From the ghost story Poltergeist to the slasher film Halloween, there are countless classic horror films that never get boring. These movies are so well made that fans can find something new in each viewing, from a smartly directed scene to a meaningful piece of dialogue.
With so many horror movies being released every year, it's no wonder that there are some from the past few years that could definitely be in the category of classics. These flicks offer a fresh spin on an old scary story or something entirely new, and they each deserve attention.
A Quiet Place (2018)
Even if fans have some questions about A Quiet Place, it's still an incredible movie that is better than many attempting to tell the same kind of story.
Other films have tried to paint a picture of a different kind of world where people have to fend for themselves and compete for survival. But, this movie succeeds because it's got perfect cinematography and acting, and the premise of a family trying to survive without making a sound is brilliant.
Head Count (2018)
There are many supernatural movies, and many of them are dull because the jump scares don't actually make anyone jump and there are no surprises left. That's not true of Head Count, which was directed by Elle Callahan.
Evan (Isaac W. Jay) meets a group of friends around his age, and he decides to hang out with them. He ends up staying with them in their house in Joshua Tree that they're renting, and, after someone recites a chant from a website, they are chased by a supernatural being.
Get Out (2017)
Jordan Peele's Get Out is a beloved 2017 film, and it's hard to overstate how groundbreaking it was. This movie needs to be considered a classic, as it's got it all: an original premise, solid acting, twists and turns, and a genuinely creepy tone. It's such a fascinating and creative movie, not to mention an important one as it discusses race in an honest way that many movies are too afraid to.
I See You (2019)
Helen Hunt stars in I See You as a well-off wife and mother who lives in a beautiful house in a perfect town... until objects start disappearing from her flawless home, and it turns out that her family life is coming apart, as well.
Not every horror movie can have a successful twist halfway through, but this movie manages it. Viewers realize that they're watching a very different movie than they thought, and the ending brings some revelations, as well.
You Should Have Left (2020)
You Should Have Left might not be one of Kevin Bacon's most famous films, but it deserves a lot of credit for telling an interesting story.
There are many horror movies about haunted homes and creepy vacation spots, and the house in this movie gives all of them a run for its money. It seems to have secrets, endless corridors, and, when Susanna (Amanda Seyfried) and her husband Theo bring their daughter Ella (Avery Essex) there, it's clear that something weird is going on. The house is a character in itself, and the characters might not all get out alive.
Hereditary (2018)
Toni Collette is a woman losing her mind in 2018's Hereditary, which deserves to be called a classic, as well. There are many movies about satanic rituals and people who worship the dark arts, but nothing is like this, which also portrays a very unhappy family with a horrible history.
Before I Wake (2016)
Before I Wake is one of Mike Flanagan's films, and horror fans who loved his directing style in The Haunting of Hill House will find a similar tone here.
The movie tells the story of Cody (Jacob Tremblay), a young boy who fears sleep because he sees such awful visions of "the Canker Man." There are many horror movies about things that go bump in the night, and this one is both emotional and scary.
Ready Or Not (2019)
Ready Or Not has a horrifying game at the heart of it, as Samara Weaving's character Grace marries Alex (Mark O'Brien) and learns that his family wants to play a game the evening after their wedding. It turns out that they're performing a satanic ritual and trying to kill her. It's not exactly the wedding night that she had in mind.
This movie definitely deserves classic status, as it brings something new to stories about the devil. It feels like a very contemporary tale, and it's also got a lot of funny moments.
Unfriended: Dark Web (2018)
The 2018 sequel to Unfriended offers something new to the genre of technology-based horror films. Dark Web tells the story of Matias (Colin Woodell) who comes across a laptop and sees messages on it.
Unlike the first movie, this one is a little more based in reality, as there is no supernatural element, and that makes it a lot better. Matias is determined to discover what's going on, and he learns that he's gotten involved with a very dangerous group of people.
The Invisible Man (2020)
Starring Elizabeth Moss, 2020's The Invisible Man is also deserving of classic horror movie status. It's truly scary, and the opening sequence is enough to make someone turn all the lights on as main character Cecilia literally runs away from her abusive partner in the middle of the night.
Cecilia swears that Adrian (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), who everyone thinks has died, is chasing her in an invisible suit that he created, and no moment of the movie is boring or expected. The movie also deals with the trauma of leaving an abusive relationship in a really respectful and well-done way.