incredible freedom the genre affords.
Few aspects of horror filmmaking are more important than crafting the perfect atmosphere. From the cinematography to the pacing to the musical stings, creating a strong atmosphere is often essential to generate effective scares and disturb audiences, as well as ensuring the film is memorable and engaging. Taking all of this into account, these are our picks for the 10 most atmospheric horror films.
10’Lake Mungo' (2008)
Directed by Joel Anderson
Lake Mungois a 2008 Australianmockumentary horror filmwritten and directed byJoel Andersoninhis only feature to date. Presented infound footage style, the film follows a suburban family after the mysterious death of their 16-year-old daughter Alice (Talia Zucker). Believing their house to be haunted, the family begin to investigate the events surrounding Alice’s death and uncover horrifying secrets that completely recontextualize the tragedy.
Considered one of thesaddest horror films ever made, every moment ofLake Mungois saturated with the heavy feeling of grief. From its muted color palette to its wonderfully deliberate and slow pacing, every aspect of the film is designed to evoke feelings of melancholy and subtle, creeping discomfort before it culminates in one of the horror genre’smost existentially terrifying twists. Underrated among general audiences,Lake Mungois beloved by horror fans due to its incredible atmosphere.
Lake Mungo
Lake Mungocan be streamed on Apple TV in the U.S.
Rent on Apple TV
9’Annihilation' (2018)
Directed by Alex Garland
Written and directed byAlex Garland,Annihilationis a 2018cosmic horror filmbased onJeff VanderMeer’s 2014 novel. The film follows Lena (Natalie Portman), a scientist and former soldier who is recruited to investigate an alien landscape known as ‘the Shimmer’ after her husband Kane (Oscar Isaac) returns from a similar mission in a fragile condition. Within the Shimmer, Lena and her fellow scientists discover bizarre, terrifying and beautiful mutations happening to all the organic matter within it and find themselves, similarly, becoming changed.
The film centers onthemes of grief, environmentalism and illness, exploring the ways in which people are permanently changed by their experiencesthrough the metaphor of the Shimmerand its literal mutations. The film is visually gorgeous with detailed and otherworldly sound design, making the audience feel as if they have truly stepped into an alien realm. Lovecraftian horror often relies heavily on atmosphere to convey its themes and world-building, andAnnihilationexcels in this quality.
Annihilation
Annihilationcan be streamed on Hoopla in the U.S.
Watch on Hoopla
8’Antrum' (2018)
Directed by David Amito and Michael Laicini
Directed byDavid AmitoandMichael Laicini,Antrumis a 2018 Canadian horror film with mockumentary elements. The film’s mockumentary framing device presents the story of a cursed horror film from the 1970s calledAntrumwhich allegedly led to several deaths and disasters due to its occult content. After this, the previously ‘lost’ film is presented in full, centering on a young boy and his sister as they accidentally descend through levels of Hell in an attempt to save the soul of their deceased family dog.
The film is incredibly immersivedue to the anticipation built up during its interview segments, describing the narrative film as a sinister and potentially dangerous artifact. In addition, in order to fulfill the promise of the film feeling cursed,Antrumcreates a highly unsettling atmosphere through the use of clever editing, occult symbolism, grainy visuals and unsettling sound design.Antrumis an inventive and creepy horror film with an undeniably unique atmosphere.
Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Made
Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Madecan be streamed on Apple TV in the U.S.
7’Dark Water' (2002)
Directed by Hideo Nakata
Dark Wateris a 2002 Japanese supernatural horror film directed byHideo Nakata. The film is a melancholy ghost story thatfollows a mother and daughter, Yoshimi (Hitomi Kuroki) and Ikuko (Rio Kanno), who move into an apartment affected by a chronic leak. As Yoshimi begins to notice signs of a haunting, it becomes clear that the water constantly surrounding them is supernaturally connected to the mysterious disappearance of a young girl.
Like many ofthe best Japanese horror films, including director Hideo Nakata’s incredibly successful 1998 filmRing,Dark Waterhas a pervasively spooky and unsettling atmosphere. Through its use of water imagery, the film makes both its supernatural threat and pervasive sadness feel overwhelming, constantly threatening to swallow up Yoshimi and Ikuko. Atmospheric, creepy and genuinely moving,Dark Wateris anunderrated gem of Japanese horrorcinema.
Dark Watercan be streamed on Apple TV in the U.S.
6’The Shining' (1980)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Adapted fromStephen King’s 1977 novel,The Shiningis a 1980 supernatural horror film directed byStanley Kubrick. The film follows married couple Jack (Jack Nicholson)and Wendy (Shelley Duvall) Torrance as they and their son Danny (Danny Lloyd) relocate tothe Overlook Hotelfor the winter in order for Jack to work as the caretaker. However, upon arrival, Jack’s sanity quickly begins to unravel due to supernatural influence and the reemergence of his past personal demons.
Setduring a cold winter,The Shiningmanages to leave its audience feeling chilled by both the scares and the freezing landscape surrounding the hotel. The hotel’s seemingly endless corridors and impossible geography create a disorientating atmosphere that is intensified by the claustrophobic horror of the family being isolated by their remote location and the heavy snowfall.The Shiningis acertified horror classicthat has aged like a fine wine, marking some ofKubrick’s career-best workin crafting a strong and distinct atmosphere.
