Here we’ve preserved Katie Ward’s’s short reviews of awesome horror movies, removed at various points from different streaming service guides. Click on each title to check out where the films are available to stream right now.
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
A spin-off, of sorts, of JJ Abram’s 2008 found footage monster movie, 10 Cloverfield Lane tells a vastly different kind of horror story as it follows a young woman who is abducted after an accident and held captive by a man who believes that the earth has been rendered uninhabitable by a cataclysmic event. Part abduction drama, part sci fi thriller, Dan Trachtenberg’s directorial debut riffs on its source material to create a creepy, claustrophobic and deeply compelling horror.
Alone (2020)
This stripped-back, unbearably suspenseful little chiller flew under the radar when it was released in 2020, yet for horror fans it remains a must-see. Following a young woman (Jules Willcox) who gets abducted in the midst of a cross-country move, Alone’s minimalist cat-and-mouse story is all the more gripping for its quiet, creeping restraint. With excellent performances from Willcox and Marc Menchaca as her single-minded assailant, this hidden gem is top-tier horror.
Annabelle: Creation (2017)
The prequel to 2014’s Annabelle and the fourth installment in The Conjuring franchise, Annabelle: Creation tells the origin story of everyone’s favourite evil haunted doll. Following a pair of bereaved parents who trap their deceased daughter’s spirit in a porcelain doll, this unorthodox grieving strategy goes badly wrong. And when the couple open their doors to a group of orphans, they discover some toys should be off-limits.
As Above, So Below (2014)
Claustrophobia is taken to its creepiest extreme in this unexpectedly chilling found footage horror. Following an intrepid group of documentarians exploring the off-limit tunnels of the Paris Catacombs in search of long-lost artifacts, their search quickly turns sour when they take a wrong turn and get blocked in—with no choice but to continue down into the depths of the earth. Scary, silly and satisfyingly escapist, As Above, So Below is an underappreciated horror gem.
The Babadook (2014)
A pioneer in the early days of “elevated horror”, The Babadook does what few in that subgenre have managed to do since: scare the living daylights out of people. Following a desperate single Aussie mum caring for her incredibly difficult young son, things take a turn for the worse when a sinister story book appears in their house, telling the tale of the titular baddie. Dread filled and incredibly scary, Jennifer Kent’s directorial debut is a modern genre classic.
Few films have quite managed to balance visceral terror and nuanced storytelling like Aussie chiller The Babadook. A single mother, at her wits’ end caring for her difficult young son, makes the mistake of reading him a sinister storybook that mysteriously appears on the shelf. Soon both are consumed with fear and paranoia that the book’s goulish protagonist is very real—and drawing closer. Deceptively simple and truly frightening, Jennifer Kent’s debut film is already a cult horror classic.
Better Watch Out (2016)
Have you ever wondered what it might be like if Home Alone showed the gruesome reality of all Kevin’s diabolical pranks? Following a teen babysitter Ashley (Olivia DeJonge), whose evening minding 12-year-old Luke is interrupted by a home invasion, Better Watch Out takes this concept and runs with it, delivering a surprisingly twisted Christmas horror that genre fans don’t need to wait until December to enjoy.
The Black Phone (2021)
Scott Derrickson’s 2021 adaptation of Joe Hill’s short story of the same name follows a preteen boy, Finney (Mason Thames), who falls victim to a local kidnapper known as The Grabber (Ethan Hawke)—a revolting, pitiful man who has already killed a number of Finney’s unlucky peers. Hawke may never remove the grotesque mask he wears, yet his presence is one of chilling menace—an all too real embodiment of evil that won’t soon be forgotten.
Black Sheep (2006)
Jonathan King’s quintessentially Kiwi 2006 tale of a lad terrified of sheep—and whose fears turn out to be justified—is New Zealand horror comedy at its best. Employing B-movie madness and some truly revolting moments of grotesque violence, Black Sheep’s take on the zombie movie is both hilarious and horrifying. Featuring a bevy of Aotearoa’s best talent and demonstrating our affinity for pitch-black humour, Black Sheep is a hidden gem for genre fans.
