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About UsAdvertiseInvestor RelationsJobsNewslettersEditionUSUKAustraliaBrasilCanadaDeutschlandIndiaJapanLatamCalifornia residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data.Do Not Sell My Personal Information © 2022 BuzzFeed, Inc PressRSSPrivacyConsent PreferencesUser TermsAccessibility StatementAd ChoicesHelpContactSitemapBuzzFeed NewsReporting on what you care about. We hold major institutions accountable and expose wrongdoing.BuzzFeed TastySearch, watch, and cook every single Tasty recipe and video ever - all in one place!BuzzFeed GoodfulSelf care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life.BuzzFeed Bring MeObsessed with travel? Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me!BuzzFeed As IsSomething for everyone interested in hair, makeup, style, and body positivity.TV and Movies·Posted 13 minutes agoThe Best '90s Horror Movies
Do you like scary movies?
by Juliette PerksBuzzFeed Contributor
If, like me, you’re a bit of a horror fanatic, you’ll likely know that the '90s horror movies often get a bit of stick, especially when compared to the golden era of horror films of the '80s.
Whilst the '80s saw the birth of popular franchises, along with some nausea-inducing grotesque body-horror films, the '90s shifted away from these primary aspects and brought with it more serial killers, psychological scares, and a few remakes of older already-loved horror narratives.
Whatever your view on the decade, the '90s really did offer up some gems in the horror genre and I’ve hand picked them out just for you! So, let’s get to it…
1. The Silence of the Lambs
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Kicking off with one of my all-time favourite films and one of the best entries into the '90s horror year is The Silence of the Lambs. This 1991 flick is based on the Thomas Harris novel of the same name and sees a young Jodie Foster star as an F.B.I cadet who enlists the help of an incarcerated cannibal killer (Anthony Hopkins) in order to catch another serial killer, known as Buffalo Bill, who skins his victims.
Part of a franchise? Yup, this film is part of The Hannibal Lecter franchise.
Good or so bad it’s good? Insanely good!
Runtime: 1 hour 58 minutes
Why you should watch it: It’s a slow-burn but chilling horror, and Hopkin’s portrayal of an intelligent and manipulative killer will give you the chills.
2. Se7en
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Another disturbing entry on the list is director David Fincher’s Se7en. The movie follows two detectives, rookie Mills (Brad Pitt) and veteran Somerset (Morgan Freeman) as they hunt down a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his motives.
Part of a franchise? Not this one.
Good or so bad it’s good? One of the best!
Runtime: 2 hours 7 minutes
Why you should watch it: It’s a dark and gritty psychological neo-noir style horror and thriller, which doesn’t shy away from some pretty horrifying and gruesome displays of murder. Plus, the final-twist is one of the most jaw-dropping moments ever.
3. Scream
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At the time of its release in 1996, Scream was a unique entry into the horror genre. The film stars Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, and Drew Barrymore, and it plays on the clichés of the slasher genre with a witty and satirical style, whilst still keeping you invested in the whodunit storyline. In this Wes Craven flick, the plot focuses on a teenage girl who is terrorized by a new killer a year after the murder of her own mother, but the catch is that the killer targets both the girl and her friends by using horror films as part of a deadly game.
Part of a franchise? Duh! The Scream franchise is still going on to this day.
Good or so bad it’s good? Genuinely great.
Runtime: 1 hour 51 minutes
Why you should watch it: Scream paved the way for the very self-aware and fun franchise it has become today. It’s a fun watch with doses of blood and gore, plus its opening scene is one terrifying trip to remember.
4. Ringu
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The Japanese supernatural horror will haunt you in your sleep. Based on the Koji Suzuki book of the same name, the story follows a reporter who’s racing against time to investigate the mystery behind a cursed videotape that kills the viewer seven days after watching it. Thematically, you could say Ringu explores socio-political anxieties of the time, whereby technology is the vessel for bad things to happen.
