6 Scariest Movies Released Since 2000

Throughout the last 26 years, the horror genre has given us several absolutely terrifying films. With the easing of censorship practices, audiences’ higher tolerance for depictions of taboo subjects, the affordances of cutting-edge filmmaking technologies, and the genre’s evolution toward psychological dread over cheap jump scares, horror fans have been treated to several chilling movies from 2000 until the present. Bloody, psychologically intense, and deeply atmospheric, these masterpieces are all essential viewing for anyone and everyone who loves movies that make it tempting to cover their eyes at every turn.

Whether it’s a big Hollywood production like The Conjuring, a modern international classic like Rec, or a groundbreaking indie gem like Skinamarink, virtually any kind of horror movie can find ways of being pervasively horrifying. It can be a ghost story full of cleverly-executed jump scares, a monster film that utilizes its monsters brilliantly, or a possession movie that prays on the audiences’ deepest and darkest traumas and fears. Basically, there are a myriad ways in which a horror movie can be absolutely terrifying, and the scariest of the last 26 years are proof of just how extreme the genre’s evolution has been ever since the end of the 20th century.

6

‘Rec’ (2007)

Image via Filmax

Found footage horror exploded in popularity after 1999’s The Blair Witch Project revolutionized the genre, and that boom gave us masterpieces of the caliber of Rec. This Spanish zombie horror gem was a major commercial success, and for good reason. From one of the best opening scenes in the history of zombie horror until one of the scariest final shots in movie history, this nightmarish cult classic proves just how effective the found footage genre can be when done right. It clocks in at just a little over an hour of runtime, and the whole thing is so exceptionally paced that it feels even shorter than that.

But as short as it may be, make no mistake: It’s an absolutely terrifying modern horror classic, all thanks to its relentless pacing, claustrophobic and economically-utilized setting, and remarkably performances. A masterclass in horror escalation, Rec only keeps ramping up the horror and anxiety as it goes on without ever giving the audience any space to breathe (which is likely the reason for its brief duration), offering endless thrills for horror fans. There isn’t much subtext or narrative depth here; rather, Rec seems to have been designed for found footage horror lovers who mostly just care about having their pants scared off of them.

5

‘Skinamarink’ (2022)

Image via Shudder

Oftentimes, it’s the “love it or hate it” kind of movies that end up becoming the biggest horror classics with the years’ passage; and in a couple of decades’ time, it’s likely that the divisive indie darling Skinamarink will be considered a modern classic. Kyle Edward Ball‘s feature directorial debut is entirely experimental and not really ideal for those who vastly prefer mainstream horror, because there is virtually no story or dialogue here. Shot in the director’s childhood home for around $15,000 dollars, this shoestring-budget masterclass instead weaponizes the fear of the mundane and the uncanny.

Certainly, Skinamarink‘s patience-testing abstract approach to horror is virtually guaranteed to only appeal to a certain group of people; but it’s likely that that group of people will count it among the most original horror movies of the 21st century. It’s a freaky experience shot in the dark with low angles and barely any faces seen, with a liminal aesthetic and a large reliance on sound design for that unique fear factor. It works remarkably well. Something always feels off here, making Skinamarink terrifying purely through deep paranoia and psychologically intense unease.

4

‘The Conjuring’ (2013)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

If James Wan‘s The Conjuring was able to spark such an expansive franchise, it’s only because it was such a phenomenal film to begin with. Based on the real-life reports of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, it may not be the only supernatural horror film inspired by true events, but it sure is one of the most effective and deeply terrifying. Grossing well over a quarter of a billion dollars on a budget of merely $20 million, it’s one of the most financially successful horror movies of the 21st century, as well as one of the best horror movie masterpieces of the 2010s.

There are definitely jump scares in The Conjuring, but the way they’re used always feels smart and deliberate. Rather than relying on cheap tricks to make the audience jump out of their seats, Wan builds a slow-burning sense of tension, a deeply atmospheric and constant fear, and psychological dread in its purest form. This, along with the character-driven narrative and the ever-pressing knowledge that this is a movie based on true events, allows the director to weaponize the familiarity of the home to make the audience pee their pants in fear throughout. On many occasions, it’s the anticipation of the horror rather than the horror itself that makes The Conjuring so terrifying.

3

‘Sinister’ (2012)

A movie’s scariness is, of course, a largely subjective matter. But if there ever were a movie that could approach the title of “objectively terrifying,” it would be Scott Derrickson‘s Sinister. That’s because back in 2020, the Science of Scare Project founded by BroadbandChoices.co.uk tried to scientifically measure the scariest film ever made by having participants watch certain movies and measuring their heart rates. In the end, Sinister came out on top. That makes it pretty much undeniable that it’s one of the scariest movies of the last 40 years, if not even of all time.

There are more than a few horror clichés here which may prevent people from saying Sinister is one of the best horror films of the 2010s, but it sure is one of the most terrifying. Combining true-crime horror with a supernatural curse happens to be an awfully effective way of building dread without relying on lazy jump scares, and Sinister‘s gritty texture and highly realistic brutality make it all the more effective. Combine that with some exceptional sound design and a twist ending that immediately invites re-visits, and you get a legendary cult classic.

2

‘The Babadook’ (2014)

Image via Umbrella Entertainment

Praised by some as the single greatest horror film of the 2010s, The Babadook was the feature film debut of Australian filmmaker Jennifer Kent, based on her 2005 short film Monster. Kent started writing the screenplay as far back as 2009, and once it finally came out, The Babadook took the world by storm, becoming a massive critical darling and performing relatively well financially. Over ten years later, it’s still remembered as one of the best and scariest horror films of the 21st century, a story that’s just about as heartbreaking as it is chilling.

When a horror movie represents a very clear metaphor, that often sacrifices some scariness, but not here. Despite its monster story clearly being an allegory for grief and parental resentment, that allegory only elevates the horror factor of The Babadook, one of the scariest monster movies of the 21st century. It’s smart and it’s poignant, but it’s also a masterclass in visceral psychological tension. At one point, William Friedkin, director of The Exorcist (hailed by many as the scariest movie ever made), called this the scariest film he had ever seen. You can’t possibly get a better endorsement than that.

1

‘Hereditary’ (2018)

Image via A24

The feature debut of Ari Aster, Hereditary is another largely divisive indie horror film that has nevertheless aged like fine wine, regarded by some as the greatest horror movie of the 21st century. Though some people dislike the film’s slow-burning pacing, others would very confidently call it one of those horror movies without flaws. Indeed, there really aren’t very many films like Hereditary. It’s proof that horror movies can be as depressing as they can be scary, as the movie begins as more of a gut-wrenching family drama and only eventually transforms into a demonic possession tale.

As soon as the movie’s horror elements kick into high gear, though, you get a film far more terrifying than anything else cinema has had to offer since the end of the 20th century and the transition to the 21st. Bloody, surreal, and absolutely merciless in how it terrifies and traumatizes the viewer, Hereditary‘s third act in particular is easily one of the scariest in the history of horror cinema. For all those with the stomach for an indie flick that demands patience and then rewards it with pure terror, Hereditary is a must-see.

Hereditary

Release Date

June 8, 2018

Runtime

2h 7m