Blair Witch (2016)
If Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 taught us anything, it’s that some films—like the 1999 found footage cult classic—shouldn’t have a sequel. So when, in 2016, a new Blair Witch film was announced, it seemed as doomed as a trio of documentary filmmakers heading out into the woods. In the hands of director Adam Wingard, however, the film surprised everyone, delivering an atmosphere thick with dread and several very effective scares.
Candyman (2021)
Released nearly 20 years after the infamously scary film of the same name, 2021’s Candyman is nevertheless a direct sequel to Bernard Rose’s 1992 original—and with some timely updates and pitch-black humour, delivers a smart new take on the story’s mythology. Co-written by Jordan Peele and starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as a young artist who becomes obsessed with the titular urban legend, this thoughtful, provocative film makes a bold statement.
The Conjuring
The first film in the wildly successful Conjuring franchise, director James Wan’s perfectly crafted and extraordinarily effective haunted house horror is one of the best ghost movies in modern cinema. The purportedly real-life case of a haunting investigated by paranormal experts Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring is the gold standard of mainstream horror and is extremely creepy, even after multiple viewings.
The Conjuring films are perhaps the most critically and commercially successful modern horror franchise—and all are currently available on Netflix. The first in the series follows paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) as they assist a family who’s newly acquired farmhouse appears to be haunted. Directed by horror maestro James Wan, The Conjuring is a masterclass in old-school scares and pure entertainment.
The Conjuring 2 (2016)
2016’s sequel to The Conjuring sees Ed and Lorraine head to merry old England, to investigate more ghostly goings-on. With Wan again at the helm, the film surprised everyone by being just as scary as the original. Following a family grappling with a poltergeist—or is it all a hoax?—The Conjuring 2 puts a fresh spin on its haunted subject matter and keeps the scares coming in droves.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2020)
For the third film in The Conjuring franchise, Wan bowed out as director. While replacement Michael Chaves doesn’t quite have his predecessor’s magic touch, The Devil Made Me Do It nevertheless features genuine scares and takes the now familiar characters in a much-needed new direction. Inspired by the real-life story of an accused murderer laiming demonic possession, Ed and Lorraine head to the courtroom to determine whether evil is in fact a legal defense.
Come Play (2020)
Following a family as their son becomes consumed by an app on his smartphone, “Misunderstood Monsters”, one could describe Come Play (not inaccurately) as The Babadook but with an e-reader. Yet this story of a couple (Gillian Jacobs and John Gallagher Jr.) trying to care for their non-verbal autistic son has its own brand of bad vibes to offer, along with some deliciously spooky, surprisingly sinister scares.
Utilising the creepy potential of our dependence on technology, Come Play follows Oliver, a non-verbal autistic boy, whose loneliness is alleviated when a mysterious entity starts interacting with him on his smartphone. Unfortunately for Oliver – and his increasingly terrified parents – ‘Larry’ is not as friendly as he at first seems. Turning a family crisis into nightmare fuel, Come Play is a creepy, entertaining little chiller in a similar vein to The Babadook.
Coming Home in the Dark (2021)
Based on the 1995 Owen Marshall short story of the same name, this brutal little chiller is not for the faint of heart. But for those willing to brave it, Coming Home in the Dark is one of the most confronting pieces of New Zealand cinema in years. An exciting debut for director James Ashcroft and featuring an extraordinary performance from local legend Daniel Gillies, this sad, scary story will stay with you long after the end credits roll.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2020)
Since 2013, The Conjuring films have a chokehold on modern horror like no other franchise—and with every new instalment comes a piece of perfectly crafted, blood-curdlingly creepy new cinema. The Devil Made Me Do It, the third Conjuring film, is no exception, joining paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) as they investigate a murder at the hands of a man claiming to be demonically possessed.
Crimes Of The Future (2022)
The latest from David Cronenberg, Crimes Of The Future sees the body horror master doing what he does best in a tale about transformations, mutations, and surgery as performance art. Starring Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux and Kristen Stewart as a trio in a love triangle like no other, this elegant and provocative film also has a healthy sense of humour, revelling in the goofiness of its central conceit.