The Shining
The Shiningcan be streamed on Apple TV in the U.S.
5’It Follows' (2014)
Directed by David Robert Mitchell
Image via RADiUS-TWC
It Followsis a 2014 supernatural horror film written and directed byDavid Robert Mitchell. The film follows Jay (Maika Monroe), a teenage girl who becomes afflicted with a supernatural curse that transmits through sexual contact. After being cursed by her boyfriend Hugh (Jake Weary), Jay finds herself pursued byan entity that takes different formsto stalk and eventually kill its targets unless they pass the curse on to someone else.
The filmplays off of teenage anxietiesabout relationships and casual sex to create much of its horror, using its monster as a literal representation of trauma, shame and the loss of youth. Intelligently written and terrifying, the film also shines due to its incredibly distinct atmosphere. The film takes place in an undefined time period, making use of fictional technology and lacking typical signs of the present day such as smartphones and modern media, which, alongside its strikingscore by composerDisasterpiece,givesIt Followsa very strong and dreamlike atmosphere.
It Follows
It Followscan be streamed on Netflix in the U.S.
Watch on Netflix
4’The Love Witch' (2016)
Directed by Anna Biller
Directed by Anna Biller,The Love Witchis a 2016 horror-comedy film that pays homage to 1960s cinema. The film follows Elaine (Samantha Robinson),a practicing witchwho uses her abilities to enchant men into falling in love with her. However, when handsome police officer Griff (Gian Keys) begins to investigate several mysterious deaths that are tied to her, Elaine’s passionate nature places both her and Griff in great peril.
The film explores themes of female desire, empowerment and the dynamics between men and women, applyinga feminist lensto the topics of relationships and sexuality. Paying tribute to the Technicolor era,The Love Witchishighly stylizedand visually gorgeous, making use of a rich color palette and featuring beautiful costumes and set design.The Love Witchis an original and captivating horror film with an atmosphere that, like Elaine’s love magic, is utterly intoxicating.
The Love Witch
The Love Witchcan be streamed on Mubi in the U.S.
Watch on Mubi
3’Trick ‘r Treat’ (2007)
Directed by Michael Dougherty
Trick ‘r Treatis a 2007 horror anthology film directed byMichael Doughertyin his directorial debut. The film follows four different stories taking place in the same town on Halloween night, ranging from a group of werewolves luring victims to a woodland massacre to a murderous school principal (Dylan Baker) punishing a child who broke the rules of Halloween etiquette. The stories are linked by encounters with Sam (Quinn Lord),astrangely adorable pumpkin-headed demonwho represents the Halloween holiday spirit.
One of thebest Halloween-themed horror filmsever made, every aspect ofTrick ‘r Treat’s storytelling and production design evokes the season. Featuring costume design and color grading that gorgeously emphasizes autumnal colors and enough Halloween decorations to put a Spirit Halloween to shame,Trick ‘r Treat’s pitch-perfect atmosphere makes the film a certified October classic.
Trick ‘r Treat
Trick ‘r Treatcan be streamed on Apple TV in the U.S.
2’Pulse’ (2001)
Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Written and directed by prolific horror filmmakerKiyoshi Kurosawa,Pulseis a 2001 Japanese supernaturaltech-horror film. Set in Tokyo, the film follows Michi (Kumiko Asō) and Ryosuke (Haruhiko Kato) as they contend with a growing plague of ghosts using the internet to reemerge in the physical world and capture the souls of the living. The filmexplores themes of loneliness, technological developments and the consequences of urbanization encroaching upon the natural world.
As one of the first horror films toexplore the subject of the internet,Pulselargely takes a highly pessimistic view that portrays social media as a force for isolation rather than connection. In line with this,Pulseconveys an overwhelming atmosphere of sadness and loneliness from beginning to end through its gray and sickly green color palette and harsh architecture. One of J-horror’s most atmospheric films,Pulseis a must-see for horror fans.
Pulsecan be streamed on AMC+ in the U.S.
Watch on AMC+
1’Suspiria’ (1977)
Directed by Dario Argento
Directed by acclaimed filmmakerDario Argento,Suspiriais a 1977 Italian horror film. The film follows Suzy (Jessica Harper), an American dancer who begins training at a ballet academy in Germany. However, as Suzy discovers a series of mysterious deaths and disappearances within the school, she begins to uncover a horrifying conspiracy of witchcraft and the occult.
Considered by many to be one of thegreatest international horror filmsever made,Suspiriais famouslyabsolutely gorgeous to look at. From the surreal and bold lighting choices to the theatrical staging of its dance and death sequences, the film favors creating a distinctive atmosphere over any attempt at realism. These factors combined with progressive rock bandGoblin’s iconic score and the themes of conspiracy and secrecy makeSuspiriaa wonderfully atmospheric and unique horror film.
Suspiriacan be streamed on Kanopy in the U.S.
Watch on Kanopy
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