Part of a franchise? Yep, it’s a Japanese horror franchise that has also seen some US remakes.
Good or so bad it’s good? So good, so creepy, and so tense.
Runtime: 1 hour 36 minutes
Why you should watch it: Ringu feels like you are watching a series of nightmares, and the main antagonist is creepy as hell. The ghost Sadako moves with such unnatural ability and the cinematography delivers fear in even the most subtle and grainy shots. The bit that did it for me though? Sadako’s raging bloodshot eyes staring straight at you from behind her long black hair.
5. The Sixth Sense
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The 1999 supernatural psychological film that first established M. Night Shyamalan’s work in Hollywood cinema! The Sixth Sense follows a child psychologist, Malcolm, (Bruce Willis), and his patient, Cole, (Haley Joel Osment), a young boy who can talk to dead people. After a young man breaks into Malcolm's home and accuses him of failing him, Malcolm’s wife becomes distant and Malcolm begins working with Cole in order to help him, but also as a way to rectify his own failures and reconcile with his wife.
Part of a franchise? Nope.
Good or so bad it’s good? A seriously good watch.
Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes
Why you should watch it: The Sixth Sense is a moody and atmospheric watch. It’s scary but it’s surprisingly heartfelt, and though it’s now Hollywood’s worst kept secret, the plot twist upon first watch was absolutely mind-blowing at the time.
6. The Blair Witch Project
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The Blair Witch Project is another supernatural entry to the '90s horror list, but this one is in the found-footage style. The storyline focuses on three film students who vanish after traveling into a Maryland forest to film a documentary on the local Blair Witch legend, leaving only their footage behind to tell the story. Fun fact: the hired cast were relatively unknown actors at the time so marketing efforts were able to be ramped up. It turns out that Artisan had obituaries published for the very-much-alive actors, meaning that prospective audiences started to believe they were going to see a real horror documentary about a group of teens who were really classed as missing or dead.
Part of a franchise? Oh yes, The Blair Witch launched a media franchise of sequels, novels, comic books, and video games.
Good or so bad it’s good? A great and fear-inducing watch.
Runtime: 1 hour 21 minutes
Why you should watch it: The Blair Witch’s found-footage technique focused on the main characters and their experiences, which meant that audiences were left to their imaginations to picture their own reasons for the glimpses of creepy woodland seen on screen. This proved that it’s not always blood and guts which could produce the most spine-chilling moments, and let’s not forget about Heather’s apology scene which made the whole thing seem very real.
7. Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles
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The gothic horror story of love, betrayal, loneliness, and hunger, starring a young Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and a very young Kirsten Dunst. Interview with the Vampire is based on the 1976 novel and tells the story of Louis’s transformation into a vampire by Lestat, their time together, and their turning of a ten-year-old girl into a vampire. The story is framed by a present-day interview whereby Louis tells his story to a San Francisco reporter.
Part of a franchise? Not yet, but it does look like AMC is bringing the vampiric world to life in a TV series.
Good or so bad it’s good? Good and full of gothic thrills.
Runtime: 2 hours 3 minutes
Why you should watch it: Well, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt as vampires for starters. It’s gritty, violent, and oddly empathetic towards the oppressed.
8. Candyman
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Candyman follows Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen), a Chicago graduate student, who’s completing a thesis on urban legends and folklore, which leads her to discover more about the legend of the “Candyman” (Tony Todd). The Candyman is the ghost of an African-American artist and the son of a slave who was murdered in the late 19th century for his relationship with the daughter of a wealthy white man. He has a hook for a hand and possessed bees that follow him wherever he goes.
Part of a franchise? Yep, there have been four Candyman films so far.
Good or so bad it’s good? A strong entry into the supernatural horror genre.
Runtime: 1 hour 39 minutes
Why you should watch it: It’s pretty scary and you won’t want to risk saying “Candyman” three times in the mirror after making your way through the film. Plus, there’s that horrendous bee scene that will make your skin crawl, especially as we now have the knowledge that poor Tony Todd actually did have the bees in his mouth!
