[Editorial] Best 10 Horror Films of the 2010s

When I think of films of the 2010s, the dreaded term ‘elevated horror’ rears its ugly head, claiming that certain movies of this decade that focus on the emotional elements of fear rather than just being hack and slash gore, are somehow better for the general audience seeking a deeper meaning. As much as I don’t mind my horrors in comfortable sub-genre categories, I cringe at the elitist message this label gives. Below are my top 10 horror films of the 2010s (and a special mention for each year since I found it incredibly hard to name just 10). Although many of my picks fall into this ‘elevated’ category that people seem to cling to, I believe it’s unfair to group many of them together in comparison, they all address many different themes and portray them in multiple visual ways. Gore, psychology, humour, making you cry until you can’t breathe, this list has it all. 

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010)

Tucker and Dale vs Evil takes every trope of a slasher horror, with the stereotype of ‘hillbillies’ included, and turns it around completely with all the viscera and accidents you could hope for. With movie legend Alan Tudyk (whom I love for many projects, but especially for playing Hei Hei the chicken in Moana – yes I enjoy a Disney film when I’m not consuming horror), this film has enough humour to make it an easy watch but enough gore to keep the horror fans happy. 

The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

The Cabin in the Woods takes a familiar horror setting of a cabin… in the woods, but that’s where it stops in terms of similarities to other movies. Although this film is more than a decade old, I’m incredibly reluctant to tell someone who hasn’t seen it anything other than “Zombie Redneck Torture Family” goes after college students. Most of the big spoilers are given away almost instantly in the film’s first act, but the payoff is worth going in blind for.

Sinister (2012)

The big bad in this film freaked me out for days. In the dark I kept seeing Bughuul (Mr Boogie)’s face, creeping in the shadows. If you enjoy films where kids are manipulated into murdering their families, as reels of film reveal the hideous crimes with a phantom ghoul, this is one for you.

The Borderlands (2013)

Previously mentioned on my list of Best 13 Found Footage Horror Films, I will never stop talking about how much I love The Borderlands. Another entry with unexpected twists and turns, which made me realise that I love horror that makes you think one thing and turns out to be something completely different. This film is the definition of tension building discomfort, followed by unadulterated terror. You will never find me investigating a spooky church, especially one with this many secrets. 

The Babadook (2014)

Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook awakened fears in me that I never knew existed. The perfect representation of grief in horror, this film takes a widowed mother’s sadness and turns it into a creature that ended up being an unofficial mascot for the LGBTQA+ community. If that sounds like a peculiar combination, it’s because it is, but it’s also incredibly iconic. The mix of psychological downfall and old-school visual cues means that The Babadook is truly a film with something for everyone.

The Witch (2015)

All I want to do is live deliciously with Black Phillip. Robert Egger’s beautifully folkish film follows a dysfunctional family in the 1600s who have been banished from their town due to religious disputes. Innocent daughter Thomasin is constantly chastised and accused of being the cause for all the family’s unfortunate happenings, such as the disappearing baby and mother dearest breastfeeding a raven, but hey, if you can’t beat them, join them.

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Under the Shadow (2016)

Under the Shadow by British-Iranian filmmaker Babak Anvari is set slap-bang in the middle of Tehran in the 1980s, during the Iran-Iraq war. If the horror of war wasn’t enough, former medical student Shideh and her daughter Dorsa must deal with the wrath of a Djinn. As someone who is a little claustrophobic, I did not enjoy the scene involving a ghostly chador and attempted suffocation. The underlying themes of female oppression within Iranian culture speak volumes to a modern-day audience, as the fight for women’s identity and freedom of expression can translate to everyone. This film is a whirlwind of layers, with the ability to discover something new on every watch. 

Gerald’s Game (2017)

I didn’t know what the term degloving meant until I experienced Gerald’s Game. Now I wish I still didn’t know its meaning. This Mike Flanagan masterpiece, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name (and one of my favourite King works of all time), Gerald’s Game is a film set primarily in one location, with a singular main character handcuffed to a bed (and her dead husband on the floor), yet still has the ability to keep you gripped throughout. Jessie fights for her survival against the real world and the potentially supernatural as The Moonlight Man pays her a visit. 

