Horror movies are divisive among fans. While some horror aficionados thrive off blood, guts, and violence, others prefer a deeper narrative to immerse themselves into. These horror movies often make social commentaries or, by their conclusions, have audiences reassessing aspects of their own lives.
These psychological horror movies are often categorized as an acquired taste, but nevertheless garner acclaim due to their clever scripts, exquisite cinematography, or compelling performances. Here are ten incredible psychological horror movies from the last 20 years.
10 Hush (2016)
A modern spin on the film Wait Until Dark, Hush has Maddie falling prey to a merciless intruder that will stop at nothing to get into her house--and kill her. As the plot thickens and Maddie finds herself severely injured--she comes to one conclusion: she must face the intruder head-on if she has any hopes for survival. Gripping, chilling, and innovative, Hush is a prime example of how a simple plot and excellent performances goes a long way in horror.
9 Split (2016)
Starring Anna Taylor-Joy and James McAvoy, Split has audiences on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. While Taylor-Joy gives a compelling performance as Casey, it's McCavoy as the antagonist, Kevin, that gives the performance of a lifetime as a character with a dissociative personality disorder.
McCavoy brings each one of Kevin's polar opposite personalities to life, from the perfectionist Patricia, the menacing Dennis, to lastly, the murderous The Beast. In a plot twist conclusion, audiences discover that Split is actually within the same universe as Unbreakable.
8 You’re Next (2011)
One of the rare instances where it's the final girl delivering most of the bloodbath, You're Next redefines psychological horror in the best of ways. Its plot follows the Davison family as they're being stalked and slaughtered one by one inside their own home. What the intruders don't realize is that Crispin's girlfriend, Erin, is a trained survivalist ready to turn the tables on them.
From ingenious traps, face-to-face combat, to brutal deaths, Erin takes the meaning of final girl to the next level. You're Next in one of the more exhilarating psychological horrors of the 2000s.
7 The Strangers (2008)
A remake of the 2006 French film, Them, The Strangers proves that remakes can sometimes be better than the original. The Strangers follows Kristin and James, a couple residing in James's childhood home for the night after their friend's wedding. As the couple tries to make themselves at home, they soon realize they are being watched by three strangers with sinister plans.
The Strangers delivers horror not through sheer kills alone, but the building suspense as the assailants take pleasure in tormenting Kristin and James before finally striking. A nerve-shattering viewing experience from beginning to end.
6 Us (2019)
Jordan Peele's US is an unsettling tale of humanity's duality, notably in its protagonist, Adelaide Wilson. The concept of duality is present throughout from the recurring presence of 11:11, Kitty and Josh's twin daughters, and lastly, the presence of the doppelgängers, the Tethered. In a unique Peele twist, audiences discover that Adelaide is a Tethered herself, having trapped the real Adelaide underground when she was a child. A haunting tale that cements Peele as a master of horror.
5 Saw (2004)
Saw turned into one of the most lucrative horror franchises ever, but it's difficult to outdo the original installment. 2004's Saw takes two everyday people, Adam and Dr. Lawrence Gordon, and confines them to an enclosed space away from the rest of the world. As they communicate with their abductor, Jigsaw, they are forced to come to terms with past mistakes and make grave decisions to protect those they love. Saw is a quintessential psychological horror about appreciating life, and would have arguably remained a classic as a standalone film.
4 Paranormal Activity (2007)
Paranormal Activity doesn't redefine the bar by any means; if anything, it takes the found footage horror subgenre to deliver a truly chilling story. Following their recent move to San Diego, Katie and Micah start to notice strange happenings inside their new home. Determined to get to the bottom of the ordeal, they set up a home camera to record all the nightly activity inside their home.
As family secrets unravel and the horror intensifies, the film ends on an ominous note as Katie murders Micah and disappears into the night. With a budget of less than one million dollars and box office earnings of over 194 million, this psychological horror was a success all across the board.
3 It Follows (2014)
After having sex with her boyfriend Hugh for the first time, Jay finds herself pursued by an evil entity that will stop at nothing to kill her, with the only chance of survival being passing on the entity to someone else through sex. As the entity starts taking the form of those closest to Jay, Jay's friends try to save her through the only imaginable way, by having sex with her.
It Followstackles an important social commentary coded into its narrative: sexually transmitted diseases. An ingenious filmmaking approach towards this critical societal issue.
2 Black Swan (2010)
This Natalie Portman psychological horror finally earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, and for good reason, Portman is brilliant in it. Black Swan follows the story of Nina Sayers, a professional ballerina who lands the coveted dual role of Odette/ Odiel in a staged performance of Swan Lake.
As Nina becomes consumed by the pressure of the role and the threat of her ballerina understudy, Lily, Nina starts losing her grip on reality, leading to her own self-destruction. At its core, Black Swan is a cautionary tale of the human mind's fragility when pushed to the extremes.
1 The Babadook (2014)
The Babadook is, simply put, heartbreaking. Since its release, The Babadook has been dissected thoroughly by critics and audiences alike, with the recurring themes of grief, parenthood, and death serving as points of discussion. From the striking visuals, the impeccable cinematography, and the standout performances by Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman as the mother and son being tormented by the Babadook, this Australian film sticks with audiences long after its final scene.