As a cinephile, we embrace all movie genres with open arms. Drama, Comedy, Action, and yes, even Horror— a genre that often polarises but never fails to leave an impression. Dare I say, I love it.

There’s something undeniably thrilling about the macabre – the heart-pounding suspense, the spine-chilling scares, and the strange satisfaction of yelling at characters, “Don’t open that door!” or “Why would you go back into the house?!” Horror movies are more than just jump scares and gore; they’re a masterclass in tension, visual storytelling, and sometimes even dark humour. From the claustrophobic terror of The Shining–that is a top four movie on my Letterboxd, to the mind-bending twists of Get Out and the supernatural elegance of Suspiria, horror spans an impressive range of themes and styles.

It’s a genre that challenges us to confront our fears, often reflecting societal anxieties or personal nightmares in ways that other genres rarely do. Often misunderstood as a playground for cheap thrills or gratuitous gore, horror is, in truth, a celebration of cinema's visual and emotional potential. It's a genre that wields cinematography and art direction as tools to craft its unique language of fear and fascination.

For those who shy away from the blood-soaked chaos of slashers, there’s the subtle psychological unease of films like The Babadook or Hereditary, where the scares linger long after the credits... If you’re in the mood for a nostalgic thrill, classics like Halloween and A Nightmare on Elm Street deliver the perfect mix of camp and terror.

Below, I have rounded up the best horror movies that excel in both artistry and thrills works that prove horror’s rightful place as one of cinema’s most compelling and creatively fertile genres. Having watched them all myself, I can confidently say: they deliver.

The Conjuring

Based on true events of the infamous paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The Conjuring commits to the utter sincerity of the genre. I personally find horror movies can go down hill pretty quickly all with the lack of sincerity and quality of script. This is exactly where this film thrives, the investment in each character is meticulous. We've seen a haunted house story before, but no one can capture one quite like the The Conjuring.

Talk to Me

A modern take on the idea of an Ouija board. Talk To Me has got to be one of the scariest paranormal horror films, one that reminds you that the genre can just be pure horror sometimes. It's creepy, confrontational and unexpected with jump scares. The kind of horror that will linger with you for a very long time.

Midsommar

An emotionally distressing film that takes the horror genre to new heights. The director Ari Aster might be one of the reigning kings in the genre, but this would have to be one of his best films. Blending psychological horror and folk aesthetic inspired from the Swedish celebration, the midsommar festival, turning it into a beautifully unsettling experience.

The Shining 

Stanley Kubrick pushes horror into the realm of psychological torment, with The Shining unraveling isolation and madness through Jack Nicholson’s performance. Not only terrifying but the film is completely transfixing, the cinematography and tension created is brilliant, a film that is continuously referenced, even an inspiration for Gucci's 2023 Exquisite campaign.

Smile

Taking something as simple as a smile expression and weaponising it, crafting relentless tension that gnaws at your nerves–brilliant. This is generally terrifying, purely off the jump scares.

Scream

A cult slasher classic. It's got everything you ever want in a horror film; razor-sharp humour, self-aware characters, and terrifying moments.

Hereditary 

Another Ari Aster film, so you know it's good. Definitely, his most terrifying and creepiest film yet. This film plays with tension so well through cinematography and lighting, and of course, Toni Collette being incredibly sadistic in it. It depicts trauma, lonliness, rejection and familial issues like you have never seen.

It

A remake of the classic made in 1990, based off Stephen Kings novel. A king novel will never fail to make a good horror, especially when there is a clown and children involved.

The Babadook

This movie and Talk to Me is proof, that Australia makes some of the scariest horror films. Digging into the horrors of grief and motherhood, creating an unforgettable monster that’s as symbolic as it is terrifying.

Halloween 

Another cult slasher classic. Halloween introduces Michael Myers as a chilling embodiment of pure evil, a serial killer that particularly has it out for a small town in Illinois.

Get Out

Comedian turned Director Joran Peele has surprised us all and enamoured us with his incredible films that specialise in horror. Get Out, his first movie, blends biting social commentary with psychological terror. The acting is phenomenal and if you're a fan of Stanley Kubrick, you will love this film.

Silence of the Lambs

Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster electrify Silence of the Lambs, a chilling classic masterpiece that fuses crime thriller with horror.

The Witch

The Witch depicts the paranoia of 17th-century New England, immersing you in dread with its meticulous period detail and slow-burning tension.

Nosferatu

Robert Egger, the creator of The Witch, has produced his latest and longest project, Nosferatu. A remake of the classic story of Nosferatu, this vampire movie is going down as not only one of the best horror movies, but one of the best to come out in 2025.

The Substance

This movie fuses body horror with biting societal critique, delivering a visceral and haunting reflection of modern anxieties. Quite gory, and quite comedic, it's a fun and exacerbated portrayal of self-perception and beauty norms.

Bones and All

This movie walks the fine line of belonging in the horror movies category, but due to the amount of gore and cannibalism I think it can rest in this genre. Being a Luca Guadagnino film, you know it is not going to disappoint. Taylor Russell and Timothee Chalamet have incredible chemistry and portray one of their best performances of their careers.

Longlegs

Longlegs twists psychological tension into a gripping narrative about a serial killer, solidifying itself as one of modern horror’s most inventive works. It's also Nicholas Cage like you have never seen him...

American Psycho 

A movie that slashes through capitalism and vanity, with Patrick Bateman’s blood-soaked descent chilling in its brutal honesty. With a new remake on the rise, it will be interesting to see if it captures the same chilling script, in the book.

The Blair Witch Project

Made in the 90's, this movie revolutionises found-footage horror, capturing raw fear with its stripped-down realism and unsettling ambiguity. There's something so terrifying about a home video.

Train to Busan

 There's something about this emotionally driven Zombie film that —despite its gory premise— hits different. Yeon Sang-ho sets his Zombie film in cramped quarters, on a train with people from all walks of life making his commentary on social and political awareness a fascinating infusion to this well-explored subgenre.