Best Horror Films of recent times
written by Souranath Banerjee
The list of the Best Horror films of recent times is a collection of some of the most creepiest and horrific films that are released in the past few years.
There is a theory that a bit of evil exits in every one of us, even in our shadows and specially in the absence of it. And thus, be afraid of the dark, be afraid of the dazzling light; be afraid of the spirits and demons, and the devil who takes the human plight!
And may be, these Horror films will make you believe in the ‘evil’ and finally accept its existence; and even surrender to it.
At least for now, surrender to these brilliant Horror films – embrace the terror and enjoy the list!
20. It Follows (2015)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymoh5SIqgtw
The after effects of a sexual encounter can sometimes go very wrong, but this particular film takes the after-sex complications to a different level altogether!
A young girl tries to escape from the clutches of some supernatural power since she is being constantly followed by it. Directed by David Robert Mitchell, the film has numerous panic moments and a perfect sense of overall suspense and tension.
19. Grave Encounters (2011)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8FBRATbJoA
A ghost-hunting reality television show goes to shoot an episode inside the abandoned Collingwood Psychiatric Hospital and voluntarily lock themselves inside the building for the night. And it was a mistake!
Directed by Colin Minihan and Stuart Ortiz as the The Vicious Brothers, the film has a pretty decent plot and it does manage to scare at regular intervals.
18. Before I Wake (2015)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho2Z0LtXsbY
If dreams could become reality the world would have been such a beautiful place. But then, what happens when you have the nightmares?
Directed by Mike Flanagan, it is based on a young orphan boy whose nightmares often tend to come alive. And his new foster parents need to stop these deadly dreams from being real!
Another recent film by the same director is Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016) that is also worth your consideration.
17. The Enfield Haunting (2015)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jKtZD34Fo4
It’s a brilliant Mini-Series starring Timothy Spall and directed by Kristoffer Nyholm, based on the true events that happened in 1970s Britain – the The Enfield Poltergeist incident.
A noisy mischievous ghost takes hold of the body of a young girl, the youngest daughter of the family being haunted and starts communicating through her. Terrifying and very much believable – a must watch!
16. The Babadook (2014)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5WQZzDRVtw
A child obsessed with some monster and is prepared to tackle it. His mother of course doesn’t believe him but soon the kid is proved to be right!
Directed by Jennifer Kent, a rare horror flick that doesn’t have to depend on cheap jump-scares or gore. It has a great story to tell and it tells it in real style.
15. The Woman in Black (2012)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4D-87X3vVc
A young solicitor travels to a remote village for work and finds himself in the midst of a situation where a revengeful female-ghost dressed in black is terrifying the locals and killing their children. Now his life is also in danger but can he do anything about it?
Daniel Radcliffe stars in this moody atmospheric horror flick directed by James Watkins, a creepy film that maintains the tension throughout.
14. Sinister (2012)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kbQAJR9YWQ
A crime-writer for his research moves himself and his family into a house where a horrific crime took place many years ago. He soon finds some snuff films on the heinous crimes but then things go wrong in ways he had never expected!
The Ethan Hawke starrer horror flick, directed by Scott Derrickson is a cool horror thriller with great sound designing well complemented with some very unexpected suspense moments.
Another installment of the same franchise is Sinister 2 (2015).
13. The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsIilFNNmkY
Five teenagers on a weekend holiday trip goes into the forest to stay in an isolated cabin and then something terrible happens! The film initially gives an impression of a stereotypical horror/slasher formula flick but then again the movie has its own twists and turns that makes it special.
Directed by Drew Goddard, an intelligent film that keeps you hooked very much till the end.
12. A Cure for Wellness (2016)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF1rLFCdewU
At a remote location in the Swiss Alps there is a mysterious “wellness centre” which seems to hide many terrifying secrets. And one man is desperate to know all about this mystical spa.
Directed by Gore Verbinski, this is a cool horror thriller shot beautifully, the story though a bit stretched and predictable but then also it has its own visual charm. Trippy and hypnotic and definitely worth a watch.
11. It (2017)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7no56Zw1e20
In the neighbourhood too many kids are getting disappeared leaving only some bloody trails behind!
It’s time for the young guys to gang up and fight the scary evil clown who seems to be hunting down the children!
Directed by Andy Muschietti, this movie is based on the classic novel by none other than the master writer Stephen King!
Another recent film by the same director is Mama (2013) that is again very much worth your time.
10. Lights Out (2016)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LiKKFZyhRU
Something supernatural that exists in the darkness, haunts and hunts only when the light is out!
Directed by David F. Sandberg, this is the story of a kid terrified by some presence that soon needs to be investigated.
A creepy movie with lots of jump scare moments and cool editing along with the flickering of light and darkness. A decent one time watch.
Another recent film by the same director is Annabelle: Creation (2017) that is very much worth your time.
9. The Conjuring (2013)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k10ETZ41q5o
A family shifts to a farm house at Rhode Island and they soon gets haunted by terrifying evil forces. And they have to seek help from the professionals!
