Scaring ourselves is one of the fundamental feelings of human existence. The terror, the fright, the surprise- they all blend to provide us with a natural feeling of fear that is resistant to our resemblance, but we appreciate them nonetheless. This tradition has been

ongoing for centuries, and the movies have exploited our appetite to our benefit, providing us with films that make our hairs stand on end. Here, we present to you the finest horror films on HBO Max which stretch from folk to supernatural to psychological, all at our expense of screams and shrieks.

21. Equinox (1970)

This cult supernatural horror film directed by Jack Woods leans more towards the fun aspect of horror. It is known for its pioneering stop-motion special effects and cel animation, and even had positive words from filmmaker George Lucas (‘Star Wars’). The movie is about four friends, David (Edward Connell), Susan (Barbara Hewitt), Jim (Frank Bonner), and Vicki (Robin Christopher), who find an old book of evil. They unwittingly have a demon searching for it and orders monster attacks to destroy them and collect it. Whether and how the four survive the slaughter is what we witness in this groundbreaking drama. You are able to view ‘Equinox’ here.

20. I Saw the TV Glow (2024)

Jane Schoenbrun’s ‘I Saw the TV Glow’ jumps from future to past and centers on two adolescents, Owen and Maddy. They share a connection through an adult TV show where an evil force possesses time and reality-bending abilities. As years become months, Maddy seemingly dies only to return after 8 years and inform Owen that she was within the show, the “real” reality. As Owen tries to deal with the show and what Maddy informed him, we watch him go mad until a startling discovery unveils an absurd reality that has been “within” him the entire time. Starring Justice Smith and Jack Haven, ‘I Saw the TV Glow’ is a visually beautiful mind-bending horror movie that toying with what’s real and what isn’t by using a theme which is a part of our everyday lives now, i.e., TV shows and that’s where its strength lies. You can watch the movie here. Read More: Best Horror Movies on Netflix

19. MaXXXine (2024)

In Ti West’s horror drama ‘MaXXXine,’ the follow-up to ‘Pearl,’ Maxine Minx (Mia Goth) attempts to climb to the top of the success ladder by transitioning to Hollywood from pornography. In her way, however, is the serial killer the media have dubbed the Night Stalker, whose most recent victims are all linked to the actress. Along with a pair of LAPD detectives, a creepy private investigator, and the assassin, tailing her, Maxine must wade through a bloody path to Hollywood glamour. Is she capable? ‘MaXXXine’ also stars Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, and Kevin Bacon. It is a thrilling neon-bright drama that casts its spell in blood and succeeds in hitting the spot nicely. You can watch it here.

18. Salem’s Lot (2024)

Adapted from Stephen King’s horror novel of the same name, ‘Salem’s Lot’ is about writer Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman), who comes to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot, also known as Salem’s Lot, in search of inspiration for his next book. It’s been 25 years or so since he was here, and a lot of things have changed beyond imagination, as the town’s latest inhabitants are vampiric creatures that feed on blood. Ben therefore resolves to rescue his human villagers from this sudden menace. Suitable for Stephen King enthusiasts, ‘Salem’s Lot’ is directed by Gary Dauberman and does a fairly good job of fitting in the novel’s elements without overdoing things. You can stream the film here.

17. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

‘Night of the Living Dead’ is a cult classic low-budget horror movie directed by the legendary George A. Romero who can be referred to as the father of zombie films. The movie is the first installment in the ‘Living Dead’ series and is about a group of individuals who are trapped in a farmhouse that is under attack by swarms of zombies. With but a few methods to kill the zombies, the group fights to survive, holding on until armed units come to rescue them. The question is: how long will it take for them to arrive, and will the group be alive until then? The film created a new horror genre, and it was added to the National Film Registry as a culturally important drama. Though the actors, such as Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Marilyn Eastman, and Bill Hinzman, were not famous at that time, the movie boosted their careers. You can see ‘Night of the Living Dead’ here.

