Horror has evolved quite a bit over the years. Modern fright films are much more than suspenseful stories and great sound design. The new age and all its technological advancements allow filmmakers to produce scary content that looks just as horrifying as it feels and sounds. This was apparent in a lot of films that came out during the 2010s, with zombie movies and creature features that showcase some visually terrifying creations.
Although some are still searching for "the perfect Horror film" for the modern age, the 2010s saw some great additions. Some of the creepiest entries of the post-2000s can be found there, with some downright chilling monster movies, mixed in with some unique spins on the genre. Here's a look at some of the best Horror movies of the 2010s, complete with their IMDB ratings.
10 World War Z (7.0)
It wouldn't be the 2010s without a slew of zombie movies. At the height of its popularity, zombie films and video games were rampant throughout the Horror genre. It felt like overkill, looking back, but there were still some films that managed to "break the mold" when it came to a lot of the traditional tropes found surrounding the shambling undead.
World War Z is a prime example, featuring a star-studded cast and some rather ravenous monsters. The zombies in World War Z aren't the dim-witted, slow-moving type you see in most other films. They're fast, deadly, and capable of working together to overcome obstacles. They helped set the stage for one of the most exhilarating looks at the "apocalypse via zombie virus."
9 Don't Breathe (7.1)
There have been a lot of "copycats" sprinkled throughout the Horror genre, with films borrowing tried-and-true stories and subject matter to instill scares in audiences. But every so often a film comes along that tries something completely new and refreshing. Sometimes the attempt falls flat, but in the case of 2016's Don't Breathe, it created an experience that is a must-watch for Horror fans.
The incredibly tense film sees three thieves breaking into a home in an attempt to rob the owner of a "massive fortune." They assume their blind target will be easy pickings but the trio soon finds out that the gentleman inside is anything but helpless. Don't Breathe is a fantastic ride for those that enjoy suspense.
8 10 Cloverfield Lane (7.2)
Sometimes, the build-up to an event can be more nerve-wracking than what happens. Although 10 Cloverfield Lane has its fair share of twists and turns, the true brilliance of the film lies in its slow-burn, suspense-building storyline. With a 103 minute runtime that culminates in a rather alarming climax, director Dan Trachtenberg was able to spend over an hour building tension for the audience.
John Goodman does a fantastic job playing a seemingly helpful "prepper" that is insistent an event has left the surface world in shambles. The film feels claustrophobic thanks to its underground bunker-based setting and there's always a sense of looming dread as audiences try to figure out if the really is something happening outside or if it's all just an elaborate hoax.
7 The Conjuring 2 (7.3)
It's a sad truth when it comes to the Horror genre but it's much less frequent that a sequel is as powerful or good as the original film. But The Conjuring 2 exceeded expectations thanks to its frightful characters and the fact that it helped to "set up" The Conjuring universe as fans know it today.
The film takes place in a familiar location for horror fans, as paranormal investigators try to crack the code of the famous Amityville house. With tense moments throughout, some truly frightening sequences, and the introduction of the terrifying Nun character, The Conjuring 2 is one of the spookiest films that hit theaters in the 2010s.
6 It (7.3)
Remakes are an entire enigma when it comes to filmmaking. For many purists, it's almost impossible for a remake to be as good as the original film, as there are so many expectations that are rarely met. To make it even more stressful for filmmakers, remakes need to be "different enough" to separate them from the source material. It's difficult to find a balance that appeals to fans while also catching them off guard.
2017's IT is the perfect example of a remake done right. The modern re-telling of the Stephen King classic doesn't simply subvert the source material of the original but attempts to create and evoke its own unique brand of horror. Although some may prefer the "campy" feeling of the original (made even better by Tim Curry's wonderful portrayal of the clown Pennywise), they can't deny that 2017's IT was a much scarier, darker, and visually terrifying version of the Horror classic. It feels like an entirely different movie and it works extremely well.
5 Doctor Sleep (7.3)
Stephen King is a master storyteller, offering up some of the most bone-chilling titles that the Horror world has ever seen. He's created some truly frightening source material for films (even directing his own on one occasion with Maximum Overdrive), but a lot of his stories are one-off micro-sized dives into fear and darkness. But that still hasn't stopped the master wordsmith from "building worlds from time to time."
This is exactly what happened with Doctor Sleep, as King continued to produce lore for Danny Torrance (now Dan), the terrorized child that was haunted by sinister entities in The Shining. Now grown, Dan finds himself attempting to protect a "gifted" child from a cult intent on using her a power source to fuel their immortality. It's creepy, tense, and a great addition to King's Horror universe.
4 The Conjuring (7.5)
Although The Conjuring 2 created its own special brand of terror, it's hard to beat the original. Those who live far from civilization or own an "old farmhouse" will be especially perturbed by this paranormal fright-fest. It's a modernized take on a classic trope, following a demonic entity that is terrorizing the human residents of a home for its own sinister reasons.
Following a married paranormal investigation team (based on a real-life married couple), The Conjuring started James Wan's horrifying universe. Those interested in The Conjuring and its many characters will definitely want to start with the original.
3 A Quiet Place (7.5)
Horror films are so much more than jump scares and cheap "scare tactics." Sometimes, all you need to truly instill fear in someone is amazing sound design and a white-knuckle story concept. A Quiet Place is a prime example of this, thanks to its incredibly nerve-wracking story that follows a family attempting to survive in a world populated by ravenous monsters that are attracted to sound.
A star-studded cast, lead by John Kransinski does a fantastic job in creating some of the best tension found in a 2010s horror movie. It's not all "sound," though. The monsters present in A Quiet Place are truly twisted, blending together Sci-Fi and Horror elements to create a looming threat that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
2 Train To Busan (7.6)
It would be pretty strange if a zombie film wasn't somewhere near the top of the "best Horror movies" of the 2010s, considering how tightly the concept gripped the Horror world during the last decade. But among the sea of basic and regurgitated zombie films, Train to Busan is a shining star. The Korean film is entirely subtitled for non-Korean speakers but that shouldn't stop those that generally dislike subtitles from watching this truly terrifying zombie adventure.
Those that enjoy the zombie medium will definitely hold Train to Busan in high regard, as it's easily one of the best films ever made covering the prospect of the undead rising to swallow civilization. Its 118-minute runtime is filled to the brim with suspense, action, and a near-constant dread.
1 Get Out (7.7)
There were a lot of great Horror films sprinkled throughout the 2010s but one of the absolute best came from a pretty unlikely source. Jordan Peele has always been a hilarious Comedian but his explosion onto the Horror scene shows just how talented the actor, writer, and director really is. Since his introduction into the medium, he's been responsible for creating some of the most frightening and thought-provoking films to ever hit the genre.
Get Out serves as the perfect introduction to Jordan Peele's special and unique brand of Horror. It's easily one of the most gripping, entertaining, and terrifying films to grace screens during the last decade.