What's your favourite scary movie? 85 horror movies to add to your watchlist | HerCanberra (2024)

What's your favourite scary movie? 85 horror movies to add to your watchlist | HerCanberra (1)

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It’s spooky season, witches! Gather your goblins and ghouls for a night to dismember. Here are 85 of our favourite horror movies.

Classics

What’s considered a classic is subjective. We’ll define it as a film with a memorable or thought-provoking take. A classic should have masterfully created suspense through pacing and haunting cinematography. These films set up the tropes that have progressed to modern horror today.

Our picks

Halloween (1978 – 2022)

Well DUH! We could never forget Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis and her big brother Michael Myers. This duo takes sibling fights to a whole level.

Friday the 13th (1980)

Camp Crystal Lake, the actual camp experience from hell!

Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Freddy Krueger preys on you whilst you sleep (as if sleep isn’t hard enough to get – thanks a lot, Freddy).

The Exorcist (1973)

Christine notices bizarre changes in the behaviour and physical make-up of her 12-year-old daughter. I guess this calls for the priest.

The Omen (1976)

If you’re going to adopt, make sure it’s not the Antichrist.

Poltergeist (1982)

Ah, the classic ‘family moves into dream home and innocent daughter gets possessed’.

Evil Dead (1981)

Five friends + a cabin in the woods = the accidental release of flesh-possessing demons.

Candyman (1992)

What happens if you say Candyman five times in front of a mirror? Dare to find out – this film will really hook you (sorry).

The Lost Boys (1987)

Get sucked into the mysterious and dangerous world of bikers, vampires and vampire hunters. This is where my vampire boy obsession started (sorry, Edward Cullen).

Carrie (1976)

This is a prime example of why you shouldn’t bully.

Child’s Play (1988)

A child’s doll possessed by the soul of a murderer. Wanna play?

Slashers

Final girls rise up. Slashers always involve a masked killer or a group of killers stalking and murdering a group of people – usually by use of blades or sharp tools. There is always a “whodunnit” element and a bit of guts (figuratively and literally).

Our picks

Trick ‘r Treat (2007)

A must-watch anthology film with everyone’s favourite pumpkin cutie, Sam! (Spoiler: he ain’t all that cute.)

Scream (1996 – 2023)

The film series that started the inferno that is my horror obsession! Ghostface is my horror icon.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

A year after four friends dump the body of someone they hit with their car, threatening events begin to occur. Karma, I guess? Special mention to this cast for being a slice of ’90s heaven.

Fear Street Trilogy (2021)

This series is not hyped enough! Based on R. L. Stine’s book series, these films involve slasher and supernatural elements. Teenagers work to break the curse that has haunted their town for hundreds of years.

Thanksgiving (2023)

A newer slasher that is so disgusting but also very fun, I made my mum watch this and she has never looked at a roast dinner the same way since.

Haunt (2019)

A haunted house tour turned very deadly.

X (2022)

A filmmaking crew and cast attempt to make an adult movie at a reclusive place but the elderly hosts become a bit jealous, you could say.

Saw (2004 – 2023)

It feels like there are unlimited Saw movies, but I will say Jigsaw always finds new games to play.

Totally Killer (2023)

Time travel meets ’80s slasher – this a super fun scare!

Paranormal

When ghosts, spirits, and demons enter our everyday world. Sometimes they have a physical presence and sometimes they don’t. Either way, we don’t want ’em.

Our picks

The Conjuring (2013 – 2021)

You know your house is real possessed when Ed and Lorraine Warren pull up.

Talk to me (2022)

Aussie Horror mention! A group of friends discover how to conjure spirits with an embalmed hand – they become hooked on the new thrill until one of them goes too far.

Insidious (2010 – 2023)

Son falls into a coma; mysterious, unexplained events begin to occur. You get the gist.

Evil Dead Rise (2023)

I’ve got one sentence for you: ‘Mommy’s with the maggots now’.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

Part courtroom drama and part possession film. It’s a slow burn but is scary-as-hell.

The Woman in Black (2012)

Daniel Radcliffe, who is NOT Harry Potter in this, is assigned to travel to a village to examine a house that belonged to a recently deceased woman. What he discovers is haunting.

