Horror moviesare meant to shock and scare, right? While this does remain essential to the genre, it has evolved in various ways, and sometimes the focus is more on entertaining through blood-soaked humor, creating a dark and tense atmosphere to evoke unease, or as a way to explore certain social issues. Scares are not necessarily required to make a good horror movie, and what is scary is going to be subjective to each. Still, fans of the genre always seek movies that will scare them or touch a particular nerve to make them squirm.
Modern horror continues to push the boundaries of the genre in intriguing ways. Here we have put together 20 movies from the last 5 years that offer scares and highlight the genre at its most terrifying.
20Alone With You (2021)
Waiting at home for her partner to return, Charlie soon begins toexperience odd occurrences in her home, including a crying voice coming from another apartment and ominous figures lurking around her flat. These bizarre instances become all the more troubling when she finds she is unable to leave her place, which forces her to deal with the surrounding nightmares that also manifest as reflections of her past years of personal trauma.
Pandemic Paranoia and Night Terrors
While there was an abundance of lockdown-related films during the pandemic, not all of them captured the sheer everyday anxiety that everyone felt while effectively interjecting moments of horror. Emily Bennet and Justin Brook’sAlone With Youdid an exceptional job of capturing pandemic paranoia that did irreparable mental health damage to many, but it also interjected a surreal nightmarish scenario mimicking sleep paralysis and night terrors.
Consistently discomforting, especially when going into themes of abuse and trauma from Charlie’s past,Alone with Youwas able to punctuate the tense atmosphere with some strong scares. The movie also features a strong performance from lead Emily Bennet (who also co-wrote and directed the film) and has a pleasant surprise in Barbara Crampton in a supporting role as Charlie’s dotting mother. Still, those who have had issues with sleep conditions will find that the real terror/scares come from how well the film captures the uncertainty of reality versus the dream state.StreamAlone With Youon AMC+.
Related:10 Movies That Feel Like a Nightmare
19Barbarian (2022)
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A tale of two different storylines,Barbarianfocuses on a B&B in a long abandoned town that harbors a dark secret in its basement. It starts off following a woman, Tess, played by Georgina Campbell, who accidentally ends up double booking the place and spending it with a stranger; their disappearance then cuts to the owner of the BnB, AJ, played by Justin Long, heading out to the same location, further exposing what lies beneath.
The Monster Below
Barbarian’splot is rather disjointed and nonsensical, yet this does little to diminish the film’s scares and explored themes. This obviously did not dissuade audiences or critics either, with the film topping the box office on its debut and sitting at a 93% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. Much of this praise came from exploring themes such as entitlement, gentrification, greed, and gender dynamics through the horror genre.
For those looking for scares, though, and not caring about the greater messaging of the movie, there is plenty to squirm at with the odd deformed creature living beneath the BnB. Whether it be in the confines of the underground lair or running through the streets, the elongated creature is wonderfully nightmare-inducingand knows exactly when to pop out to deliver a good scare.RentBarbarianon Apple TV.
18Caveat (2020)
Suffering from amnesia and struggling to make a living, Isaac, played by Jonathan French, takes on a peculiar job offer of heading to a remote island to look after a psychologically disturbed woman named Olga. As part of the job, Isaac is forced to wear a harness that allows him only to reach certain areas of the home. This makes him unable to escape or fully investigate as odd occurrences happen around the house.
A House Holding Horrific Secrets
There is a constant sense of unease over the entire production of Damian McCarthy’sCaveat, from the moment he is ‘shackled in’ to perform an unconventional ‘job’ for an acquaintance of his. The way the film unravels, with Isaac’s memory slowly returning and places in the home remaining just out of reach, presents an intriguing mystery thick with atmosphere.
While themovie thrives as a slow-burn, atmospheric mystery with horror elements, Caveat builds up to several great scares that punctuate the odd events unfolding. This includes a shocking encounter with a figure in the tight confines of a shaft that will shake up the most hardened horror fan. All this is also complimented by a great performance from Johnny French as Issac.StreamCaveaton AMC+.
17The Dark and the Wicked (2020)
After the death of their mother, two siblings return to the family home to take care of their infirm father. The meeting brings up past grievances shared by the siblings, but the horrors come as they slowly begin to realize their father’s illness is tied to something much more sinister. Finding themselves bound to the land by caring for their father and an unknown demonic force, the two begin to spiral into the darkness of their situation.
Haunted by An Ancient Evil
The Dark and the Wickedis a wonderfully gloomy and bleak horror film that puts two siblings at the mercy of an unrelenting demonic force. The atmosphere here is stifling, thanks to sharp visual direction, an ominous score, and great performances from Marin Ireland and Michael Abbott Jr. All these elements come together for some shocking stings of horror through both practical effects and implied supernatural attacks. Those who love movies that are meant to push for discussion around the genre will also appreciate the ambiguity that much of the film exists in.StreamThe Dark and The Wickedon Shudder and AMC+.
16Deadstream (2022)
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Shawn, a disgraced content creator, is trying to reinvent his career by taking on a new challenge, entering a haunted house alone. As he starts filming, he is met by a super-fan who helps him with his investigation, but as they dig deeper into the house’s history, they learn its dark origins. Once Shawn awakens the spirits, he is forced to fight for his life over the course of a single night.
