In recent years,horrortelevision series have managed to catch up with feature films when it comes to genuine scares, yet there are some movies that are more terrifying than anything you can show on TV. That’s because even the mostunsettling television episodesare bound to certain restrictions that movies don’t have.
Thescariest horror movies of all timecondense pure terror into just a few hours and are able to keep the tension alive throughout in a way that longer-form TV series just cannot.These are movies that are more than just simply disturbingand leave a lasting impact on viewers who still shudder when they think of their content decades later.
10The Blair Witch Project (1999)
It’s truly hard to overstate the effect thatThe Blair Witch Projecthad on viewers back in 1999. As a trailblazingfound-footage horrorthat was released before audiences were familiar with this format, the realism of this story was truly terrifying, as it was difficult to differentiate fact from fiction, and plenty of horror lovers were overwhelmed by just how real it all felt.
While modern horror audiences are well accustomed to tricks of found-footage films,The Blair Witch Projectwas what started it all and paved the way for later series likeParanormal Activity,Cloverfield, andRec. This movie might feel a lot tamer today, but back at the turn of the century, it was scarier than anything you could show on TV.
9Sinister (2012)
Science doesn’t lie, and one shocking study revealedSinisteras the scariest movie of all time. This was conducted in 2020 by Broadband Choices and was based on the heart rate statistics of viewers watching the film (via Nerdist), where participants watched over 100 horror movies, andSinistercaused the biggest spike in their fear receptors.
This supernatural story starred Ethan Hawke as a true crime writer who discovers snuff films of gruesome murders that put his family in danger. As a deeply frightening horror that’s sure to spike the heart rate of any viewer,Sinisterearned its status among the scariest movies ever made.
8The Descent (2005)
The fear of the unknown is often scarier than anything a filmmaker can depict, which was part of what madeThe Descentso unnerving throughout. This British horror follows six women struggling to survive in a dark cave system as they’re pursued by horrifying, often unseen creatures.
The monsters at the center ofThe Descentwere known as Crawlersand were the result of cave-dwelling humans who, over generations, lost their ability to see and mutated to the needs of living in total darkness. With a uniquely horrifying premise,The Descentstands as one of the most effective and unnerving British horror movies ever made.
7Antichrist (2009)
The Danish directorLars von Trier has consistently pushed cinema-goers out of their comfort zoneswith deeply challenging films that go far beyond the boundaries of what can be depicted on television. One of his darkest and most distressing movies wasAntichrist, an arthouse horror about a couple experiencing strange and surreal visions in a remote cabin.
As a film filled with violent sexual behavior and sadomasochistic themes,Antichristwas a powerful pontification on the nature of grief that did not shy away from the dark complexities of its premise. With two outstanding performances from Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg,Antichristis not for the faint of heart.
6Begotten (1990)
For those who aren’t afraid to step outside of their comfort zone for something a little more unconventional, thenBegottenstands as one of the most effective horror movies ever made. As a silent exploration of myths in Christian mythology, Celtic mythology, and Slavic paganism, this experimental journey into the story of a dying world was complex and epic.
Begottenutilizes surreal imagery and is a piece of avant-garde filmmakingthat will challenge even the most adventurous of film lovers. With a haunting and dreamlike aesthetic, the experience of watchingBegottenwas more like being trapped in a surreal nightmare from which you cannot awake.
5Bring Her Back (2025)
The Australian twin brother directing duo, Danny and Michael Philippou, followed up their incredible debut,Talk to Me,with yet another terrifying supernatural horror. This story about anorphaned brother and sister being taken in as foster childrenby a troubled, grieving mother pushed the boundaries of how dark and gruesome a horror movie can truly get.
With brutally violent imagery,Bring Her Backwas able to depict visuals far more intense because one of the children was blind and didn’t instinctively flee the disturbing scenes unfolding around her. As a domestic nightmare of grief and pain,Bring Her Backshowcases the Philippou brothers among the most interesting new voices in the horror movie landscape.
4Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)
David Lynch changed television forever with his seriesTwin Peaks, but it was in the prequel movie that he pushed things past what he could have ever depicted on the small screen.Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Meprovided audiences with the truth of Laura Palmer’s backstory and was a disturbing journey into a troubled existence and her horrifying trauma.
With Lynch’s distinctive dreamlike style and surreal impulses on full display,Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Mehad a much darker tone than the TV show, and, although it was badly received in 1992, it has been reappraised as a genuine masterpiece. With an incredible lead performance by Sheryl Lee,Fire Walk with Meexplored the way we process trauma.
3The Exorcist (1973)
Despite being released more than 50 years ago,The Exorcistis still the touchstone by which all other scary movies are judged. As a film that caused audience members to literally faint in the movie theater due to the shocking nature of what they were witnessing, thisadaptation of William Peter Blatty’s supernatural novelwas among the most controversial movies of all time.
As a story of demonic possession,The Exorcisttapped into innate fears and religious concepts as the child actress Linda Blair was overtaken by a violent and vulgar spirit. Few horror movies have managed to match the impact ofThe Exorcist, and it remains the gold standard of the demonic possession subgenre of horror.
2Martyrs (2008)
As an intense and ultra-violent story,Martyrsis among the scariest movies of all time. Following the story of a young woman enacting her revenge against those who tortured her child, while the very premise of this film was already upsetting and grim, this is not enough to prepare audiences for the over-the-top violence and depraved sexual imagery it displays.
Coming from French filmmaker Pascal Laugier,Martyrsis part of the New Extremity film movement, which embraced violence and obscene imagery like few films before it.Martyrswas so intense that it even received a documentary titledMartyrs vs. Censorship, which addressed the brutality of the film and its reception around the world.
1Hereditary (2018)
Hereditaryis a modern movie that immediately gained status as an instant classic and transformed Ari Aster into one of the most talked-about directors of contemporary times. With an all-time great performance from Toni Collette as the grieving mother Annie Graham,Hereditaryexplored a family in a state of traumaand the supernatural circumstances that underpin their lives.
As a Satanic tale that echoes elements ofThe ExorcistandRosemary’s Baby,Hereditarywas a major release from A24 that put this indie studio at the forefront ofhorror cinema. With disturbing imagery that will forever be burned into viewers' minds,Hereditarywas a shockingly unpredictable story that went well past anything that can be depicted on TV.
