The 21st century is vastly different from what things were like in 1896 when French cinema pioneer Georges Méliès produced and directed Le Manoir du Diable (The Haunted Castle or The House of the Devil) — the world’s first horror movie. Yet the art of playing on the fears and anxieties of society that Méliès demonstrated on the big screen almost 130 years ago has remained unchanged, as is evident from the best horror movies of the 21st century.
Horror, as a genre, has undergone tremendous reinventions in the last 25 years. Filmmakers have minutely studied society’s evolving concerns that go beyond the usual fears of an unknown place, a supernatural entity, a bloodthirsty monster or a deranged masked killer. This is why modern-day horror movies use seemingly everyday characters and familiar environments as triggers for psychological terror and a sense of dread.
This does not mean that themes of classic scary movies have been completely discarded. The best horror movies of the 21st century include several titles centred around demons, haunted houses, or other monstrosities of traditional ghost stories that have also found favour with both critics and audiences.
However, such movies are no longer uni-dimensional; they highlight depression, alienation, grief, neglect, racial tensions, inequality, gender discrimination or any other socially relevant issue by using the supernatural elements as metaphors. This makes the horror element in the movies more relatable. At the same time, advanced filmmaking techniques that elevate fear through perceived realism have helped the genre maintain its fan following.
All such innovations in the genre seem to have worked very well. Out of the 50 highest-grossing horror movies of all time, 30 titles were released after 2010, spanning sub-genres such as supernatural, slasher, monster, zombie, vampire, psychological, and body horror.
The rise of Korean horror
Though Hollywood still has a hold on the world’s best movies in any genre, the first quarter of the 21st century certainly belongs to Korean entertainment. As was the case with romantic movies, the 25 best horror films made in the first quarter of this century contain several Korean titles.
Korean cinema took the horror genre to another level with its distinctive style of storytelling where folklore clashes with modernism and class struggles threaten survival. Each story is emotionally rich, making Korean horror movies globally relevant. Our list of the 25 best horror movies, therefore, includes some outstandingly stylish Korean films that can scare the daylights out, even on repeat viewing.
Methodology
Horror movies tend to have high critic scores on platforms such as Rotten Tomatoes (RT) but only above-average scores on audience metrics such as IMDb ratings. Thus, we have considered the following parameters to prepare a well-rounded list:
- Must be a live-action theatrical movie.
- Must have a minimum rating of 7.0 on IMDb and 80 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes.
As such, popular titles like Final Destination (2000), Shutter (2004), Saw (2004), Paranormal Activity (2007) and The Mist (2007) have not made it to the list despite their lasting impact on the genre. - Must be a movie where horror is the primary or dominant genre.
Thus, movies such as Bong Joon-ho’s The Host (2006) and Park Chan-wook’s Thirst (2009) are excluded since the former is a largely sci-fi movie and the latter is a dark romantic film where vampirism is seen as a tragedy. - Must be a movie that has a cultural reputation among fans of the genre to this day.
Accolades, popular appeal, influence on the genre, the story and the performances account for this. - Movies that are first in their franchise and their immediate sequels are considered, but not those whose originals do not qualify on any of the above parameters.
Best horror movies of the 21st century from around the world
Note: All movies are arranged in order of the year of release, with the earliest first.
1 /25
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
Cast: Fernando Tielve, Eduardo Noriega, Federico Luppi, Íñigo Garcés, Marisa Paredes, Junio Valverde
Runtime: 1 hour 46 minutes
Language: Spanish
IMDb rating: 7.4
RT rating: 93 per cent
Synopsis: Pre-teen Carlos (Tielve) ends up in a boy’s orphanage after losing his father in the Spanish Civil War run by a kind professor named Casares (Luppi) with the help of the headmistress Carmen (Paredes) and the caretaker Jacinto (Noriega). Carlos soon discovers that the place is haunted.
What makes it so great:
> Guillermo del Toro has called this film his most personal and described its making “like my first film” despite having directed two movies before.
> One of the best genre blends of Gothic horror with the terrors of war.
> Received two nominations at Goya Awards, Spain’s equivalent of the Academy Awards, as well as a nod at Saturn Awards, renowned as the foremost honour in science fiction, fantasy and horror genres.
