The Halloween season may be over, but for many of us, we don't need a reason to keep watching scary movies. We get absolutely giddy at the prospect of gathering with some friends to watch a good horror movie; it doesn't matter whether we've all seen it, only one of us has, or we're all discovering it together. However, many horror movie fans, both casual and hardcore alike, may still have missed out on a couple of gems this past October. So to help transition you from post-Halloween sadness to holiday joy, here are 30 horror movies which deserve some more views and love:
1. "Near Dark" (1987)
A vampire/Western/road movie about a guy who meets girl, who turns him into a vampire and gets him entangled with a group of nomadic vampires who enjoy terrorizing and feeding off of lowlifes. The script is strong and the performances of the cast are exceptional all around, but the movie is worth a watch even for just the bar scene alone, where actor Bill Paxton gets to shine brightest as a funny yet terrifying vampire.
2. "Candyman" (1992)
A supernatural/slasher movie about a grad student working on a thesis about urban legends, which leads her to discover that one legend, that of the hook-handed Candyman, may be just too real. This may be the most aesthetically beautiful horror films of the 90's, turning the urban decay of its Chicago location into a modern-day Gothic landscape. The best part of the film though, is Tony Todd as Candyman; his voice alone will frighten and unnerve you.
3. "Jacob's Ladder" (1990)
A really trippy and disturbing movie about a man who has returned home from the Vietnam War, only to find himself either plagued by horrifying hallucinations, or the actual torment of demons. I have to emphasis that this is a really freaky movie. Seriously, it's FREAKY.
4. "Cujo" (1983)
An adaptation of the Stephen King book in which a woman and her son become trapped in their Ford Pinto by a rabid, bloodthirsty St. Bernard that is very determined to kill them. While many Stephen King adaptations fall flat or fail to live up to their book counterpart, this film does a terrific job of translating King's dark and realistic horror story to the screen.
5. "Cabin Fever" (2002)
Feature debut of famed horror director Eli Roth about a group of college kids who go to a cabin in the woods and become infected with a horrifying flesh-eating disease. This film was recently remade in what may be one of the most pointless remakes of all time, but it did allow horror fans to look back on this original film, often overlooked in favor of the director's next feature "Hostel," and appreciate it even more as a bloody fun good time.
6. "It Follows" (2015)
A supernatural chiller about a teenage girl that, after a sexual encounter, is stalked by a relentless demonic entity that can only walk after its current target. The premise for this one may seem a bit odd, but it pays off in the film in the form of high tension, genuine suspense, old-school feel, and creepy imagery. Big horror fans may know this one well, but it deserves an even bigger audience.
7. "Pumpkinhead" (1988)
A supernatural horror movie about a grieving man who seeks revenge for the accidental death of his son, resulting in the man asking a local witch for help; she agrees, and resurrects a demonic monster to kill those responsible. This movie, as advertised, has the feel of a dark fairy tale, and the title character, done with practical animatronic monster effects, is quite impressive and intimidating.
8. "The Descent" (2005)
This claustrophobic and intense horror movie follows a group of women who go spelunking in a vast cave system, only to find that they're not alone in the depths of the caverns. When seeking this gem out, make sure you watch the Unrated Director's Cut to experience it completely and as it was meant to be. Plus, that version negates the sequel, which is a very good thing.
9. "Frailty" (2001)
An unnerving psychological chiller about a man recounting his traumatic childhood in the 1970's, when his normal father one day starts murdering people that he claims God revealed to him as demons. This movie is often forgotten due to it being released around the time that Matthew McConaughey was still primarily known for bland romantic-comedies, but this film showed even then what a powerhouse actor he really is.
10. "Nosferatu the Vampyre" (1979)
A remake of the silent and unauthorized "Dracula" adaptation "Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror," this gloomy and chilling production acts as both a faithful remake of the original film and a fantastic adaptation of the book, containing what is arguably the creepiest and most tragic characterization of Count Dracula seen onscreen to this day. Besides the standard English version, there is also a version where all the actors actually speak German for added authenticity (named "Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht").
11. "Tremors" (1990)
A monster movie that expertly balances comedy with horror, it revolves around residents of a small desert town that are attacked by giant intelligent worms under the ground that are stealthily killing everyone and everything moving in the area. The first of the "Tremors" franchise, this movie still holds up as a prime example of how to do a creature feature the right way. Of the sequels, "Tremors 2: Aftershocks" is also worth checking out, but they're all enjoyable in their own way.
