Some horror movies like X, released in March of 2022, are simply meant to shock and scare via the standard slasher movie tropes. Movies like The Black Phone, released in June of 2022, are meant to be eerie and unsettling as they leave their viewers with an unshakable sense of dread. However, some horror films want to do more.
Arthouse or art horror films want to elicit responses of fear, but with distinct visuals and storytelling techniques that go above and beyond the standard murderer in a mask with a sharp instrument. Although it's true that the genre isn't for everyone and not all audiences will understand a director's vision, there are several in the genre that are absolutely terrifying without a visual arts degree.
The Shining (1980)
To be fair, it doesn't take much to make a crazy-eyed Jack Nicholson running down a hallway with an ax scary. That being said, the shining is considered one of the most studied horror movies of all time. Coming from a creator like Stanley Kubrick, it's understandable to see why. While some of the subtler scares might only be recognized by those who read the book, there's no denying that the film is absolutely terrifying.
Haunted hotels, psychic visions, and the demons of alcoholism are all par for the course in this horror classic, but it's Stanley Kubrick's surreal directorial work that truly gives the film its scare factor. Of course, creepy twins, ghosts, and an elevator full of blood also help.
The Wicker Man (1973)
Some of the best horror movies are those that blend genre and exceed expectations. Considered the origins of the folk horror genre, 1973's The Wicker Man might begin as a detective drama, but it soon takes a turn for terror as Sgt. Neil Howie discovers a cult of pagan witches while on the search for a missing girl.
There's something very '70s about the film, namely due to its organic imagery and folk music soundtrack, but that doesn't dissuade the scare factor of ancient rituals, spells, and human sacrifice. Pair that with a phenomenal performance by Christopher Lee, and it's a recipe for one of the most definitive horror movies of the era.
The Babadook (2014)
Sometimes the monsters are real, sometimes they are metaphors for something else, and sometimes they're both at the same time. The Babadook is one of the most successful cult classics in the genre, but it doesn't always rely on its top-hatted boogeyman to elicit its scares.
A shadowy terror is unleashed after a mother reads a mysterious children's book to her young son, and Mr. Babadook is much more than the average monster in the closet. Metaphors for grief, loss, and survivor's guilt aside, the film is absolutely terrifying as it dives into themes of monsters, anxiety, and possession in a unique way.
Hush (2016)
Mike Flannagan definitely has a knack for accessible art horror, and one of the finest examples is Hush. The best way to describe the film is a sensory horror slasher. Home invasions have been the subject of scary movies before, but the intensity and anxiety get turned up to eleven when the final girl/protagonist is deaf.
The film's lead is deaf and mute, and the audience shares in her environment through the use of creative audio techniques. When a masked prowler finds his way to Maddie's home and axes off her neighbor, a sensory game of cat and mouse ensues as she must rely on her wits and other senses if she wants to survive the night.
Suspiria (2018)
The original film by Dario Argento is certainly one that's a little hard to follow and Giallo horror films aren't for everyone. However, the 2018 remake of Suspiria keeps its artistic influences while still maintaining a comprehensible plot. And its themes of curses, hexes, and other forms of witchcraft are certainly more prevalent.
The original's basic elements of a young woman arriving at a prestigious ballet academy run by a coven of witches are still there, but it's given less of a shock-horror flavor and more of a slow burn full of mystery and intrigue. The creeping nature and the stellar performances from the cast are sure to keep even the greenest viewers invested.
The Witch (2015)
Changing the subject to a more understood concept of witches, Robert Eggers's period horror masterpiece, The Witch, is a dark and twisted folktale of forsaken settlers, an unforgiving wilderness, and an evil entity lying in wait as she curses and picks off members of the family one by one.
Although the film relies on traditional dialogue, atmospheric elements, and subtle scares, the fear is there and everpresent. The titular witch isn't the green-skinned, pointed-hat-wearing variety seen on Halloween, but rather a sinister sorceress who bewitches the family and tears them apart with her demonic influence. It's an engaging film, but certainly difficult to watch.
Psycho (1960)
When it comes to horror directors, few come with such a distinguished pedigree as Alfred Hitchcock. Though it might not seem like it to some, Psycho is an arthouse picture as it relies on clever tricks and techniques to earn its shocks and scares. Of course, a murder in a running shower with blood in the drain certainly helps move things along.
Hitchcock is known as a master of suspense for a reason, he works in shock and spectacle as other artists work in paints or clay. His adaptation of Robert Bloch's novel concerning Norman Bates and his roadside motel still gives people nightmares to this day. Though not as heavy in guts and gore as some modern contemporaries, the slasher genre owes its existence to this horror classic.
Mandy (2018)
Mandy is just about everything a viewer could want from a Nic Cage horror movie. The experience is like a black metal album come to life, and it's loaded with vivid and psychedelic visuals to accompany its gritty and gruesome revenge-driven plot. It's not as straightforward as some might prefer, but it's a surreal and scary action-horror experience that will suck viewers in.
After his wife is kidnapped and killed by a murderous cult, a man battles demons and emotional trauma to end the man who wronged him. That's the most bare-bones description of the film, as it's more complicated and visceral than most of its genre. Either way, it's an experience hardcore horror hounds should enjoy.
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Don't be put off by the subtitles, Pan's Labyrinth is one of the most beautiful dark fantasies to ever come from the mind of Guillermo Del Toro. Monsters, both human and mythical, are the flavor of the day, as young Ophelia discovers the gateway to an ancient labyrinth in Francoist Spain.
Part fairytale, part coming-of-age film, part monster movie, this cocktail of elements comes together beautifully to paint a picture that is equal parts dream and nightmare. Hauntingly gorgeous and fantastically frightening at times, this is one arthouse film nobody should miss out on.
Coraline (2009)
Not all horror has to be intended for an adult audience, a message that Coraline undoubtedly delivers. For a film based on a children's book, this stop-motion masterpiece has some of the most chilling imagery in any animated feature. The bright colors, creative puppets, and creative genius of Neil Gaiman can't hide the horror inside.
A child-eating monster who lives in another dimension is practically the plot of a Stephen King novel, yet the Beldam is a creature that only warrants this film a PG rating. That said, it's all that could be expected from such an iconic twisted fairytale.