16. Onibaba (1964)

It is a Japanese historical horror drama directed by Kaneto Shindō. Starring Nobuko Otowa and Jitsuko Yoshimura, the movie is about an elderly woman (Otowa) and her son’s wife (Yoshimura), who earn their living in medieval Japan by murdering samurai and selling the loot they obtain from them. When Hachi (Kei Satō), a survivor of war, informs the elderly woman that her son has died, she is heartbroken. Soon to add to her sorrow is her son’s wife, who starts an affair with Hachi. The old one attempts to frighten the young one away from the man by frightening her with a Samurai mask, unaware that the mask is cursed. Based on the Shin Buddhist fable of ‘yome-odoshi-no men,’ ‘Onibaba’ is a sophisticated blend of many Japanese horror folk tales tinged with war and its effects. You can view the movie here.

15. Scanners (1981)

How powerful is Professor Charles Xavier (X-Men)? That is, how powerful can telepathic humans get? ‘Scanners,’ directed by David Cronenberg, provides an answer in the most graphic way possible. The sci-fi horror, years if not decades before its time, depicts a malevolent scanner by the name of Darryl Revok (Michael Ironside) enlisting other scanners to join him in a rebellion against humans and assume control of the planet as the ruling species. Sounds a bit like Magneto, doesn’t he? To defeat him, Dr. Paul Ruth (Patrick McGoohan) dispatches Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack), also a scanner, to penetrate Revok’s evil ring. Viscerally famous for its special effects, this Canadian movie took home the Best International Film award at the 1981 Saturn Awards. It also received eight Genie Award nominations in 1982. You can see ‘Scanners’ here.

14. Carnival of Souls (1962)

Considered by film schools to be a classic art drama, ‘Carnival of Souls’ is a psychological horror movie that follows the story of a woman named Mary Henry (Candace Hilligoss) who survives a car accident miraculously and begins to see ghoulish individuals and undergoes phases where she becomes invisible to the world around her. As she begins to see more and more of the ghouls, she is driven hysterical, not knowing the difference between dreams and reality. The only way she is going to be able to piece it together is to return to where it all started. Praised for its photography and the way it handles the genre, ‘Carnival of Souls’ is a must include on this list and any other list of horror films. You may view the film here.

13. Eyes Without a Face (1959)

A poetic horror classic, ‘Eyes Without a Face’ is a French drama film by Georges Franju. It is about a surgeon, Doctor Génessier (Pierre Brasseur), who steals facial skins of young women with the aim of grafting the right one onto her daughter Christiane’s (Édith Scob) disfigured face. As Génessier keeps carrying out his experiment, Christiane’s trauma, such as not being able to see her fiancé Jacques (François Guérin), who believes she has died, begins to affect her. ‘Eyes Without a Face’ was also called ‘The Horror Chamber of Dr. Faustus’ when released in America in 1962. You can see this classic horror movie here.

12. The Curse of La Llorona (2019)

Michael Chaves-directed ‘The Curse of La Llorona’ is inspired by the Mexican folklore of the “weeping woman.” Her ghost is said to be stuck on Earth, looking for her children, whom she drowned when she caught her husband with another woman. It is about Anna Tate-Garcia and her children, who become the new victims of an evil force that is determined to kill the kids. Before things get out of hand, Anna has to do something to bring La Llorona to an end. She therefore gets in touch with Rafael Olvera, who is a shaman, to end the attacks. Starring Linda Cardellini, Marisol Ramirez, and Raymond Cruz, ‘The Curse of La Llorona’ is a binge-worthy horror movie addressing a mother’s love and sorrow. You can watch it here.

11. Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025).

Directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ is the sixth installment in the self-titled horror series that has become famous for the different methods Death employs to claim the lives of the different characters. The film is based on Stefani Reyes, a college girl, who discovers that her grandmother had escaped Death and now Death has returned to claim the lives of all those people who are alive due to her, aka her family. It is on Reyes to find out how she can save her people, and she must try hard because Death always manages, well, almost always. The film features Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Gabrielle Rose, and Tony Todd. While it does utilize some visual effects, which could have a detrimental impact on the suspension of disbelief of some, it does find ways to make itself a legitimate addition to the franchise based on some of the methods it employs to depict Death forming. The film can be streamed here.

10. The Nun II (2023)

A sequel to ‘The Nun’ (2018), Michael Chaves’ ‘The Nun II’ follows the titular demonic entity that is after the eyes of St. Lucie, the patron saint of sight. Its search for the relic is what sent it on a murderous spree of the saint’s lineage across Europe, having latched itself onto Frenchie (Jonas Bloquet), AKA Maurice. In the movie, we find Maurice working at a boarding school in France, and Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) is brought there by her destiny. She must confront Valak once more and prevent it from taking the relic and causing more destruction, but make sure that Maurice is not killed. Is that feasible? ‘The Nun II’ is an apt sequel and a fun one at that. If you like the ‘Conjuring’ franchise, this is a must-see, both for thrills and continuity. It is available to stream here.

9. Evil Dead Rise (2023)

A lone entry into cult classic ‘Evil Dead’ franchise, ‘Evil Dead Rise’ is a no-frills, gory supernatural horror drama. Lee Cronin-directed, the movie features Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland), a lone mother, her kids Danny (Morgan Davies), Bridget (Gabrielle Echols), Kassie (Nell Fisher), and Ellie’s sister Beth (Lily Sullivan). The occurrence of the Book of the Dead and phonograph records with strange recordings in the wake of an earthquake lead Ellie to the world of the undead. She is then possessed by a demon and is determined to kill everyone, including her kids. Can Beth protect the children and find a means of killing her own sibling? And how is she going to kill something that is already dead? ‘Evil Dead Rise’ had two nominations at the 51st Saturn Awards, was a runner-up for Best Horror at the 6th Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Awards, and earned a Best Horror Movie nomination at the 4th Critics’ Choice Super Awards. You can view it here.

8. Annabelle: Creation (2017)

‘Annabelle: Creation’ is about the story of the Annabelle doll, which is the central feature of the ‘Conjuring’ universe. Directed by David F. Sandberg, the film is an explanation of what happened to the doll to make it a vessel for the devil. It is about a band of homeless girls who come to live in their new home, which is owned by a couple who lost their young daughter in a car accident. With the passing of days, a malevolent force begins to taunt the girls one by one, and it is up to Sister Charlotte, having come with the girls, to discern the reason for the evil. Perhaps then, it can be defeated or eliminated. Featuring Stephanie Sigman, Talitha Bateman, Anthony LaPaglia, Miranda Otto, and Lulu Wilson, ‘Annabelle: Creation’ is highly significant to the franchise fans. It can be streamed here.

7. Sinners (2025)

Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ is an excellent mix of fantasy and Western themes. It is about twin brothers, Stack and Smoke, who come back home to Mississippi after working for the Chicago mafia. Sadly, their plan to advance in life is thwarted by some new immigrants in town, who are revealed to be immortal, aka vampires. With their new juke joint operation at stake, the pair have to make their way in a safe and sound fashion without things becoming “bloody.” Starring Michael B. Jordan in the dual role of Stack and Smoke, and Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, and Jack O’Connell, ‘Sinners’ is a scarce horror film that has a fantastic screenplay and direction. You can watch it right here.

6. Talk to Me (2022)

Michael and Danny Philippou directed ‘Talk to Me’. A young woman opens a portal to the other world by mistake through the use of an artifact that is the shape of a hand, as part of a game. Mia attempts to make contact with the soul of her mother and succeeds. But when she continues to see the soul afterwards, she knows that she has unleashed something malevolent that desires to possess her. Starring Sophie Wilde as Mia, ‘Talk to Me’ succeeds in providing an otherwise decent plot a compelling visual fabric, not quite common in horror films. You can stream the movie here.

