10 of the Best Horror Movies from 2020

10. Come to Daddy

Elijah Wood with a strange mustache. It worked for me. It doesn’t hurt that the movie was also a surreal, weird tale of strained relations and uncomfortable reunions between a father and son.

9. The Hunt

Though, not a technically great movie, I had a real fun time watching it. The real star of the show, however, is Betty Gilpin as Crystal. Her character is so perfectly played you find yourself rooting for her as soon as you meet her.

8. Freaky

Like a nice snack right when you need a snack. I was ready to see some Vince Vaughn and this delivered (though, I could’ve used more, tbh). I was a fan of Happy Death Day 1 & 2 and I’m happy to add this to the list of “wins.”

7. Terrifier

Honestly, it was gory and fun and the clown was creepy. It was an easy, fun horror movie that hit all the right notes. Felt like movies I watched in high school.

6. Antrum

Give me a weird 70’s-style horror flick that supposedly has a death-curse tied to it and I’ll give you a spot on my top 10.

5. Gretel & Hansel

This movie was just so awesomely cool to look at. I loved its fresh take on an old tale. Plus it was maybe the last movie I saw in a theater last year? Can that be true?

4. The Dark and the Wicked

No lie, made me feel more scared than any other movie I saw this year. The movie’s real strengths were found in the scenes with the two siblings - each of those scenes felt almost uncomfortably realistic and helped to build tension.

3. The Vast of Night

You almost always have me at “aliens,” but this movie was such a refreshing, nostalgic take on aliens in film, and real-life reports of sightings. I immediately loved the main characters and thought both actors did a great job. The director’s style and the lighting choices created a beautiful atmosphere and made me feel like I was there.

2. Possessor

Possessor was such a great way to round out the year. Brandon Cronenberg has really created a unique, unsettling film and it’s clear that he’s been influenced by his father’s films. That being said, this movie was very much his own, with his own stamp on it. A wonderfully acted, written, and directed movie - one of the few “must watch” movies of 2020.

1. Host

Quite literally the perfect movie for 2020. It managed to come out and feel like an instantly relatable and timely indie horror flick. Like, I cant imagine how to better capitalize on the 2020 pandemic situation in a more perfect way.

The Best Horror Movies of 2020

10. The Wolf of Snow Hollow

A fresh take on the old werewolf tale. Director, writer and star Jim Cummings does a great job as the bumbling drunk deputy in a town where a werewolf is seemingly on the loose. Successful horror comedies are rare but the cast makes this one happen. 

9. His House

His House is the story of a couple of refugees from South Sudan trying to escape the horrors of their past. They come to believe their house is haunted by an evil witch that is trying to reclaim a debt. Haunting imagery in the house as well as flashbacks from their past. 

8. Scare Me

Can Aya Cash just be in everything please? Two authors stuck in a cabin act out scary stories to each other, complete with sound effects. Very well written and strong acting all around. 

7. Impetigore

Two friends travel to a small village in Indonesia hoping to collect on an inheritance. What they find is a village full of people who believe their family has something to do with a curse that has fallen on the village. A gorgeous film with a lot of great practical effects. 

6. Vampires vs. The Bronx

2020 is apparently the year of the horror comedy.. Or maybe just the year I needed it. This movie is about a group of kids noticing that vampires and moving into the Bronx and trying to fight them off. All of the actors are wonderful and it’s a great story about being part of a neighborhood. 

5. The Dark and the Wicked

Gotta love a movie about the devil himself. Despite the overuse of stingers and an ending that doesn’t quite land, some of the shots in this movie have stuck with me still. 

4. Freaky

From the same director as Happy Death Day, I finally decided to give this a shot even as a $20 rental. Very glad I did. It starts off super gory and creatively so in the first few minutes and keeps that up throughout the film. Vince Vaughn is hilarious acting like a teenage girl. Another great horror comedy this year. 

3. The Rental

Dave Franco cemented his place as my favorite Franco brother with this film (it was never close). Two couples rent a cabin to get away when they find a hidden camera in the shower and it only gets weirder from there. You hate most of the people but that makes it easier when the plot twist comes. 

