New Delhi: The horror movie genre is one of the popular and loved experiences by audiences across the world. A genre that seeks to fear or create a sense of disgust in the audience, horror films often explore transgressive topics such as those involving religious or folk beliefs and ritualistic practices, unforseeable events and supernatural beings.
Here are top 10 horror films of all time
Exorcist( 1973)
‘Exorcist’ is a bold, brutal, artsy William Friedkin’s adaptation of the eponymous novel, this horror flick is considered one of the scariest movies ever. ‘Exorcist’ is also one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful horror flicks of all time. Its dramatic pacing and mass hysteria protests and undeniable power that the film continues to have over horror film fans is staggering.
IMDb Rating: 8.1, Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
Where To Watch: Apple TV, YouTube
The Conjuring (2013)
This inspired by true-events chiller is based on real-life experiences of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. ‘The Conjuring’ gave a fresh twist to familiar genre tropes. Directed by James Wan, this horror film continues to hold a high position among modern horror flicks done right.
IMDb Rating: 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video
The Shining( 1980)
This haunted house story by Stephen King, translated perfectly on screen by Stanley Kubrick in ‘The Shining’ starring Jack Nicholson, ‘The Shining’ is an acclaimed horror story that never seems to get old. Memorable imagery, Jack Torrance’s madness and the jump scares, makes ‘The Shining’ one of the greates horror films ever made.
IMDb Rating: 8.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Psycho( 1960)
This Alfred Hitchcock film serial-killer masterpiece is regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, let alone being called just a great ‘horror flick’. This horror flick which looks more at audiences’ fears, manupilating their emotions and mocking Freudian psychology to creating ‘good’ psychopaths, ‘Psycho’ was a game changer in the horror film genre business.
IMDb Rating: 8.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Rosemary’s Baby( 1968)
No top horror films poll can be complete without the mention of Roman Polanski’s ‘Rosemary’s Baby’. This intelligent horror flick with minimum horror effects, or chills and cuts, a chilling climax and Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes’ performances that make this film a horror classic, a must watch for all horror flicks lovers out there.
IMDb Rating: 8.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Halloween( 1978)
John Carpenter’s ‘Halloween’ is a picture perfect horror flick that actually gave rise to the slasher sub genre of horror films. This indie flick with nuanced camerawork(then), use of shaows and a perfect killer, ‘Halloween’ set the stage of how to nail a horror flick just right.
IMDb Rating: 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Where To Watch: MX Player
Dawn of the Dead( 1978)
Before all that zombie drama wreaked havoc, ‘Dawn of the Dead’ came into being. A film whose influence is seen till date in every major zombie film/series since, this flawless film with politically astute horror is a hard to remake or reproduce movie vibe. This is the ‘perfect zombie’ film of all time and watch it to know why.
IMDb Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Where To Watch: YouTube
Jaws (1975)
Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster scared several generations from stepping into the ocean with just this film: Jaws. The pace, jump scares, special effects and a fear of not being bitten by the shark drives this shark horror film that continues to be a prototype for many horror flicks till date.
IMDb Rating: 8.1, Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Where To Watch: Netflix
Night of the Living Dead( 1968)
Geoger A Romero must be credited with modernising the horror genre in cinema when he changed the tactics from castles and science to a modern day, raw and unpolished performance of a dead girl rising to feed her mother, ‘Night of the Living Dead’ is a must watch. A documentary sort of horror film shot on a shoestring budget and simple, minimalistic sets, this horror flick is a must watch.
IMDb Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Where To Watch: YouTube
An American Werewolf in London( 1981)
A werewolf sub genre done right in the best possible manner, this horror-comedy blend perfectly both elements of the genres and gave us a hair-rasing, stomach-upsetting realism and a documentary quality to a horror flick. For all this and more, ‘An American Werewolf in London’ is a must watch for every horror film fan out there.
IMDb Rating: 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video