2 /25
Directed by: Alejandro Amenábar
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Alakina Mann, James Bentley, Fionnula Flanagan, Elaine Cassidy, Eric Sykes, Christopher Eccleston
Runtime: 1 hour 44 minutes
Language: English
Awards won: Goya Awards – 8; Saturn Awards – 3
IMDb rating: 7.6
RT rating: 84 per cent
Synopsis: It is 1945, and World War II has just ended. Grace (Kidman) lives in her family estate in the Channel Islands with her two photosensitive children, Anne (Mann) and Nicholas (Bentley). She hires three servants to help with managing the house. Soon, Grace begins to suspect that the house is haunted and is convinced that the helpers have some connection to it.
What makes it so great:
> First English-language movie to win the Best Film award at Goya Awards.
> Kidman’s brilliant performance led to her winning in the Best Actress category at the Saturn Awards and receiving nods in equivalent categories at BAFTA, Golden Globe and Goya Awards.
3 /25
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston, Megan Burns, Brendan Gleeson
Runtime: 1 hour 53 minutes
Language: English
IMDb rating: 7.5
RT rating: 87 per cent
Synopsis: Jim (Murphy), a bike courier in London, wakes up from a coma to find his city deserted after an apocalyptic event killed many and turned some into vicious zombies. Jim encounters a group of human survivors, and they try to reach a safe place.
What makes it so great:
> This was the breakout film for Cillian Murphy.
> It helped revive the zombie genre.
> Popularised the ‘running zombie’ trope, which led to the birth of the ‘fast zombie movies’ sub-sub-genre.
> Heavily influenced subsequent zombie movies, including Shaun of the Dead (2004), Zombieland (2009) and World War Z (2006).
> The first film in its eponymous series. Its sequels are 28 Weeks Later (2007) and 28 Years Later (2025).
4 /25
Directed by: Kim Jee-woon
Cast: Im Soo-jung, Moon Geun-young, Yum Jung-ah, Kim Kap-soo
Runtime: 1 hour 54 minutes
Language: Korean
Awards won: Blue Dragon Film Awards – 1
IMDb rating: 7.1
RT rating: 86 per cent
Synopsis: Su-mi (Im) and Su-yeon (Moon) are two sisters. Su-mi, who has just returned from a mental institution, is protective of Su-yeon and resents Eun-joo (Yum), the new wife of their widower father. They try to live together in their father’s country home, but Su-mi discovers strange things happening in the house and suspects that Eun-joo has a hand in it.
What makes it so great:
> Widely hailed as the best Korean horror movie of all time.
> The moving story highlights a family trauma that upends the lives of two children.
> Nominations for eight Grand Bell Awards — the South Korean equivalent of the Oscars.
5 /25
Directed by: Neil Marshall
Cast: Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder, Nora-Jane Noone, MyAnna Buring
Runtime: 1 hour 39 minutes
Language: English
IMDb rating: 7.2
RT rating: 87
Synopsis: Six friends embark on a caving expedition in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, which turns into a quest for survival when they discover that the cave network is populated by flesh-eating predators.
What makes it so great:
> One of the best British horror movies of the 21st century.
> The all-female cast delivers strong performances from each member, fleshing out the themes of friendship and betrayal within the context of a horror story.
> The claustrophobic atmosphere of the caves elevates the sense of dread among viewers.
> The cave-dwelling creatures make for perfect horror adversaries whose monstrosity is unlike any other.
6 /25
Directed by: J. A. Bayona
Cast: Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Príncep, Mabel Rivera, Montserrat Carulla, Andrés Gertrúdix, Edgar Vivar, Geraldine Chaplin
Runtime: 1 hour 45 minutes
Language: Spanish
Awards won: Goya Awards – 7
IMDb rating: 7.4
RT rating: 87
Synopsis: Laura (Rueda) wants to convert an orphanage where she spent part of her childhood into a home for sick children. But things take a dark turn when her adopted son, Simón (Príncep), disappears. Months go by, and Simón is not found until an incident leads Laura to a horrific secret about the orphanage.
What makes it so great:
> It is widely hailed as one of the best Spanish horror movies of all time.
> Produced by Guillermo del Toro, it is the debut feature film of director J.A. Bayona, who is today one of the greatest Spanish filmmakers.
> It received a standing ovation at its premiere at the critics’ section at the Cannes Film Festival.
> Deeply humanist plot which highlights issues such as bullying and parenting.
