The 20 Eeriest Movies of All Time

Created by Igor_Brynner.

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The word “horror” is defined by Merriam-Webster as “painful and intense fear, dread…” Not a surprising summation of what the Horror Film genre tries to instill. In the past decade, theatrical horror films have been dominated by the company Blumhouse Productions. Their spotty releases have included “Paranormal Activity”, “Sinister”, as well as the “Insidious” and “The Purge” soon-to-be franchises.

It seemed, for a bit, that the genre was relegated to “jump-scares” and loud musical stings that make audiences leap. Those releases, as well as others, have a very hit-or-miss final result. 2016’s “The Witch” shows a light at the end of the tunnel. And here is the reason why.

One sub-genre of horror doesn’t particularly scream box-office gold, and that, more than anything else, has led to its scarcity. That genre is the EERIE FILM; Movies that take a while to develop characters audiences care about, and instill a general sense of “dread.” These films may not make you jump, but instead rely on mood and atmosphere, as well as successful character likeability, to get under your skin.

The 20 films on this list use the slow-burn technique. The attention given to the smaller details, and the surrounding locations all add up to movies that stay with you long after the final credits. Even thinking about a terrifically eerie movie is enough to give you goosebumps for years, even decades later.

Here, in chronological order of release, are 20 films that are sure to induce shivers and happily warrant repeat viewings. It’s certainly no wonder that each and every title on this list has its loyal cult following. Some titles are already required viewing for any respectable horror fan.

It’s to be hoped that even more of these films you have never heard of. If you’re not familiar with some of these, you might want to take the time to seek them out. They are all definitive examples of EERIE movies.