Crimson Peak (2015)
From the ever-inventive Guillermo del Toro comes ghostly, gothic romance Crimson Peak, following a young bride Edith (Mia Wasikowska) who travels to join her new husband (Tom Hiddleston) and his very frosty sister (Jessica Chastain) at their remote mansion in the English countryside. Delightfully creepy and visually stunning, this clever take on haunted house tropes has everything fans of classic horror will love.
Culture Shock (2019)
Released as an episode of Blumhouse’s Into The Dark anthology series—which sees up-and-coming filmmakers commissioned to direct feature length horror films, each inspired by a different holiday—Culture Shock is widely considered the best of the series, and a piece of cinematic brilliance in its own right. Following a heavily pregnant woman (Martha Higareda) trying to cross the Mexican border, director Gigi Saul Guerrero’s July 4th themed chiller is as smart as it is scary.
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
A remake of George A. Romero’s 1978 horror film of the same name, Zack Snyder’s directorial debut changed the game for zombie films, reinvigorating the genre for a new generation with this spine-chillingly visceral horror masterpiece. Featuring a top-tier, surprisingly eclectic ensemble cast including Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber, and Mekhi Phifer, Dawn of the Dead became the modern blue-print for undead diehards—and remains as effectively nightmarish as ever.
Dead Silence (2007)
Criminally underappreciated on its release, Dead Silence may not be high art—but who needs that when you have James Wan, Leigh Whannell, Donnie Wahlberg, and a horde of haunted murderous ventriloquist dummies in the mix? Directed by Wan and written by Whannell in an early collaboration between the horror maestros, this gleefully silly movie may not have got much love when it came out, but has more recently been (rightly) recognised as a cult classic.
Devil (2010)
Getting stuck in a lift is no one’s idea of a good time—but what about being stuck in a lift with THE DEVIL? That’s exactly what happens to a few unlucky souls in this silly, schlocky, super fun little chiller. Co-written by the master of schlocky, silly fun himself, M. Night Shyamalan, Devil pairs a classic Agatha Christie whodunnit set up with something a bit more sinister, to create a deliciously demonic experience.
Don’t Breathe (2016)
Clocking in at a succinct 88 minutes, Don’t Breathe’s twisted tale of a trio of Detroit delinquents desperate for a bit of cash, is one of the tightest, tensest horrors in years. Staging a robbery at the house of a wealthy blind man, the teen’s plan seems foolproof—until a grisly discovery reveals that they dangerously underestimated who they are dealing with. Dark, disturbing and deliciously suspenseful, Don’t Breathe is so much more than a home invasion movie.
A horror-lover’s horror, Don’t Breathe is so much darker and more disturbing than its premise initially suggests. A trio of Detroit delinquents desperate for a bit of cash think they’ve hit the jackpot when they stage a robbery at the house of a wealthy blind man. When a grisly discovery throws a spanner in the works, however, it becomes clear that they’ve dangerously underestimated who they are dealing with. Clocking in at a succinct 88 minutes, Don’t Breathe is taught and wonderfully sick horror. – Katie Parker
Escape Room (2019)
A group of strangers are selected to compete in a mysterious series of escape rooms with the promise of a fabulous cash prize—only to discover that the penalty for failure is death! Not great odds given the reward is only $10k. Drawing on the legacy of films like Cube and Saw, Escape Room is good cheesy fun, elevated by a great cast and exhilarating, innovatively sadistic puzzles for the unlucky escapees to solve.
Escape Room 2: Tournament of Champions (2020)
The follow up to 2019’s delightfully silly (yet surprisingly scary) Escape Room, this happily diverting sequel takes the premise to a whole new level as past winners of the Minos Corporation’s “sole survivor” escape rooms are brought back to undergo the ordeal all over again. With our favourite escapees Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, and Deborah Ann Woll returning, and Orphan‘s Isabelle Fuhrman joining the cast, Tournament of Champions revels in its own wackiness to wonderful effect.