7 /25
Directed by: Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza
Cast: Manuela Velasco, Pablo Rosso, Ferrán Terraza, Jorge-Yamam Serrano, David Vert, Vicente Gil, Carlos Vicente
Runtime: 1 hour 18 minutes
Language: Spanish
Awards won: Goya Awards – 1
IMDb rating: 7.4
RT rating: 90 per cent
Synopsis: Television reporter Ángela (Velasco) and her cameraman, Pablo (Rosso), enter an apartment building in Barcelona with emergency workers to cover a live rescue operation following a fire incident. They find themselves trapped with other residents when a mysterious zombie infection starts spreading, and the building is sealed. The number of monsters keeps rising as Pablo and Ángela continue documenting.
What makes it so great:
> Considered a masterpiece in the ‘found footage’ sub-genre, it is one of the best horror movies from Spain.
> Contains fast-paced action with timely placed jump scares.
8 /25
Directed by: Tomas Alfredson
Cast: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson
Runtime: 1 hour 54 minutes
Language: Swedish
Awards won: Saturn Awards – 1
IMDb rating: 7.8
RT rating: 98 per cent
Synopsis: Oskar (Hedebrant) is a 12-year-old bullied boy who lives in a suburb of Stockholm with his mother in 1980s Sweden. He meets a girl named Eli (Leandersson), who seems close to his age, and strikes up a friendship. Their bond grows deeper, even as Eli seems secretive. However, when murders begin occurring in the neighbourhood, Oskar discovers the true identity of Eli.
What makes it so great:
> Based on the 2004 novel of the same name by John Ajvide Lindqvist, the vampire horror movie also depicts a coming-of-age love story that is doomed from the start.
> The Scandinavian setting, where the interplay of snow and night-time enhances the eeriness of what unfolds on the screen.
> Received numerous accolades, including a BAFTA nod for Best Film Not in the English Language and a Goya Award nomination for Best European Film.
> Has an American remake, Let Me In (2010), which, too, received praise.
9 /25
Directed by: Drew Goddard
Cast: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Fran Kranz, Bradley Whitford, Richard Jenkins, Sigourney Weaver
Runtime: 1 hour 35 minutes
Awards won: Saturn Awards – 1
Language: English
IMDb rating: 7.0
RT rating: 92 per cent
Synopsis: Five college friends vacationing at a remote cabin in the woods try to save themselves from mysterious beings that appear. Little do they know that it is a part of a worldwide conspiracy under which they are being targeted.
What makes it so great:
> One of the best examples of a horror movie parodying several tropes seen in the genre, including slasher films, while delivering scares in abundance.
> Nominated for Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie at Critics’ Choice Movie Awards.
10 /25
Directed by: James Wan
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor
Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes
Language: English
Awards won: Saturn Awards – 1
IMDb rating: 7.5
RT rating: 86 per cent
Synopsis: In 1971, paranormal investigators Lorraine (Farmiga) and Ed Warren (Wilson) respond to a request from the Perron family to help save them from a supernatural presence in their farmhouse. When the Warrens discover what led the malevolent entity to haunt the family, things spiral dangerously out of control.
What makes it so great:
> The Conjuring is counted among the greatest horror movies of all time.
> One of the highest-grossing horror films of all time, with a worldwide gross of USD 320 million. As such, it is the finest example of how classic horror tropes regained favour with audiences in the second decade of the 21st century.
> Nominated for Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie at Critics’ Choice Movie Awards.
> Spawned a highly successful eponymous franchise, which includes eight movies.
11 /25
Directed by: Robert Eggers
Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie
Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes
Language: English
IMDb rating: 7
RT rating: 91 per cent
Synopsis: A Puritan family in early 17th century New England move to a secluded place near the woods. It seems peaceful initially until their youngest son disappears. The family blames Thomasin (Taylor-Joy), the oldest daughter, for witchcraft. As suspicions mount, each member finds themselves in inexplicable danger.
What makes it so great:
> It marked the debut of Robert Eggers as a filmmaker and the first of his four consecutive critically and commercially successful movies.
> First film with Anya Taylor-Joy in a leading role.
> Its blend of folk horror, period setting and supernatural elements is unique in all respects, while the open-ended climax was widely praised.
