People used to rely on movie critics like Leonard Maltin, Rex Reed, and, most notably, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert to review films they wanted to see. This was the era of the summer blockbuster before Hollywood realized that any month might be a blockbuster. However, the opinions of film critics were most relevant for lesser films. Audiences might not have known about certain minor films if critics did not mention them; the audience largely trusted critics’ opinions.
Now, audiences primarily rely on Rotten Tomatoes. The Tomatometer’s “Fresh” or “Rotten” has mostly supplanted Siskel and Ebert’s “Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down.” These are the top ten horror films ever created, according to Rotten Tomatoes critics.
The Babadook (2014)
The Babadook is a creepy horror Movie, particularly if you like psychological horror. Amelia (Essie Davis) is a distraught widow and single mother raising her six-year-old son Samuel (Noah Wiseman). Samuel is preoccupied with a fictitious creature he claims dwells beneath his bed.
The Babadook is a disturbing film metaphor for loss and depression. The film Babadook explores how parents can despise their offspring and how people can fuel their inner demons.
The Bride Of Frankenstein (1935)
Frankenstein was one of the first horror books written, and it is currently regarded as one of the best. It’s also the first science fiction novel ever written. The Bride of Frankenstein is widely considered to be one of the best horror films ever created.
The film contains allusions to homosexuality, blasphemy, and necrophilia. When the film first came out, most people didn’t see the indications.
Psycho (1960)
Psycho is regarded as Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece, which says a lot when one considers Hitchcock’s illustrious career. Psycho impacted the development of the slasher genre. Many slasher films are excellent, but few can match Psycho in terms of pure creepiness.
The film manages to be both profound and straightforward. The notorious shower scene is the most talked-about in Psycho, and possibly the most renowned scene in film history, but there are other fantastic sequences in Psycho, such as the climactic cellar scene and the parlor scene. The parlor scene consists of more than just a set and informal chat. A lot is going on behind the surface.
King Kong (1933)
King Kong is the most famous ape in the world. Although the special effects are cheesy by today’s standards, they were considered cutting-edge at the time of release. Although King Kong is an old film, it is still relevant today. King Kong was released during the worst period of the Great Depression and depicts two very different jungles: Kong’s jungle and the jungle of New York City.
Ruler Kong is the king of his jungle, but he is no match for the evil and greed in the minds of mankind in New York City who simply wish to exploit him. According to King Kong, the beast was killed by beauty. What is the beauty and what is the best in today’s world?
Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)
Nosferatu has always been a frightening film with an unusual backstory. It’s still creepy today, if not creepier. The grainy black and white and the strange alien-looking vampire are both frightening. Nosferatu is not the sexy, cool vampire that would become popular in later films.
Nosferatu is one of the most influential vampire films of all time. It even influenced the frightening appearance of the vampires in Stephen King’s novel Salem’s Lot. Shadow of the Vampire is a film about the making of Nosferatu and the strange incidents that transpired on the set.
The way Max Shreck portrays a vampire in Nosferatu is a significant contrast between recent vampire films and Nosferatu. He portrays the vampire as a scary animal-like monster rather than a cool elite or charming vampire. To get the most out of this strange, classic, and vital silent film, watch it alone with the lights turned off.
The Invisible Man (1933)
Most Invisible Man films are bad. They certainly do. The Invisible Man is a difficult character to portray correctly. Because of the smart choice to focus on domestic abuse and a stalker adversary, which escalates the stakes, The 2020 Invisible Man is the second-best film about this character.
The vintage 1933 rendition is without a doubt the best. Something about Claude Rains’ voice and presence as the Invisible Man elevate this version above the rest.
A Quiet Place (2018)
The success of A Quiet Place stunned everyone. It’s an effective horror film, thanks in part to its inventive sound design. Everyone has had the experience of being afraid to be silent in a setting, whether it was something as basic as having to be quiet at the library or something far more dangerous.
Also read: Netflix’s Devil In Ohio: A Cult Horror Drama
A Quiet Place skillfully uses dread to create tension in the audience. It draws them in quietly and would not let them go. John Krasinski’s directorial debut was spectacular.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari established the benchmark for all horror films that followed. Today, it’s a wonderful film to see for film history or nostalgia. This is a key work of German Expressionism, with a malevolent hypnotist and a weird murder plot.
It may not be as frightening to modern viewers, but it is fascinating to see how much the horror genre has remained the same and how much it has changed. This film continues to have an undeniable influence to this day.
Get Out (2017)
Get Out is a horror film that confronts racism in a way that no other horror film has. It’s a multi-layered film with something to say about stereotypes, racism, and white supremacy on each level. Is it, however, frightening? It is, indeed.
Get Out was a big smash that struck a public chord, eventually winning an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
US (2019)
When it comes to the best horror movies ever made, filmmaker Jordan Peele dominates the top two slots on Rotten Tomatoes, according to critics.
Another horror film that questions Americana, US is about what lies beneath and the darkness within. Get Out addressed racism, and US does as well, while also addressing class and the mirror self. The ending of US is the most disturbing portion of the film.