Event Horizon (1997)
Following the crew of a rescue craft as they set out to locate a missing starship, Paul W. S. Anderson’s film was under-appreciated in its time, but today is rightfully recognised as a cult classic. Featuring Sam Neill in one of the creepiest scenes to ever emerge from the sci-fi genre, Event Horizon remains an endlessly eerie ride and an unmissable genre triumph. After all: where we’re going, we won’t need eyes to see.
The Exorcist (1973)
William Friedkin’s 1973 film is beyond mere classic: it is, as they say, the blueprint. With its influence still heavily felt today, The Exorcist’s story of a young girl (Linda Blair) possessed by a demonic entity—and the various shenanigans that leads to—is no less impactful. No matter how many parodies, homages or ripoffs we may all have now been exposed to, remains as visceral, unnerving and frightening as ever.
Final Destination (2000)
With elevated horror beginning to wear out its welcome, it’s no wonder many of us have started craving the fun, gimmicky movies from the 2000s—and few evoke as much nostalgia as Final Destination. The story of a group of teens hunted by death after a lucky escape from a plane crash, the film’s deliciously inventive death scenes are the ultimate antidote for anyone who feels the genre has got a little bit too pretentious.
Final Destination 5 (2011)
While the fifth instalment in a franchise is not often known for being one of the best, Final Destination 5 is that rare exception that proves the rule. Once again following a group of teens who, after surviving a tragedy, discover that they cannot in fact escape death, director Steven Quale imbues well-worn territory with new zest, crafting gleefully innovative death scenes and finishing things off with a surprisingly canny twist.
The Final Girls (2015)
Things go awry for Max (Taissa Farmiga) and her friends (Alexander Ludwig, Nina Dobrev and Alia Shawkat) when they watch 80’s slasher flick Camp Bloodbath, in which her late mum (Malin Akerman) was the star. Sucked into the world of the film, they too become prey for a knife-wielding maniac. Unfairly overlooked on release in 2015, The Final Girls is a hidden gem that deserves to be discovered.
The Forever Purge (2021)
The Purge franchise has come a long way since the first film debuted in 2013. The Forever Purge, the fifth instalment in the series, continues to interrogate the idea of crime without punishment. This time following a group of people attempting to escape from the US after an insurrectionist movement runs rampant, The Forever Purge dives headfirst into sensitive issues—and as ever, pulls no punches in its critique of real-world politics.
Freaky (2020)
The slasher film meets the body swap trope in this fun, gender-bending horror comedy, in which a male serial killer known as the Blissfield Butcher swaps bodies with a teenage girl. Silly, surprisingly gory, and scary if you count the scene where Vince Vaughn makes out with a teen boy, Freaky is the kind of fun horror teen horror movie you wish they’d make more of.
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
Directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino, this action-horror is now a veritable cult classic—and while it spawned a slew of sequels, prequels and even a video game, nothing can beat the original. Starring Harvey Keitel, George Clooney and Juliette Lewis alongside Tarantino himself, this story of a pair of criminal brothers holding a family hostage pairs pulpy crime drama with vampire genre fare in a shockingly violent, wildly entertaining B-movie.
Get Out (2017)
If you haven’t seen Jordan Peele’s critically acclaimed directorial debut, there’s never been a better time, as this modern classic somehow only grows more potent—and terrifying—with time. Taking the already spine-chilling experience of a weekend with the in-laws and turning it into a scathing critique of cynical white liberalism, Get Out changed the game for the genre, instantly establishing Peele as one of the best horror directors of our time.
Girl on the Third Floor (2019)
Perhaps one of the yuckiest horrors available on Netflix, Girl on the Third Floor puts a fresh spin on the haunted house genre with an added emphasis on bodily fluids. Following expectant father Don as he attempts to renovate an old house and redeem himself from a sordid past, it soon becomes clear the house has other plans—and some unpleasant stuff hiding within. A compelling ghost story, Girl on the Third Floor gives us gloriously gooey special effects.
Goosebumps (2015)
Fans of R.L Stine’s Goosebumps books will remember that, despite being written for children, they really were very creepy. 2015’s meta adaptation of the books masters a similar tone, pairing spooky goings-on with kid friendly fun. Starring Jack Black as a fictionalized version of Stine fighting to save his hometown after the monsters of the Goosebumps franchise escape from his books, Goosebumps is a fun, family friendly horror ideal for nostalgic millennials.