12 /25
Directed by: Yeon Sang-ho
Cast: Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Ma Dong-seok, Kim Su-an, Choi Woo-shik, Ahn So-hee, Kim Eui-sung
Runtime: 1 hour 58 minutes
Language: Korean
Awards won: Blue Dragon Film Awards – 2; Baeksang Arts Awards – 2
IMDb rating: 7.6
RT rating: 95 per cent
Synopsis: Seok-woo (Gong) is the divorced father of Su-an (Kim Su-an). Unable to find time for his daughter, he agrees to fulfil Su-an’s wish to spend her birthday with her mother in Busan. They board a train just when a zombie apocalypse breaks out in Seoul. Trapped with other passengers and the infected on the train, Seok-woo must protect his daughter even as hope of survival increasingly diminishes.
What makes it so great:
> Universally hailed as one of the greatest zombie horrors of all time, the film revived the sub-genre after 28 Days Later. It is quite emotionally deep, with commentary on class struggles as well as morality in the context of an apocalypse.
>Played a key role in the mainstreaming of Korean cinema on the world stage.
> Noted for being the international breakout for all of its main cast members, including Gong Yoo, Ma Dong-seok, Jung Yu-mi and Choi Woo-shik — the last of whom later won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Parasite (2019).
13 /25
Directed by: Na Hong-jin
Cast: Kwak Do-won, Hwang Jung-min, Chun Woo-hee, Jun Kunimura, Kim Hwan-hee
Runtime: 2 hours 36 minutes
Language: Korean
Awards won: Blue Dragon Film Awards – 5; Grand Bell Awards – 5; Baeksang Arts Awards – 1
IMDb rating: 7.4
RT rating: 99 per cent
Synopsis: Jong-goo (Kwak) is a policeman in a small mountainous village in Korea. When people in the village suddenly become possessed and start killing each other, all fingers point at a mysterious Japanese man (Kunimura) who had arrived just before the massacres began. When his daughter, Hyo-jin (Kim), is possessed, Jong-goo must find the truth about the man.
What makes it so great:
> Masterfully combines supernatural horror with detective mystery and religious superstition.
> Relies on atmospheric tension and perfectly placed suspense elements that hold attention and build curiosity despite its length, which is unusual for a contemporary horror movie.
14 /25
Directed by: James Wan
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Frances O’Connor, Madison Wolfe, Simon McBurney, Franka Potente
Runtime: 2 hours 14 minutes
Language: English
IMDb rating: 7.3
RT rating: 80 per cent
Synopsis: Seven years after their case in North Carolina, Lorraine and Ed Warren (Farmiga and Wilson) arrive in the London borough of Enfield to help single mother Janet Hodgson (Wolfe) and her four children from a malevolent spirit. But the Warrens themselves become the target.
What makes it so great:
> One of the rarest instances in the horror genre when a sequel does as well as its predecessor. Its horror elements are as scary as the first film, besides drawing a wider character arc for its protagonists.
> The Conjuring 2 earned more than the previous film, with USD 322 million at the worldwide box office.
> It is one of the few acclaimed horror movies based on true stories, in this case, the late 1970s Enfield poltergeist. This makes the film all the more relatable to some audiences.
15 /25
Directed by: Jordan Peele
Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, Stephen Root, Catherine Keener
Runtime: 1 hour 44 minutes
Language: English
Awards won: Academy Awards – 1; BAFTAS – 1; Critics’ Choice Movie Awards – 1
IMDb rating: 7.8
RT rating: 98 per cent
Synopsis: Chris (Kaluuya), an African-American photographer, has been invited by his white girlfriend, Rose Armitage (Williams), to visit her parents – Missy (Keener) and Dean (Whitford) – for the weekend. Chris believes that the Armitage family is acting strangely because of the interracial relationship until an incident involving a family friend leads him to uncover a sadistic truth.
What makes it so great:
> It is the only horror movie in the last 25 years to deliver a powerful narrative on racism in the US in any form.
> First purely horror film to have won the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie. (All previous winners were broadly sci-fi.)
> Won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Jordan Peele, making him the only African American to win in the category to date.
16 /25
Directed by: Andy Muschietti
Cast: Jaeden Lieberher, Bill Skarsgård, Sophia Lillis, Jack Dylan Grazer, Finn Wolfhard, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor
Runtime: 2 hours 15 minutes
Language: English
IMDb rating: 7.3
RT rating: 85 per cent
Synopsis: Seven bullied children in Derry, Maine, must face their inner demons to defeat a shape-shifting monster who has returned after 27 years and has taken the form of a clown named Pennywise (Skarsgård).
