The 10 best horror films released in the last 10 years

Horror films of any era reflect people's collective anxieties. Sometimes the source of the horror — whether it's a psychopathic killer in a slasher or a mythical monster in a supernatural horror film — is a metaphorical stand-in for what makes people feel anxious, and sometimes it's the characters' response to danger. and horror that represents the source of anxiety in people. So, for example, among the best horror films of the 2020s is The hostwhich is premised on the type of social isolation the world has been forced into during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The development of body politics discourse in recent years has led director Coralie Fargeat to make The substancethe blockbuster horror film starring Demi Moore. Meanwhile, the trend of remakes also continues in 2024, with Nosferatuswhich earned high Rotten Tomatoes ratings upon its debut. The best horror films of the last 10 years feature a mix of feminist sensibilities, other political ideas, the reclamation of monsters, and a return to traditional approaches to the genre. which reflects the collective nostalgia of the timewhere remakes and reboots recontextualize classic tales for modern audiences.

10

Follow (2014)

Directed by David Robert Mitchell

He follows was Maika Monroe's breakout role as a true scream queen who made her the basis of horror films that she has now become. It was released a few months later The guest established her as an actress with potential. Although his acting and the moody soundtrack, especially the atmospheric soundtrack, make the film engaging, it is still flawed in its ideology and has some thematic inconsistencies that prevent it from being a masterpiece.

The configuration of He follows and its scares, of which there are no shortage, create the perfect frightening atmosphere necessary to tell the story of a monster that is either a metaphor for sexually transmitted diseases or simply a cinematic tool to demonize sex itself. Either way, the message sent is questionable due to the way the curse works. In addition to presenting an unnecessary sexual assault scene He follows breaks the immersion by breaking its rules too often. However, the final scene of He follows is genuinely scary, despite feeling simultaneously convenient and contrived. Furthermore, it sets up a sequence that could be better.

9

A Quiet Place (2018)

Directed by John Krasinski

Although Krasinski's directorial debut predates A peaceful place for nearly a decade, he became a filmmaker with the blockbuster horror film that became one of the few modern horror franchises not conceived in the previous century. With a simple but terrifying premise, the film sets up a world that functions as the audiovisual equivalent of anxiety. The performances, particularly Emily Blunt's, elevate the film to frightening heights, where viewers hold their breath with her to keep from making a sound. The horror crosses the threshold of the screen through it.

However, no matter how brilliant the premise, the execution does not always meet the standards necessary to become a timeless work of art. Noise-triggered jumpscares are effective horror devices, but they feel overused after a certain time, and A peaceful place relies more on typical genre conventions than on their exaggeration, as a groundbreaking film would suggest. Writing is perhaps the biggest point of contention because, with very little time, it manages to flesh out the characters as real people, but features questionable decision-making that adds to the terror but doesn't make sense in the world of the film.

8

Pearl (2022)

Directed by Ti West

Feminist politics in recent years, especially after the #MeToo movement, has examined the way the film industry mistreats women and ruins their lives and careers. So a horror film that uses the industry's neglect of talented women as a source of horror is not unexpected, but Pearl He doesn't care that much about politics. Instead, he's caught in a tug-of-war between trying to muster sympathy for a homicidal protagonist whose motivation for murder is questionable at best and creating memorable bloody murder scenarios. As a feminist gender change twist on American Psycho archetypeIt is, however, a masterclass in writing.

Mia Goth's performance in Pearl deserves a place on the list of the best horror performances of all time, especially after the six-minute uncut monologue she delivers with so much enthusiasm that viewers will find themselves enchanted, entertained, and empathetic towards her. Like a prequel to grindhouse horror Xhowever, Pearl seems to have difficulty conquering its own territory. The balance between social commentary and entertaining violence is very delicate, and while the film toes the line well, we can't help but feel like it could have been done better.

7

Train to Busan (2016)

Directed by Yeon Sang-ho

Zombies have arguably been the most common theme of horror film reinvention and reintroduction in the history of cinema. But few films have come close to reviving the genre to the heights that Sam Raimi took with his evil Dead movies like Train to Busan. With a necessary class consciousness and a Beautifully composed short first act that details and introduces all the main actors with minimal detailIt doesn't take long to delve into the horror and generically falls somewhere between horror and action thriller with its fight choreography.

The emotional thread, although thin, is compelling enough to touch viewers' hearts. Train to Busan speeds its way to a climax that is sadder than the second act would suggest. The elaborate fight sequences, once a staple of the genre, prepare viewers for fun, but Train to Busan it also features one of the saddest and most moving scenes in the history of horror cinema. However, the third act also relies on tactics typical of the action genre, such as placing characters into archetypes and introducing a villain. Despite that, Train to Busan remains one of the best zombie films of all time.

6

Hereditary (2018)

Directed by Ari Aster

In just five years, Ari Aster has established himself as a new master of the horror genre with a slate of disturbing and strange films that tell elaborate stories of grief, steeped in blood, shock, and trauma. However, his debut feature Hereditary remains his best work, as one of the scariest supernatural horror films. It features one of the most shocking death scenes of all time and then builds the horror from there with deft patience as viewers are forced to sit on edge during a slow burn to a hellish, fiery climax, both literally and metaphorically. .