Life and Death of a Social Media Influencer
The real joy ofDeadstreamcomes from its comedic edge, with Shawn (Joseph Winters) being such an insufferable social media personality (think 3 A.M. kids content) that it becomes fun to cheer for and witness him get attacked. Taking the obnoxious persona out of the mix, the movie really captures classicEvil Deadvibes andgives it a found footage spin; a blast for a movie night with friends.
While it may seem this is a more lighthearted affair in the horror genre, and in some ways, its silliness makes it just that, the amount of over-the-top gore and jump scares ensure audiences laugh and squirm in equal measure. This includes a gnarly filth-soaked bath encounter and a run-in with a mangled police officer. Fun from start to finish with a few good jump scares thrown in for measure,Deadstreamis the perfect mix of gross-out horror with practical effects and dark comedy.StreamDeadstreamon AMC+.
Related:26 Best Found Footage Movies of the 2010s, Ranked
15The Elderly (2022)
A family is struggling with their elderly patriarch, Manuel, after the death of his wife seems to leave him in catatonic headspace and showing signs of dementia. Despite this, the family works hard to involve him in their life. But as a heatwave strikes the city, it seems that all of Spain’s elderly population is undergoing an odd transformation, often resulting in violence.
The Old Will Not Be Replaced by the New
For those who hold our older generations in high regard,The Elderlypresents a scary scenario wherein that bond breaks down into something sinister and horrific.The Spanish horror filmby Raul Cerezo Fernando & Gonzalez Gomez is not just a frightening concept, as the movie perfectly unravels the idea of a murderous octogenarian from a well-scripted family drama that teases up to the chaotic second half of the movie.
For those who want to dig a bit deeper, beyond exploring themes of caring for the elderly, the movie also offers up social commentary on various aspects of life, from climate change to fascism.StreamThe Elderlyon AMC+.
14The Empty Man (2020)
The Empty Man
In the process of investigating the disappearance of a girl, ex-cop James Lasombra (James Badge Dale) comes across a cult worshiping an ancient cosmic entity. His investigation takes him deep into the various branches and elements of the cult, with James slowly realizing that not only are they aware of his investigation, but that it is playing into their plans.
Lovecraftian Neo-Noir
Arguably one of the most divisive horror films of 2020,The Empty Manmix ofLovecraftian horrorsand detective drama did not work for everyone. The film itself is also not one that remains consistently scary, with much focus on drama and the personal struggles of James.
Still, the movie’s opening is so wonderfully dark and disturbing in its set-up of what is to come, with the snow-bound origins of the empty man being explored. The movie follows this up with a few stings of abject horror to pepper the film with scares.StreamThe Empty Manon Hulu.
Evil Dead Rise
The tenants of an apartment complex come in contact with an ancient evil when some of them accidentally stumble upon the fated ‘Book of the Dead.’ As one family member after the other falls into demonic possession, the remainder must fight them off while trying to figure out a way to escape from the complex that they are now trapped in.
A Successful Return forThe Evil Dead
TheEvil Deadhas remained a fan favorite, with Ash (Bruce Campbell) being one of the most beloved heroes ever to grace the genre. WhileEvil Dead Risedid not include the foul-mouthed hero, the movie managed to pay homage to its source while pushing the franchise forward for new and old fans.
Notably, the dark humor elements certainly still resonate with the evil dead (deadites) still having a knack for playfully mocking their victims, but the way they do it is more brutal than anything that came before it in the series. This also means a heavier emphasis on scares; whether it be a deadite lurking in the background or an elevator flooded with blood,Evil Dead Risestays consistently frightening.We can’t wait till the next entry!StreamEvil Dead Riseon Max.
12Good Boy (2022)
A millionaire heir, Christian, has a peculiar living arrangement where he takes care of a man named Frank who dresses up and lives his life like a dog. Despite this shocking reveal to a girl he meets online, Sigrid, the two decide to go on a vacation retreat with all three of them. As Sigrid gets used to the situation and starts to fall in for the charismatic Christian, things soon take a turn when Frank finally speaks, asking for help.
It’s All Gone to the Dogs
The Norwegian horror/thriller by director Viljar Boe,Good Boy, made itself a surprise hit for a foreign,lower-budgeted feature. This is for good reason, as the film was built on an interesting premise that turns disturbing.
The film’s real focus comes from Ingrid realizing Christian’s cruelty and trying to navigate the seriousness of her situation while pretending she does not know what is happening between him and Frank. This is one of those movies that are best to go in blind, as the way the story unfolds and builds the terror of Sigrid’s situation.RentGood Boyon Apple TV+.
Related:28 Best Horror Movies on Prime Video to Watch Right Now
11His House (2020)
A refugee couple from South Sudan, Bol, and Rial, is struggling to adapt to their new life in an English town, from the poor housing conditions, racism, and the struggle between trying to assimilate while still honoring their culture. While they are struggling, disturbing phenomena begin to occur in their new home, leading Rial to believe that an evil presence is haunting them.
Home Is Where the Horror Is
Remi Weekes’sHis Houseproved to be an inventive entry into the horror genre, tapping into real-world dread and current social issues in Britain with immigration, all delivered with a polished cinematic style focused on evoking dread. The movie also boasted standout performances from Sope Dirisu and Wunmi Mosaku, as the couple struggled with the entity in their home.
The scares punctuate all these dramatic elements and reflections on social issues, and there are instances that will leave audiences audibly gasping.StreamHis Houseon Netflix.
