This decade was a fantastic decade for horror. Horror has always remained popular in the mainstream, These movies ventured to be more than that, to be a good movie as well as a good horror movie.
This decade, especially the latter half, served as a bit of a renaissance for the horror genre thanks in large part to Blumhouse and independent studios like A24. It has always been a good time to be a horror fan, but no one can deny last decade was an especially great era for the genre.
These are the ten best horror movies of the 2010s, according to Metacritic.
Mandy (2018) - 81
Mandy is a different kind of horror movie, that’s for sure. Nicholas Cage stars as the titular Mandy, a man gone absolutely off his rocker after a hippie cult murders his wife. Chaos and revenge ensue. Perhaps this isn’t a straight-up horror, but more of a revenge thriller.
But it certainly contains its unsettling moments, and Nicholas Cage makes for a delightfully rocky and off-the-walls protagonist (as he usually does). It also has an incredible sense of style. Some have said it’s the most stylish horror film of the decade.
A Quiet Place (2018) - 82
A Quiet Place was one of the surprise breakout hits of 2018. It stars real-life couple John Krasinski and Emily Blunt as a married couple who must keep their children safe in a world where any sound means instant death.
It’s an interesting concept, and both stars milk it for all it’s worth. The movie has garnered its share of criticism recently, particularly around the supposed “plot holes.” And no, the story isn’t perfect. But it’s still a thrilling, touching, and surprisingly humane horror story about family… and not making any noise whatsoever.
A sequel is on its way, too.
It Follows (2014) - 83
It Follows was at the forefront of the late 2010s horror resurgence, having released at Cannes in May 2014. It concerns a young woman named Jay who becomes the subject of an unknown entity. All that is known about the “entity” is that it is passed by having sex and that it never stops pursuing you.
It’s a thinly-veiled parable on the dangers of unprotected sex and STDs, but it also works as a straight horror flick about an unrelenting and unstoppable force. Just the concept alone is enough to send shivers down your spine.
The Lighthouse (2019) - 83
The first Robert Eggers film on this list is The Lighthouse, a brilliant character piece starring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. They star as isolated lighthouse keepers who slowly go mad over the lure and call of “the light.”
It’s shot in black and white in a very nontraditional aspect ratio, but this only adds to the movie’s sense of claustrophobia, isolation, and old-timey sea adventure feeling. Bizarre and horrifying imagery, a metaphorical and ambiguous story, two amazing lead performances.
The Witch (2015) - 83
The Witch is Robert Eggers’ second film on the list (and first film overall). This, along with It Follows, largely began the horror renaissance of the late 2010s, and we hadn’t really seen anything like it at the time.
The story is relatively simple - a farming family is hounded by an unseen force hiding in the woods. But the execution is fresh and original, filled with Eggers’ typically astounding (and ambiguous) imagery and some amazing period dialogue. It’s admittedly not for everyone, but those willing to give it a try found a lot to enjoy.
Under The Shadow (2016) - 84
Under the Shadow undoubtedly flew under everyone’s radars. Under the Shadow is a Persian film, but it was acquired for international distribution by Netflix, so you can check it out on there.
It premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews, with many critics praising its scares, themes, and social commentary. Mark Kermode, an esteemed film critic known for his love of horror, named Under the Shadow his favorite film of 2016. Any horror fan owes it to themselves to check it out.
Get Out (2017) - 84
If there’s one horror movie of the 2010s that managed the tricky balancing act between mainstream popularity and critical adoration, it was Get Out. Get Out was an enormous success with the critics, most of whom praised the movie’s atmosphere, unique blending of horror and comedy, and topical social commentary.
But it was also a major commercial success, grossing over $250 million at the worldwide box office. With this movie, Jordan Peele proved to be a surprising but welcomed addition to the horror pantheon.
One Cut Of The Dead (2017) - 86
We suppose One Cut of the Dead is more a comedy, but it’s a comedy in the same way that Shaun of the Dead was a comedy - funny, yes, but also wonderfully surprising, bloody, and sometimes very scary.
This is a Japanese film about a filmmaker who takes his crew out to a water filtration plant to film a zombie movie. While there, a real zombie outbreak occurs, and the filmmaker decides to use the real footage for his movie. It’s hilariously depraved and refreshingly original, and the critics apparently can’t recommend it enough.
The Babadook (2014) - 86
The Babadook is perhaps the most divisive horror movie of the decade. As you can see, the critics absolutely adored it. Virtually every aspect of its construction was endlessly praised, including the acting, horror scenes, the Babadook monster itself, and its themes of depression, loneliness, and forgiveness.
However, everyday movie goers didn’t seem to care for it much, and it was labelled “boring” and “annoying.” Chalk it up to bad marketing and skewed expectations, because The Babadook really is brilliant.
Hereditary (2018) - 87
And here we come to the decade’s crowning achievement - Ari Aster’s amazing Hereditary. Hereditary is unlike any horror movie you’ve seen before, a nightmarish and surreal mix of grief-stricken drama, ghost story, cult shenanigans, and obscene fever dream.
Some people undoubtedly walked away from the movie feeling confused or bored, but even more were left with intense feelings of dread. One scene in particular will likely go down in horror movie history. Or rather, Hereditary will go down in horror movie history.
