Thehorrorgenre keeps churning out great movies, such asthe intoxicating Hugh Grant thrillerHeretic. Part of its success is how it’s able to produce movies that not only terrify audiences with gross-out scenes or a well-timed jump-scare, but also be a ton of fun. A great example of this is theTerrifierseries, withTerrifier 3’sfunniest momentsarriving among the requisite brutality and gore. Thanks mainly to Art the Clown’s silent, but deadly, humor.
However, it’s not just more recent horror films that have managed to be creepy as all hell, while bringing some solid fun along the way.Classic franchises have gained popularity thanks to quick-witted villains like Freddy Krueger, who is also incredibly creepy. The great thing about the horror genre is its ability to bring audiences together, to share an experience that’ll be intense, and uncomfortable at times, but also a lot of fun.
Trick ‘r Treat
Cast
Trick ‘r Treat, directed by Michael Dougherty, is a horror anthology film featuring four interwoven stories set on Halloween night. The narratives explore a high school principal’s hidden life as a serial killer, a college student’s romantic encounter, a teenagers’ prank, and a reclusive old man’s unexpected visitor.
There aren’t many horror movies that can go from almost being shelved by the studio, to becoming a beloved feature in the Halloween season. However, Michael Dougherty’s anthology series film did exactly just that, with five interconnected stories providingsome brutally macabre plotlines alongside some genuine laughs.Trick ‘r Treatis a horror movie that was worth the wait, even if the studio wasn’t entirely sure how to market it.
The scene in the first story, when Principal Wilkins attempts to bury Charlie’s poisoned body in the backyard, is a great example of the movie’s dark humor. It’s accentuated by this particular story segment’s focus on the family sticking together during a bloody murder.The movie also introduces a great villainin Sam, and whileevery Halloween story inTrick ‘r Treatmay not all work, it’s a treat nonetheless.
M3GAN
M3GAN follows a toy company roboticist who creates an AI doll designed to emotionally bond with her orphaned niece. As the doll’s programming becomes excessively protective, it leads to unforeseen and alarming consequences. The film explores themes of artificial intelligence and emotional connections.
Younger fans of the horror genre need gateway films likeM3GANto help introduce them to one of the most fun and rewarding film genres. It was initially released as a more mainstream-friendly PG-13, followed by an uncut version shortly after its initial theatrical run. Thankfully, both versions offer a delightful mix of fun and creepy scares for slightly younger viewers.
There’s nothing more creepy than a doll that’s been given lifeby its human overlords, who then proceeds to slay those who created them. It’s a sub-genre that has thrived for years andM3GANdelivers a superbly creepy antagonist, who dances, spits out one-liners, and kills the neighbor’s dog with gleeful abandon. The uncut version has the better kills, butM3GAN’sexciting spin-offSOULM8TElooks likely to build on the original’s thrills.
The Lost Boys
The Lost Boys follows Michael Emerson (Jason Patric) and his younger brother Sam (Corey Haim) after they move to the small California beach town of Santa Carla only to discover that it is overrun with teenage vampires. When Michael falls victim to the titular gang and joins their ranks, Sam enlists the help of young vampire hunters the Frog brothers (Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander) to save his brother from head vampire David (Kiefer Sutherland).
Horror movies from the 1980s were quintessentially both creepy, and fun in their design, knowing exactly who their audience was and how to target them effectively. One director who had a knack for creating crowd-pleasing genre films for the studios, while delivering cult classic movies with iconic imagery, was Joel Schumacher.
One of his most wildly fun movies was the iconic,The Lost Boys, from 1987. The movie has everything audiences craved at the time of release, and its longevity proves that a simple formula is often the best way to create a scary, fun horror flick.
It’s a popcorn horror movie that thrills like a rollercoaster ride.
The cast is young and hip, plusthere’s something ethereally scary about the vampires. This is especially true about the iconic David, played by Keifer Sutherland,who has a touching reason whyThe Lost Boysis a favorite. It’s a popcorn horror movie that thrills like a rollercoaster ride.
