13 Horror Movies That Are Almost Perfect (2024)

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 Creepers is 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 Creepers is 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 Me is 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 Me suffers from being too fast-paced during the climax, confusing both new and veteran horror fans alike.

Talk to Me

R

Horror

Thriller

Where to Watch

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Release Date

July 28, 2023

Cast

Sophie Wilde , Joe Bird , Alexandra Jensen , Otis Dhanji

Runtime

94 minutes

Writers

Danny Philippou , Bill Hinzman , Daley Pearson

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.

Sinister is the kind of horror film that relies solely on ambiance. It has a few great jump scares but 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 that the 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, Sinister keeps viewers on their feet.

Sinister

R

Horror

Mystery

Thriller

Where to Watch

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Release Date

March 29, 2012

Cast

Ethan Hawke , Juliet Rylance , Fred Dalton Thompson , James Ransone , Michael Hall D'Addario , Clare Foley ll

Runtime

110

Writers

C. Robert Cargill , Scott Derrickson

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 Mist is an all-around beloved classic of dread with an infamously bleak ending that 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 Mist is the perfect execution of using the viewers' imagination to horrify them.

The Mist

R

Horror

Sci-Fi

Thriller

Where to Watch

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Release Date

November 21, 2007

Cast

Thomas Jane , Marcia Gay Harden , Laurie Holden , Andre Braugher

Runtime

126 minutes

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 from the 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 Doe uses 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.

Signs is one of those subtle horror stories and one of M. 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, Signs might 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.

Signs

PG-13

Drama

Mystery

Sci-Fi

Thriller

Where to Watch

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Release Date

August 2, 2002

Cast

Mel Gibson , Joaquin Phoenix , Rory Culkin , Abigail Breslin , Cherry Jones , M. Night Shyamalan

Runtime

106 minutes

Writers

M. Night Shyamalan

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.

Hereditary is a disturbingly shocking and grotesque horror film that will both disturb viewers and intrigue them. Some may feel that Hereditary plays 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. Hereditary brings 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

R

Horror

Psychological

Supernatural

Where to Watch

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Release Date

June 8, 2018

Cast

Toni Collette , Gabriel Byrne , Alex Wolff , Milly Shapiro , Ann Dowd , Zachary Arthur

Runtime

127 minutes

Writers

Ari Aster

6 'A Quiet Place' (2018)

Directed by John Krasinski

See Also

Hollywood Movies The Nun 2 And Ghosted Review And Information

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 Place does 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 Place struggles 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 monsters and enveloping atmospheric horror.

A Quiet Place

PG-13

Horror

Thriller

Science Fiction

Where to Watch

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Release Date

April 3, 2018

Cast

Emily Blunt , John Krasinski , Millie Simmonds , Noah Jupe , Cade Woodward , Leon Russom

Runtime

95 minutes

Writers

Bryan Woods , Scott Beck , John Krasinski

5 'It' (2017)

Directed by Andy Muschietti

One of Stephen King's most famous stories comes to the big screen in Andy Muschietti's 2017 horror hit It. 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).

It benefits 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. It is strongest when focusing on the Losers and their interactions with Pennywise. However, the creatures and monsters that haunt the kids are over-designed and not scary at all, and there is not enough Pennywise throughout the story.

It (2017)

R

Horror

Thriller

Supernatural

Where to Watch

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Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

September 6, 2017

Cast

Bill Skarsgard , Finn Wolfhard , Jaeden Martell , Javier Botet , Sophia Lillis , Owen Teague

Runtime

135 minutes

Writers

Stephen King , Chase Palmer , Cary f*ckunaga , Gary Dauberman

4 'The Others' (2001)

Directed by Alejandro Amenábar

Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman delivers one of the best performances of her illustrious career in Alejandro Amenábar's psychological horror film The 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 Others is a haunting and atmospheric horror story that 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, but The Others remains a near-flawless entry into the gothic horror genre.

