Surfing through streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video can often beoverwhelming. With hundreds of horror movies on every platform, it’s hard to know where to start. As the decades come and go, some movies become more and more relevant. These films help define their decade.

“Nosferatu” 1922: 

“Nosferatu” is a silent vampire film created in Germany. The “Nosferatu” portrayal of the story of Dracula is purely animalistic, with actor Max Schrek wearing a costume with exaggerated features, truly separating the vampire  from humanity. Although the film has no spoken dialogue, text appears on screen to describe important points of the film, allowing the plot to progress. However, the story line was never fully able to grab the attention of the audience, since the acting was simply based on exaggerated facial expressions.

“Dracula” 1931:

The 1931 Bela Lugosi film “Dracula” depicts a dramatized account of the vampire persona that has become widely popular since then, with movies, songs, and cartoons all featuring their unique twist on the monster. Because of the movie’s success, Lugosi became a prominent face when the classic vampire story is thought of. The film itself has an aim of being eerie and unsettling, which was achieved. 

“The Wolf Man” 1941:

“The Wolf Man” follows the story of Larry Talbot as he battles himself in order to save the woman he loves. The movie’s appeal is rooted in strong emotional acting, along with the stellar performances by Lon Chaney Jr and Evelyn Anker. This film stands out due to it being one of the earliest to include heavy details and gore. 

“House on Haunted Hill” 1959: 

“House on Haunted Hill” has a unique storyline, and the film is engaging due to the constant plot twists. The audience’s ideas of the ending continue to change. Although the special effects and props lacked realism, the acting by Vincent Price and Richard Long allowed for a bone-chilling experience. 

“House Of Usher” 1960:

“House Of Usher” is based on an Edgar Allen Poe short story. As readers of Poe’s writing know, viewers can expect to find paranoia, madness, and fantasy throughout the film. Roderick Usher suspects his family has been stricken by a curse, and will stop at nothing to end it, even if it means leaving his sister dead. The gothic aspects of the movie, with the help of moving furniture, and dropping chandeliers, adding to the story’s spooky nature. 

“Halloween” 1978:

“Halloween” is the beginning of a classic franchise, with 12 total movies. The cinematography of this film, directed by John Carpenter, was one of the defining factors of the fear the movie induced in the audiences. Various angles, shots, and tactics are used to instill horror and shock into the audience, especially with point-of-view shots and sounds when Michael Myers is present. As Myers terrorizes his hometown, the film’s main character, Laurie Strode, continually attempts to stop him, and discovers that it will be harder than she thinks.

“A Nightmare on Elm Street” 1984:

“A Nightmare on Elm Street” puts the audience into a dream-like state, similar to what the characters are experiencing throughout the movie. As teenager Nancy Thompson realizes that she is the only one who can stop Freddy Krueger, she struggles to make her family believe her. One of the most exciting aspects of the film was the constant surprises, and the plot shifting in order to alter what audiences thought the ending would be. 

“The Silence of the Lambs” 1991:

Psychological thriller “The Silence of the Lambs” focuses on the investigation of a serial killer, with help from another mass-murderer Hannibal Lecter. The viewer is sent on a roller coaster of emotions throughout the piece, with constant plot twists, turns, and scares. If one word could be used to describe the overall experience, it would be “disturbing.” Although far-fetched, the aspects of the film are just close enough to be believable to instill real fear and disgust. 

“Final Destination” 2000:

“Final Destination” generates a sensation of urgency and suspense as a group of teens attempts to survive as they continually  encounter death. As Alex Browning begins to leave for a trip to Paris, disaster occurs, only for him to realize it was just his imagination. He warns others before a plane takes off, and watches in horror as the events he imagined earlier begin to come true. Although it’s a bit cheesy, the film is very creative, with an ending that is sure to make viewers watch the sequel.

“The Conjuring” 2013:

One movie that will leave you on the edge of your seat is “The Conjuring”. An unsuspecting family moves into a house that is plagued by the ghost of a witch from the 1800’s. The emotion shown by the actors makes the movie even more intense. Since the film was based on a true story, it leaves a “what-if” feeling long after the credits roll. 

“Host” 2020: 

The entirety of “Host” takes place over a Zoom call, making it one of the most creative films ever. A group of friends participate in an online seance, when suddenly strange things begin to occur in their homes. Part of the scare is what isn’t there, with the things lurking just beyond the screen creating the most terror. The rapid pacing of the movie, when paired with a short run time of 57 minutes, keeps it from becoming repetitive. This is a quick scare with interesting characters and strong performances by Haley Bishop and Jemma Moore.