Toni Collette's monologue has has already become part of the history of horror cinema because of her fierce performance and the frightening atmosphere created by the framing and blocking choices that make her face terrifying as she utters angrily. Furthermore, exploring grief as a motivating factor for questionable decisions that seem understandable through the lens of sympathy makes Hereditary particularly effective as a horror film. The foreshadowing reveals the ending for viewers who are paying attention, and the slow burn feels like a test of endurance as the inevitable approaches.

5

The Lament (2016)

Directed by Na Hong-jin

One of the most terrifying Korean ghost horror films, The Lament, has the potential to redefine highbrow horror cinema, with its complex narrative that takes a close look at the impact of distrust and crisis on a close-knit community. The complexities of the plot add to the mysticism of the location, which is beautifully filmed to complement the haunting and emotionally draining story. Although it's a ghost story with an intense amount of blood, there's nothing gimmicky about it. The Lament. The scares are particularly effective because a sense of paranoia hangs over every frame.

The complexity in the Demon's characterization is another unique feature of the The Lament this sets him apart from contemporaries of the same genre. This invokes viewers' sympathy with inexplicable moments of benevolence that complicate the fear and hatred that they otherwise provoke. The film is intentional about repetitive sequences to sell how systemic the experience is for the characters. While this adds to the sense of discomfort by overwhelming the audience and heightening the horror, it can feel a little tedious to some viewers.

4

The Lighthouse (2019)

Directed by Robert Eggers

One of the most eminent voices in horror cinema to emerge in recent years is Robert Eggers, who directed the 2024 remake of Nosferatus. Your sophomore film, The Lighthouseis a terrifying exercise in world-building and atmospheric horror. The mythology that Eggers created for the setting can actually deeply horrify the viewer as they try to figure out how the protagonists will survive in such dire circumstances. The characters gradually lose their minds throughout the film, and the calculated performances of Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson make the situation impactful for spectators.

“The Smalls tragedy on which The Lighthouse is based can be considered an important, if incredibly dark, moment in maritime history” – Katy Rath and Tom Russell

The Lighthouse is one of the scariest black and white horror films of all time and uses vintage texture to heighten the impact of the mythical presences in the film. Attending The Lighthouse It's like going through a rollercoaster of terrifying visuals, as the barrage of blood and scares never stops. It's particularly interesting because the characters start doing things of questionable morality, which creates a scary dichotomy between rooting for them and doubting their intentions.

3

A Court of the Dead (2017)

Directed by Shinichirou Ueda

If they were making the movie since Tropical Thunder with a very low budget in the world where Edgar Wright established himself Shaun of the Deadpeople would experience what the characters in A cut of the dead to do. A love letter to cinema that pays homage to the zombie comedy genre and revives it to the heights Wright achieved with his film, A cut of the dead and the peak of low-budget horror-comedy cinema. With an invigorating 37-minute uncut opening sequence that leaves the viewer stunned, it offers almost everything a film fan will appreciate.

Recent years have mostly seen an increase in the production of good or elevated horror films, so the quality of this B-movie makes it A cut of the dead particularly important. Not only does it subvert genre expectations with wacky editing, clever writing, and meta filmmaking, but the number of laughs and scares per minute is so high that anyone who loves making movies and zombies will be thoroughly entertained throughout the entire runtime. Even the musical choices make almost no sense, but they contribute to the total chaos it makes. A cut of the dead such a perfect horror comedy!

2

The House of the Wolf (2018)

Directed by Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña

It may be hyperbolic to call The House of the Wolf the darkest animated film of all time, but it's on the same level as films like Grave of the fireflies. Based on a depressing real-life WWII cult community in Chile, reimagines the classic fairy tale of the three little pigs and tells it all through the poignant perspective of a child trapped in the community. Although there are archive images that do not yet explain the name of La Colonia Dignidad, the scenario is not covered in detail. The House of the Wolf directly.

However, each painting brims with an overwhelming terror and melancholy that subtly alludes to the condition of those who live in the community. Endlessly creative animation allows the fable to transform into a terrifying tale of chase that will leave viewers traumatized. While visual horror is anxiety-inducing and imaginatively frightening, true horror is experienced when reflecting on lived experiences whose stories The House of the Wolf refers. It's a unique way of making political horror films and we can only hope there are more films like it in the coming years.

1

Get Out (2017)

Directed by Jordan Peele

One of only six horror films nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, To go out is one of the most important horror films released in recent times. Addressing the role of systemic racism in today's America, along with anxieties surrounding slavery, it addresses the collective anxieties that inspired the BLM movement. Eternally relevant, To go out it effectively uses the elements of surprise and disorientation to lull viewers into a false sense of security before revealing the horror.

The critical and commercial success of his debut film made Jordan Peele an unmissable director in the horror genrewith fans counting down the days until his next release every time he announces a new project. The cinematography in To go out meticulously creates an atmosphere where the concept of racism transforms into a being of almost supernatural terror, dictating each framing choice. Daniel Kaluuya's performance makes the experience personal and allows Peele to impress on the audience's mind the fear of living in a racist state. He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor, another rare feat for a horror film.