Family Horror Movies

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

The Shining, directed by Stanley Kubrick, is a horror film based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name. The movie follows Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), a struggling writer and recovering alcoholic, as he takes a job as caretaker for an isolated mountain resort called the Overlook Hotel. He moves in with his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and his young son Danny (Danny Lloyd). Danny, who has a special power known as “the shining,” soon discovers the hotel is haunted by ghosts of its former inhabitants and he begins to see terrifying visions. As the winter progresses, Jack’s mental state deteriorates and he becomes increasingly violent and erratic. Wendy and Danny attempt to escape but Jack pursues them, determined to kill them. A desperate battle of wills ensues between Jack and Danny as they fight to survive the night. In the end, Danny is able to outwit Jack and escape the hotel.

From Guillermo del Toro, starring Ivana Baquero, Ariadna Gil, Sergi López, Maribel Verdú
Rated R

Pan's Labyrinth is a dark fantasy film set in post-Civil War Spain, directed by Guillermo del Toro. The story follows a young girl named Ofelia, who discovers a mysterious labyrinth and meets a mystical faun who sets her on a quest to fulfill three dangerous tasks. Along the way, she must also protect herself and her ailing mother from her cruel and tyrannical stepfather, Captain Vidal. As she embarks on her journey, she discovers that the faun is part of a larger, mythical world inhabited by strange creatures, and must confront her own past in order to survive. The film is a powerful exploration of themes of courage, cruelty, imagination, and the power of storytelling.

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

The Exorcist is a 1973 horror film directed by William Friedkin and based on William Peter Blatty's 1971 novel of the same name. The film follows the demonic possession of a 12-year-old girl and her mother's desperate attempts to save her. Father Damien Karras, a young priest at the brink of his own faith, is called upon to perform the exorcism. Along with the elderly Father Merrin, the priests must put their lives and faith on the line in attempt to rid the young girl of the demonic force. The Exorcist has since become one of the most influential and acclaimed horror films of all time, and is considered one of the greatest films of all time.

From Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks, Kassie Wesley DePaiva
Rated R

Evil Dead II (1987) is a horror-comedy film directed by Sam Raimi. The film is a sequel to Raimi's 1981 cult classic The Evil Dead, and follows the same protagonist, Ashley J. Williams (Bruce Campbell), as he battles demonic forces unleashed by the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis. Williams and his girlfriend Linda (Denise Bixler) travel to a remote cabin in the woods and discover the ancient Sumerian book of the dead. After reading from it, an evil entity is unleashed and possesses Linda. Williams fights off the evil dead as he attempts to find a way to save Linda from the demonic forces. Along the way, he faces a series of increasingly dangerous challenges, including a battle with his own "evil side." In the end, Williams is able to reclaim the book and reverse the evil spell. The film ends with the couple living happily in the woods, despite the dangers that lurk around them.

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

Get Out is a horror/thriller directed by Jordan Peele. It follows the story of Chris, a young black man, who visits his white girlfriend's family estate for the weekend. As the weekend progresses, Chris begins to uncover a disturbing secret about the family. It turns out that the family has been collecting black people and using them as part of a macabre ritual that gives the white family members a youthful appearance. In the end, Chris must fight to escape the family and their sinister plans, while also overcoming his own fears and prejudices. By combining horror, social commentary, and race, Get Out creates an intense and thought-provoking viewing experience.

From James Wan, starring Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor
Rated R

The Conjuring is a 2013 supernatural horror film directed by James Wan. It stars Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal investigators and authors associated with prominent cases of haunting. The film follows the Warrens as they investigate the Perron family's farmhouse, where they encounter the malicious spirit of a witch from the 18th century. As the Warrens work to rid the house of the spirit, they discover a secret room and uncover a deeply rooted history of evil. The Conjuring is a spine-tingling and suspenseful film that is sure to keep viewers at the edge of their seats.

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

A Quiet Place tells the story of a family living in an apocalyptic world in which creatures hunt by sound. The family must remain completely silent in order to survive, as any sound that they make will draw the creatures to them. The family must use sign language to communicate, and they must be creative in order to survive. As they struggle to keep their family alive, they must also confront the creatures that threaten their lives. The film stars John Krasinski and his wife Emily Blunt as the parents of the family, and Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe as their children.

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

28 Days Later... is a British post-apocalyptic horror film written by Alex Garland and directed by Danny Boyle. The story follows Jim, a young man who wakes up from a month-long coma in a deserted London. He soon discovers that a virus has caused most of humanity to become feral, zombie-like creatures. With the help of a few survivors, Jim must fight to survive in a world gone mad. Along the way, they discover the source of the virus and must decide whether to use it to their advantage or risk being destroyed by its power. The film is an exploration of the fragility of life and the power of hope in the face of insurmountable odds.

From Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker
Rated NC-17

From Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz, Marcus Gilbert, Ian Abercrombie
Rated R

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

From James Wan, starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Madison Wolfe, Frances O'Connor
Rated R

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

From Andy Muschietti, starring Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Martell, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis
Rated R

From Neil Marshall, starring Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder
Rated R

From Vincenzo Natali, starring Nicole de Boer, Maurice Dean Wint, David Hewlett, Andrew Miller
Rated R

From John Krasinski, starring Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Cillian Murphy, John Krasinski
Rated PG-13

From Dan Trachtenberg, starring John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher Jr., Douglas M. Griffin
Rated PG-13

From Gore Verbinski, starring Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, Brian Cox, David Dorfman
Rated PG-13

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

From Jaume Collet-Serra, starring Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman, CCH Pounder
Rated R

From Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, starring Jeremy Renner, Rose Byrne, Robert Carlyle, Harold Perrineau
Rated R

From Scott Derrickson, starring Ethan Hawke, Juliet Rylance, James Ransone, Fred Thompson
Rated R

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

From Jennifer Kent, starring Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall, Hayley McElhinney
Rated Not Rated