A ranking of the 25 best horror movies on Amazon Prime Video, including Halloween, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Sleepy Hollow and many more frightening favorites.
When the laughs from the comedies have faded away and the tears from the dramas have dried, sometimes we’re looking for a little fright to mix up movie night. We’ve ranked the 25 best comedies available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, but what does the streaming giant have to offer in the horror department?
Whether you’re a tried and true fan of the genre or a casual moviegoer seeking spine-chilling scares, Amazon Prime Video features films to satisfy any horror junkie. From the vintage macabre titles and menacing characters everyone knows to the new school psychological thrillers, there are plenty of horror movies fit to leave your heart racing.
When it comes to horror movies, Amazon’s queues are stocked up with the classic scares you’ve grown up with like Friday the 13th and The Amityville Horror and newer frights such as The Woman in Black and the Paranormal Activity franchise. Each of these pulse-pounding films is begging to be the starring attraction of your next scary movie marathon.
Find your next horror movie to watch—or watch with your hands covering your eyes—in our comprehensive list of the 25 best horror movies on Amazon Prime Video. Comment at the end answering Ghostface’s classic question: What’s your favorite horrormovie?
25. Gremlins
Release Year: 1984
Written By: Chris Columbus
Directed By: Joe Dante
Starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyte Axton, Polly Holliday, Frances Lee McCain
Although it’s probably not considered a horror film quite like the bloody slasher movies we’re accustomed to, Gremlins delivers its eerie thrills via tiny creatures. The classic ’80s movie will make you laugh as much at it’ll make you check twice under your bed for a creepy little monsters.
When Billy (Zach Galligan) receives a mysterious pet mogwai from his father for Christmas, he mistakenly breaks the rules stressed by the Chinatown shop owner. Getting the creature wet and feeding it after midnight makes them multiply and transform into demonic, havoc-wreaking nightmares.
Executive produced by Steven Spielberg and written by Chris Columbus (the director of such films as Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone), the disturbingly funny mixture of horror and comedy in Gremlins shocked and awed an entire generation. Make your next scary movie night an ’80s throwback!
24. The Witch
Release Year: 2015
Written By: Robert Eggers
Directed By: Robert Eggers
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, Ellie Grainger, Lucas Dawson
There are lots of movies about witches. Hocus Pocus, The Craft, Practical Magic–just to rattle off a few heavy hitters. But you wouldn’t call any of those spellbinding ’90s comedies particularly horrific. Enter The Witch, 2015’s supernatural horror film with a period drama twist.
Set in New England in the 1600s, The Witch follows a family who leaves a Puritan plantation in favor of building their own farm to live on. Once they arrive in their forest abode off the beaten path, one of their children vanishes. They soon discover a forest-dwelling witch who torments the family until the shocking end.
Written and directed by newcomer Robert Eggers, The Witch wowed audiences and snagged the directing award at 2015’s Sundance Film Festival. The film is full of shocking and truly terrifying twists, turns, and horror imagery. And that’s not just a bunch of hocus pocus.
23. The Invasion
Release Year: 2017
Written By: David Kajganich, The Wachowskis
Directed By: Oliver Hirschbiegel, James McTeigue
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam, Jackson Bond, Jeffrey Bond, Veronica Cartwright
Soon celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig starrer The Invasion might be the least remembered iteration of Jack Finney’s 1955 novel The Body Snatchers. But as the fourth film adaptation of the story, The Invasion added its own spin to the classic science fiction thriller.
Carol Bennell (Kidman), a psychiatrist, discovers the existence of an alien epidemic sweeping the minds of her patients and acquaintances. She consults Dr. Ben Driscoll (Craig) on the rapidly growing virus, which later hinges on Carol’s son in order to find a cure. Can they put a cap on the body snatchers before they completely overturn society?
Although it didn’t leave as lasting of an impact as its previous adaptations, The Invasion stands as worthy selection on Amazon Prime Video and one of the more heart-pounding, cover-your-eyes thrilling versions of the sci-fi-horror romp. But with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig leading the film, who could bear to look away?