The Menu
A darkly comedic horror-thriller, The Menu focuses on a group of diners invited to a high-end restaurant on a private island by one of the world’s greatest chefs. Shortly after arriving on the island, Margot Mills begins to realize something is strange beyond the perceived pompous nature of the menu. Her suspicions are confirmed when the night turns deadly as the restaurant staff begins to descend into a cult-like madness.
One of the best recent horror movies with a taste for the macabre is the excellentThe Menu, starring Ralph Fiennes as a sinister chef, with a menu that is darkly humorous and menacing. Consideringmuch of the production’s writing talent comes from the bleakly funny series,Succession, it’s no surprise that Mylod’s kitchen set thriller is so well written.
The Menuis a dish best-served cold, and Fiennes leads a terrific cast. The movie’s plot, involving an ostentatious dinner on a private island, provides a fascinating look into the dynamics between wealth and those struggling to achieve it.
It’s also incredibly ridiculous in parts. One scene involves a breadless bread-plate being served, while the ramblings of a pretentious food critic are indicative of the industry. However, it’s when there’s more than just the food that’s burned to a crisp, that theweirdly creepy filmtruly comes to life.
Poltergeist
Poltergeist is a supernatural horror film directed by Tobe Hooper and produced by Steven Spielberg. Released in 1982, it follows the Freeling family as strange phenomena disturb their suburban home, prompting them to seek the expertise of parapsychologists to confront the malevolent forces threatening their daughter.
This issuch a creepy, scary, and funny ’80s moviewith a touching family story thatthe controversy surrounding who actually directedPoltergeist, is fascinating. There were many rumors surrounding who actually took the reins on the film, but there’s no doubt that it still holds up as one of the best horrors of the era.
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From psychological thrillers to supernatural terror, these horror films transcend simple scares, elevating them into cinematic masterpieces.
The movie is so inspirational, that many paranormal thrillers wouldn’t exist without it.Poltergeistwas partially inspired by the true-life tale of The Hermann House, in which a family were apparently terrorized by poltergeists in their 1950s home.
Whether you believe that the events inPoltergeistare true or not,the effect it has had on pop culture has been hugely influential.The franchise is surrounded by controversy and believed to be cursed by some, after star Heather O’Rourke tragically passed away, along with some of her co-stars. The movie is a superb example of how to mix family dynamics within a chilling tale of the supernatural.
Drag Me To Hell
Drag Me To Hell is a supernatural horror movie directed by Sam Raimi where loan officer Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) is cursed by the elderly Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver) after refusing to extend the lady’s mortgage. Christine must find a way to escape Lamia, the demon who tries to literally drag her to the depths of Hell.
Up until 2009, director Sam Raimi had already proven he could deliver scares and the fun factor, with the hugely popularEvil Deadseries. It was no surprise, then, that he managed to do the exact same thing in the hugely fun, if less gory than his other work,Drag Me To Hell. The movie has taken on cult status among horror fans, so it’s no surprise thatDrag Me to Hell 2has been confirmedand is in the development stages.
Drag Me to Helleffortlessly fuses comedy with the slapstick scares that have become Raimi’s trademark. The best scene in the movie is when a black goat is possessed by a demon during a seance, and begins spouting out obscenities and abuse with great force. Up until that point, the movie largely plays out like a hugely creepy horror movie, replete with a message about not upsetting the local witch. However, it’s the talking goat that elevates the movie to classic status, despite how absurd the scene is.
The Substance
Elisabeth Sparkle, a fading celebrity, turns to a mysterious drug that promises to restore her youth by creating a younger, more beautiful version of herself. But splitting time between her original and new body leads to horrifying consequences as her alternate self, Sue, begins to unravel her life in a disturbing body-horror descent.