Halloween Kills (2020)
The horror franchise to end all horror franchises, Halloween has a long legacy—which was revived once again in 2018 to unexpected acclaim. Halloween Kills, the sequel to that reboot, continues to add renewed zest to a series as old as the hills. Injecting new life with a playful, self-referential sense of humour, while remaining loyal to the Halloween spirit, this fan-pleasing installation is as brutal as a night spent with Michael Myers should be.
Happy Death Day (2017)
Comedy-horror is such a hard subgenre to get right. But when that happens, as it does in 2017’s Happy Death Day, it is a glorious thing. A classic Groundhog Day-esque time loop tale in which a college girl is murdered repeatedly on her birthday, only to wake up each time to start the day anew again, Christopher Landon’s film is funny, frightening and so much fun.
Head Count (2019)
A surprisingly atmospheric and suspenseful take on a creepypasta-esque plot, Elle Callahan’s directorial debut flips from fun to freaky in the blink of an eye. Following a group of college kids whose party weekend in the desert is derailed when they realise someone—or something—has joined them, Head Count is a welcome return to the urban legend teen movie tropes of yore.
Hereditary (2018)
Throw as many ghosts and monsters on the screen as you want—for whatever reason, there really is nothing as terrifyingly inescapable as one’s own family. Few films understand this as well as Ari Aster’s extraordinary debut Hereditary, which takes family tragedy to places that usually exist only in our nightmares. Featuring one of Toni Collette’s most shattering performances, Hereditary is a masterclass in modern horror.
Hush (2016)
Sometimes all you want is a good, old fashioned, stuck-in-a-secluded-house-with-a-psychopath movie, and Hush delivers—with a twist! Deaf author Maddie is working away on her novel in her house in the woods when a masked man shows up with a bow and arrow and some not very nice plans. Another from horror hot-shot director Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep), Hush’s simple set-up is executed with careful, crisp precision and squirm-inducing suspense.
I Am Legend (2008)
Loosely based on Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel of the same name, I Am Legend tells the tale of the sole surviving resident of New York (Will Smith), after humans are wiped out by a (*gulp*) pandemic. He’s not all alone though, and the lucky few who weren’t killed by the virus are now vampiric, albino, cannibalistic mutants. Dark, deep and a little bit close to home, I Am Legend sees Smith at his best.
Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)
James Wan’s follow up to his mega-scary supernatural horror Insidious, the sequel proves once again why he is one of the best horror directors of modern cinema. Joining the Lambert family once more as they discover that their horrific ordeal is not yet over, Wan finds new and inventive ways to imbue even the most innocent moments with unease—and brings the full force of his command of horror with every incredible scare.
Interview With The Vampire (1994)
For fans of a more cerebral brand of scares, Neil Jordan’s 1994 adaptation of Anne Rice’s 1976 novel is a suitably dark and brooding gothic tale of bloodlust, bromance and the boredom inherent in eternal life. Starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt (at the time both bonafide heartthrobs) and launching the career of a then 12-year-old Kirsten Dunst, Interview With The Vampire is a highbrow horror classic about what it’s like to be emo…forever.
In the Earth (2021)
Written and directed in 15 days at the peak of pandemic paranoia, Ben Wheatley’s 2021 folk horror about a scientist and park ranger venturing into the woods in the middle of a virus outbreak was a return form for the director—and a rare COVID era horror to completely nail that very familiar feeling of fear. Darkly funny and deeply creepy, this film’s bleak, buzzy, and incredibly entertaining.
Midsommar (2019)
Go to Sweden, they said. Celebrate the solstice with pagan rituals, they said. It’ll be fun, they said! Midsommar cemented Ari Aster as a modern horror auteur with his tale of a summer holiday gone horribly wrong. Set in the eternal sunshine of the nightless Swedish wilderness, this darkly humorous and delightfully perverse film leads to the kind of cathartic conclusion that horror lovers dream of.