12. "Re-Animator" (1985)
An adaptation of the H.P. Lovecraft short story "Herbert West-Reanimator," this zombie film acts as crazy 1980's version of "Frankenstein," filled with gore, laughs, and absolute madness. There is one scene in this movie that, if you have not already seen it, will stick with you for a long time and make you actually ask "WTF am I watching?"
13. "I Saw the Devil" (2009)
A disturbing Korean revenge film about a secret agent whose wife is murdered by a serial killer, who then tracks the killer down and, instead of killing him, engages in a cat-and-mouse pursuit game with the killer as a way to torment him. The Korean revenge thriller is practically its own genre of movie, and this one does not disappoint at all in regards to its showcase of tension, emotion, and horror.
14. "The Fog" (1980)
Following the all-time classic "Halloween," director John Carpenter's next horror film was this eerie and chilling ghost tale about the phantoms of 100 year-old ship-wrecked crew, cloaked and concealed in a ghostly fog, returning to a coastal California town to seek vengeance. The acclaim of "Halloween" and "The Thing" tend to leave this Carpenter film overlooked, but it is a perfect film if you're in the mood for a classic and creepy ghost story. As a warning, avoid the 2005 remake at all costs; it's got nothing on the original.
15. "The Devil's Backbone" (2001)
A ghost story set during the end of the Spanish Civil War, it concerns a young boy who must discover the hidden truth about a boy's ghost that is haunting a war-torn orphanage. Although this film is both chilling and creepy because of the ghost story elements, it also an oddly beautiful film that examines the horrors of war, and how sometimes it is people who are the ones that should be feared. Although director Guillermo del Toro may be known to most as the director of the "Hellboy" movies and "Pacific Rim," he truly shines directing this kind of material, as evidenced by his later work with "Pan's Labyrinth."
16. "Maniac" (1980 and 2012)
This one is a bit of a cheat, but both films deserve credit. The original "Maniac" and its remake are slasher films that act primarily as a character studies of a very disturbed serial killer named Frank. Both are very similar, but they're also different enough to stand on their own right. The original languishes in its sleazy 1980's setting, great gore by special effects master Tom Savini, and a fantastic performance from Joe Spinell (Gazzo from "Rocky"); the remake adds a twist in that the entire film is shot from Frank's point of view, who in this incarnation is brought to life by a fantastic Elijah Wood performance. Both films don't skimp out on the violence, but they manage to go above and beyond typical slasher fare.
17. "[REC]" (2007)
A Spanish found-footage horror film about a reporter and her cameraman who accompany the fire department into an apartment building after an emergency call, only to become trapped and discover that something horrifying has transformed all the residents. Many may be familiar with this movie due to its American remake "Quarantine." Although very similar in a lot of ways, the original has an even scarier feel to it and is effectively more disturbing. Regardless, this original stands as one of the better examples of found-footage horror films.
18. "Black Christmas" (1974)
This early slasher film centers around a crazed lunatic who breaks into the attic of a sorority house during the late Christmas season and begins stalking and killing a group of the girls one by one. Without this film, it's very possible that movies like "Halloween" and subsequent slashers wouldn't exist, as it featured many staples of later slasher films, such as the killer's point of view and prime target of teenagers. Even after all the slasher films that followed, this one stands out because of its unsettling creepiness, dread-inducing score, and the identity of the killer.
19. "The Woman" (2011)
An adaptation of the book of the same name, it centers around a man out hunting in the Maine woods who finds a cannibal woman, brings her back to his family, and attempts to civilize her. This one isn't for the faint of heart, not really because of the violence, but because the film handles dark and disturbing subject matter that will really get you invested in the plot and the fate of the film's characters.
20. "Slither" (2006)
In this horror-comedy-science fiction film, alien slugs invade a small town, where they turn people into either mutants, zombies, or hosts to give birth to more slugs. Essentially, this is a modern-day version of the 80's horror-comedy "Night of the Creeps," which has an extremely similar plot. However, "Slither" manages to come across as its own movie, with its own scares and laughs, while serving up a lot of homage to old-school 50's and 80's horror.
21. "Dog Soldiers" (2002)
Balancing horror with action, this film sees a group of British Army soldiers in Scotland having to barricade themselves in a cottage and fight off a horde of werewolves. Practically a zombie movie but with werewolves instead, this movie is a thrilling ride from start to finish, featuring some really good action set-pieces, tasteful gore, and cool practical werewolf effects.