The Ring (2002)

Shoutout to my cousin who showed me this when I was four. Also fun fact: the girl who plays Samara is the voice of Lilo from Lilo and Stitch

The Grudge (2005)

Spooky ghost child possesses many victims, until Karen decides to put a stop to it. Can she do it?

Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)

Oh no, there’s been an alien invasion! A mad scientist’s experiment has gone wrong! Hello freaky special effects and futuristic fear.

Our picks

Bird Box (2018)

Sandra Bullock navigates a world where you can’t look outside; if you do, you die. Talk about tough.

Alien (1979)

The crew of spacecraft Nostromo trek to investigate a stress signal from another planet. What will they find? Or you could say what finds them?

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Picture this: you find yourself in a bunker with a stranger who informs you that the world above is inhabitable.

A Quiet Place (2018 – 2024)

A world where if you make noise, the monsters will get you. My yapping would wipe me out in the first 30 seconds.

Annihilation (2018)

This movie is honestly super bizarre to explain, but essentially a group of other scientists and doctors enter a dangerous zone formed when a meteor hits Earth.

The Mist (2007)

An unexpected mist engulfs an entire city; a father and son seek refuge in a supermarket. The ending will devastate you.

Zombies

Missing limbs, soulless and hungry for brains. For the guts and gore fans. Take a bite out of this list.

Our picks

Train to Busan (2016)

Warning you will BAWL your eyes out. I will not speak further on this movie. You must watch.

Dawn of The Dead (1978)

During an escalating zombie epidemic, a group of survivors seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.

Dawn of The Dead (2004)

With the same premise as the 1978 film but Phil Dunphy from Modern Family is not giving Phil Dunphy in this film.

World War Z (2013)

Brad Pitt aims to solve zombie apocalypse. Also, why are the zombies SO fast in this!?

28 Days Later (2002)

Cillian Murphy wakes up from a coma (you guessed it ) 28 days after a deadly virus outbreak.

Army of The Dead (2021)

Dave Bautista vs zombies in Las Vegas. What more could you want?

Newer scares

Modern horror has morphed and changed a lot; we have lots of remakes or retconning in franchises. These days, horror movies explore more than the traditional “monster”.

Our picks

IT (1990 – 2019)

Pennywise the dancing clown haunts children and adults of Derry. Morphing into whatever your biggest fear is. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

US (2019)

Imagine you’re being attacked by your jealous doppelganger. Love the twist in this.

Get Out (2017)

Meeting the parents goes horribly wrong.

Hush (2016)

A deaf and mute author lives peacefully in the woods until she suddenly becomes the target of a masked killer.

Hereditary (2018)

After her mother passes away, Annie and the rest of the family are overwhelmed with grief. Weird, very weird things begin to happen that slowly unravel the horrifying truth about Annie’s ancestry.

Midsommar (2019)

Dani goes through the most traumatic event of her life, her horrible boyfriend is going on a trip with his friends to a commune in Sweden and he reluctantly invites her. Let’s just say this does not fix their relationship.

Ready or Not (2019)

This is why you should always meet the entire family before you marry into it. Love the Canberra representation with Samara Weaving, front and centre.

It Follows (2014)

After sleeping with her boyfriend, Jay realises there is a malevolent force following her. This movie takes safe sex to a whole other level.

Barbarian (2022)

What could go wrong when Airbnb double books you and you’re forced to stay a night with a random? If you watch the trailer, you still won’t expect what happens in this film.

The Black Phone (2021)

A young boy has been abducted and is trapped in a basement with “The Grabber”. A disconnected phone on the wall starts to ring, he soon discovers that he can hear the voices of previous victims who are trying to help him escape.

The Menu (2022)

Restaurant goers have the feast of their lives at an exclusive restaurant. Chef Slowik has prepared a lavish menu with some shocking surprises.

Pearl (2022)

Trapped in farm life, young Pearl is lusting for the glamorous Hollywood life. And she has some freaky ways of getting it.

Stupid scary

Whether they’re spoofing a classic, intentionally being stupid or they used to be scary to watch – as time goes by, these films have become equally as funny as they are scary.

Our picks

Final Destination (2000 – 2011)

All films follow the premise of a group of people who escape death because one individual has a premonition and warns them. However, death feels cheated and hunts them down one by one, in bizarre ways.