What makes it so great:
> Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, It is the highest-grossing horror movie of all time, with a record worldwide haul of over USD 700 million on a budget of only around USD 40 million.
> Hailed as a landmark in the horror genre for underlining that real-life issues such as bullying and abuse are as horrifying as any supernatural demon.
> Bill Skarsgård’s performance as Pennywise is considered by fans of horror movies as one of the best portrayals of an antagonist in the genre.
17 /25
Directed by: Ari Aster
Cast: Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, Ann Dowd, Gabriel Byrne
Runtime: 2 hours 7 minutes
Language: English
IMDb rating: 7.3
RT rating: 90
Synopsis: Annie Graham (Collette) attends the funeral of her mother with her husband, Steve (Byrne), and two children, Peter (Wolff) and Charlie (Shapiro). Soon after, the Grahams find themselves at the heart of a terrifying family secret guaranteed to bring more tragedy.
What makes it so great:
> Horror auteur Ari Aster’s debut, Hereditary, was the highest-grossing movie by A24, with around USD 90 million in worldwide total till the release of Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022).
> Its unsettling depictions of generational trauma, neglect and brutality make it one of the greatest horror movies of the 21st century. With little to no jump scares, its slow-burn style of building psychological terror and its frightening climax are noteworthy.
18 /25
Directed by: Rahi Anil Barve
Cast: Sohum Shah, Mohammad Samad, Anita Date-Kelkar, Jyoti Malshe
Runtime: 1 hour 48 minutes
Languages: Hindi, Marathi
IMDb rating: 8.2
RT rating: 87 per cent
Synopsis: Vinayak (Shah) is overcome with an unquenchable greed when he learns of an ancestral treasure in the gloomy village of Tumbbad in 19th century India. He wants to obtain the treasure, but its guardian is a fallen god whose greed knows no bounds.
What makes it so great:
> Tumbbad is the most significant of all Indian horror movies in the last 25 years as it is the first from the country to open the critics’ week section of the Venice International Film Festival.
> A cult classic, the film is widely praised for showing how human greed could lead to horrific consequences. Extolled by critics for its cinematography, which combines a breathtaking score (by Danish composer Jesper Kyd Jakobson) with atmospheric realism such as constant rainfall in almost every scene.
> Earned more than twice its production budget in just four weeks upon its re-release in Indian theatres in September 2024, making it one of the highest-grossing re-released movies of all time in India.
19 /25
Directed by: John Krasinski
Cast: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds
Runtime: 1 hour 30 minutes
Language: English
Awards won: Critics’ Choice Movie Awards – 1; Saturn Awards – 2
IMDb rating: 7.5
RT rating: 96 per cent
Synopsis: Following the invasion of blind alien creatures who hunt humans with ultra-sensitive hearing, the Abbott family tries to survive by not causing even the faintest sound because even a whisper means death.
What makes it so great:
> One of the highest-grossing horror movies of all time, with a box office haul of around USD 340 million.
> Best known for its innovative style of storytelling in which much of the film takes place in a near-silent atmosphere. As such, the film won an Oscar for sound editing and a Golden Globe for Best Original Score.
> Unforgettable performances from its main cast members, most particularly Emily Blunt, who won the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, and Millicent Simmonds, who received her second Critics’ Choice Movie Award nomination for this film.
20 /25
Directed by: John Krasinski
Cast: Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Djimon Hounsou, John Krasinski
Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes
Language: English
IMDb rating: 7.2
RT rating: 91 per cent
Synopsis: Soon after the incident in A Quiet Place, the remaining members of the Abbott family seek refuge with an old friend. They plan to reach an island because the aliens cannot swim, but they realise that the extraterrestrials aren’t the only threat.
What makes it so great:
> It is an equally well-crafted sequel to A Quiet Place.
> One of the highest-grossing horror movies of all time, with around USD 297 million in worldwide earnings.
21 /25
Directed by: Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou
Cast: Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Miranda Otto
Runtime: 1 hour 35 minutes
Language: English
Awards won: Saturn Awards – 1
IMDb rating: 7.1
RT rating: 94 per cent
Synopsis: A group of friends learn that spirits can be invoked using an embalmed hand. They experiment with it until one of them is possessed by supernatural forces due to a momentary lapse.