5. Bring Her Back (2025)

Michael and Danny Philippou combine horror and mourning in ‘Bring Her Back,’ a tale of two orphans whose new foster mother holds a sinister secret. Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong) are step-siblings who are introduced to their new home by Laura (Sally Hawkins), who also takes under her care a mute little boy named Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips). Though the behaviors of Laura and Oliver appear strange in the beginning, the progression of the plot later on comes to show Laura’s evil plans and her utilizing Oliver to resurrect her deceased daughter. Equally horrific and heartbreaking, ‘Bring Her Back’ is a less common horror movie that addresses the love of a mother, whose aspect of having no limits is lent the form of terror-inducing madness. Watch the film here.

4. The Lighthouse (2019)

A twice-award-winning movie featuring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, ‘The Lighthouse’ is a gritty psychological horror drama. Taking place in the 1890s, it follows two men, lighthouse keeper Ephraim Winslow (Pattinson) and his overseer sailor Thomas Wake (Dafoe), who are stationed in a lighthouse on a remote island. As the days go by, Winslow begins to hallucinate things, such as a mermaid and other sea creatures. While his isolation increasingly gets to him, the relationship between him and Wake, who possesses his own way of thinking about events at the lighthouse, suffers. This is in the form of a series of strange events that make ‘The Lighthouse’ at least an art movie (filmed in black-and-white), deserving of study and analysis. Maybe this was due to the creators including the 1801 Smalls Lighthouse Tragedy and Edgar Allan Poe’s incomplete short story ‘The Light-House’ in the storyline. You can view the movie here.

3. The Conjuring 2 (2016)

The second is the eponymous series, ‘The Conjuring 2’ follows Ed and Lorraine Warren as they battle a poltergeist that has singled out a family in Enfield, London. The film, set during the 1970s, is based on the 1970s Enfield poltergeist case. Throughout the course of the case, our two paranormal activists discover that the ghost terrorizing the family is linked to a strong demonic entity that Lorraine has witnessed in dreams. It’s not until they discover the demon’s vulnerability that they can exorcise the family from the terror. Starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Frances O’Connor, and Madison Wolfe, ‘The Conjuring 2’ is directed by James Wan and indubitably is a deserving sequel to ‘The Conjuring,’ be it in terms of essence or in terms of scares and thrills. You may watch the movie here.

2. The Conjuring (2013)

The initial movie in the ‘Conjuring’ franchise, James Wan’s ‘The Conjuring’ has entered the list of the greatest horror movies ever. It is a story about the purported supernatural occurrences the Perron family lived when they shifted to their new house in Rhode Island in 1971. When Carolyn Perron approaches demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren for assistance, the latter begin investigating. Investigation soon uncovers the house’s sinister past, which involves its association with a Satanist woman by the name of Bathsheba Sherman, who occupied the house in the mid-19th century. Ed and Lorraine therefore have to do everything in their might to safeguard the family, i.e., husband, wife, and their five daughters, from the evil spirit before it kills more. Starring Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston, Vera Farmiga, and Patrick Wilson, ‘The Conjuring’ set the bar high for horror films when it was released. You may view it here.

1. It (2017)

Adapted from Stephen King’s novel of the same name, ‘It’ is a horror film with supernatural elements that revolves around a malevolent clown called Pennywise who survives on fear, that of children at that. Its domain is Derry, Maine, and it appears every 27 years from torpor to feed its appetite. This time around, its quarry is a group of seven misfit children whose inner demons serve as the clown’s newest “happy meals.” The kids’ only hope against the man-eating clown is to confront their demons. Can they? ‘It’ is an Andy Muschietti-directed film, whose cast includes Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Lieberher, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Wyatt Oleff. It was a box office record breaker, and one of the best R-rated horror movies ever made. You can view it here. Read More: Horror Movies Based on Real Life on Peacock and Paramount+.