True horror fans watch horror movies not to get terrified, but to see a deep, dark story about repressed human emotions told from a creative, often metaphorical perspective. There is adrenaline in being scared by a film, but it’s not always about the scares—often, it’s about the emotional payoff of a seemingly terrifying story.
However, there are some horror movies that, alongside their emotional core, also bring terror and fright to even the most avid lovers of the genre. They can be terrifying because of their eerie, existential, or relatable nature; they can also be scary because of the performances, atmosphere, and all other technical elements that make a feature film a complete product (jumpscares, anyone?). Here are the ten great horror movies that are just as terrifying on a rewatch as they were the first time.
10
‘Pearl’ (2022)
Pearl was, whether you agree or not, the best horror movie of 2022. It’s a Hitchcockian masterpiece from the lens of Ti West, paired with the terrifying interpretation of the protagonist by Mia Goth. Pearl is the prequel to West’s first movie, X, and the second in the X Trilogy; it’s also the best of the three, because it’s not just an homage to some of the features that defined horror cinema, but a truly unique vision of a villainous lead character.
Pearl is set in 1918 and follows the titular character (Goth), who lives with her parents in a rural Texas home while her husband serves in WWI. Pearl dreams of becoming a film star and being famous, and most of her days are spent daydreaming. Although there is a certain innocence in Pearl and her ambition for stardom, she soon shows she lacks empathy and self-awareness, unveiling psychopathic traits. Pearl is terrifying because of Goth’s performance and the culmination of her frustrations and repressed rage. While scary for its jump scares and eerie moments on first watch, a rewatch will terrify you because Pearl is an unraveling that is even harder to watch when you know what happens.
9
‘The Blair Witch Project’ (1999)
The movie that popularized and rebranded found-footage horror is The Blair Witch Project, and even after decades of imitators, as much as you are used to it, The Blair Witch Project is the best film that still feels raw and real after all this time. It’s what we could associate with the concept of the “uncanny valley” in some ways because the documentary-style footage, the amateur leads, and a general absence of effects or a grandiose score make it feel like you’re actually watching a video somebody found and played for you. Whatever you might think about The Blair Witch Project today, to many people, it’s just as terrifying on a rewatch as it was on the first viewing.
The Blair Witch Project follows three film students who go to the Appalachian Mountains, where there is an urban legend about a notorious Blair Witch. They embark on a dangerous mission to make a documentary about the witch and potentially prove its credibility; of course, this adventure doesn’t go well. Even though you’re aware a jumpscare is coming or know how the movie ends, upon rewatching The Blair Witch Project, you still find yourself catching background sounds, shapes, and movements that feel more suggestive than ever. Even when you know something is out there, it’s still scary to try and look for it.
8
‘The Babadook’ (2014)
Most people agree that Jennifer Kent‘s The Babadook is one of the best horror films of the 21st century. It’s one of those movies that’s scary in a way that even horror buffs admit terrifies them, no matter how many times they’ve watched it. While the monster is memorable, the real scary thing is the emotional horror that lingers long after you’re done watching. Knowing the trajectory of the story doesn’t make it easier; the psychological unraveling becomes even more uncomfortable, the second or whichever time around.
The Babadook follows an overworked single mother, Amelia (Essie Davis), who lives with her 6-year-old son, Sam. The boy soon describes a vision that haunts him, giving it the name the Babadook, and asks for Amelia’s help in getting rid of it. With Amelia’s patience for Sam wearing thin, she begins to experience strange things and visions that lead her over the edge. Seeing Babadook for the first time on screen is pretty terrifying, and it doesn’t get easier on a rewatch. This movie monster is so disturbing that even William Friedkin, the legendary director of The Exorcist, found the film scary.
7
‘Smile’ (2022)
An unexpected scare fest was definitely Smile, a film made pretty much according to the modern horror movie formula—riddled with jump scares and suggestive scenes. Yet, as formulaic as it may be, Smile is terrifying and carries a bit more than just scares and things in the dark. Sure, these things will grab you first, but upon rewatch, when you know what to expect, you’ll realize that the real terror is in the background figures, the creepy smiles, and the inevitability of the curse. With Smile, it’s pretty accurate to say that terror lies in the silence between the screams.
Smile follows psychiatrist Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon), who gets a visit from a young girl named Laura one day. Laura tells Rose that things are coming after her, but the psychiatrist doesn’t take it seriously, given the nature of her patients. However, after Laura dies, whatever was possessing her transfers onto Rose, and she begins experiencing unsettling visions of people disturbingly smiling at her. Smile is interesting on a rewatch because you can catch the creepy moments you might’ve missed the first time. Whether the logic of the curse makes sense to you or not, or you just like the film’s visual identity, you can’t deny that Smile is one of those movies that will always be creepy.
6
‘Sinister’ (2012)
As a horror fan, I’ve seen a lot of stuff. I will admit that, even if I do enjoy the concept of horror and the adrenaline of getting scared, there are times when I cover my ears or eyes to avoid what’s on the screen. Sinister is one of the films that made me do that; the Super 8 home videos that the protagonist watches are some of the most unsettling stuff I’ve ever seen, and even when I dared myself to watch it again, knowing what was there, it didn’t help—it was, for some strange reason, even scarier. Sinister is absolutely one of the scariest movies ever made, and you may find me a coward for saying it, but it is what it is. Scott Derrickson, you succeeded in terrifying one person at least.
Sinister follows true crime writer Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) and his family moving into a beautiful new home in Pennsylvania. But, as it happens in most new-home horror movies, this house also harbors a dark secret, and Ellison, with his true crime investigation prowess, works to figure it out. He discovers a bunch of home videos in the attic, realizing the home’s curse. Sinister is one of the movies where you get the urge to tell the characters what to do, but can’t; even if some of their actions feel silly, they contribute to the buildup of the terrifying turn of events.