Jaws (1975)
Nearly 50 years since Steven Spielberg filmed a fake shark thrashing around in his swimming pool, people are still afraid of going in the water—and that’s the power of cinema, baby. A classic in the truest sense of the word, Jaws remains a blueprint for the horror genre, spawning a legacy (along with several ill advised sequels) that endures only because that shark really was pretty scary.
Last Night in Soho (2020)
Starring New Zealand’s own Thomasin McKenzie alongside the gambit queen herself Anya Taylor Joy, Edgar Wright’s trippy, time bending 2021 psychological horror blends genres to stunning effect. Following an awkward design student as she tries to acclimatise to a new life in London, things go awry as she becomes increasingly obsessed with visions that transport her to the city’s nightlife in the swinging 60s. Sleek, stylish and surprisingly creepy, Wright’s vision here is entirely unique.
Malignant (2021)
From James Wan, the co-creator of the Saw and Insidious franchises and the creator of The Conjuring Universe, comes the horror king’s first non-franchise film in years—and boy does it deliver. Beginning with the seemingly simple premise of a young mum-to-be (Annabelle Wallis) having prophetic visions of murders, Malignant gleefully descends into bonkers mayhem, with a dynamite twist you won’t see coming. Wan is clearly having some of the most fun he’s had in years, and so will you.
Men (2022)
Gleefully grotesque and never subtle, Alex Garland’s 2022 film following a young widow retreating to a house in the country nevertheless crystallises a horror that many scary movies touch on but few ever quite pinpoint—that of being a woman alone facing a very male world. Starring Jessie Buckley and Rory Kinnear, Men is a folk tale for the #MeToo era—and features the best and most bonkers body horror this side of Cronenberg.
The Mist (2007)
Boasting maybe the best ending of any film ever, The Mist may be looking a little bit dated in its effects but Frank Darabont’s dread inducing adaptation of Steven King’s novella is as bleakly brilliant as ever. Set primarily in a grocery store and following a bunch of shoppers who get trapped inside when a sinister mist descends, monsters abound—both outside and within—in this deliciously dark horror.
Old (2021)
Famous for coming up with outrageously wacky plots and somehow making them work, Old sees M Night Shyamalan outdo himself yet again. Following a group of guests at a resort who find themselves trapped on a beach which makes them age rapidly and prematurely, this sci-fi body horror bonanza goes to all the places you hope it will. Fun, freaky and fabulously silly, The White Lotus this is not.
Prisoners of the Ghostland (2021)
Set in the city of Samurai Town, Nicolas Cage stars as a bank robber released from jail by a warlord (Bill Moseley) to find his runaway granddaughter (Sofia Boutella)—all while wearing a leather suit that will self-destruct if he fails. Featuring a literally and figuratively explosive performance from Cage, Sion Sono’s 2021 horror western is the kind of balls-to-the-wall genre fare where he really thrives.
The Purge (2013)
There’s a reason 2013’s The Purge spawned not just a franchise, but an entire cinematic universe. Set in a world where once a year all crime becomes legal for 24 hours, it’s a high-concept sci-fi story told with simple, nail-biting suspense. Writer and director James DeMonaco’s vision of future dystopia continues to resonate across five films (and counting) plus a TV series, but it has never been better rendered than Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey’s one big crazy night.
New Year, New You (2018)
Another instalment in the Into The Dark series, this tense, twisty tale of a group of girlfriends (Suki Waterhouse, Carly Chaikin, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and Melissa Bergland) ringing in the New Year together turns female rivalry into the stuff of nightmares. Dark, complex and deliciously suspenseful, director Sophia Takal pays off a slow burn build-up with a satisfyingly biting—and bonkers—finale.
The Night House (2021)
This elegant, eerie film is as emotionally unsettling as it is unnerving in its tale of a grieving widow who begins to discover her late husband’s secrets. From up-and-coming horror maestro David Bruckner and starring modern scream queen Rebecca Hall, complex storytelling and a stunning lead performance make The Night House one of the most exciting entries to the horror genre in years.
