Although horror tends to be a very hit-or-miss genre, 2019 has treated audiences to a slew of fantastic frights at the movies this year. While sci-fi and action films like Avengers: Endgame and Hobbs & Shaw may have dominated the box office this year, the horror genre had a significant amount of success in terms of both revenue and critical reception.
Rounding out a decade where horror moved from being defined by "torture porn" franchises like Saw and "found-footage" movies like the Paranormal Activity, to experimental horror like Get Out and the return of period horror such as The Conjuring, 2019 saw a surge in both traditional slashers and mind-bending slow burns that turned the genre on its head.
While 2019 certainly has its fair share of horror movies to choose from, here are 10 of the best horror films from this year.
10. Brightburn
Produced by James Gunn of Guardians of the Galaxy fame, Brightburn stems from a simple (yet effective) premise - what if Superman turned out to be evil? Chronicling the lives of the Breyer family, Brightburn follows the journey of a young Kansas farm boy named Brandon who (unbeknownst to him) is actually an alien whose ship crashed on earth years earlier. As Brandon grows older, he begins to hear mysterious voices that urge him to wreak havoc and destruction all around him.
The call of the ship becomes stronger and stronger the older Brandon gets, and the film culminates in a bloody slaughter as Brandon is unable to resist giving into his extraordinary powers. With good gore, a solid cast, and enough behind-the-scenes juice to get it a wide theatrical release, Brightburn was a small but memorable horror film that didn't quite live up to its potential, but still delivered on scares.
9. Happy Death Day 2U
A sequel to a surprise 2017 horror-comedy hit, Happy Death Day 2U is a worthy follow-up to its absurdly hilarious Groundhog Day-style slasher. Starring Jessica Rothe as sorority girl Tree, Happy Death Day 2U follows Tree as she once again tries to navigate a time loop in which she experiences her murder over and over again. Just like the original, Happy Death Day 2U is great because of its electric lead performance from Jessica Rothe, as well as its strong supporting cast, witty script, and willingness to lean into more traditional, campy horror tropes.
8. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Based on the iconic books by Alvin Schwartz and produced by Guillermo Del Toro, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark chronicles a group of teenagers who discover a book of stories that begin to come true and haunt the teens one by one. Set against the background of the Vietnam War and filled to the brim with atmospheric visuals, unique character designs, and classic moments from a beloved book series, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark ticks all the right boxes to be one of the most memorable horror films of this year.
7. It Chapter Two
Taking place 27 years after the events of It, It Chapter Two reunites the Loser's Club (all grown up as an all-star cast including Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, and Bill Hader) as they all reluctantly return to their hometown of Derry, Maine, in an attempt to finally defeat the terrifying creature taking the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. With dizzying visuals that blur the line between illusion and reality, stellar performances, gut-punching emotions, and a terrifying clown that will leave you with nightmares for weeks, It Chapter Two is a strong ending to the iconic horror franchise based on the novel by Stephen King.
6. Little Monsters
The first of two Lupita Nyong'o films on this list, Little Monsters is a horror-comedy about a washed-up musician and an elementary school teacher who join forces when a zombie apocalypse wreaks havoc during a class field trip. It's a zany premise that delivers with gleeful campiness, and the perfect balance of humor and horror is achieved thanks to Nyong'o as well as Josh Gad. Though it may not have been a blockbuster, Little Monsters is still a wildly enjoyable film for those who like genre-mashups such as Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead.
5. Doctor Sleep
Though it's difficult to imagine that any film could live up to the legacy set by Stanley Kubrick's terrifying horror masterpiece The Shining, 2019's Doctor Sleep manages to be both a worthy successor and an interesting departure from the first installment. Heavily influenced by Stephen King's writing as opposed to Kubrick's interpretation, Doctor Sleep catches up with a full-grown Danny Torrance as he struggles with PTSD and alcoholism as a result of the terrifying events he witnessed as a child. Doctor Sleep's unique characters, strong source material, and homages to The Shining make it an unmissable horror event of the year. It blends modern storytelling and filming techniques but applies it all in a way that makes it feel like a natural continuation of a story that was first told so many years ago.
4. The Lighthouse
Auteur director Robert Egger's second film after his critically acclaimed first film The VVitch, The Lighthouse is a haunting slow-burn centered around the unraveling psyches of two lighthouse-keepers as the effects of solitude and isolation begin to tear at their grasp on reality. Both Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson turn in career-high performances that keep the viewer enraptured through the entirety of the film, and the droning sound design coupled with the unsettling cinematography help to build the ambiance until the film finally comes to a horrifying and unexpected conclusion.
3. Ready or Not
Although Ready or Not seemed poised to be a campy D-list slasher, its biting wit, outstanding lead, and ambitious plot surprised audiences and made it one of the most unexpected hits of the year. Starring Samara Weaving, the film follows a newlywed bride who unwittingly becomes a participant in a deadly game of hide and seek when she marries into a family of board game tycoons. Ready or Not has plenty of gruesome kills to keep bloodthirsty viewers happy, but also a charming lead in Samara Weaving, as well as a gaggle of unique ensemble players and a charming tone that strikes the perfect chords of parody and homage.
2. Us
Two years after Jordan Peele exploded onto the film scene with his Oscar-winning psychological-thriller Get Out, his second film, Us, packed just as much of an allegorical punch while also amping up the gore and scares to make it a true horror. Centering around the Wilson family's blissful lakeside vacation, Us quickly becomes a horrifying slasher when the family comes face to face with deeply unsettling doubles of themselves who have been living underground.
Lead to victory by a masterfully hypnotic performance from Lupita Nyong'o, who pulls double duty as both the film's protagonist Adelaide and the villain Red, Us incorporates social commentary in a spectacular homage to a home invasion and slasher films.
1. Midsommar
Described by director Ari Aster as both a "comedy" and a "break-up" movie, Midsommar was one of the most talked-about films of the year, horror or otherwise. And rightfully so - this viscerally disturbing daylight horror film has just as many grotesque visuals as it does heartwrenching emotional beats. The film follows Dani (Florence Pugh) as she accompanies her bum of a boyfriend and his group of friends to a harvest festival in Sweden which quickly turns sinister.
Florence Pugh gives a tragically beautiful performance and the film's hypnotizing score, deceptively bright visuals, and airtight script, all coupled with nausea-inducing deaths, make it the best horror film of 2019.