22. "Prince of Darkness" (1987)
The second of director John Carpenter's "Apocalypse trilogy" after "The Thing," this films centers around a group of researchers who find a cylinder of green ooze beneath an abandoned church; this ooze is actually the embodiment of Satan, and when released, he will try to bring about the end of the world with another even more powerful being. This plot of this one is very out-there and strange, with a lot of ideas about metaphysics, evil, matter, and anti-matter, so it may require more than one viewing. It's worth it though for its unnerving atmosphere, disturbing images, originality, interesting ideas, and a creepy performance by singer Alice Cooper.
23. "In the Mouth of Madness" (1995)
The final film of Carpenter's "Apocalypse trilogy," this Lovecraft-inspired supernatural horror film centers around an insurance investigator who discovers that a famed writer's books are driving people insane, blurring the line between fiction and reality, and bringing about the end of the world. Any fans of writer H.P. Lovecraft or Stephen King will find this movie to be an absolute treat if they haven't already discovered it, but even the casual horror fan will be able to appreciate this film for its bizarre imagery, psychological manipulation, and escalating dread.
24. "Green Room" (2015)
An uncompromisingly film of realistic horror that is about a punk rock band trapped in the titular green room in a bar, with a group of Neo-Nazi skinheads trying to kill them after they witnessed a murder. Genre fans are quickly championing this film as a horror/thriller classic, but it deserves more recognition for its direction, tension, brutality, and performances; especially from the late Anton Yelchin and Patrick Stewart.
25. "Day of the Dead" (1985)
The third film in George A. Romero's "Dead" series, this one centers on a group of military officers and scientists, clashing and living together in an underground bunker as even more zombies overrun the world. This film had to follow seminal horror classics "Night of the Living Dead" and "Dawn of the Dead," so it's not surprising that this one didn't receive as much love following two masterpieces. However, time has been good to this film, and now it can be celebrated for its grim atmosphere, engaging human conflict, excellent zombie action, and top-notch gore effects.
26. "Theatre of Blood" (1973)
Starring horror icon Vincent Price, this film sees him portray a Shakespearean actor who fakes his own death, and then proceeds, with the help of his daughter, to murder all the critics who denied him a coveted acting award. The best part of this movie, aside from Vincent Price and his brilliant delivery of some of Shakespeare's greatest monologues and lines, is the murder scenes themselves; they're all taken from Shakespeare plays, and some of them can be quite disturbing. Still, this movie is above all else, bloody fun and truly entertaining.
27. "Silent Night, Deadly Night" (1984)
A controversial 80's slasher film, this one focuses on a young man who, after a traumatic childhood that saw him witness a man in a Santa Claus suit killed his parents and him placed in the care of an abusive orphanage run by nuns, finally snaps and goes on a killing spree dressed as Santa Claus. This film was protested and eventually removed from theaters in the 80's due to outrage over a killer dressed as Santa; yet, the film, although violent, differs from many slasher films in that in focuses on the psychosis and breakdown of the killer and portrays him more sympathetic and tragic. Like "Maniac," it goes above your typical mindless slasher film.
28. " Session 9" (2001)
A psychological horror film about an asbestos crew working in an abandoned mental asylum, where tensions grow among them and the discovered recording of a therapy session reveals the chilling past of a former patient. Much like "The Shining," "Session 9" manages to be an effective and disturbing journey that will make you question whether there are supernatural forces at play, or just sheer madness among the characters.
29. "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" (1986)
A scarily-realistic and disturbing story of a serial killer, loosely based on real-life kiler Henry Lee Lucas, who drifts from place to place and kills without worry of being captured. Shot with a clearly low-budget style, this film feels more like a documentary at times, much like the original "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre." The crowning achievement of the film is the performance of Michael Rooker (Merle in "The Wallking Dead" and Yondu in "Guardians of the Galaxy") as Henry, who is subtle and absolutely bone-chilling in his portrayal of the nomadic serial killer.
30. "Alice, Sweet Alice" (1976)
An Italian-style American slasher film about the murder of a young girl during her first Communion, and how her troubled older sister becomes the main suspect. Like classic Giallo (Italian horror/thriller) cinema, the mystery in this film is rich and unpredictable, but the most shocking and chilling part is how this film plays with your expectations; as the body count rises, no character in this film is safe.