5
‘Audition’ (1999)
One of the most terrifying and disturbing horror movies of all time hails from Japan and was directed by the famous Takashi Miike—Audition. Miike’s known for not pulling any punches and depicting gore and violence as essential parts of humanity and human identity. Audition is quite disturbing the first time you see the twist; it’s even more disturbing when you rewatch it, noticing all the signs and all the subtleties in the villain’s behavior. The more innocent scenes take on more sinister meanings, and turn into hellish visions of an ending you know is coming.
Audition follows a widower, Aoyama, whose director friend decides to organize an audition that would actually serve as a way for Aoyama to meet new women. Aoyama is immediately smitten by the young Asami, who is shy and reserved. As he and Asami start dating, her disturbing past comes out, and he realizes she’s not as innocent as she looks. It’s terrifying because it takes a 180 turn after a slow burn in the first half; the second time you watch this will probably be after you’ve recommended it to somebody unsuspecting. Even though it might be entertaining to see the facial expressions of your friends, you know that you yourself will be creeped out just as much the second time around.
4
‘The Witch’ (2015)
The Witch is the directorial debut of now fully established director Robert Eggers and is often deemed one of the best horror movies of the 21st century, blending folklore with religion and an immersive atmosphere with beautiful cinematography. Even if you know the film from start to finish, it’s still scary because of all the small supernatural details that stand out more clearly and the inevitable fall of the central family. It’s fair to say Black Philip is the most terrifying presence in the film; knowing who or what he is gives the entire movie a heavier undertone from the very first moments.
The Witch follows a settler family in New England in the 17th century, who are banned from their Puritan settlement because of a religious dispute. The protagonist, however, is Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy), the eldest daughter who notices dark and sinister things happening to her family, and has to stay devoted to them despite their frequent aggression towards her. It shows how repression can often lead to opposite results and how, even in the holiest places, darkness can find a weakness and seep in. The Witch is scary throughout because of its dark and brooding, oppressive atmosphere. It’s not the most comfortable film to watch, but it’s endlessly remarkable because of its energy and narrative.
3
‘It Follows’ (2014)
It Follows is scary for one thing—the fact that you can’t see “it.” Instead, “it” is all around us, everywhere, an entity that makes a person feel like they always have to look over their shoulder. If Where’s Waldo was terrifying and unsettling, it would be It Follows, except this Waldo’s not the one you actively look for, but one you must run away from. It Follows is one of the most influential horror movies of the 21st century, and the movie people often cite as causing them terror and paranoia. Upon rewatch, it might be easier in terms of what to expect, but it’s always hard because you know that this movie’s premise is, in all its simplicity, incredibly complex and warrants rewatching, if anything.
It Follows sees college student Jay (Maika Monroe) on a date with Hugh, who drugs her after they have sex. He explains that she’s now being pursued by an entity that takes the shape of numerous people nearby, and no one but her will see “it.” Jay tries to explain this curse to her friends, who, of course, find it hard to believe, but not before bad things start to happen to her. The movie is a typical slow burn, which, in this case, makes it all the more ominous and disturbing; it doesn’t have the classic jump scares, but it’s a perfectly done film in terms of atmosphere and evoking paranoia.
2
‘The Shining’ (1980)
Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is a classic horror film that succeeds in being scary even after all this time; it also seems that the movie’s scare factor only grew upon learning what went on behind the scenes. Kubrick mentally and emotionally tormented Shelley Duvall, so that her expressions of terror felt more real in the film; Duvall herself confirmed so, making The Shining even scarier for its off-screen troubles. Kubrick succeeds in creating an atmosphere of dread and terror through his meticulous framing and cinematography, gorgeous set design, and iconic imagery, but his treatment of Duvall may cast a shadow on the film for modern viewers.
The Shining follows Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), a writer experiencing writer’s block, who comes to The Overlook Hotel with his wife and son to be the hotel’s caretaker during the winter. However, it seems that the hotel carries many secrets and sinister stories, making their stay a lot harder. Stephen King wrote the novel of the same name, intending it to be a story about evil entities possessing and corrupting vulnerable people. Kubrick’s interpretation of the story rather places Torrance as someone on edge, being pushed over it by the hotel’s influence, instead, changing the story’s entire nature. And while King didn’t like this interpretation, we can say that The Shining is endlessly rewatchable because it’s a classic. No matter which version you prefer, every rewatch of Kubrick’s The Shining will help you notice more scary details; it’s scary every time, and for a good reason.
1
‘Hereditary’ (2018)
We could argue that Hereditary doesn’t get as scary as it gets more emotionally difficult on a rewatch, but that is scary in its own way. Knowing all about the heaviness of the emotional devastation and the fate of the characters makes the film feel a lot more suffocating and hard to watch. Whether you decide to rewatch it for Toni Collette’s brilliant performance, the cult symbolism, or the ominous hidden details, something will compel you to watch Hereditary over and over again. That doesn’t mean you won’t be scared again, but maybe this time, you’ll be welcoming the terror with a little more emotional resilience.
Hereditary follows miniature artist Annie (Collette), her psychiatrist husband, Steve (Gabriel Byrne) and their two children, Peter and Charlie. Annie’s mother dies, and she and her family attend the funeral; Annie, surprised, notices numerous visitors she’d never seen before. It’s a story about motherhood as much as it is about dysfunctional family bonds, generational trauma, and overall coping with grief. Hereditary is terrifying, no matter how many times you watch it, and the impact of each rewatch will depend on your mental and emotional state. If that’s not scary, I don’t know what is.
Hereditary
- Release Date
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June 8, 2018
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