There have been a lot of great Horror films released in the last decade. It seems with each new era, what fans know as Horror shifts and bends to breathe new life into modern classics. Horror masters help pay homage to the genre by basing their latest adventures off of some of the most iconic works in history while simultaneously subverting the norm and bringing new and exciting terror to Horror-hungry audiences.The end result has viewers on the edge of their seats, with bated breath and elevated heartbeats. To better celebrate the newest age of Horror, we've put together a list of some of the most unsettling films created in the last decade.Updated December 22nd, 2021 by Russ Boswell: Although some fans are reminiscent of the Horror boom seen throughout the 80s and 90s, that doesn't mean there aren't some truly scary films in the modern age. Some of the scariest horror movies ever made came out between the years of 2010 and 2020. In the modern age, the scariest movies take advantage of an increase in special effects, storytelling methods, and some grade-A acting from some truly talented people. To shine a better light on the scariest horror movies that appeared throughout the last decade, the following list has been updated and includes even more entries that horror fans should check out.
15 Creep (2014)
Creep failed to get a lot of "global attention" from critics, with many of them overlooking the horror gem. Thankfully, audiences gave the Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass film a chance, with many of them finding themselves completely disturbed by the story that unfolded.
Creep follows a seemingly simple premise that shows a man responding to a Craigslist add seeking someone to record a dying man's last words. What starts out as something somber and heartwarming soon degrades into a horror fest that should keep anyone on the edge of their seat throughout.
14 The Babadook (2014)
Jumpscares and creepy sounds are enough to keep most audiences unnerved but there is something to be said about films that can achieve serious tension without having to resort to these types of tactics. While some of the scenes in the Babadook may seem like jumpscare material, for the most part, it manages to be an immensely creepy film just from its visuals and acting alone. The premise is incredibly smart too, bringing storybook elements to life and including a prop pop-up book that looks and feels incredibly real.
It was one of the best "sleeper hits" of the past decade.
13 Don't Breathe (2016)
There are a lot of great horror movies out there that subvert expectations and transform seemingly simple concepts into truly terrifying works of art. Don't Breathe is a great example of both of these concepts, taking the idea of a "home robbery" and turning it into something that is far more sinister than it first appears.
While a home robbery is definitely pretty alarming for anyone who experiences it, a group of thieves gets the fright of their lives in Don't Breathe when they attempt to break into the home of a blind man in the hopes of scoring an easy haul. What transpires is a truly unsettling dive into horror that received rave reviews from both audiences and critics alike.
12 The Autopsy Of Jane Doe (2016)
Most people are pretty perturbed by the idea of death, it's a subject that can easily worm its way into the mind and cause panic. Because of this, many audiences find themselves squirming in their seats at the idea of being locked alone in a mortuary or morgue. The Autopsy of Jane Doe takes this concept and cranks the dial up to 11 by introducing an array of other spooky elements that all combine to create an experience that is tense, creepy, and extremely sinister.
This one flew under the radar for most and saw a limited release in 2016 before going global in 2017. It's definitely worth a watch.
11 Hereditary (2018)
Hereditary is a bit of a slow burn thanks to its lengthy 2+ hour runtime but it's well worth the watch. The film builds tension masterfully, culminating in a series of acts that are each more terrifying than the last.
Those that love the idea of the supernatural will really enjoy this offering and it features some of the most unsettling visuals seen in the last decade. It's an edge-of-your-seat adventure that will keep the audience incredibly uncomfortable as it progresses. It's difficult to write too much on the film without spoiling its big twists and turns. It's best to turn this one on with little-to-no knowledge about it.
10 The Ritual (2017)
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One of the oldest tropes in Horror films is "a group of people goes hiking in the woods." Although many of the films found sprinkled throughout the sub-genre are a bit cliche in their delivery, there are still some that are downright chilling. The ritual is a great example, proving that tried-and-true Horror methods can still be nerve-wracking in the modern age when the creators apply some unique twists and turns.
After the death of one of their friends, four men set out on a journey to hike the Swedish countryside. A detour through the woods proves to be the worst mistake the group has ever made.