9. Bram Stoker’s Dracula
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Francis Ford Coppola breathed life into the 1897 novel, Dracula, by Bram Stoker. The film stars a killer cast with Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, and Keanu Reeves, and tells the classic tale of Count Dracula, the centuries-old vampire who comes to England to seduce his barrister’s fiancée and inflict havoc in the country.
Part of a franchise? There are plenty of Dracula films out there.
Good or so bad it’s good? It’s pretty good.
Runtime: 2 hours 8 minutes
Why you should watch it: It’s quite spooky and offers a mesmerizing production design, and it’s an enjoyable take on the gothic horror story that has been the premise of many movies.
10. Alien 3
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The third installment of the Alien sci-fi, action, horror series picks up where Aliens left off and sees Ripley crash-land on Fiorina 161, a maximum-security prison. But, you guessed it, after a series of deadly events occur, Ripley realizes she’s brought with her a dangerous visitor.
Part of a franchise? Hell yeah. The Alien franchise has delivered a number of films, along with novels, comics, and video games.
Good or so bad it’s good? This one is always up for debate, and though I’m in the minority on this one, I still think its redeeming qualities make it kind of good.
Runtime: 1 hour 54 minutes
Why you should watch it: Alien 3 may have been a commercial flop, but you can’t deny that upon its release, it looked bloody brilliant, with slick shots, heightened claustrophobia, and another epic performance from our female warrior, Ripley. Plus, it was just a taste of what was to come from auteur David Fincher. Let’s just forget about the fact that Fincher has disowned the film…
11. Misery
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In my personal opinion, Misery is one of the few film adaptations of author Stephen King’s work that actually hits the nail on the head. In this 1990 psychological thriller-horror, a famous author, Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is rescued from a car crash by Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), a fan of his novels. But, all is not as it seems once Paul realizes that the care he’s receiving is actually the beginning of his captivity and abuse.
Part of a franchise? Whilst not part of a franchise, the character of Annie Wilkes has also been portrayed in another of King’s adaptations via the TV series Castle Rock.
Good or so bad it’s good? Maddingly entertaining.
Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes
Why you should watch it: Misery captures the essence of King’s novel, and Kathy Bates delivers an eccentric and terrifying performance as Annie. Not forgetting the iconic hobbling scene which will have you clenching your teeth and covering your eyes.
12. Sleepy Hollow
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Is it even a complete list without an entry from director Tim Burton? Of course it isn’t! That’s why I’m bringing to you the gothic fantasy horror that is Sleepy Hollow. In this 1999 movie, a younger Johnny Depp plays police constable, Ichabod Crane, who is sent to the town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate the decapitations of three people. The culprit? The legendary Headless Horseman.
Part of a franchise? Not a franchise per se, but the film is based on an 1820 short story called The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and a TV series of the same name aired from 2013–2017.
Good or so bad it’s good? Incredibly good.
Runtime: 1 hour 45 minutes
Why you should watch it: Unsurprisingly, Burton offers a creative, atmospheric, and eerily inviting world within the realms of Sleepy Hollow. The entertaining setting is equally matched with an effortless performance from Depp, along with his costar, Christina Ricci. You’ll be sure to get lost in the fantasy world and spooked by its creepy characters.
13. Cape Fear
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Martin Scorsese’s remake of the 1962 film of the same name brought an unsettling story to the horrors of the '90s. Cape Fear swaps the supernatural and sci-fi tropes for something a little more realistic and personal, as a vengeance-ridden convicted rapist stalks the family of a former public defender, whom he blames for his imprisonment.
Part of a franchise? Not really!
Good or so bad it’s good? Definitely a great watch.
Runtime: 2 hours 8 minutes
Why you should watch it: Watch it for Robert Deniro’s performance alone as he transforms into a terrifying psychopath.
