Your guide to the spookiest titles from one of the genre’s best decades.
Some vintage fans love to check out the slasher films of the 1970s and 1980s.
Others prefer the more “elevated” horror movies that we began getting in the 2010s.
Heather Donahue in ‘The Blair Witch Project’; Ghostface in ‘Scream’; Anthony Hopkins in ‘The Silence of the Lambs’.Credit:Artisan Entertainment/courtesy Everett; Dimension Films/courtesy Everett; Orion/courtesy Everett
So why are we less inclined to revisit anything in between?
Simply put, many don’t associate the ’90s with good horror.
Here’s the good news: Those haters aredeadwrong.
Bruce Campbell in ‘Army of Darkness’.Everett Collection
Don’t believe it?
Just check out our definitive list of the 22 best ’90s horror movies that are absolutely worth your time.
Then cameArmy of Darkness.
Heather Donahue in ‘The Blair Witch Project’.Artisan Pics/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock
If so,Bram Stoker’s Draculais a movie pretty much custom-made for your taste.
Some performances are better than others, of course.
As Dracula,Gary Oldmanchews up scenery even more often than he imbibes human blood.
Gary Oldman in ‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’.Everett Collection
The movie’s use of costumes, miniatures, and practical effects is also nothing short of breathtaking.
This is a movie where you’ll get an entirely different chill the longer you think about the film.C.S.
Where to watchCandyman: Peacock
Cube(1997)
Vincenzo Natali’sCubeis a curious construct.
Tony Todd in ‘Candyman’.Everett Collection
The characters must navigate different booby traps and escape from one cube into another.
With a bit of calculation, they can determine which rooms are safe and find a way out.
If nothing else,Cubeshould be lauded for its outsize influence on horror, walking so that 2004’sSawcould run.
(From left to right) Nicky Guadagni, Maurice Dean Wint, David Hewlett, and Nicole de Boer in ‘Cube’.Everett Collection
The broad comedy of the characters and dialogue is often very effective.
For example, a kung-fu priest’s proclamation that “I kick ass for the Lord!”
has lived in our heads rent-free since its initial release.
Ian Watkin in ‘Dead Alive’.Everett Collection
However, the real laughs and appeal ofDead Alivecome from how over-the-top the gore and effects really get.C.S.
The original pitch for this movie was almost certainly “HellraisermeetsAlien.”
With all that said,The Exorcist IIIis a bit of an acquired taste.
‘Event Horizon’.Paramount Pictures
When they arrive and enter a raunchy bar, though, they soon find themselves surrounded by undead vampires.
Plus, it’s downright fun to watch the characters brainstorm ways to kill these vamps.C.S.
This new setting helps directorJoe Dantepull off some truly incisive satire of the Hollywood machine.
George C. Scott in ‘The Exorcist III’.Everett Collection
Scientific experiments led byChristopher Leealso give us sequel-worthy mutations, including flying Gremlins and one made of electricity.C.S.
He eventually encounters the author, whose fans' love of his work has begun unleashing Lovecraftian terrors.
Rather than presenting these characters as one-dimensional monsters, the movie presents vamps as flawed and tragic figures.
Quentin Tarantino and George Clooney in ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’.Everett Collection
Of course, what makes their sadness pop is the sexiness of our main characters.
What if a popular writer was at the mercy of an obsessive fan?
However, we beg to differ.
Mohawk in ‘Gremlins 2: The New Batch’.Everett Collection
The movie has a dramatically different ending sure to shock and yo mega-fans of the original.
The casting is wonderful, with Patricia Tallman giving off theBig Final Girl Energythat Barbara never had before.
Good luck getting theunsettling videotape footageout of your head.
Dennis O’Connor and Sam Neill in ‘In the Mouth of Madness’.Everett Collection
As an unmasked killer inScreamfamously proclaims, “Movies don’t make psychos!
Movies make psychos more creative!“C.S.
Specifically, what kind of monstrously evil person could be committing these murders?
Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in ‘Interview With the Vampire’.Francois Duhamel
The only horror movie to ever win Best Picture?
Sizzling performances from actors at the top of their game?
Enough famous lines and imagery to launch decades of memes, parodies, and references?
Tim Curry in ‘It’.Everett Collection
Check, check, check!
Beyond that, though, this movie is an important artifact in horror movie history.
We wouldn’t get a proper Hannibal renaissance untilMads Mikkelsenstepped into the role for NBC’sHannibal.C.S.
Kathy Bates in ‘Misery’.Everett Collection
Night Shyamalan’s breakthrough film still chills us even when we know the final twist.
And when you have that kind of itch, the best way to scratch it is to watchTremors.
The joy surrounding this movie is downright infectious.
Tony Todd (left) in ‘Night of the Living Dead’.Everett Collection
How is it meta?
Well, this movie takes place in the real world.
Actors play themselves here, including franchise favorites likeHeather LangenkampandJohn Saxon, with Craven even popping up as himself.
‘Ringu’.Mary Evans/Ronald Grant/Everett
Where to watchWes Craven’s New Nightmare: Apple TV+ (to rent)
Drew Barrymore in ‘Scream’.Dimension Films/Everett
Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Pitt in ‘Se7en’.Everett Collection
Anthony Hopkins in ‘The Silence of the Lambs’.Orion
Bruce Willis in ‘The Sixth Sense’.Everett Collection
Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward in ‘Tremors’.Everett Collection
Robert Englund and Miko Hughes in ‘Wes Craven’s New Nightmare’.Everett Collection