The Cabin in The Woods (2011)

This is not your typical “group of friends go to a cabin in the woods and get murdered”, even though it may seem that way.

Happy Death Day (2017)

Groundhog Day, but she’s reliving her birthday and death over and over again, until she can solve who is murdering her.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992 movie, 1997 – 2003 show)

Both are chronically iconic and are a must-watch every year. Buffy is our feminist icon.

Zombieland (2009)

A hilarious zombie comedy with a star-studded line up.

Warm Bodies (2013)

Romeo and Juliet but with zombies. Shoutout to Aussie Teresa Palmer.

Shaun of The Dead (2004)

Two of the laziest people ever have to save their friends from a town of zombies.

Jeepers Creepers (2001 – 2017)

These films used to creep me out (no pun intended) but now the special effects make it a bit more comedic.

Jennifer’s Body (2009)

Megan Fox eats boys. Enough said.

Scary Movie (2000 – 2013)

A classic, they get progressively worse and are definitely cancellable now.

For kids/adults who don’t like to be scared

We see you, we hear you, we shall not shame you.

Our picks

Scooby Doo 1 & 2

Matthew Lillard, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr (pre-marriage) and Linda Cardellini – there couldn’t have been a better cast.

Coco (2017)

From the music to the story, this film is super cute with a little sprinkle of spook.

Practical Magic (1998)

Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock as witches navigating a love curse? Literally, say less.

Coraline (2009)

A young girl opens a secret door to a reimagined version of her home, with sinister secrets.

Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Jack Skellington, from Halloween Town, finds Christmas Town and is instantly enchanted. This can double as a Christmas watch too.

Halloween Town (1998 – 2004)

Is it even Halloween if you don’t watch this?

The Addams Family Values (1993)

They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re all together ooky.

Gremlins (1984 – 1990)

Don’t let them in water, no food after midnight and no bright light. What happens when a young boy does it all? They become Gremlins! This also doubles as a Christmas watch.

Hotel Transylvania (2012)

Count Dracula runs a hotel for monsters only. When a human Johnny enters the hotel, Dracula tries to prevent his vampire daughter Mavis from falling for Johnny.

The Haunted Mansion (2003)

It’s gonna be real hard for Eddie Murphy to sell this property.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Three witches resurrect after 300 years to exact revenge and begin a reign of terror after Max, a young boy who moves to Salem with his family.

The Corpse Bride (2005)

Whilst practicing his wedding vows near a grave, Victor accidentally raises a bride from the dead. Who now believes they are married.

Honourable mentions

We couldn’t make a horror movie list and not include these films – maybe you’ve seen them and maybe you haven’t!

Our picks

The Strangers (2008)

Three masked intruders reign terror on a couple that is already going through a tough time, for no apparent reason.

Orphan (2009)

What a cute little girl. Oh- wait that’s uh…

You’re Next (2011)

Looking forward to a nice weekend away with your partner’s family, think again. Another Aussie shoutout to Sharni Vinson – you do not want to mess with her.

The Babadook (2014)

A recently widowed single mother and her son confront disturbing visions of this monsterish figure. Another Australian film mention.

The Purge (2013 – 2021)

Ever wondered what would happen if all crime was legal in America for one day a year? Well, there are a bunch of movies that tell you why it’s a bad idea.

Don’t Breathe (2016)

Three burglars try to rob a blind veteran; soon they realise he is not an easy target, but in fact a weapon and a massive creep.

Let the right one in (2008)

A bullied young boy befriends a strange girl next door. She helps seek revenge but is also hiding a dark secret.

The Craft (1996)

The most epic, witchy and bitchy film. Imagine getting outcasted by a group of girls, but they’re all witches.

Lights Out (2016)

A family learns the hard way that their fear of the dark isn’t just paranoia when they’re stalked by a creepy shadow monster who apparently never got the memo about energy-efficient light bulbs.

Becky (2020) and The Wrath of Becky (2023)

A pint-sized Kevin McCallister wannabe proves that hormonal rage and Home Alone tactics make for a lethal combination against neo-Nazis and corrupt officials.

What's your favourite scary movie? 85 horror movies to add to your watchlist | HerCanberra (2024)

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