14. Anaconda
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Time for the adventure horror films of the era! Anaconda takes the win for this genre, as a National Geographic film crew is taken hostage in the Amazon rainforest by an insane hunter who forces them to help him capture the world’s deadliest snake. The star-studded cast includes Jon Voight, Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Owen Wilson, Eric Stoltz, and Jonathan Hyde.
Part of a franchise? The film paved the way for another four films in the Anaconda series.
Good or so bad it’s good? So bad and so funny — you can’t help but enjoy it!
Runtime: 1 hour 29 minutes
Why you should watch it: Hilariously bad characters, tongue-in-cheek humour, and the laugh-out-loud depiction of a human body inside the skin of the anaconda topped it off for me.
15. Wes Craven’s New Nightmare
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In 1994, Wes Craven brought back one of the horror fan’s favourite anti-heroes, Freddy Krueger, for the seventh installment in the Nightmare on Elm Street series. This standalone film takes a different approach to the character and does not continue on from previous films, instead, Freddy Krueger is a fictional movie villain who invades the real world and haunts the cast and crew involved in the making of the films about him.
Part of a franchise? Only one of the most well-known horror franchises ever.
Good or so bad it’s good? Pretty darn good.
Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes
Why you should watch it: The idea of “horror” was brought to real life in this inventive and intelligent entry into the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. There are a lot of twists and turns, and some of the original cast members are reunited, plus it’s as gory as ever.
16. Night of the Living Dead
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The 1990 remake of George A. Romero’s classic 1968 horror, which saw Romero pick up the original screenplay and give it a rewrite, brought zombies to life again. The remake is pretty close to the original story, following a group of seven who seek refuge in a house in the Pennsylvanian countryside after the unburied dead return to life and seek human victims.
Part of a franchise? Yup, the zombie horror franchise was kick-started with the 1968 original film.
Good or so bad it’s good? Good, flesh-eating fun.
Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes
Why you should watch it: Sold practical effects that are restrained enough to not tarnish the original more-realistic concept of Romero’s living dead, along with credible acting and worthy jump scares.
17. Audition
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Audition is one of those films that you have to see before you die. The 1999 Japanese horror delivers an intense and unforgettable story about a woman who is both a victim of repression and oppression, seeking to exact revenge on the men in her life. The story follows a widower, Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi) who takes an offer to screen girls at a special audition, arranged for him by a friend to find him a new wife. When he meets Asami (Eihi Shiina), she’s not who she appears to be.
Part of a franchise? Nope.
Good or so bad it’s good? A brilliant horror.
Runtime: 1 hour 55 minutes
Why you should watch it: Audition is a complex and disturbing horror, framed with such an odd beauty that makes it all the more terrifying to watch. The lead female performance from Eihi Shiina is riveting, plus the final eye-piercing scene is one of the most gruesome and authentic displays of torture violence that somehow doesn’t play up to the torture porn genre.
18. Exorcist III
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William Peter Blatty directs the third installment in The Exorcist film series which centers on police lieutenant William F. Kinderman (George C. Scott), as he investigates a series of murders, which all have the hallmarks of the deceased Gemini serial killer.
Part of a franchise? Yes, there’s been many prequels, sequels, and adaptations of Blatty’s original 1971 novel.
Good or so bad it’s good? Actually quite good!
Runtime: 1 hour 50 minutes
Why you should watch it: This installment may not be as good as the first Exorcist, but it does beat the disappointing sequel of The Exorcist II: The Heretic. The Exorcist III is still chilling and serves up some suitably scary moments.
19. The Haunting
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Based on Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel The Haunting of Hill House, this 1999 horror follows a professor and three subjects who become trapped in a mysterious mansion for an apparent volunteer study on insomnia, only to find themselves plagued by paranormal events connected to the home's grim history.
Part of a franchise? Not really a franchise, but there have been a couple adaptations of Jackson’s novel.