22. Tusk
Release Year: 2014
Written By: Kevin Smith
Directed By: Kevin Smith
Starring: Michael Parks, Justin Long, Haley Joel Osment, Genesis Rodriguez, Johnny Depp
Many moviegoers know Kevin Smith for his work in the indie comedy realm with cult favorites such as Clerks, Mallrats, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and Chasing Amy. But in 2014, the writer-director added a new genre onto his comedies: Horror.
Since Smith’s work always takes on a certain level of quirk, Tusk, the first entry in his True North trilogy, doesn’t veer too far off the weird course. When Wallace (Justin Long) travels to Canada to interview a viral video star for his podcast, he winds up becoming the hostage of an old man (Michael Parks) with a dark story about a walrus.
Also, starring Haley Joel Osment, Genesis Rodriguez, and Johnny Depp, Tusk offers a different brand of horror-comedy than most movies that straddle the lines of genre. As haunting as it is strange, Tusk’s fearsome sequences and humorous dialogue stand out as one of the best horror movies on Amazon Prime Video. Just watch out for the walrus.
21. Green Room
Release Year: 2016
Written By: Jeremy Saulnier
Directed By: Jeremy Saulnier
Starring: Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, Callum Turner, Patrick Stewart
While most horror movies draw you in with their unexpected frights that send you three feet in the air, Green Room knocks you right over the head with its breakneck intensity. With a premise as wild as its nonstop rollercoaster of fear, you will be firmly clutching a pillow for protection.
When a punk band comprised of Pat (Anton Yelchin), Sam (Alia Shawkat), Reece (Joe Cole), and Tiger (Callum Turner) plays a neo-Nazi skinhead bar deep in the backwoods of Oregon and witnesses a murder, they become the subjects of terror. Soon, the band must evade death by the club’s ruthless owner (Patrick Stewart).
With a great cast, a proven director in the genre of thrillers, and an interesting yet crazy plot, Green Room promises to keep you tense on the edge of your seat–exactly where you want to be for a good horror flick. But, you know, the band should have included “not being murdered” on their green room rider.
20. House of 1,000 Corpses
Release Year: 2003
Written By: Rob Zombie
Directed By: Rob Zombie
Starring: Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Sheri Moon, Karen Black
Of the previous five films on this list, Rob Zombie’s House of 1,000 Corpses might be the first one to classify as a hands down, honest to goodness, would-definitely-give-you-nightmares-if-you-watched-it-as-a-child horror movie. Need confirmation? Watch the trailer and get a load of its premise.
A group of teenagers driving around backwoods Texas (always a good sign in a horror movie) in search of roadside attractions happens upon the Firefly family. But soon, the teenagers became the roadside attraction as the family of serial killers tortures and murders the travelers.
Often pegged as an exploitation horror movie, since it touches on a number of genres and trends, House of 1,000 Corpses was shelved for three years before ultimately becoming a dark horse cult favorite. While not particularly appropriate for everyday viewing (unless you can stomach it), it’s perfect for your next lights-out scary movie night!
19. The Vatican Tapes
Release Year: 2015
Written By: Christopher Borrelli
Directed By: Mark Neveldine
Starring: Olivia Taylor Dudley, Kathleen Robertson, Michael Peña, Djimon Hounsou, Dougray Scott, John Patrick Amedori
It wouldn’t be a horror movie marathon without the token scarer that centers on satanic possession, evil spirits, and demonic imagery that won’t leave your mind for weeks on end. To tick that box of remarkably haunting horror films, we have The Vatican Tapes.
After suffering a minor cake-cutting injury while celebrating her birthday (it always starts out so innocently), Angela (Olivia Taylor Dudley) becomes possessed by an all-consuming, ancient satanic power. The Vatican reviews her case, but Father Lozano (Michael Peña) must perform the exorcism that could save the world.
From the director of Crank and Gamer, the 2015 limited release stars The Magicians’ Olivia Taylor Dudley. The Vatican Tapes might not deliver the up-all-night frights hardcore horror movie buffs are accustomed to. But for the casual viewer just dipping their toe in the pool of exorcism movies, it’ll make your blood pressure rise.
18. Deadly Blessing
Release Year: 1981
Written By: Glenn M. Benest, Matthew Barr, Wes Craven
Directed By: Wes Craven
Starring: Maren Jensen, Sharon Stone, Susan Buckner, Jeff East, Lisa Hartman, Ernest Borgnine
Following his back-to-back iconic directorial feature films The Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes, legendary horror film director Wes Craven returned with Deadly Blessing. Still over a decade from helming the Scream franchise, Craven’s complex storytelling scared through in his early chillers.
