I’m Horrified If You Haven’t Seen These Yet

by Naiya Patel-Kapka, Editor in Chief

I was always an anxious little insomniac as a child, with a terrible fear of the dark and nightmares filled with monsters and demons, so it’s no wonder I was too afraid to start watching horror movies until I entered high school– I already had them in my dreams, I didn’t need any new fears. But when I learned that Steven King sleeps with the light on, I realized that the horror genre is ultimately made for people like me, and my love affair with these movies began. 

The horror genre is awesome because it is, in itself, ironic. I mean, people watch movies for pleasure, so horror has had to find a way to make itself appealing, although it technically can’t if it wants to be truly terrifying. This leads to the paradox of experiencing pleasure at the prospect of one's own terror, which I think is both objectively hilarious and the thing that makes horror movies so wonderful. Horror movies are really a comedy of human emotion, a way to become aware of the amygdala, that gland that secretes fear in the base of our skull. We watch these movies and get excited by the prospect that we might scream. 

So what are some of the best horror movies to watch? Through a few coffee fueled horror movie marathons, here are what I’ve found to be the best horror movies to watch, classified by subgenre.

Paranormal:

The best horror movie ever made, and perhaps the best movie ever made more generally, is Possession (1981). I have rewatched this movie so many times and it never gets old. The plot centers around a couple on the brink of divorce, with both parties descending into what seems like pure madness, but is actually far more complicated. I won’t spoil it any further because it is a perfect movie and everyone should see it.   

Nosferatu (2024): Girl falls under the spell of an ugly vampire. Like Twilight but more perverted. 

Rosemary’s Baby (1968): A very intense watch; definitely problematic, but it was made in the 60s, okay? Men aren’t allowed to like this movie, but everyone else can, in a subversive way.

Smile (2022): A world where smiling is demonic and cursed. This movie was a funny watch but also I totally had a nightmare after watching it. 

Culty:

Midsommar (2019) is another movie that I will love and rewatch until the day I die. I don’t care if almost everyone has already seen it by now; I will recommend it over and over until EVERYONE sees it. It’s a perfect movie where a woman has a dumbass boyfriend, and their whole friend group takes a trip to spend time with an odd religious community in Sweden. Suspicious things happen. Terrible things happen. The ending is amazing.

The Wicker Man (1973):  Sort of similar to Midsommar except this one delves into the topic of religious oppression.  Apparently the cast and crew encountered a lot of logistical problems while filming, so it’s honestly a miracle that the movie even got made. 

The VVitch (2015): I watched this one when I had a fever last year, so I’m not entirely sure of the exact plot, but I know I loved it. It’s about a family and a witch. Oh, and a weird talking goat. 

Hereditary (2018): A classic. Everyone should have seen this by now. “Don’t you swear at me, you little shit!!!” It never gets old. I really can’t watch the telephone pole scene though. 

Psychological:

Climax (2018) is the worst horror movie I’ve ever seen, and I mean that as the highest of compliments. It’s so good because it's so horrible. It’s probably the only movie I’ve ever gotten so truly terrified by that I refuse to ever watch it again (which means in terms of the genre, it is perfect). It’s about dancers and a surreal night resulting from a spiked punch bowl. 

The Lighthouse (2019): Two men are stuck on an island together and descend into madness. Also, there are evil mermaids! 

The Shining (1980): Duhhhh! Probably one of the best movies ever made. The plot centers on a family in a mountain lodge, and follows Jack Nicholson as he gradually succumbs to cabin fever. If you haven’t seen this, you really kind of have to. 

The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017): My friend Maud has been recommending this one to me for like a year. I finally watched it and now I get the hype. It’s about a too-perfect family, and a very creepy young man played by Barry Keoghan, who unravels their world. 

Body Horror:

Together (2025) is not as good as The Substance, but since it is newer and got less hype upon release, I think it deserves this spotlight. The movie is about a couple who stumble upon a freaky cave in the woods, and chronicles what happens to them after they drink the water within said cave. It’s hilarious and has really cool special effects. And no, I don’t actually want to hear about how they ripped off a smaller studio because I actually don't GAF. There’s bigger problems in the world, just enjoy the movie. 

The Substance (2024): If you haven’t seen it yet you should. It’s hilarious and also has really great body horror visuals. It’s essentially a documentary about Ozempic lol.

Eraserhead (1977): I watched the whole movie out of my love for David Lynch. Didn’t love it, but I know you pretentious film nerds do. It’s a fever dream horror flick about fatherhood. 

Barbarian (2022): I have no clue what was happening in this movie. I just remember the weird monster lady with the crazy sagging flesh. It was a fun watch with friends. 

Other:

Nope (2022): Aliens and horses and traumatized child stars. I was pleasantly confused while watching. 

Suspiria (1977): A dance school haunted by the witches of the past. I loved the weird colors and lighting. Very visually pleasing even though the plot got lost several times. 

House (1977): There’s no way to describe this movie. There’s a witch cat. A man turns into bananas. Nothing makes sense.