Based on the true story from the accounts of Paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren. Directed by acclaimed horror-director James Wan, tensed and creepy, some real scary moments, brilliant editing and a great haunting musical score.
The Conjuring 2 (2016) also by the same director is a decent watch too.
8. The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYKANIDQlwU
A father-son coroner duo, trying their best to diagnose the unidentified body of a young woman and while doing so they accidentally unveil the mystery surrounding her death. But at what cost?
Directed by André Øvredal, this film has the rare ability to scare you not only by it’s intense visuals but also through the intelligently used sound play. A superb first half but the ending demands a little more.
7. A Dark Song (2016)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OccAJCbZ-7I
An occultist visits a woman as they team up to perform a highly dangerous and strictly guided ritual that will eventually grant their inner wishes. But then somebody is not telling the truth and finally both their lives are in danger.
Directed by Liam Gavin, with just two characters confined in a single space, this film works pretty good and manages to fuel the drama and engage us till the end.
6. Annabelle (2014)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paFgQNPGlsg
Annabelle being the ugliest collector’s item is gifted by a caring husband to his loving pregnant wife but soon enough Annabelle gets cursed by some blood thirsty Satan lovers and all hell breaks loose!
Directed by John R. Leonetti, this film is again a prequel of the popular Conjuring series –The Conjuring and the latest The Conjuring 2.
5. Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HxEXnVSr1w
This it where it all begins, the very root of the Lambert family’s trouble, the reason why they were repeatedly being haunted and tormented by all these evil spirits through Insidious film-parts!
Directed by Leigh Whannell, the film focuses on the gifted Elise Rainier who tries her best to relieve a young girl from the clutches of the demons.
A prequel to the first two installments of the Insidious franchise are Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) and Insidious (2010) and they are both worth your time and scare!
4. Crimson Peak (2015)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLWsNDZqXpo
Directed by Guillermo del Toro, a film that is a perfect blend of fear and deception, hatred and revenge, and of course horror.
An ancient house that has memories to share. And when the newly married bride comes onboard, she becomes the chosen one who opens the gates of the dark past – those gloomy tales that reveal many unpleasant secrets!
Two other horror films by the same director are The Devil’s Backbone (2001) and Cronos (1993) that are very much worth your time!
3. Under the Shadow (2016)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHVFP80Upxw
Set in the backdrop of the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, a mother and her young daughter living in Tehran struggles their best to cope with the catastrophes of war; but then, some mysterious evil presence seems to be haunted them by in their apartment!
Directed by Babak Anvari, this Persian film is a potent mix of metaphors and real spooky moments, undoubtedly the most intense horror film of recent time!
2. The Witch (2015)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjBN0ByAqDk
A period horror drama from 1630s, a family in New England becomes the victim of witchcraft, dark forces, black magic and evil possessions.
A chilling string of events including a missing newborn and the crops- failure eventually leads to fear, paranoia and brutal injustice. Director Robert Eggers‘s version on infamous “Salem Witch Trials” of Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 1. The Wailing (2016)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43uAputjI4k
In a remote village a series of horrific unnatural deaths perplex both the villagers and the police. And then it soon becomes evident that this mystery demands a paranormal investigation!
Directed by Hong-jin Na, this South Korean horror movie is a gritty and dark tale, violent and savage, and very entertaining!
and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch).
+1. Personal Shopper (2016)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSqMpkGOW9g
A girl, personal shopper by profession, seems to have been able to make contact with her twin brother who died years back.
Kristen Stewart gives a memorable performance in this moody, eerie horror thriller; though not a very satisfying ending for me but still surely worth checking out.
Directed by Olivier Assayas, who won the Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival for this film!
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Poster courtesy: www.impawards.com, en.wikipedia.org, www.imdb.com.
A mystical and spiritual movie 
This Turkish film is about five orphan girls and how their lives get changed dramatically when found playing some innocent games with some boys from their school.
19th century Romania! A policeman and his son are in pursuit of a Gypsy slave who is on the run after having an affair with his wealthy master’s wife.
A brutal film that takes on the controversial subject of how the Catholic Church deals with their worst offenders – that is by secluding them in a house at some rural desolate area.
This Brazilian film (language Portuguese) is based on a woman, a live-in housekeeper/maid who has almost become the part of the family but of course knows her limits. But then the master-servant class barriers get blurred when her young daughter comes to stay for a few days.
The old house of their grandma is the home for the three sisters who live independently without the guidance of their parents.
This German film is a unique crime thriller centred on a young Spanish woman who has recently moved to Berlin, her involvement with some local guys which soon takes some pretty unexpected turns.
Directed by 
A Spanish adventure drama that won the Art Cinema Award in the Directors’ Fortnight section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
The Witch is a long anticipated film for the fans of the horror genre; heard too many good things about it and the praises seem legit enough.
brilliantly haunting music by