Good or so bad it’s good? So bad it’s good!
Runtime: 1 hour 53 minutes
Why you should watch it: Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson, and Lili Taylor banding together to defeat over-the-top CGI displays, a poorly written screenplay, and cheesy, borderline funny ghosts. What’s not to love?
20. Frankenstein
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The 1994 adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 Frankenstein novel is one of the more faithful tellings of the science fiction story about an unorthodox scientist Dr. Victor Frankenstein who rejects the artificial man he has created. The being, known as the Creature, soon learns the circumstances of his creation and swears revenge on Victor for bringing him into the world.
Part of a franchise? There have been many Frankenstein films!
Good or so bad it’s good? A mad but enjoyable not-so-good movie.
Runtime: 2 hours 3 minutes
Why you should watch it: Kenneth Branagh gives a convincing performance of the mad scientist, whilst it's fun to see Robert De Niro step into the shoes of such an ugly and monstrous creature. Helena Bonham Carter also stars and serves up the more interesting character arc as Victor’s fiancée and adoptive sister.
21. The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre
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The year 1994 brought with it another installment in the Texas Chainsaw film series. In familiar slasher fashion, the plot line focuses on a group of teenagers who after being involved in a car crash in the Texas woods on prom night, wander into an old farmhouse. But guess who it’s home to? Good old Leatherface and his insane family of cannibalistic psychopaths.
Part of a franchise? You betcha, the franchise encompasses a long list of movies, comics, and even a video game.
Good or so bad it’s good? It’s awfully terrible, so much so that you have to watch it just to appreciate how bad it is.
Runtime: 1 hours 27 minutes
Why you should watch it: The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a perfectly so-bad-it’s-good film that would entertain you and your friends for its entirety. It’s actually a hilarious watch. What’s even better is that it features a young Matthew McConaughey (pre his Academy Award Winning days) as the lead antagonist, Vilmer, a psychopath with a robot-enhanced leg (I don’t get it either). His performance is completely wild and he even manages to chuck in an “Alright, Alright, Alright”. Oh, and a poor young Renée Zellweger is running scared for most of the film too. The most ironic thing though? I’m pretty sure that not one victim was killed with a chainsaw.
22. Copycat
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An agoraphobic psychologist and a female detective work together to find a serial killer. But, this serial killer wants to make a statement with his murders and send the police a message, as he’s learned from and is copying serial killers of the past, meticulously arranging his murder scenes.
Part of a franchise? Not this one.
Good or so bad it’s good? It’s pretty decent.
Runtime: 2 hours 3 minutes
Why you should watch it: Though predictable, Copycat can be quite suspenseful. Sigourney Weaver plays the role of the criminal psychologist well, and Holly Hunter makes you care about her tough cop character. Plus, horror fans are often partial to a serial killer story or two, let’s be honest.
23. The Frighteners
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In 1996, Peter Jackson delivered a supernatural comedy horror that told the story of Frank, an architect who practices black magic, developing psychic abilities which allow him to communicate with ghosts after his wife’s murder. At first, he uses his gift to con people, but when a demonic spirit appears, he has to stop it from killing the living and the dead.
Part of a franchise? Oh no.
Good or so bad it’s good? It’s good if you like a bit of imaginative excess.
Runtime: 1 hour 50 minutes
Why you should watch it: Jackson serves up an over-the-top imaginative effort, and it’s great for casual horror fans who want something light-hearted to mix up the genre.
24. I Know What You Did Last Summer
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Back to the slashers! I Know What You Did Last Summer centers on four young friends who are stalked by a hook-wielding killer (sound familiar?!). Why? They killed a man in a car accident and thought it would be a good idea to cover it up. Yikes, did they not foresee that this would lead to a stalker, duh?!
Part of a franchise? Yes, but just a little one.
Good or so bad it’s good? Great for slasher fans.
