For years, the horror genre has been characterized by its musical stings, jump scares, and easily recognizable villains, including Friday the 13th's Jason Voorhees and A Nightmare on Elm Street's Freddy Krueger. However, some horror directors and writers have swapped out their visual scares for more psychologically engaging stories.
That is in no way a bad thing, as a compelling plot is a vital part of a good horror movie and goes far beyond a creepy, crawling monster. Nevertheless, there are a select few movies that have been able to combine psychological and visual scares to make a more striking and aesthetically frightening viewing experience.
10 Ari Aster's Midsommar Showed Fans That A Movie Doesn't Have To Be Dark To Be Scary
Midsommar follows Florence Pugh's Dani as she travels to a remote Swedish village with her boyfriend and his friends to celebrate midsummer. The film is a terrifying folk horror inspired by Scandinavian mythology. The soon-to-be A24 classic is a story of grief, deception, and family that pushes its protagonist to the very edge.
Midsommar does away with the gloom and darkness that's typical of the horror genre and instead opts for a vibrant setting in the lush, colorful Swedish summer. Despite its unwaveringly bright setting, Midsommar still manages to hide all types of horrors within each shot.
9 Blood And Black Lace Is A Classic Murder Mystery With A Twist
Mario Bava's 1964 mystery horror, Blood and Black Lace, tells the story of a prestigious Roman fashion house and the brutal murders of its models. In late 20th-century Italian tradition, Blood and Black Lace is a highly stylized and incredibly vibrant film that's filled with crimson hues against dark, shadowy scenery.
Blood and Black Lace's unsung stars and most unsettling design piece are the red-skinned, raven-haired mannequins of its opening scene. Though they remain motionless and relatively unacknowledged throughout the rest of the film, their striking appearance has continued to instill discomfort amongst fans for more than 50 years.
8 2018's Suspiria Took The Beauty Of The Original And Turned It On Its Head
When Dakota Johnson, Mia Goth, and Tilda Swinton were slated to take part in Luca Guadagnino's remake of the Italian horror film Suspiria, fans were excited to see what the Call Me by Your Name director would do with his iteration of the psychedelic classic. Although the 1977 version was praised upon release for its kaleidoscopic cinematography, Guadagnino hoped to distance his project from the original as much as possible.
This was done in an attempt to preserve the original's legacy and give Guadagnino's version a legacy of its own. 2018's Suspiria is an ostentatious whirlwind of printed caftans, shibari dance costumes, and plenty of beige to make the other colors pop.
7 Nosferatu Gave Fans The First Ever Major Gothic Horror Film
A classic of the German Expressionist genre, 1922's Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror follows Thomas Hutter as he visits and subsequently attempts to escape the home of the vampiric Count Orlok. This iconic film has been referenced for years, including in 1976's A Star Is Born and even in children's shows like SpongeBob SquarePants.
Although cinema was much less technologically advanced at the time of Nosferatu's production, F. W. Murnau's magnum opus features cinematography and special effects that can rival even films of today. The simple yet eerie design of Max Schreck's Orlok has since gone down as one of the most legendary monster designs in cinematic history.
6 Elle Fanning Electrified Moviegoers In The Neon Demon
The Neon Demon is a psychological horror that stars Elle Fanning, Karl Glusman, and Bella Heathcote. The movie tells the story of aspiring model Jesse, played by Elle Fanning, who falls into a complicated friendship with a trio of older models. Jesse eventually rises through the ranks of the fashion world, much to her new friends' dismay.
As its title suggests, The Neon Demon is a colorful picture that's full of blinding neon lights and intricately staged shots, which are akin to the psychedelic horror films of the '70s. The Neon Demon was praised for its stylish aesthetic.
5 Henry Selick Terrified An Entire Generation With Coraline
Based on the Neil Gaiman novel of the same name, Henry Selick's 2009 stop-motion film is not often classified as horror since it was originally advertised as a children's film. However, the events of Coraline prove that children's movies can be just as scary, if not scarier, than adult horror.
With its spider-like villain, known ominously as the "Other Mother," and its gloomy setting, Coraline is ripe with Tim Burton's signature gothic and dreary style. When the titular hero eventually ventures into the Other Mother's world, its blinding, vibrant colors bring out Burton's personal flair for the dramatic.
4 Crimson Peak Reinvented The Victorian Horror Story
Created in 2015 by horror legend Guillermo del Toro, Crimson Peak follows Mia Wasikowska's Edith Cushing as she marries a struggling baronet, played by Tom Hiddleston, and joins him in his dilapidated home in the English hills. When Edith begins to receive visits from mysterious blood-hued specters, she attempts to uncover the mysteries of the Sharpe manor.
Crimson Peak is brimming with del Toro's signature practical special effects and eerie scenery. The movie also features famed monster actor Doug Jones in various roles. This gothic Edwardian horror is like something out of an Edgar Allen Poe story with its brilliant creature design and starkly contrasting color scheme.
3 1981's Possession Was One Of The First Films To Be Banned In The UK
Possession tells the story of newly divorced Anna as she struggles with a growing terror inside of her. While the film offers little substance in its plot, its bizarre scares more than make up for the story's shortcomings.
In the same vein as Crimson Peak, Possession's monster design is perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the film's overall visuals. The mysterious tentacled entity that Anna keeps hidden away, which is implied to be the being tormenting her throughout the film, is a terrifying monster due to the sheer otherworldliness of its form.
2 Ju-On Brought Japanese Horror To The Worldwide Stage
The J-horror classic, Ju-On: The Grudge is the third installment in Takashi Shimizu's Ju-On series and the first to be released theatrically. The horror picture focuses on a home that's haunted by the vengeful spirit of Kayako, a woman whose husband murdered her after learning of her infidelity.
While an English-language remake starring Sarah Michelle Gellar was made two years later in 2002, nothing beats the fantastical horror of the original. Ju-On is known for its central spirit, Kayako, and her characteristic long black hair, which slithers and twirls around her face and contributed to an entire generation's fear of dark ceiling corners.
1 Night Of The Demon's Main Baddie Is Still Scary To This Day
This 1957 demonic horror film follows psychologist John Holden as he investigates a demon-worshipping cult in London's underground. When John finally comes into contact with the entity at the cult's center, he begins to question his previously science-oriented ideologies.
For a film from the '50s, Night of the Demon has a surprisingly effective monster design and proves that practical visual effects can produce creatures that will scare even today's audiences. Although the film's titular monster only appears a handful of times, its face promises to haunt the dreams of any viewer.