Atmospheric Horror Movies

From Ridley Scott, starring Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright
Rated R

Alien is a science fiction horror movie directed by Ridley Scott in 1979. It tells the story of the crew of the commercial space tug Nostromo, who are awakened from their cryo-sleep capsules halfway through their journey home to investigate a distress call from an alien source. The crew, which includes the Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley, meets a gruesome fate as they encounter a vicious alien creature that is intent on killing them all. Through her resourcefulness and bravery, Ripley manages to both survive and destroy the alien, though at the cost of her own life. The movie is credited with revolutionizing the science fiction and horror genres, and has spawned numerous sequels, prequels, and video games that explore the universe of the alien creature.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers
Rated R

The Shining is a horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance, a writer who takes a job as the winter caretaker of the haunted Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. After moving in with his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and young son Danny (Danny Lloyd), Jack slowly descends into madness and violence as the spirits of the hotel possess him. Meanwhile, Danny has his own powers and is able to "shine" (see visions of the past and future). He begins to experience terrifying visions, including the deaths of his parents and the reincarnation of the previous caretaker. As Jack's behavior grows increasingly erratic, Wendy and Danny must find a way to escape the hotel before it is too late.

From Michel Gondry, starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson, Gerry Robert Byrne
Rated R

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 romantic science fiction comedy-drama film written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Michel Gondry. The film follows the turbulent relationship of Joel Barish and Clementine Kruczynski as they undergo a procedure to have each other erased from their memories. The film uses elements of nonlinear narrative and psychological thriller to explore the nature of memory and romantic love. After a chance encounter, Joel and Clementine begin a relationship and fall in love, only to have their relationship disintegrate due to their different lifestyles. When Joel discovers that Clementine has undergone the procedure to erase her memories of him, he undergoes the same procedure. The film follows Joel as he attempts to dispel his memories of Clementine while in the midst of the procedure, and explores the pain of lost love.

From Roman Polanski, starring Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer
Rated Approved

Rosemary’s Baby is a classic horror film directed by Roman Polanski and released in 1968. The film tells the story of Rosemary Woodhouse, a young woman who moves into an old apartment building with her husband, Guy. Rosemary soon becomes suspicious that the building’s strange inhabitants are part of a sinister plot to use her unborn baby for an unknown purpose. As her suspicions grow, she begins to fear for the safety of her unborn child and her own life. Rosemary’s Baby is a suspenseful tale that keeps audiences guessing until the twist ending.

From Tomas Alfredson, starring Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar, Henrik Dahl
Rated R

Let the Right One In is a 2008 Swedish horror romance directed by Tomas Alfredson. The film follows the story of Oskar, a 12-year-old boy living in a suburb of Stockholm, and Eli, a centuries-old vampire child. Oskar and Eli develop a unique bond as they come to understand and accept each other's dark secrets and troubled pasts. As their relationship grows, Oskar finds the strength to stand up to his tormentors and Eli discovers the humanity that comes with friendship. Together, they must protect each other from the dangers of the world and the darkness within. Ultimately, Let the Right One In is a story of love, loyalty, and the power of friendship in the face of adversity.

From John Carpenter, starring Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tony Moran, Nancy Kyes
Rated R

Halloween is a 1978 slasher horror film written and directed by John Carpenter. It stars Donald Pleasance and Jamie Lee Curtis in her film debut. The film is set in the fictional town of Haddonfield, Illinois on Halloween night. The villain, Michael Myers, a six-year-old boy who murders his older sister fifteen years prior, escapes from a mental institution and returns to his hometown intent on murdering more teenage victims. Laurie Strode, a high school student, is the only one who knows of Myers' intentions and is forced to confront him in a terrifying cat-and-mouse game. As the night progresses, she and her friends must fight for their lives against the deranged killer. The film is considered a classic of the horror genre and is credited with having popularized the slasher genre.