9 Sinister (2012)
Some of the best horror films of the last decade subverted some of the classic tropes found throughout long-standing horror. Sinister was a great example of this, turning a traditional "ghost story" into something far more alarming. This is one of those films that features a lot of unique twists and turns and will deeply burrow into the head of its audiences well after the story has ended.
What starts out as a simple cause of a "haunted series of videotapes" soon turns into a terrifying fight for survival against some unexpected enemies.
8 The Conjuring (2013)
Those aching for a traditional ghost story will definitely want to check out The Conjuring, a horror film so influential that it spawned its own franchise and even includes some branching sub-stories that better showcase its characters. At its core, the original Conjuring has all of the elements that make a classic ghost story, from a spooky location to some terrifying paranormal entities.
A husband and wife ghost-hunting team (based on real-world counterparts) travel to a spooky remote farmhouse but get much more than they bargained for when they connect with the dark spirits living there.
7 Midsommar (2019)
Ari Aster, director of Hereditary, had already put their name out there as one of the next great names in horror thanks to their 2018 release. Because of this, fans were anxiously awaiting Midsommar with bated breath in the hopes that it would be just as chilling. Thankfully, the film didn't disappoint and helped to further cement Ari Aster's growing legacy as one of the best up-and-coming filmmakers of the new age.
The tense fright-fest follows a couple, struggling to connect, as they flee to a Swedish midsummer festival in hopes of repairing their relationship. Things take a rather abrupt and dark turn from there.
6 Insidious (2010)
Similar to The Conjuring, director James Wan's Insidious was so deeply disturbing to some viewers that it helped spawn its own franchise. It's dark, thrilling, and provides some truly heart-racing Horror, with masterfully crafted scares that steadily build tension.
After their son falls into a strange coma, a family begins to believe their house is haunted. Strange occurrences, noises, and some freaky "hallucinations" cause the group to contact a psychic. What follows is a dive into the supernatural in a way that neither the family on-screen nor the audience will forget.
5 V/H/S (2012)
Those that enjoy Horror anthologies will find some great stories in V/H/S. Although it was panned by critics as hit-or-miss, there have been a lot of fans that greatly enjoyed the short-film collection. It's grown a cult following over the years and has spawned multiple entries in its franchise, including one recently with V/H/S/94.
A group of criminals that often film their misdeeds take a job stealing a mysterious videotape. Upon arriving and breaking into the home, the group starts to experience some rather unsettling things, all while being forced into watching a series of strange-yet-horrific short films.
4 Grave Encounters (2011)
Found footage and "realistic-looking" Horror films have a way of grabbing audiences and holding their attention. It's one thing to watch something supremely unsettling but it's entirely different if the viewer is given the illusion that what they're seeing has actually happened (or is based on something that really happened).
Grave Encounters presents itself as a "found footage" type of adventure, starting out with an introduction by a group of individuals that received submissions for a new ghost-hunting show. What follows looks like any other mundane supernatural documentary before devolving into something truly terrifying.
3 The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)
Another film that follows a similar "documentary" structure, The Taking of Deborah Logan is a downright chilling introspection on Alzheimer's that steadily grows more sinister as time goes on. Viewers are pulled in by what appears to be the horrible yet frightening side effects of an incurable disease before being completely taken for a ride by something entirely unexpected.
The Taking of Deborah Logan features some truly unnerving acting from the extremely talented Jill Larson and has some wonderful pacing.
2 It Follows (2014)
Although this one is a bit of a slow burn, it features some truly unsettling scenes that will stay with viewers long after they're done watching. There is something supremely well-done with the scare factor in It Follows, as it spins a tale that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats and the dread meter at a constant 100 percent. It's unsettling, unnerving, and inescapable.
A young girl is forced to contend with something sinister and supernatural after a romantic encounter.
1 Host (2020)
Horror movies don't have to be exceptionally long, multi-million dollar productions to be scary. In fact, some of the most terrifying stories are crafted by small teams with low budgets. In one case, one of the best Horror films of the recent decade was made entirely during lockdown, in which people were forced to stay home amidst a Global Pandemic. That didn't stop a talented crew from producing one of the most chilling movies of 2020.
Host is relatable, topical, and follows a group that ends up involved in an "online seance." It's under an hour in runtime but easily one of the best Horror films recently made.