10 Modern Horror Flicks to Check Out This Halloween Season

IT HAS BEGUN! With the rise of the first moon of the 10th month in the Gregorian calendar, we have entered the hallowed period of the year. The time when we can enjoy the darkest and most terrifying corners of cinema. Now, many would venture forth, into tombs of classic horror pictures, but today we provide a new journey, a modern journey of 10 great horrors that should be seen during these spookiest of times. 

Now, some ground rules for good measure. These are films that have been released within the last 5 years and will exclude films from this year. To give a brief update on the horror flicks of this year, there are 3 big scary stories so far. The first is the legacy sequel that took the world by storm Evil Dead Rise, which both revels in its membership in the beloved Evil Dead Franchise, and goes for big unique swings to stand out from its predecessors. On a personal note, this is in the running for my favorite film of 2023 holding a strong spot in my top 5. Another contender in my personal best of 2023 film list is a unique possession tale from the land down under, Talk To Me. This film shows one of the most honest views of the current state of youth culture as it interacts with one of the most primal of human fears, the afterlife and those who inhabit it. Talk To Me is visually exciting as it is emotionally engaging and terrifying, give this a watch if you can. The last horror story of 2023 seems to be the secret streaming star of the scary movie fans, No One Will Save You. Streaming exclusively on Hulu, this is an alien invasion genre flick mixed with a home invasion narrative that has taken the internet by storm. Some would say Skinamarink should take this spot, which would be fair, however, No One Will Save You has proven to be both horrifying and popular with major audiences, thus it takes the prize here. Anyway, on to the list this article is dedicated to. Here are 10 modern horror films to watch this spooky season. (For clarity, these are in order of personal taste, but all of these are must-watch in the opinion of the author of this piece.)

10. X/Pearl – Ti West 2022 

So number 10 is technically a cheat, however, both of these films by recent horror director-star Ti West are extremely entertaining and interesting. X is a classic slasher film mixed with themes of sex, age, and morality, as well as a great mix of classic troupe and modern style and sensibility. Its counterpart, Pearl, is a character study of a confused young country girl from 1918 Texas who aspires to be a star, no matter the cost. While Mia Goth (aka the modern queen of horror) stars in both, Pearl truly showcases her talent as a 21st-century scream queen, with some of the most powerfully emotional facial expressions filmed in the last decade. If you can only see one, we recommend Pearl, but try to see both of these films, especially with Maxine, the franchise’s third installment coming down the pipeline soon. 

9. The Lighthouse – Robert Eggers 2019

This might be the hardest choice to recommend. On one hand, The Lighthouse is a powerful show of director Robert Eggers’ skill in portraying an authentic portrait of an era of human history that was utterly terrifying. Following the simple plot of, “What if two guys in 1890s were locked in a lighthouse together and they went crazy?” but infuses a dose of intense isolation and paranoia that infects the audience’s brain with each screech of the lighthouse’s siren. On the other hand, this film’s effectiveness is played best in a theater. This is to say that seeing this film in your living room might lack the impact of the total theater experience. The prime environment to enjoy The Lighthouse is a dark room, with a large TV equipped with an effective sound system and a phone in complete silence. 

8. Bodies Bodies Bodies – Halina Reijn 2022

This is another curveball, but hear me out. This film is an extremely funny, murder thriller that features some of the best young talent we have right now. Bodies Bodies Bodies is not the scariest movie on this list, but it does feature a great satirical take on modern times with a gripping mystery of whodunit. The performances in this film can not be understated. Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Rachel Sennott, and Lee Pace are so fun to watch as they attempt to survive the night after the death of their friend, and one of the most interesting new comedy stars, Pete Davidson. This movie is the horror-comedy pick of the bunch. Truly a movie that can be enjoyed by horror fans as well as people who are scared of most horror films. 