Old (2021)
M. Night Shyamalan is famous for crafting outrageously wacky plots—and somehow making them work. 2021’s Old is no exception. Following a couple (Gael García Bernal and Vicky Krieps) on vacation with their children, the dream holiday turns into a nightmare when they find themselves trapped on a beach which makes you…old. With their bodies ageing at a rapid rate, this delightfully silly and surprisingly suspenseful film is a reliably fun and freaky watch.
A Quiet Place Part II (2020)
The follow-up to John Krasinski’s wildly popular 2018 horror debut, A Quiet Place Part II not only lived up to its predecessor but arguably outshone it. Joining the Abbott family once again—now sadly sans Mr. Abbott (Krasinski)—this nail bitingly tense horror sees them once again face down the terrifying spider-like aliens that have taken over the earth. Nerve-shredding stuff to get the heart racing, Krasinski’s franchise is a horror classic in the making.
Saw (2004)
Filmed in 18 days on a shoestring budget, James Wan and Leigh Whannell’s 2004 film pioneered so-called torture-porn cinema and kicked off a franchise that is as notorious as it is prolific. Following the victims of Jigsaw, a terminal cancer patient so bummed about his diagnosis that he spends his precious remaining time concocting diabolical ‘games’ for people who don’t show enough joie de vivre, Saw is sick, nihilistic, and contains one of the best twists cinema has seen in years.
Scary Movie
A bona fide comedy classic, Scary Movie may not be one to keep you awake at night—but, over 20 years since its release, remains a film that any horror fan worth their salt can and should appreciate. Spoofing a slew of slashers from Scream to I Know What You Did Last Summer to Halloween, the Wayans Brothers combined exquisite gross-out humour with a narrative homage so well crafted, it earns an entry on this list with ease.
Scream (2022)
The latest addition to the Scream franchise, 2022’s gleefully meta and gloriously gruesome fifth instalment defied expectations, delivering both the satire and scares the series is known for. The first of the franchise not to have been directed by the late, great Wes Craven, filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett walk a fine line between honouring a legacy and forging a fresh path, delivering a creative, crowd-pleasing take on the traditional slasher.
Shadow in the Cloud (2020)
From Kiwi filmmaker Roseanne Liang, Shadow in the Cloud combines World War II action with a good old-fashioned creature feature, as Chloë Grace Moretz’s flight officer faces off with an honest-to-god gremlin. Fun, feminist, pulpy fun, it’s as unhinged as it sounds and a total blast.
The Shallows (2016)
Stripping the tried-and-true girl vs shark genre down to its bare bones, The Shallows sees Blake Lively’s Mexico-bound surfer find herself stuck on a rock with a Great White circling and no help in sight. High-concept and blissfully brief at just 86 minutes, Jaume Collet-Serra’s tight, tense film milks nail-biting suspense from every moment, making it one of the leanest horror-thrillers around.
The Shining (1980)
A bonafide cinematic classic, Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Steven King’s novel of the same name may not have impressed the author: yet you’d be hard-pressed to find a horror fan not harbouring a bone-deep reverence for The Shining. The deceptively simple story of a small family falling prey to isolation and madness while looking after the eerie Overlook Hotel, Kubrick’s film has long been the subject of endless analysis, but remains as rattling and rewatchable as ever.
Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021)
A passion project of sorts for Saw superfan Chris Rock, this 2021 addition to the franchise changed up the formula somewhat, but still delivered the visceral, sadistic scares diehards adore. Starring Rock as a cop trying to track down a Jigsaw copycat, Spiral may not quite capture the grisly ghastliness of the franchise’s early, low-budget beginnings. But with Rock’s enthusiasm adding a playful energy to the action, it’s a fun, fresh take on an old favourite.
Silent Hill (2006)
Based on the super popular (and super creepy) 1999 video game of the same name, Silent Hill is a surprisingly effective adaptation, bringing the nightmarish abandoned town to life. Following a single mother searching for her missing daughter in the deserted city—and discovering that a few less-than-pleasant inhabitants remain—Silent Hill is a visually stunning, eerily atmospheric decent into a hauntingly well-realised hellscape.
