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THE 14 (we like this number) BEST HORROR MOVIES SINCE 1989

14. EVENT HORIZON (1997)

Okay, we know what some of you are thinking. Event Horizon??!! But watch it again if you’re skeptical and notice how freaky it actually is. The ship is alive and uses evil psychology against each one of the crew members without ever really killing any of them. Also, the survivors weren’t the ones you expected to survive.

13. THE MIST (2007)

The only movie on the list that involves an non-human enemy, The Mist is probably the best Stephen King adaptation of the last ten years. Well acted and directed, it’s worth a look although I really couldn’t stand the ending. But I don’t know whether to hold that against the movie or Mr. King.

12. HIGH TENSION English HAUTE TENSION French (2003)

This is only on the list for what it was until the surprise twist ending that ruins it. Sure, some horror fanatics liked it but it’s a damn sure way to kill what had been a very good horror movie. However, director Alexandre Aja has a great visual eye and should be around a long time.

11. AMERICAN PSYCHO (2000)

This is one of the few movies that teeters on horror and comedy and almost crosses too far over both sides but never does. Part of the great thing about it is Christian Bale who gets to have tons of fun in the role of Patrick Bateman.

*Check out American Psycho II: All American Girl with Mila Kunis as the lead while she was still doing That 70′s Show. It’s not great but it’s a fun watch.

10. DAWN OF THE DEAD (2004)

There’s a remake of George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead every few years and they usually fail and aren’t even worthy of a mere mention. But Zach Snyder’s remake kicks ass in every way a zombie movie can. The scenes on the roof between survivors communicating with signs is hilarious and very original.

9. SCREAM (1996)

Wes Craven comes back into the public spotlight once again with this entertaining take on campy slasher flicks. The killer provides a fun little twist at the end and it’s amazing how many unknown actors owe their careers to this movie.

8. 28 DAYS LATER (2002)

The movie opens up perfectly and gives you an understanding of how horrific the situation is right off the bat. One thing we loved about it was Danny Boyle’s visuals, some that seem almost impossible to have pulled off in a huge city like London. Keeps you on the edge the whole way through. Best zombie film we’ve ever seen.

7. THE DEVIL’S REJECTS (2005)

Wicked, horrible, gut-busting fun! That’s about the only way we can explain Rob Zombie’s follow-up to House of a 1000 Corpses. It’s about a family of violent maniacs who get a kick out of torturing and killing their victims. William Forsythe is simply awesome as vengeance seeking Sheriff Wydell.

6. BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (1999)

This is just one of those perfect gems in the world of movies you don’t come across often. By perfect we mean the story is great, completely original and was the most profitable movie in the history of cinema even though it was only made for $35K. The marketing behind this indie hit was masterful as well. It opened a new world for independent filmmakers.

5. ARMY OF DARKNESS (1992)

Just plain fun to watch. Bruce Campbell is maybe the greatest hero in horror history. Damn shame he never became a huge star but he remains an icon for horror fans. You can pretty much sit back and enjoy this Sam Raimi flick with a laugh.

4. BRAINDEAD/DEAD-ALIVE (1992)

We don’t consider this movie to be a zombie film because it’s on its own in regards to horror. Peter Jackson makes gore humorous and rampant in this story about a nasty rodent bite that causes all hell to break loose for those that are bitten. Takes blood and disgust to an unimaginable level.

3. MAY (2002)

Wow. This movie deserved a lot more recognition than it received when released in 2002. We’re glad it’s becoming a cult favorite as it is a great horror film. What’s amazing is that there really isn’t any real gore until the final act where things get messy. We also will not be surprised if Angela Bettis wins an Academy Award one day. She’s really a damn fine actress that turns in a hell of a performance here.

2. AUDITION (1999)

Perhaps the most shocking violence of all the movies on this list, Audition packs a harder punch than almost any horror movie I’ve ever seen. A man auditions women to be his new wife and the one that catches his eye is far from the right choice. Terribly difficult to watch at times but a very good movie.

1. THE DESCENT (2005)

This one still makes our skin crawl. This is a perfectly crafted horror movie with all the intensity and horror you could ask for. Neil Marshall is an amazing director out of the UK who first came on the scene in 2002 with his first feature, Dog Soldiers. We look forward to his next feature as it’s sure to be the thrill ride his first two films were.

*While all are great movies, Silence of the Lambs, Seven and Jacob’s Ladder were left off the list because we believe them more to be suspense/thriller than horror movies.

Tags: 28 Days Later, Alexandre Aja, American Psycho, Angela Bettis, Army of Darkness, Audition, best horror movies since 1989, Blair Witch Project, Braindead, Bruce Campbell, Christian Bale, Danny Boyle, Dawn of the Dead, Dead-Alive, Event Horizon, Haute Tension, High Tension, Jacob's Ladder, May, Neil Marshall, Peter Jackson, Rob Zombie, Sam Raimi, Scream, Seven, Silence of the Lambs, Stephen King, The Descent, The Devil's Rejects, The Mist, Wes Craven, Zach Snyder
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