Runtime: 1 hour 41 minutes
Why you should watch it: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe and Freddie Prinze Jr. star as the clueless teens who still haven’t figured out that maybe walking around at night alone, or trying to investigate a scary situation isn’t going to result in the best of endings. It’s a fun film not to be taken seriously, and Hewitt can sure scream her lungs out.
25. Bride of Chucky
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You didn’t think I’d forget the puppet slasher film, did you? Bride of Chucky sees Chucky, the doll possessed by a serial killer, discover the perfect mate to kill and revive into the body of another doll. Ah, true love.
Part of a franchise? Yep, it belongs to the Child’s Play franchise.
Good or so bad it’s good? So bad, so stupid, yet so fun.
Runtime: 1 hour 29 minutes
Why you should watch it: I mean if the tagline of “Chucky gets lucky” isn’t enough to reel you in then what is? Just kidding. Bride of Chucky works because it’s pretty funny and was the first Child’s Play film to actually turn towards self-referential parody; it’s got the gags, it’s got the gore, and it’s got the camp factor.
26. Blade
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Based on the Marvel comic superhero of the same name, Blade is a sci-fi action horror about a half-vampire, half-mortal, who becomes the protector of mortals and slays evil vampires.
Part of a franchise? Of course, it’s a film and TV franchise based on the Marvel comics.
Good or so bad it’s good? Blood-suckingly good.
Runtime: 2 hours
Why you should watch it: Wesley Snipes stuns as the vampire-slaying vampire, and the film goes hell for leather with its fierce action sequences, slick style, and its fast-paced violent atmosphere.
27. Stir of Echoes
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Stir of Echoes is a mystery horror thriller that follows a telephone worker, Tom, after he is hypnotized by his sister-in-law and begins to see haunting and frightening visions of a girl’s ghost.
Part of a franchise? Nope.
Good or so bad it’s good? Good, it’s pretty underrated.
Runtime: 1 hour 39 minutes
Why you should watch it: Kevin Bacon offers a worthy, believable performance as Tom, and the film is a well-done creepy adaptation of the 1958 novel of the same name. It works because it offers a deep sense of dread throughout, plus the ghosts are genuinely scary.
28. The Bone Collector
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A quadriplegic ex-homicide detective, Lincoln Rhyme, and his partner, Amelia Donaghy, try to track down a serial killer who is terrorizing New York City.
Part of a franchise? No.
Good or so bad it’s good? This one’s a good one.
Runtime: 1 hour 58 minutes
Why you should watch it: Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie team up in this thrilling serial killer flick and offer their usual top-notch acting performances, and Jolie is often placed in dark dangerous places with only the haze of torch light to guide her way. Those moments for me were always pretty claustrophobic to watch. The plot may be a bit hit and miss at times, but I’d always give this one a rewatch.
29. Cronos
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This Mexican independent horror was Guillermo del Toro’s directorial debut. The plot? A mysterious scarab-beetle-looking device designed to provide its owner with eternal life resurfaces after four hundred years, bringing with it only destruction and horror.
Part of a franchise? No, this was a one-off.
Good or so bad it’s good? It’s Guillermo del Toro, it’s good!
Runtime: 1 hour 34 minutes
Why you should watch it: Cronos is an original tale full of mythology and religious undertones, with a somewhat empathetic character-driven plot line and a horror story full of heart. It’s unique in its own right, and on reflection, it set the path that del Toro would go on to take Hollywood by storm.
30. From Dusk Till Dawn
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A pair of criminal brothers take a family as hostages in order to cross into Mexico, but when they seek temporary refuge in a truck stop, they are unknowingly surrounded by vampires.
Part of a franchise? Yes! The From Dusk Till Dawn franchise encompasses three films, a TV series, and a video game.
Good or so bad it’s good? A one-of-a-kind B-movie.
Runtime: 1 hour 48 minutes
Why you should watch it: Director Robert Rodriguez dishes up cheesy and exaggerated violence full of exploding vampires and excessive bodily fluids, whilst Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino, and Juliette Lewis star in the joyride.