It’s not often that an instant horror classic comes along, but with its themes of aging and the pursuit of eternal youth,The Substancewhichmade Demi Moore’s character an Oscar winner, isone of the creepiest, and most wildly fun horror movies of modern times. The movie focuses on a fading celebrity who takes a black-market drug that temporarily creates a younger version of herself. However, her desperate plan goes gruesomely awry.
The premise is hugely original, but nothing can prepare you for the level of disgusting body horror that permeates throughout the movie. The scenes in which Moore’s character gives birth to her new, better self, are some of the creepiest images put on screen this year. Plus, if you’re a gore-hound who loves body horror, there are moments of extreme carnage that makeThe Substanceone of the most fun, and harrowing, horror movies of the year.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street, released in 1984, explores the terror faced by a group of teenagers haunted in their dreams by Fred Krueger, a vengeful spirit. As they confront a series of mysterious deaths, Nancy Thompson uncovers the truth about Krueger’s dark past and seeks to stop him.
Horror icons don’t come much bigger than Freddy Krueger, and the man responsible for bringing the iconic teen slasher to life, the late great Wes Craven. The ’80s brought horror fans numerous villains that have become synonymous with the genre, butit’s the burned Krueger that rises above, killing teens in their dreamswhile spurting out insults.
The horror genre hasn’t delivered a villain who’s able to terrify and amuse audiences since Freddy Krueger’s arrival in 1984. The movie is beyond creepy thanks to its premise where Krueger infiltrates your dreams and kills you while you sleep.
It brought audiences many iconic death scenes; most notably Johnny Depp’s character Glen, who dies in a horrific geyser of blood in his bed, plus Tina’s similarly gruesome demise while asleep. Just as notable, however, are Freddy’s multiple insults that, although they may have become too cheesy over time, are a wicked delight in the first film.
An American Werewolf In London
An American Werewolf in London centers on two American college students who are attacked by a werewolf while traveling in London, England. David Kessler survives the attack but is haunted by visions of his friend Jack, who explains how dangerous David has become after the violent attack. The John Landis-directed film stars David Naughton and Jenny Agutter.
The most well known, iconic, and impressive moment of John Landis’ hairy creature feature comes fairly early on in the movie. The transformation scene is still regarded as one of the best moments of visual and practical effects today, and rightly so.
Landis’ horror movie is a classic example of iconic genre filmmaking, and he fused the more comedic aspect with the carnage expertly.
However, as impressive as the gnarly scene is, it’s the movies’ overall ability to not only shock, but amuse audiences consistently that makes it so much fun. Landis’ horror movie isa classic example of iconic genre filmmaking, and he fused the more comedic aspect with the carnage expertly.
It acts as a commentary on Margaret Thatcher’s insular Great Britain of the 80s, with its sly digs at the country’s attitude towards tourism and the elite, while also scaring anybody from ever setting foot in the Yorkshire Moors (which were actually filmed in Wales) again. The scenes with David’s slowly decaying dead friend also bring some macabre fun to the movie.
Evil Dead II
Evil Dead II is a horror-comedy film directed by Sam Raimi, continuing the story of Ash Williams. After arriving at a secluded cabin with his girlfriend, Ash faces malevolent forces unleashed by an archaeologist’s recording of chants from the Book of the Dead, leading to chaotic and supernatural events.
It’s wild to think thatEvil Dead IIsecretly started the ‘requel’ trend in the ’80s, yet the movie not only manages to flesh out the fun first installment,it goes fully over-the-top with some outlandishly funny, and gory, set-pieces. The first movie was more morose, and featured some controversial scenes, which famously made it a video nasty in the UK.
The decision to almost remakeEvil Deadwith a bigger budget meant that director Sam Raimi could let loose with his extreme camera movements, and was able to ramp up the comedic elements to full effect.The flying eyeball scene is one of the greatest gags in horror, while the movie also offers plenty of creepiness to haunt more susceptible viewers. The moment when Ted Raimi’s deadite sings the Mockingbird song from the basement is hauntingly chilling.
