You can’t beat the adrenaline rush from watching a terrifying film. There’s more to horror films than jump scares. They cause people to reflect on who they are, what is valuable to them, and where they stand as a society. Some of the best films ever made are also the scariest because they force you out of your comfort zone and get your brain working.
There is no shortage of movies in the horror genre. Still, if you want to be genuinely terrified after playing a few calming slots on our fav online site Red Casino, consider watching these six best terrifying movies.
They are great for several reasons, including their prevalence in the public consciousness, their impact on the horror genre, and their innovative storytelling.
1. The Exorcist (1973)
Even if you don’t think The Exorcist is among the most terrifying films ever made, you can’t deny that it’s among the genre’s finest. The original novel by the same name by William Friedkin was adapted into the highest-grossing horror film of all time, and the film was also nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards (it earned nine more nominations and managed to scoop two trophies).
The picture is well-known not just for its commercial and critical success but also for the widespread panic it sparked across the west, including protests over its contentious subject matter and tales of fainting and nauseating among the audience.
Even if its dramatic tempo and slightly dated effects may look quaint in comparison to some modern horror, there is no doubting the impact the picture continues to have on first-time viewers.
2. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
While many would say that more recent horror films are scarier overall, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre from 1974 proves that this is not always the case. In this movie, Leatherface and his family of cannibals go on their first-ever hunt for a group of hapless hitchhikers, and things become nasty and violent.
It was prohibited in various countries upon its initial release because of the immense fear and violence it inspired. It is still widely regarded as one of the most frightening films of all time. Gross and groundbreaking for its era, it’s not for the weak of the stomach.
3. Insidious (2010)
Although James Wan has other highly ranking horror films, this psychological thriller about a child who slips into a coma and starts to channel a malicious spirit was the first film he and Patrick Wilson worked on before filming The Conjuring.
The story’s skeleton wasn’t particularly original, but Leigh Whannell, a regular Wan collaborator, filled it with an intriguing enough storyline, so much so that it generated three sequels.
Insidious is a superb chiller with what is frequently considered one of the best plot twists ever placed on a screen, and according to Wan, it was created as a correction to the overt violence of Saw.
4. Speak No Evil (2022)
With no exaggeration, Speak No Evil qualifies as one of the most horrifying films of 2022. In this movie, a Danish family becomes new friends with a Dutch family while on vacation, and the Dutch hosts invite the Danes to their house.
It’s a textbook case of a slow burn when nothing is quite right from the start but eventually escalates to a terrible conclusion that defies all logic and plausibility. This chilling and emotionless picture warns against the perils of blind obedience.
5. Scream (1996)
While Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson have had considerable success in their careers, Scream stands out. Williamson’s script skillfully juggled a number of different roles, functioning as a solid whodunit and, most crucially, a good horror film in its own right while also being a subtle meta-parody about this genre that avoided goofiness.
At last, a cast of horror film characters admitted that they, too, had seen countless films in the genre and were familiar with its cliches and conventions. The murderer/murderers were the most knowledgeable of the group, as they teased their victims with horror film information that many in the audience could easily answer.
However, when the killer finally made an appearance, it was horrific, with numerous superbly staged moments of suspense in which Craven once again demonstrated his mastery of this genre. Scream is an excellent example of a film that aims to make its viewers laugh, cheer, and scream and succeeds at doing all three.
6. Halloween (1978)
The slasher film genre can be traced back to Psycho and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. It was a crucial early entry that helped to elevate the genre’s level of viscerality. However, the film Halloween established this type of horror and led to countless imitations, spinoffs, and tributes.
Taking a universally recognized holiday, adding a chillingly silent, relentless masked killer, and topping it all off with a spunky, resourceful heroine, you have Halloween and, of course, all the films that followed.
As we watched Michael Myers follow Laurie Strode from a distance before going on his eventual killing rampage, John Carpenter conveyed a sense of tension and dread that few others could match in a slasher picture.
Michael is a great bad guy in his own right; his emotionless mask is a superb embodiment of the twisted nature of a man who is driven to kill repeatedly and seems immune to any attempts to stop him.
It’s easy to see why Michael went on to become a horror legend and why some people were upset when he was left out of the third Halloween film. After all, Michael Myers is now inextricably linked to both Halloween (the event) and the film.
The takeaway
These six are undoubtedly the best horror films in the market. The next time you sit down for your evening movie, pick one from this list!