31. Jacob's Ladder
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In this 1990 psychological horror, a haunted Vietnam War veteran who’s mourning the death of his child, attempts to uncover his past while suffering from dissociation.
Part of a franchise? No, but there was a 2019 remake of the film.
Good or so bad it’s good? Really good.
Runtime: 1 hour 43 minutes
Why you should watch it: It’s a brutally scary horror that doesn’t shy away from devastation and darkness. Plus, did you know that fans of the Silent Hill video-games have theorised that the games were influenced by the likes of this film? When you look closely, the comparisons are there, and whether this is intentional or not, I’d like to rewatch Jacob’s Ladder with this in mind to get an even closer look.
32. Cure
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This 1997 Japanese psychological mystery horror film tells the story of a detective investigating a string of gruesome murders committed by people who have no idea what they have done. There’s one thing that binds them all though: an X is carved into the neck of each victim.
Part of a franchise? Nope.
Good or so bad it’s good? So great!
Runtime: 1 hour 51 minutes
Why you should watch it: Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa delivers an effective slow horror, comprised of social undertones and philosophical comments. It creates tension through clever cinematography, jarring sequence cuts, and avoidance of horror clichés.
33. The People Under the Stairs
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Wes Craven makes the list again, this time with the comedy horror, The People Under the Stairs. In the film, a young boy and two adult robbers become trapped in a house belonging to a strange couple.
Part of a franchise? No.
Good or so bad it’s good? An odd crowd-pleaser.
Runtime: 1 hour 42 minutes
Why you should watch it: In typical Wes Craven fashion, the movie is a bizarre, creepy bloodfest, with a good dose of humor. Surprisingly, it also delivers a message on society in general, including around class and inequality.
34. It
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The two-part horror drama adaptation of Stephen King’s hefty novel of the same name was bound to make my list. Set in the 1960s, a group of pre-teen outcasts fights an evil demon who poses as a child-killing clown. Thirty years later, they must reunite to stop the demon when it returns to their hometown.
Part of a franchise? I wouldn’t call it a franchise but there have been two later IT films.
Good or so bad it’s good? It’s good but feels more dated than some features on this list.
Runtime: 3 hours 12 minutes
Why you should watch it: The Losers and their relationship are the strongest point of the story, and one pivotal premise which is well executed by the child actors at the time. Whilst Tim Curry as Pennywise is not a modern, realistic, or terrifying portrayal of a killer clown, and it borders on comical, his exuberant performance is nonetheless creepy and I still wouldn't want to be pursued by his take on the clown.
35. Braindead
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Peter Jackson’s zombie comedy horror follows Lionel, a young man living in South Wellington with his strict mother. But, when his mother is bitten by a hybrid rat-monkey, she turns into a zombie set on killing and eating her way through the city.
Part of a franchise? Not by any means.
Good or so bad it’s good? So bad, it bombed but then gained a cult following.
Runtime: 1 hour 44 minutes
Why you should watch it: The horror is stricken with such bad taste in blood, guts, and splatter humor. Its special effects go down a treat, and it’s a movie made for those with wicked taste.
36. The Crow
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A musician who is brutally murdered comes back to life to avenge his and his fiancée's murder in this 1994 action horror movie.
Part of a franchise? Yes, it’s a franchise based on the comics of the same name.
Good or so bad it’s good? It’s up to the mark.
Runtime: 1 hour 42 minutes
Why you should watch it: The Crow is an action horror that dabbles in superhero delight. It’s visually compelling with a tonne of grungy energy, and Brandon Lee delivered an iconic performance as Eric. Though it goes without saying that the tragedy surrounding the film and Lee’s death does also make it a sad and melancholic watch.
The '90s certainly served up a mix of horror films over the years, but which one is your favorite? Or do you have any other contenders that should have made the list?!
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