Martha (Maren Jensen) and Jim (Douglas Barr) call an off-the-beaten-path farm home, but most of the community’s residents are militantly religious. A “mysterious figure” later kills Jim in the barn, leading to an unraveling of death and unforeseen evil circumstances that leave Martha, Lana (Sharon Stone), and Vicky (Susan Buckner) fearing a deadly “blessing.”
Wes Craven left behind a vast and unique legacy of horror films, staking his ground in the slasher genre with A Nightmare on Elm Street and the aforementioned Scream franchise. Deadly Blessing, a film about a cult, became a cult favorite, and it ranks among the best horror movies on Amazon Prime Video!
17. The Haunting in Connecticut
Release Year: 2009
Written By: Adam Simon, Tim Metcalfe
Directed By: Peter Cornwell
Starring: Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Martin Donovan, Amanda Crew, Elia Koteas
The only thing scarier than a scary movie is not knowing whether if the story is based on true events. The Haunting in Connecticut has been said to have derived its titular haunting from a real residence in Connecticut in 1986. But the only supernatural occurrence confirmed to have rocked New England happened thanks to movie magic.
Sara Campbell (Virginia Madsen) moves her family into a home closer to the hospital where her son (Kyle Gallner) has received cancer treatments. However, their new home used to be a mortuary and before long, the family experiences hauntings from supernatural forces still contained in the home.
Whether you believe the film’s promotional tease of semi-non-fiction or the popular claim that the “true” story of the Connecticut haunting was fabricated, The Haunting in Connecticut delivers shocking scares and terrifying twists. It’s definitely among the best horror movies on Amazon Prime Video!
16. The Mist
Release Year: 2007
Written By: Frank Darabont
Directed By: Frank Darabont
Starring: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, Andre Braugher, Samuel Witwer, Toby Jones
Can you go wrong with a horror film adapted from a Stephen King writing? If The Shining has anything to say about it, no, you can’t. Based on King’s novella of the same name published in 1980, The Mist brings another one of Stephen King’s scary stories to life.
Normally, thunderstorms just bring rain and maybe some wind. However, in a Stephen King story, a thunderstorm unleashes a thick mist full of creatures and monsters. Survivors of the thunderstorm hide away from the mist and its beings in a supermarket, where they also try to survive the mounting tensions.
Directed by Frank Darabont, who also directed two other Stephen King adaptations with The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, The Mist received positive reviews for its dark tensity. Before The Mist hits the small screen in a TV adaptation, watch the 2007 film on Amazon Prime Video!
15. Phenomena
Release Year: 1985
Written By: Dario Argento, Franco Ferrini
Directed By: Dario Argento
Starring: Jennifer Connelly, Daria Nicolodi, Dalila Di Lazzaro, Donald Pleasence, Patrick Bauchau
Phenomena is a little bit Lucy and a little bit The Craft. The 1985 film, which features Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly in her second film role ever, centers on a teenage girl with special powers. But does she use them for good or for evil?
Jennifer (Jennifer Connelly) can communicate with insects, which doesn’t seem like the most useful psychic ability, but she soon becomes a tool to catch a serial killer at her Swiss boarding school. Clearly, she uses her horrifying insect-communicating skills for good, though she could just as easily use them for the dark side.
Unlike a majority of the previous films on the list, Phenomena throws it back to the early days of horror movies. If you’re looking for a solid throwback thriller, look no further than the 1985 hidden gem now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
14. Regression
Release Year: 2015
Written By: Alejandro Amenábar
Directed By: Alejandro Amenábar
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Emma Watson, Lothaire Bluteau, Dale Dickey, David Dencik, Peter MacNeill, Devon Bostick, Aaron Ashmore
Moviegoers know Emma Watson as the Harry Potter franchise’s Hermione Granger, The Perks of Being A Wallflower’s Sam, and Disney’s first live-action Belle in Beauty and the Beast. But in 2015, Watson continued her movie star transformation with the little-seen psychological thriller Regression.