Unfriended (2014)
Sick of zoom meetings? Wonder what would happen if things got a little…murdery? Following a group of teens on a Skype call that happens to take place on the anniversary of a classmate’s suicide, Unfriended gets weird when an anonymous hacker chimes in. Unfolding in real time, almost entirely through the window of a computer screen, Unfriended is among the canniest found footage movies of all time—and still remains one of cinema’s sharpest critiques of toxic online culture.
Unsane
Filmed in 10 days on an iPhone 7 Plus, Steven Soderbergh’s 2018 psychological horror Unsane is a strange mix of deadly serious and satisfyingly silly—and against the odds, it’s a cinematic experiment that works. Starring The Crown’s Claire Foy, Unsane brings to life the ultimate nightmare: what if you accidentally committed yourself to a psychiatric facility—and they wouldn’t let you leave? Schlocky yet unsettling, it’s great inspiration for all the budding iPhone auteurs out there.
The Visit (2015)
Considered something of a return-to-form for director M. Night Shyamalan after a bit of a mid-career slump, this found footage horror comedy follows a pair of siblings who travel to stay with their grandparents, who they have never met. Nana and Pop Pop, however, are pretty weird, even for old people, and the kids quickly find that they have made a big mistake. Silly yet scary with some great jump scares.
The Witch (2015)
Atmospheric, eerie, and permeated with an acute sense of dread, Robert Eggers’ acclaimed directorial debut sees a family facing sinister forces as they attempt to set up a farm on the edge of a spooky forest in 17th Century New England. As tensions rise and suspicions simmer, adolescent daughter Thomasin is suspected of witchcraft—and things only get worse from there. Genuinely chilling and deliciously satisfying, The Witch is a genre triumph.
The Witches (1990)
Based on the 1983 book of the same name by Roald Dahl, Nicolas Roeg’s 1990 film The Witches takes its source material from the mind of a children’s author—and yet remains a cult horror classic over 30 years later. Following a young boy and his grandmother who encounter a coven evil witches masquerading as ordinary women, Anjelica Huston leads this deliciously dark, witty adaptation with obvious delight.
Wolf Creek (2005)
The Australian outback is a place already rife with terror (Snakes! Spiders! Dingos! The Sun!) but this nasty little film made it an even less appealing place to find oneself stranded. Inspired by true events (!) Wolf Creek’s grindhouse-esque tale of a trio of backpackers taken captive by a sadistic Aussie weirdo, is brutal in both its realism and its unrelenting violence. Not for the faint of heart, it is nonetheless a must-see for true blue horror fans.
Wrong Turn (2021)
Cult 2003 horror Wrong Turn (and its five sequels) covered fairly traditional horror territory: arrogant city kids, some wearing clingy tank tops, arrive in the Appalachian wilderness for a spot of tramping—only to run into trouble when they fall into the hands of backwater cannibals. By some miracle though, Netflix’s reboot isn’t just a weak rehashing of the original, and actually takes the story in an outlandish new direction—plus there’s a surprisingly haunting final shot.
X (2022)
Ti West has long gone under the radar as an unsung hero of horror, but with 2022’s X, audiences finally seemed to take notice. Following a group of porn actors making a film on a rural property in Texas, things go awry when the harmless elderly lady of the farmhouse turns out to be anything but. Filmed simultaneously with prequel Pearl (in little old Aotearoa, no less), and soon to be followed by sequel MaXXXine, X is modern horror excellence.
Zodiac (2007)
While not a traditional scary movie per se, David Fincher’s 2007 film following the manhunt for the notorious Zodiac Killer nevertheless straddles the line between horror and thriller—and features moments far more chilling than even some of the most hardcore genre flicks don’t pull off. Permeated with dread and featuring Jake Gyllenhaal and Mark Ruffalo at their powerhouse best, Zodiac’s take on a horrifying true story is hard to shake.
Zombieland (2009)
Funny, gory and decidedly upbeat for a film set amidst the zombie apocalypse, this horror-comedy trades scary for snarky, in the best possible way. Starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin, and featuring a cameo from Bill Murray, this story of a unlikely team of survivors seeking sanctuary is the perfect antidote for anyone who found The Last Of Us just a little too bleak.
