The Best Horror Movies from the 2000s
by Jaskiran Kaur | Thu, 30 Sep 2021 12:11:34 GMT
Image source: Screen Rant

Horror movies can become quite boring if you see a significant number of them. The jump scares become so predictable, and all the gore and violence fails to disturb despite the hardest of tries. Yet, the 2000s was a phenomenal era for the production of horror films, with slasher films, found-footage, and paranormal activity taking over the horror genre. There are quite many films from the past 21 years of this century that could even take up the title for best horror films of all time, and that is something to say for the quality of suspense and intense human character exploration these films come up with. 

Here is a list of the best 2000s movies if you want to take a look at the genius of the century for yourself. 

The Mist (2007)

Image source: The Hollywood Reporter

Stephen King, the actual king of horror, psychological thrillers, and suspense dramas, can do no wrong when it comes to writing horror. But it's Frank Darabont's direction on the film of the same name, The Mist, which provides an apt visualization to the book turned movie. The film has an abundance of absolutely terrifying creatures that make unsuspected appearances, whether at the loading dock or a not-so-casual trip from a supermarket to a pharmacy. The movie features an exceptionally disturbing performance from Marcia Gay Harden that adds more of the thrill to the film. 

Let the Right One In (2008)

Image source: Indiewire

If you have a thing for vampire flicks ( Twilight doesn't count ), the one movie you should definitely be watching is Let The Right One In. The Swedish import film also has an English remake that stays true to the original horror of the movie. The eerie film follows the life of a young teenager, with a subsequent coming-of-age plot, and his vampire friend. It has everything from surprise monster attacks to gore-filled hospital rooms so that you can choose your favorite scariest moment. 

The Conjuring (2013)

Image source: Indiewire

Not everyone is a great fan of The Conjuring because some argue that it isn't scary enough while others are too scared of the haunted house trope. However, James Wan did a great job at the poltergeist plot of the movie and made it an ultimate scare show. The film takes you on a classic journey of a family living in a haunted house, but the scars are unexpected, and the visuals are even more disturbing. 

Saw (2004)

Image source: Screen Rant

There can't be a slasher film as iconic as the original Saw, and countless remake slasher films dream ( or maybe, have nightmares ) to reach upto the eerie factor of the film. The low-budget movie is definitely not low on horrors and takes you on an evil joy ride ranging from suspense to revolt and then gore in moments. The film obviously has a tight grip on the viewers until the end, which will totally leave you shell-shocked. 

May (2002)

Image source: Vocal

An estranged and isolated girl, May Canady, wishes to build herself a perfect friend, and that is where the film takes off from. Filled with blood and carnage, the movie has quite a few moments where the horror comes from the realization of how much alike any of us could feel to May. Relating to a horror film character is a sure-cut way to get all goosebumps, anyway. The film shows the slow deterioration of May and her becoming a horror film villain.

The Devil's Backbone (2001)

Image source: IMDB

Horror movies can do great work with orphanages, what with all the undertones of abandonments and scary wardens that can turn into child-eating monsters at any time. Fortunately enough, The Devil's Backbone is one hell of a scary movie that knows how to build the frightsome creatures of the isolated orphan house. Located on an abandoned set of land away from people that are already too busy with death and destruction in a war, the movie has no sense of reprieve. 

28 Days Later (2002)

Image source: Digital spy

Now that we have ourselves lived through a pandemic, we just know how scary viruses can be. Still lucky for us, the real world virus dealt only with flu-like symptoms and was not the 'rage virus' that the characters of 28 Days Later have to contend with. The film concerns a group of people trapped in a location that exposed them to a "rage virus." Of course, the virus has to be problematic. So, the infected get cannibal rages when exposed to the microbe. Like the best of horror movies, the plot subverts to basic human nature where a seemingly normal human, uninfected and unexposed, can wreak the most havoc. 

It Follows (2015)

Image source: The Hollywood Reporter

It Follows by David Robert Mitchell is a horrorshow tale of sexually transmitted demonic possessions (like STDs themselves weren't scary enough). The film borders on suspense and drama over and over again, yet its uncanny horror is what takes over all of the time. The film follows an unsuspecting teenager who just enters into a new relationship but soon learns that with the relationship came an army of the paranormal. Now, she has to find allies who can help her defeat the phantoms or at least escape them. 

Kill List (2011)

Image source: Den of Geek

Directed by Ben Wheatley, Kill List is a psychological horror film about an ex-soldier who has now become a contract killer. While that is quite chilling, the film is much more than a few kill scenes and a list of heedless lambs to be killed. Filled with horrific cult rite scenes and a tense background to have you on your edge, the film will stay with you longer than you could expect. 

Inside (2007)

Image source: The Hollywood Reporter

Pregnancy has its own scares, but not as much the expecting mother in Insider has to deal with. The thrilling French film is about a woman busting with a child who is suddenly pursued by a lunatic, wanting the kid for herself. What follows is not your usual horror film chase, but a fear-filled kick as the crazed attacker continues to pursue the witlessly scared mother. Complete with undertones of pregnancy fears and isolation, the films make for a great watch for people who like to see the cat and mouse chase in horror flicks. 

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