When detective Bruce Kenner (Ethan Hawke) digs into a case of a father who admits to sexually abusing his daughter, Angela (Emma Watson), he learns that Angela’s father has no recollection of the abuse. As Bruce further investigates the case, he discovers the involvement of a satanic cult.
Regression hits all of the beats of a high-octane, fear-inducing horror-thriller, and it boasts two insanely watchable leads in Ethan Hawke and Emma Watson. After watching the dark and dangerous drama unfold, you’ll need to regress back to your Harry Potter days.
13. The Woman in Black
Release Year: 2012
Written By: Jane Goldman
Directed By: James Watkins
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciaran Hinds, Janet McTeer, Liz White
Speaking of child stars branching out of their successful film franchises into adult careers, the Harry Potter franchise’s own Harry Potter anchored a horror film like co-star Emma Watson. Daniel Radcliffe’s first post-Harry Potter starring role took the form of 2012’s The Woman in Black.
Based on Susan Hill’s 1983 novel of the same name, which was first adapted into a movie in 1989, Radcliffe stars as a widowed lawyer. Arthur visits a remote estate to organize its sale for the deceased owner. Because innocent people can never visit dead people’s homes on film without something going wrong, Arthur soon realizes the house is haunted by a vengeful ghost.
Quite the departure from Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe’s first breakaway performance proved profitable, as The Woman in Black scored rave reviews and sizable returns. Before you watch the Radcliffe-less 2015 sequel, catch the original ghost story on Amazon Prime Video!
12. Jeepers Creepers 2
Release Year: 2003
Written By: Victor Salva
Directed By: Victor Salva
Starring: Ray Wise, Jonathan Breck, Luke Edwards, Garikayi Mutambirwa, Nicki, Aycox, Eric Nenninger,
There are two words that kids of the ’90s and teens of the ’00s know all too well, for better or worse: Jeepers Creepers. The first film, executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola, came out in 2001 and scared the living daylights out of an entire generation. Two years later, its sequel continued the twisted tale of the Creeper.
Jeepers Creepers 2 follows a busload of high school students, who find their bus has been taken over by the ominous creature that began its attack in the first film. The flying Creeper revels in the last hurrah of its 23-day murder spree, forcing the high schoolers to come together to evade the creeper’s wrath.
One viewing of Jeepers Creepers 2 and you’ll never look at country back roads or cornfields the same way again, which is a testament to the film’s winning horror formula. A third installment has been in the works, but before the Creeper’s next 23-day nightmare, cover your eyes during the campy chills of the first sequel.
11. An American Werewolf in London
Release Year: 1981
Written By: John Landis
Directed By: John Landis
Starring: David Naughton, Jenny Augutter, Griffin Dunne, John Woodvine
Before the Twilight Saga repopularized the late ’80s Teen Wolf werewolf phenomenon with the Team Jacob craze, An American Werewolf in London howled alongside two additional werewolf-themed movies that same year. Clearly, moviegoers love a good shapeshifter picture.
An American Werewolf in London follows a pair of American students in the midst of a backpacking trip in England when they fall victim to the attack of a werewolf. While one of them dies, the other learns that he will become a werewolf himself under the next full moon.
Even though the all-too-real werewolf makeup will incite a sizable fright, John Landis balances the horror with craftily placed comedy. One of the best horror movies on Amazon Prime Video, An American Werewolf in London has collected a cult classic legacy, spawned a 1997 sequel set in Paris, and even earned chatter of a modern-day remake.
10. Maggie
Release Year: 2015
Written By: John Scott
Directed By: Henry Hobson
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin, Joely Richardson
Most moviegoers think of Arnold Schwarzenegger for his roles as The Terminator, one of The Expendables, or the governor of California. If you think of him at all, he’s an action star turned politician. Few probably consider him as a dramatic actor, but Maggie marked something of a departure for the “Governator.”
Maggie (Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin) becomes afflicted with a zombie virus taking over the nation but tries to protect her family from her flesh-eating transformation. Wade (Schwarzenegger) vows to save his daughter despite the potentially deadly consequences.
Funnily enough, after fighting off zombies in Zombieland, Abigail Breslin becomes one in Maggie and delivers a fiercely frightful performance. The film mixes in emotional undertones with the post-apocalyptic thriller element, making Maggie a complex horror experience.