Possum (2018)

I will never watch Possum ever again. Not because it is a bad movie, otherwise it wouldn’t be featured on this list. The reason is that I have never felt fear like I did when watching this film. The story follows a failed puppeteer returning to his childhood home to dispose of his terrifying puppet with spider legs and a human face. Although he attempts to do so on several occasions, Possum just keeps reappearing in his bed or playing dead hung up on the wall. Terrifying sequences that could be dreams (or not) show Possum peeking around corners with his horrific pale features or stretching his hairy spindly legs. The uncovering of childhood traumas adds to the feelings of unease that haunt this film; it’s hard to describe how impactful it is unless you experience it yourself. Once. 

Midsommar (2019)

Midsommar is the second mention of Aster, with even more nakedness and cult activities. Horror in daylight is quite a hard thing to pull off, but this film does it perfectly, with the colour of the blood and flowers being just that little bit too bright and intrusive. It’s also an interesting take on rising above your expected behaviours to understand true happiness. Then there’s pubic hair in pies, menstrual blood in drinks, wearing other people’s faces, and a man-bear suit. If you haven’t seen it already, that should persuade you to do so. 

SPECIAL MENTIONS

Black Swan (2010)

A beautifully disturbing film with a stellar cast, it would be hard not to mention Black Swan. This nightmarish rendition of Swan Lake and the work that the dancers put into it really penetrates your psyche, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.

The Woman (2011)

Part of a loose trilogy, The Woman is dirty, primitive, and immoral… well the men are in this film anyway. Director Lucky McKee truly captures suburban hell as a feral woman is captured

The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) (2011)

I know I was supposed to do a singular special mention per year, but I can’t help but include a film from what was considered the most ‘extreme’ trilogy to enter the awareness of mainstream audiences in the 2010s. Not for the faint hearted, The Human Centipede 2 takes the (apparently) scientifically accurate story of the first film and brings it into a meta universe, where a man is obsessed by the original film’s content. Determined to make his own centipede, Martin kidnaps and mutilates 12 people as well as murdering his own mother. Gory and shock worthy, this film is for a very specific type of horror fan, me.

The Woman in Black (2012)

Back in my university days, I was obsessed with censorship and certification; I even wrote my dissertation on the British 12A certificate and its fit for purpose. The Woman in Black was one of my main case studies – a film that broke so many of the 12A rules and opened the door for more gruesome gore to be included in future admissions to the BBFC. For this reason it holds a special place in my heart – that and it’s spooky as heck (if you’re ever in London you should also see the show because good lord I didn’t sleep for a week after that).

The Conjuring  (2013)

Horror legend James Wan launched yet another successful horror franchise with The Conjuring. Based on the history of real-world paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, this film is a great way to introduce non-horror fans into the world of scares, with enough tension to make even the bravest person jump.

It Follows (2014)

Sexually transmitted demons. That’s all you have to say to persuade someone to watch It Follows. Set in an ambiguous time with distinct 80s slasher references, but the odd helping of modern technology, this timeless flick takes the familiar horror theme of taboo teenage sex and portrays it in a way never seen before. 

The Invitation (2015)

If you received an invite to a dinner party from your ex-wife at your old home out of the blue, what would you do? Well if you’re Will, you take your now girlfriend and dig into a lot of old scars. This film has so many phenomenal elements, the drama and cult terror being just a few. Most importantly, the ending left me breathless, truly an experience.

Prevenge (2016)

Following a pregnant widowed woman whose foetus is persuading her to go on a killing spree, Prevenge made me cry, a reaction I never expected from a seemingly fun romp in a serial killer wrapper. Both directing and starring in this darkly comic masterpiece, Alice Lowe was pregnant herself whilst making the film (her daughter even featured at the end as character Ruth’s baby). Laced with revenge, psychological torment, and hilarious killings, this shows soon-to-be-mums that “baby knows best”, something that you should maybe not take literally if you start hearing a little voice in your head telling you to hunt down the people you hold responsible for your husband’s death.

Get Out (2017)

Swapping his comic chops for sheer terror, Jordan Peele proves that you can tackle the big racial issues of modern day through a horror lens. Get Out combines humour, tension and the disturbing body snatch concept with a different twist, to create a film that people are still talking about today.

Hereditary (2018)

2018 seems to be the year of terror for me, as Hereditary had me also hiding behind my fingers. Another directorial debut on this list, Ari Aster explores familial grief and trauma combined with supernatural possessions and intense decapitation and fire. 

Ready or Not (2019)

A woman is hunted down by her new in-laws in a deadly game of Hide and Seek on her wedding night to appease the Le Bail curse. Throw in some accidental maid deaths, Ready or Not is a parody of the elite that horror fans should be raving about. 

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