From Jordan Peele, starring Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener
Rated R

Get Out is a 2017 horror-thriller film directed by Jordan Peele. The film follows Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), a young African American man, as he accompanies his white girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), to visit her family estate. Upon arriving, he soon discovers that Rose’s family has a sinister secret plan for him and other African American guests; to use them as vessels for their own immortality. With the help of his friend Rod (Lil Rey Howery), Chris must escape from the estate and reveal the truth to the world. The film deals with issues of racism, classism, and the pervasiveness of white privilege in America. Critical reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with the movie receiving numerous awards, including an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

From Georges Franju, starring Pierre Brasseur, Alida Valli, Juliette Mayniel, Alexandre Rignault
Rated Not Rated

Eyes Without a Face is a French horror film directed by Georges Franju. It tells the story of a brilliant surgeon, Dr. Génessier, who is devoted to restoring the disfigured face of his beloved daughter, Christiane. After a car accident left her with a heavily scarred face, Dr. Génessier makes it his mission to find a donor for a skin graft, leading him to kidnap young women and surgically removing their facial skin. As the police begin to close in on Génessier and his efforts to help his daughter, the haunting realities of his experiment are slowly revealed. Through a combination of horror and suspense, Eyes Without a Face is remembered as one of the most iconic horror films of all time.

From Roman Polanski, starring Catherine Deneuve, Ian Hendry, John Fraser, Yvonne Furneaux
Rated Not Rated

Repulsion is a 1965 psychological horror film directed by Roman Polanski and starring Catherine Deneuve. The film follows the story of a young woman named Carol, who is suffering from severe mental and emotional problems. As her mind unravels, she begins to have hallucinations and is haunted by her repressed memories, leading her to commit increasingly violent acts. The film is a deeply unsettling exploration of psychosis, and its intense, nightmarish atmosphere has since become iconic.

From John Krasinski, starring Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe
Rated PG-13

A Quiet Place is a 2018 horror film directed by John Krasinski. The movie follows the Abbott family, who live an isolated and soundless life in order to avoid being attacked by alien creatures that hunt by sound. After Lee (Krasinski) and Evelyn (Emily Blunt) Abbott lose their youngest son to one of the creatures, they struggle to keep the remaining members of their family, Regan (Millicent Simmonds), Marcus (Noah Jupe) and Beau (Cade Woodward), safe from the dangerous creatures. Despite the obstacles they face, the Abbotts are determined to survive and protect each other while living in complete silence.

From Robin Hardy, starring Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Diane Cilento, Britt Ekland
Rated R

The Wicker Man is a British cult horror movie directed by Robin Hardy. The story follows the investigation of Sgt. Howie, a devout Christian police officer who is sent to an isolated island to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a young girl. He soon discovers that the island is home to a pagan cult and their leader, Lord Summerisle, who are preparing for their annual festival. As Sgt. Howie investigates, he discovers that the girl was part of a ritual sacrifice and he is being lured by the islanders to become the Wicker Man—a human sacrifice that will be burned alive in a giant wicker man as part of their pagan celebration. As the night of the ritual draws near, Sgt. Howie must decide if his moral convictions are stronger than his desire to save the innocent girl.

From Robert Eggers, starring Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe, Valeriia Karaman, Logan Hawkes
Rated R

From Werner Herzog, starring Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani, Bruno Ganz, Roland Topor
Rated PG

From Tobe Hooper, starring Marilyn Burns, Edwin Neal, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain
Rated R

From Robert Wise, starring Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, Russ Tamblyn
Rated G

From Francis Ford Coppola, starring Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves
Rated R

From Adrian Lyne, starring Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, Danny Aiello, Matt Craven
Rated R

From Guillermo del Toro, starring Marisa Paredes, Eduardo Noriega, Federico Luppi, Fernando Tielve
Rated R

From Na Hong-jin, starring Jun Kunimura, Hwang Jung-min, Kwak Do-won, Woo-hee Chun
Rated TV-MA

From Dario Argento, starring Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé
Rated R

From Ari Aster, starring Toni Collette, Milly Shapiro, Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff
Rated R

From Andrzej Zulawski, starring Isabelle Adjani, Sam Neill, Margit Carstensen, Heinz Bennent
Rated R

From David Lynch, starring Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Allen Joseph, Jeanne Bates
Rated Not Rated

From Jacques Tourneur, starring Simone Simon, Tom Conway, Kent Smith, Jane Randolph
Rated Not Rated

From Nicolas Roeg, starring Julie Christie, Donald Sutherland, Hilary Mason, Clelia Matania
Rated R