2. Host

If there was ever a movie to show someone in the future to describe what 2020 was like, here it is. It is incredible what director Rob Savage did while filming remotely, never mind that the movie is terrifying. 

1. Possessor

Wow this movie came out of nowhere for me. I liked the cast so decided to give it a shot and holy cow. I honestly don’t even know what to say. Andrea Riseborough and Christopher Abbott are incredible in this movie. Director Brandon Cronenberg obviously has big shoes to fill and really knocks it out of the park with this film. 

Honorable Mentions: La Llorona, Sea Fever, The Mortuary Collection, The Deeper You Dig, Come to Daddy

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10 of the Best Horror Movies of the Decade

10. Mandy

Mandy was such a wild ride - it’s near impossible not to get sucked into it’s trippy, epic story of love, revenge, and LSD. Nic Cage was made for the main role, Jóhann Jóhannsson’s score couldn’t be more perfect, and the visuals from director Panos Cosmatos won’t soon be forgotten.

9. The Ritual

If you find yourself feeling as if there are just no quality movie monsters anymore, I’d like for you to meet The Ritual. In addition to having, what I like to consider, the best movie monster of the decade, The Ritual also brings some serious scares and tense moments. It’s based on a book, which is also fun if you’re into books.

8. You’re Next

You’re Next has to be one of my top, go-to horror movies to recommend to folks. A solid home invasion thriller, with a satisfying story and catchy af song, You’re Next will hold a special place in my heart for many years to come.

7. The Cabin in the Woods

The Cabin in the Woods was an instant classic. A meta look at horror movies and their many tropes, this movie has a perfect balance of classic horror violence and humor (Brad Whitford and Richard Jenkins?!). The ending is so fun and intense that you’ll immediately want to rewatch, or pause multiple times throughout, to make sure you haven’t missed anything.

6. The Lighthouse

Having high expectations for an upcoming release is risky, and The Lighthouse was one of those movies I had high expectations for. Robert Eggers’ debut movie, The VVitch, was a huge success among horror fans and it may be forever cemented as one of my all-time faves. While The Lighthouse brings a much different type of story, you see Eggers’ hand in all of it. The result is a beautifully captivating and unsettling tale about two lighthouse keepers fighting the effects of isolation and promethean curses.

5. The Babadook

Jennifer Kent did everything right when she made The Babadook. It’s a heavy, terrifying look into the grieving process and the toll it can take on a single mom, trying to raise her child after the death of her husband. Kent creates a rich backstory for her characters, including the sinister Mr. Babadook. This is maybe not the book you would expect to see on a child’s bookshelf - but if you did, you’d likely be compelled to read it.

4. Raw

Raw was an early 2017 release that legit blew me away. Julia Ducourna’s first film brought us a unique story, told in a way that was unlike anything I’d ever seen. It was confident and skillful story-telling that you’d expect to see from a director well into their career. Raw was an instant, rewatch-worthy hit with me and I was introduced to so many great songs from it’s fantastic soundtrack.

3. Midsommar

Released not long after his 2018 success, Hereditary, Ari Aster gave us a megadose of soul-crushing realness with his second film, Midsommar. The visuals in this movie were stunning - not to mention, one of the first scenes you see is absolutely one of the decade’s most terrifying horror movie scenes. Florence Pugh also gives an amazing performance as the protagonist, Dani. I’m definitely ready for whatever Ari Aster does next.

2. What We Do in the Shadows

Do you like comedies where you pick up a new, funny line each time you rewatch it? Then you need to check out What We Do in the Shadows - that is, if you haven’t already. Now that it’s got its own spin-off TV show, it’s growing in popularity - rightly so! Also, if you don’t already love Taika Waititi and the great movies that he’s been involved with, I recommend starting here and then revisiting as often as possible. Lolz for dayz.

1. The VVitch

To me, The VVitch is so close to horror movie perfection that there was no hesitation putting it in my #1 spot. I love period movies and I was instantly on board with a witch-themed horror movie set in early puritan America. Robert Eggers’ attention to detail and his dedication to authenticity pay off in such a terrifying way.

Very honorable mentions: Green Room, Evil Dead, The Voices, Black Swan