7. Possessor – Brandon Cronenberg 2020

Now for the weird stuff. The Cronenberg family is known for its intense portrayals of body horror. Thus, as his father’s legacy, Brandon Cronenberg released his debut film, Possessor. This film is a cerebral thriller that follows the journey of a secret agent who has access to technology that allows them to take control of another person’s mind. However, when things begin to go wrong, what happens when minds begin to mix? Possessor definitely has more mind-bending, unnerving vibes than classic build-up jump scares, so go into this one ready to feel more uncomfortable than scared.  

6. Malignant – James Wan 2021

BACK TO HAVING FUN. This is a campy, slasher with a fun twist that will either make or break your experience. However, even with that possibility, this is an extremely fun horror crafted by a modern master James Wan, who is best known for Saw, The Conjuring, and Insidious. Malignant follows the story of Madison, Annabelle Wallis, who is suddenly haunted by nightmares depicting horrific murders. Madison soon finds out that these dreams are visions of murders happening in real time, and thus, she goes on a quest to understand and apprehend the murder. What follows is an insane venture of self-discovery and exciting slasher set pieces. If you enjoyed M3gan earlier this year, then Malignant should be right up your alley. 

      5. Mad God – Phil Tippett 2021

This might be the hardest sell of the bunch, but we will try our best. For those who are unaware, Phil Tippett is an award-winning special effects master, with credits in Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and RoboCop, who has spent the better part of 30 years creating his “dream” project. This project would be a masterclass in stop-motion animation and pure visual storytelling and would be released in 2021 under the name Mad God. We called this a dream project, but this film is a nightmare, littered with hideous creatures, horrific acts of violence, and utterly terrifying visuals. If you’re looking to watch something you’re never going to forget, give Mad God a watch on Shudder.

4. His House – Remi Weekes 2020

His House might be the most unknown film on this list; however, this deserves to be seen. This follows the story of a refugee couple who after moving to England take residence in a house that is soon revealed to be haunted by some sort of evil. What unfolds is a tale of trauma, the immigrant experience, and a uniquely unsettling haunting film. His House presents a new spin on the haunted house genre, in that what happens when someone can not possibly escape the terrors at home. Should they attempt to fight the spirit, or simply bear the abuse to appear “normal” to their new-found community? Additionally, this film attempts to shine a light on African culture that is rarely shown in popular culture, both in its lead characters and in the evil that is lurking in the house. Give this a watch on Netflix if you’re interested.  

3. Barbarian – Zach Cregger 2022

We refuse to tell you anything about this film. The best way to enjoy Zach Cregger’s horror debut Barbarian is to go in completely blind. To give the briefest possible description, a young woman, Georgina Campbell rents an Airbnb, and things go wrong. We won’t divulge any further, but if you enjoy mystery, thrills, and some of the most interesting creative decisions to be found in modern horror films, then Barbarian is the film for you. 

2. The Night House – David Bruckner 2020

If a spooky atmosphere and unsettling tone are your bag, then The Night House directed by David Bruckner should be right up your alley. This film follows a widow, played by Rebecca Hall, as she attempts to come to terms with her husband’s recent death. However, with each passing night, a dark presence begins to creep into Hall’s home, which leads her to discover more about her husband, as well as a good helping of ghostly encounters. The Night House is a haunting tale intermixed with well-developed themes of loss and trauma and is a must-see in terms of recent horror films.  

1. Hereditary – Ari Aster 

Ari Aster has proven to be the ‘it guy’ in terms of modern horror directors next to the likes of Jordan Peele and Robert Eggers. Even with the mixed reception of his last film Beau is Afraid, Aster has a firm grasp of what makes the audience uncomfortable, what makes their skin crawl, and crafts films that do such. There is an argument that his other film Midsommar should be here instead, which is fair and, in the opinion of the author of this piece, could very easily be on the list. However, if you can only see one of Aster’s horror films, let it be Hereditary. The premise is simple, a family, following the death of a grandparent, is suddenly haunted by a dark force, that slowly comes to disturb and torment each member in horrifying ways. Filled with unnerving imagery, dark family drama, and possibly some of the most unsettling moments of terror put to film in the last 5 years, Hereditary is a must-see for Halloween season. If you can see only one movie on this list, we can’t recommend Hereditary more, but be sure to plug in a night light afterward.