What makes it so great:
> High on the edge style of storytelling, where characters face unpredictable situations at every turn.
> Excellent use of practical effects and cinematography to build tension.
> It uses its supernatural element as a metaphor for self-destruction, obsession and despair along with grief.
22 /25
Directed by: Mark Mylod
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau
Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes
Language: English
IMDb rating: 7.2
RT rating: 88 per cent
Synopsis: Tyler Ledford (Hoult), a pretentious foodie, takes his date, Margot Mills (Taylor-Joy), to an exclusive restaurant on a private island. Run by celebrity chef Julian Slowik (Fiennes), the restaurant is only visited by the uber-rich. After a tour of the island, Tyler, Margot, and the other guests get ready to enjoy the dishes on the multi-course menu prepared by Julian. But as the chef reveals strange details with each course, the guests soon realise he has a sinister scheme up his sleeves for each of them.
What makes it so great:
> One of the best psychological horror movies of the 21st century, which serves as a near-perfect example of how to blend dark comedy with absolute fear.
> Incredible performances, especially from Taylor-Joy and Fiennes. Both received Golden Globe nominations in acting categories. Fiennes terrifies in every scene with his icy expressions and sharp dialogue.
> Its concept is unique, one in which the pretentiousness of the ultra-wealthy and the elitist fad with luxury dining are satirised.
23 /25
Directed by: Zach Cregger
Cast: Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, Justin Long, Matthew Patrick Davis
Runtime: 1 hour 42 minutes
Language: English
IMDb rating: 7
RT rating: 92
Synopsis: Tess (Campbell) books an Airbnb in Detroit to attend a job interview in the city. Upon arrival, she discovers that a strange man named Keith (Skarsgård) has also booked the property and is staying there. The two agree to share the house, though Tess has her doubts. Soon, she discovers that the house has a secret that is far more frightening than she could ever imagine.
What makes it so great:
> Powerful commentary on gender violence and male entitlement. Its basement setting with dark corridors serves as a metaphor for the real-world threats that women are forced to navigate daily.
> A monster creature which symbolises the prime threat to the protagonist in the movie, but with a backstory that generates sympathy and reveals the true evil.
24 /25
Directed by: Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes
Cast: David Dastmalchian, Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss, Fayssal Bazzi, Ingrid Torelli, Rhys Auteri, Georgina Haig, Josh Quong Tart
Runtime: 1 hour 33 minutes
Language: English
Awards won: Saturn Awards – 1
IMDb rating: 7.0
RT rating: 97 per cent
Synopsis: Jack Delroy (Dastmalchian), a famous host of a syndicated late-night talk show in 1977, decides to improve his show’s ratings with a live demonstration of a demonic possession. The conjuring goes horribly wrong, and the supernatural force that is unleashed threatens Jack by revealing a secret about his deceased wife.
What makes it so great:
> Stephen King praised this Australian movie in the following words in a tweet: “It’s absolutely brilliant. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. Your results may vary, as they say, but I urge you to watch it when you can.”
> Widely praised for its nostalgic 1970s talk-show setting and the stylish old-world supernatural horror, which some viewers might equate to genre masterpiece The Exorcist (1973).
25 /25
Directed by: Coralie Fargeat
Cast: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid
Runtime: 2 hours 21 minutes
Language: English
Awards won: Cannes Best Screenplay; Academy Awards – 1; Golden Globe Awards – 1; Saturn Awards – 1; Critics Choice Awards – 1; BAFTAs -1; Screen Actors Guild Awards – 1;
IMDb rating: 7.3
RT rating: 89 per cent
Synopsis: Elisabeth Sparkle (Moore), a fading Hollywood star, tries a black-market drug in a desperate attempt to regain her lost glory. The drug creates a younger version of Elisabeth, Sue (Qualley), with her consciousness somewhat retained. They must share seven days each to keep both bodies intact. But when Sue starts becoming famous, her individuality begins clashing with Elisabeth’s.
What makes it so great:
> Widely hailed as one of the best body horror movies in recent years.
> Demi Moore’s performance, for which she received numerous accolades such as her first Oscar and BAFTA nominations and her first Golden Globe win.
> Satire on the societal obsession with beauty through a grotesque depiction of how dangerous it can turn out to be.