Horror is incredibly difficult to perfect. Multiple films have shown terrifying promise —Lights Out,The Nun,One Missed Call— before ultimately falling short of expectations, either due to shoddy writing, over-the-top jumpscares, or even just bland storytelling. Whatever the reason, many horror films miss the mark, and while they can be scary, they are far from perfect.
However, some horror movies have come close to perfection. What makes a good horror film perfect? The atmosphere, the storytelling, the cast, and the ambiance — these are all important aspects to consider when telling a horror story. And while there are plenty of horror movies with long-standing and profitable franchises, thet are not the best in the genre necessarily. Indeed,the films that are almost perfect are the standalone films that exhibit the core principles of horror.
13’Jeepers Creepers' (2001)
Directed by Victor Salva
While Trish (Gina Philips) and Darry Jenner (Justin Long) are traveling home, they are tailgated by a truck for miles before it passes them. Believing the truck driver is dumping bodies down a large pipe, they decide to investigate and soon find themselves on the run for their lives from the mysterious creature.
Jeepers Creepersis not talked about often enough; some feel as though the movie embarks like a slow trip. While some scenes may feel unnecessarily long,which might be due to the rewrite in the third act, they build up the tension of the mysterious creature that had no face or name. The ominous message further establishes an unsettling feeling among viewers. Although somewhat unpolished,Jeepers Creepersis a near-perfect B-movie, satisfied with offering the sort of thrills expected from it.
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12’Talk to Me' (2023)
Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou
Mia (Sophie Wilde) is a high schooler who spends a lot of time with her best friend’s family ever since her mother passed away. Mia and her best friend Jade (Alexandra Jensen) attend a possession party, where a cursed sculpted hand allows everyone to get temporarily possessed and undergo an out-of-body experience. When the friends partake in the possession party again, things go wrong.
Talk to Meis a unique film that viewers will undoubtedly enjoy. This primary focus on people willing to be possessed is such a refreshing take hardly explored in horror. The horror comes from knowing the paranormal follows people around, waiting for the prime moment to possess a vulnerable body. Although it is in near-perfect form,Talk to Mesuffers from being too fast-paced during the climax, confusing both new and veteran horror fans alike.
Talk to Me
11’Sinister' (2012)
Directed by Scott Derrickson
Struggling true crime author Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) moves his family into a house where the owners were murdered by hanging. Trying to make what money he can, Ellison plans to write a biography on the murders until he finds a box of home movies that show the murders of numerous other families. Instead of turning the footage to the police, Ellison keeps the films so that he can study and investigate them, discovering evidence of demonic intervention.
Sinisteris the kind of horror film that relies solely on ambiance.It has a few great jump scaresbut mainly uses the horrifying and disturbing nature of homemade murder tapes to magnify the horror. The atmospheric tension elicits true fear in viewers, but some might agree thatthe film drags on a little longer than necessary, adding some unnecessary filler that slows down the pace. Still, when it comes to successfully executed atmospheric horror,Sinisterkeeps viewers on their feet.
10’The Mist' (2007)
Directed by Frank Darabont
A mysterious mist envelops a small town, trapping David Drayton (Thomas Jane), his son, and other residents inside a convenience store. Soon enough, the town learns that something dangerous exists within the mist, and David has to decide his next steps before more creatures break into the store and he and his family are sacrificed.
The Mistis an all-around beloved classic of dread withan infamously bleak endingthat has cemented its legacy among horror aficionados. It reveals some of the horrifying creatures that have appeared through the portal, but many others, hidden through the fog and revealed only in silhouettes, are left to the viewer’s imagination. Other films do this, but seldom as successfully.The Mistis the perfect execution of using the viewers' imagination to horrify them.
9’The Autopsy of Jane Doe' (2016)
Directed by Andre Øvredal
When a woman’s dead body is found unharmed, Austin Tilden (Emile Hirsch) and his father, Tommy (Brian Cox), are asked to perform an autopsy. As they dig deeper into her cause of death, they begin to find odd things, such as her tongue being cut out and scars on the inside of her skin, and eerie things begin to happen.
The Autopsy of Jane Doe, though not super popular, is the perfect culmination of ambiance and atmosphere. Its lack of popularity stems fromthe somewhat confusing plot, as it takes a revisit to fully enjoy the film and its foreshadowing. Taking place in a morgue, the setting itself is terrifying simply because there are key components to making a frightening film: dead bodies, long and quiet corridors, isolation from the rest of the world, and the ringing bells that something supernatural is luring.The Autopsy of Jane Doeuses its setting to its complete and utter advantage, and viewers will need to look both ways down a hall before entering one.
