Halloween day is swiftly approaching, and with it falling perfectly on a Friday this year, there’s no better excuse to spend the weekend curled up with a classic horror film. But before you press play on your go-to film, you might want to consider what the critics are suggesting.
Rotten Tomatoes has released its list of the top 200 horror movies “of all time” and the results are anything but predictable. Surprisingly, classic films like The Shining and Psycho didn’t make the top 10. Instead, the ranking highlights a mix of contemporary masterpieces and overlooked gems.
The number one spot is even given to a modern horror set in Essex and has a British-led cast. Below, we have listed the top ten films suggested by the critic.
Do you agree with the ranking? Let us know in the comments below.
10. Vampyr (1932)
Ranking a respectable tenth, Vampyr tells the story of protagonist Allan Gray, who arrives in Courtempierre, where his interest in the supernatural leads him into a nightmare.
After a warning that “she must not die”, he learns a young woman has been bitten by a vampire and joins her sister to destroy the creature and break the curse.
The critics described this film as: “Full of disorienting visual effects, Carl Theodor Dreyer’s Vampyr is as theoretically unsettling as it is conceptually disturbing.”
Vampyr is avaible to watch now on Amazon Prime.
(Image: Publicity picture)
9. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
“An eccentric, campy, technically impressive, and frightening picture, James Whale’s Bride of Frankenstein has aged remarkably well,” said Rotten Tomatoes.
This film is the sequel to Frankenstein (1931), and follows the doctor who is drawn back into sinister experiments when Dr Pretorius kidnaps his wife and pressures him to create a female companion for the Monster.
You can enjoy the Bride of Frankenstein on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Sky, and Apple TV.
(Image: Getty)
8. The Loved Ones (2009)
The Loved Ones (2009) follows a teenager who, after being rejected by a classmate for the school dance, kidnaps him and forces him to attend her own twisted version of prom.
Critics shared: “Successfully mixing the conventions of the teen and horror genres with a twist, Australian director Sean Byrne makes a striking directorial debut with The Loved Ones.”
The Loved Ones can be viewed on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Sky, and Apple TV.
(Image: IMDB)
7. Host (2020)
Another modern film tops the list at number seven. The Host (2020) is about six friends who hire a medium to hold a seance on Zoom during lockdown.
However, things quickly go wrong as they accidentally invite the attention of a demonic presence.
The critics consensus said: “Lean, suspenseful, and scary, Host uses its timely premise to deliver a nastily effective treat for horror enthusiasts.”
Host is available to watch with an Amazon Prime subscription.
(Image: Publicity picture)