Beginner Horror Movies

From John Carpenter, starring Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Masur
Rated R

The Thing is a 1982 sci-fi horror film directed by John Carpenter. The movie follows a team of American researchers in Antarctica who discover a shape-shifting alien that has the ability to imitate any life form it comes in contact with. As the creature begins to terrorize the researchers, paranoia and mistrust builds among the dwindling group, leading to a terrifying conclusion. Along the way, the team must find a way to stop the creature before it is able to reach civilization. The film features a star-studded ensemble cast, state-of-the-art special effects, and an iconic score from composer Ennio Morricone.

From William Friedkin, starring Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Lee J. Cobb
Rated R

The Exorcist is a 1973 supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin and based on the novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty. The film follows the story of a young girl named Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair) who is possessed by a demonic entity. Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller), a Catholic priest and a psychiatrist, is called in to perform an exorcism on Regan in an attempt to free her from the demon's control. With the help of an elderly priest, Father Lankester Merrin (Max von Sydow), Father Karras goes head-to-head with the powerful entity in an epic battle of good versus evil. The Exorcist is a classic horror film that has left a lasting impression on generations of moviegoers.

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

Let the Right One In is a 2008 drama-horror film directed by Tomas Alfredson, based on a novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist. The film tells the story of a young boy named Oskar, who lives in a small Swedish town and is a victim of constant bullying. He meets a mysterious girl named Eli, who is revealed to be a vampire. As their friendship grows, Oskar discovers that Eli is a centuries-old vampire, who needs to feed on human blood to survive. Despite his fear of her dark secret, Oskar finds comfort in Eli and helps her protect herself from the dangers of the outside world. Together, they must confront the consequences of their actions and confront the predators that threaten the lives of their small community.

From Edgar Wright, starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis
Rated R

Shaun of the Dead is a comedic horror film directed by Edgar Wright and starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. The story follows Shaun (Pegg), a man in his late twenties living a mundane life with little ambition and direction. When a zombie plague begins to spread across London, Shaun must find a way to protect his mother, girlfriend, and best friend, Ed. With the help of his pal Ed, Shaun must battle the undead while navigating his complicated family life. In the end, Shaun and Ed manage to survive the zombie apocalypse, but not without some loss along the way. The film is a humorous and heartfelt take on the zombie genre and explores themes of family, friendship, and coming-of-age.

From Danny Boyle, starring Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston, Alex Palmer
Rated R

28 Days Later... is a 2002 British post-apocalyptic horror film directed by Danny Boyle. The story takes place in the aftermath of a deadly virus which has decimated the country of Great Britain. Animal activists unwittingly release a highly contagious "rage" virus that transforms humans into vicious, nocturnal, zombie-like creatures. The film follows the journey of Jim (Cillian Murphy), a young man who wakes up from a coma in an abandoned hospital 28 days after the virus was released. The world he finds is empty and desolate, with only a few survivors trying to survive. With the help of other survivors, he sets out to find safety and discover the source of the virus. Along the way, he is confronted by the infected, and must decide whether to fight or flee. Eventually, he finds the answer to the virus and its origin, as well as a way to save humanity from extinction.

From Directors: Robert Rodriguez, Eli Roth, Quentin Tarantino, Edgar Wright, Rob Zombie, starring Kurt Russell, Rose McGowan, Danny Trejo, Zoë Bell
Rated R

Grindhouse is an American double feature horror/action film released in 2007, directed by four acclaimed directors: Robert Rodriguez, Eli Roth, Quentin Tarantino, and Edgar Wright. The film consists of two feature-length segments, Rodriguez's Planet Terror and Tarantino's Death Proof. In Planet Terror, an experimental biological weapon is released, turning people into flesh-eating monsters. In Death Proof, a psychopathic stuntman named Stuntman Mike terrorizes a group of young women. Both stories contain over-the-top violence, dark humor, and plenty of references to grindhouse films of the past. The film also features several fake trailers for other grindhouse-style films, directed by Rob Zombie and other filmmakers.

From Directors: Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza, starring Manuela Velasco, Ferran Terraza, Jorge-Yamam Serrano, Pablo Rosso
Rated R

From J.A. Bayona, starring Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Príncep, Mabel Rivera
Rated R

From Zack Snyder, starring Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Mekhi Phifer, Jake Weber
Rated R

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

From Frank Darabont, starring Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Andre Braugher
Rated R

From Matt Reeves, starring Mike Vogel, Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan, T.J. Miller
Rated PG-13

From Drew Goddard, starring Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz
Rated R

From James Wan, starring Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, Lin Shaye
Rated PG-13

From James Watkins, starring Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender, Tara Ellis, Jack O'Connell
Rated R

From Rob Zombie, starring Sid Haig, Sheri Moon Zombie, Bill Moseley, William Forsythe
Rated R

From Directors: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez, starring Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, Joshua Leonard, Bob Griffin
Rated R

From Christophe Gans, starring Radha Mitchell, Laurie Holden, Sean Bean, Deborah Kara Unger
Rated R

From Fede Alvarez, starring Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Jessica Lucas, Lou Taylor Pucci
Rated R

From Brad Anderson, starring David Caruso, Stephen Gevedon, Paul Guilfoyle, Josh Lucas
Rated R

From Marcus Nispel, starring Jessica Biel, Jonathan Tucker, Andrew Bryniarski, Erica Leerhsen
Rated R

From Takashi Shimizu, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr, Clea DuVall, William Mapother
Rated PG-13

From Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, David Bruckner, Tyler Gillett, Justin Martinez, Glenn McQuaid, Radio Silence, Joe Swanberg, Chad Villella, Ti West, Adam Wingard, starring Calvin Reeder, Lane Hughes, Adam Wingard, Hannah Fierman
Rated R