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8’Signs' (2002)
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Graham Hess (Mel Gibson), a retired priest, lives on a farm with his brother Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix), daughter Bo (Abigail Breslin), and son Morgan (Rory Culkin). Six months earlier, his wife Colleen (Patricia Kalember) was tragically killed in a car accident, leading to a loss of faith. One day, crop circles appear on the farm and in several other locations across the globe. Soon, weirder things begin to happen, including mysterious figures on the farm, and the world is invaded by aliens.
Signsis one of those subtle horror storiesand one ofM. Night Shyamalan’s best movies. Small instances, like the dark figures appearing throughout the farm in the film, add to the overall eeriness that creeps up on viewers. The real horror strikes when the film picks up the pace and reveals an alien’s appearance at a video-recorded birthday party, a scene that has shocked and frightened many viewers since the film’s release. A product of its time,Signsmight look a little cheap compared to other films. Still, the little moments of build-up really scare viewers and make the watch all the more worth it.
7'Hereditary' (2018)
Directed by Ari Aster
Sometime after the death of Annie Graham’s (Toni Collette) mother, her son Peter (Alex Wolff) goes to a party, taking his younger sister Charlie (Milly Shapiro) with him. Following another unexpected death, the family tries to cope with Charlie’s death while seemingly haunted by a vengeful spirit.
Hereditaryis a disturbingly shocking and grotesque horror film that will both disturb viewers and intrigue them. Some may feel thatHereditaryplays too much off of classic horror films and overplayed tropes, leaving little room for an original idea. However, even if it includes many classic horror tropes, perhaps that is what makes it one of the best horror films in recent memory.Hereditarybrings viewers into familiar territory and proceeds to keep them on the edge of their seats, making for a shocking horror film that viewers will come back to.
Hereditary
6’A Quiet Place' (2018)
Directed by John Krasinski
Following an invasion of sightless aliens, a family survives on a farm by taking the necessary precautions to limit the sounds they make while grieving the loss of their youngest child. Mother Evelyn (Emily Blunt) is pregnant with a child, and husband Lee (John Krasinski) attempts to teach his remaining son Marcus (Noah Jupe) the basics of survival. Meanwhile, deaf daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds) is still haunted by guilt over her brother’s death.
A Quiet Placedoes something very few movies do and accomplish relying on the quietness of life. Though most horror films rely on loud sounds, this film relies on its silence to tell a story. It’s just an all-around great movie that places its stakes in emotional depth, and the horror of losing family makes this film even more horrific. However, while the sound production is stellar,A Quiet Placestruggles with its in-world logic, creating some confusing plot points that can sometimes feel a bit distracting. Still, those flaws can be disregarded,thanks to the memorable monstersand enveloping atmospheric horror.
A Quiet Place
5’It' (2017)
Directed by Andy Muschietti
One ofStephen King’s most famous stories comes to the big screen inAndy Muschietti’s 2017 horror hitIt. Part supernatural horror, part coming-of-age drama, the film follows a group of children, collectively known as the Losers Club, who must find a way to stop a dangerous and ancient entity that preys on kids by taking the form of a sinister clown, Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård).
Itbenefits from brilliant casting. Each member of the Losers Club is quite good at conveying an out-of-place and isolated feeling while sharing strong chemistry that makes their bond feel more real. Meanwhile,Bill Skarsgård is outstanding as Pennywise, capturing the uncanny feeling of such an ancient creature and creating a horror icon for the modern age.Itis strongest when focusing on the Losers and their interactions with Pennywise. However,the creatures and monsters that haunt the kids are over-designedand not scary at all, and there is not enough Pennywise throughout the story.
4’The Others' (2001)
Directed by Alejandro Amenábar
Oscar-winnerNicole Kidmandelivers one of the best performances of her illustrious career inAlejandro Amenábar’s psychological horror filmThe Others. Kidman plays Grace Stewart, a woman waiting for her husband to return from the war while caring for her two photosensitive children in a remote country house. When a trio of new servants arrive, Grace and her children begin experiencing supernatural phenomena.
The Othersis a haunting and atmospheric horror storythat prefers slow-burning chills to jumpscares or overt declarations of horror. Kidman is phenomenal in the leading role, embodying the desperation and frustration of a woman detached from the world, endlessly waiting for news that may never come. Furthermore, the twist is actually surprising and effective, largely thanks to Kidman and her co-stars.It suffers from pacing issues, and its firm commitment to silent storytelling can get overwhelming, butThe Othersremains a near-flawless entry into the gothic horror genre.