The Others

PG-13

Supernatural

Psychological

Horror

Where to Watch

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Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

August 10, 2001

Cast

Nicole Kidman , Fionnula Flanagan , Christopher Eccleston , Alakina Mann , James Bentley

Runtime

104

Writers

Alejandro Amenábar

3 'Bram Stoker's Dracula' (1992)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

The legendary Francis Ford Coppola translates Bram Stoker's seminal novel to the big screen with style and passion. A truly mesmerizing Gary Oldman stars as Count Dracula, who falls in love with the fiancée (Winona Ryder) of his solicitor (Keanu Reeves), unleashing a world of nightmares for those close to the couple. Their only hope of escape is Professor Abraham Van Helsing (Anthony Hopkins), an expert in vampirism.

Bram Stoker's Dracula lives and dies with Gary Oldman's tour-de-force, scenery-devouring portrayal, one of the best in the horror genre. Everything about the film is taken to the next level, from the titular performance to the exquisite production values. There is no subtlety in Bram Stoker's Dracula, for better and worse. Coppola builds an enveloping and harrowing atmosphere of impending dread, which, coupled with Oldman's titanic performance, makes the film soar. Reeves' now-infamous work is very distracting, and the film threatens to crumble under its weight by the end; luckily, Coppola keeps things together.

Bram Stoker's Dracula

R

Horror

Romance

Where to Watch

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Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

November 13, 1992

Cast

Gary Oldman , Winona Ryder , Anthony Hopkins , Keanu Reeves , Cary Elwes

Runtime

128 minutes

Writers

James V. Hart

2 'Train to Busan' (2016)

Directed by Yeon Sang-ho

Seok-woo (Gong Yoo) takes his estranged daughter Su-an (Kim Su-an) to her mother via train. The two share an awkward and distanced relationship and struggle to connect. However, they must bond when a zombie virus outbreak occurs on the train, and their lives are in danger.

Train to Busan is practically perfect due to its emotional storytelling mixed with high levels of suspense. From start to finish, the film actually tells a decent story, which is not a common occurrence in a lot of horror films; sometimes, in order to achieve true horror, the story is sacrificed. However, Train to Busan proves that horror movies can be horrifying and good. Things start to crumble in the second act, especially compared to the thrilling and tense start, but Train to Busan remains an exhilarating blend of action and horror unlike anything out there.

Train to Busan

Action

Horror

Mystery

Thriller

Where to Watch

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Release Date

July 20, 2016

Cast

Yoo Gong , Yu-mi Jeong , Dong-seok Ma , Su-an Kim , Eui-sung Kim , Woo-sik Choi

Runtime

118

Writers

Joo-Suk Park , Sang-ho Yeon

1 'The Blair Witch Project' (1999)

Directed by Eduardo Sánchez and Daniel Myrick

Students and aspiring filmmakers Heather (Rei Hance), Mike (Michael C. Williams), and Josh (Joshua Leonard) set out in October of 1994 to document the myth of the supposed Blair Witch. As they venture into a cursed forest, weird things begin to happen. Fights ensue within the group of friends, and they begin to spot the beginnings of the forest's hauntings.

Found footage can be hard to perfect; a lot lies in the storytelling, building up to a particular moment where everything goes wrong. Ultimately, this approach requires considerable patience before anything happens. But for those who can withstand the grueling pacing of the first thirty or so minutes (usually), then The Blair Witch Project is an absolutely terrifying experience that will haunt viewers and bring out the anxiety hiding within each of them. The mystique behind its supposedly real-life story might be gone, but The Blair Witch Project remains an eerie exercise in dread.

The Blair Witch Project

R

Horror

Mystery

Psychological

Supernatural

Where to Watch

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Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

July 30, 1999

Cast

Heather Donahue , Michael C. Williams , Joshua Leonard

Runtime

81 minutes

Writers

Daniel Myrick , Eduardo Sánchez , Heather Donahue

NEXT: The 100 Best Horror Movies of All Time, Ranked