9. The Voices
Release Year: 2014
Written By: Michael R. Perry
Directed By: Marjane Satrapi
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Gemma Arterton, Anna Kendrick, Jacki Weaver
Before Ryan Reynolds relaunched his career as the sassy anithero in Deadpool, he starred as the dangerous mixture of Dexter meets Dr. Doolittle in The Voices. Because in the film, Reynolds’ character can communicate with animals… and he kills people.
Jerry (Reynolds) might be a nice guy, but in secret, he weathers the effects of delusions and hallucinations. His dog, Bosco, and cat, Mr. Whiskers, talk to him and convince him to murder his work crush Fiona (Gemma Arterton) after she blows off their date. Reasonable.
The Voices might not be like the other hold-your-breath, “Don’t go in there!” horror movies on this list, but Ryan Reynolds sells the quirky blend of black comedy and killer thriller. Also starring Academy Award nominees Jacki Weaver and Anna Kendrick, The Voices is asking to be the feature of your next movie night– not just hearing things.
8. Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension
Release Year: 2015
Written By: Adam Black, Andrew Deutschman, Adam Robitel, Gavin Hefferman
Directed By: Gregory Plotkin
Starring: Chris J. Murray, Brit Shaw, Dan Gill, Ivy George, Olivia Taylor Dudley
If you’re in the market for an honest to goodness scare that only a found footage horror movie can provide, than the Paranormal Activity franchise is right up your alley. But you probably already know that since the six films in the series earned over 30 times the collective budget. Chances are, you have already experienced the ghostly activity.
The sixth and final film in the series, Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension, offers an element more chilling than the previous films: This time, we’ll see the creepy haunting firsthand. When a new family moves into the notorious home, they learn of an evil presence that soon unleashes its worst.
For a franchise that instantly captured the horror film scene with its inventive creativity and truthfully terrifying sequences, Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension wraps up the series by staying true to first five films. Surely, we’ll be enduring a reboot within 10 years, but before that happens, watch the final film on Amazon Prime Video!
7. The Amityville Horror
Release Year: 1979
Written By: Sandor Stern
Directed By: Stuart Rosenberg
Starring: James Brolin, Margot Kidder, Rod Steiger, Don Stroud, Murray Hamilton
What adds another layer of scary to a horror movie? Knowing that a horror movie’s plot has been derived from a supposedly true story. Jay Anson novelized the true account of the Lutz family in his 1977 novel The Amityville Horror, which became the 1979 box office smash hit.
When the Lutz family moves into their new home in Amityville, New York, occurrences not popularly deemed as displays of amity rock their lives. The previous owners of their new home had been murdered one year before, seemingly leaving behind haunted spirits.
The story of The Amityville Horror and the Lutz family remains one of the most fascinating true accounts of supernatural hauntings of all time. The 1979 film spawned a series of sequels, including the 2005 remake starring Ryan Reynolds. Without a doubt, the original adaptation ranks among the best horror movies on Amazon Prime Video.
6. Ouija Summoning
Release Year: 2016
Directed By: Marwan Mokbel
Starring: Kristen Hagen, Marty Dew, Christina Evans, Tony Colitti
Leave it to a spooky board game to live a second life as a series of films. As if we weren’t terrified enough of even being near a Ouija board, much less tempting fate and playing with one, here comes an onslaught of horror movies based on the creepy sleepover seance-starter.
Although Ouija Summoning isn’t connected to 2014’s major studio release Ouija or it’s 2016 prequel Ouija: Origin of Evil, it scares all the same. Sara’s life turns upside down when a spirit awakened from a Ouija board kills her son and returns years later to torment her once more.
Ouija Summoning doesn’t boast the same production value as its studio counterparts, but it shares the same capability to summon gasps of terror. You should definitely check out Ouija Summoning on Amazon Prime Video, but keep the Ouija boards closed.
5. Sleepy Hollow
Release Year: 1999
Written By: Andrew Kevin Walker
Directed By: Tim Burton
Starring: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Casper Van Dien, Jeffrey Jones
The third of eight collaborations between director Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, Sleepy Hollow ran shivers down an entire generation’s spine at the turn of the millennium. Of course, the film gained inspiration from Washington Irving’s 1820 short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
Johnny Depp stars as Ichabod Crane, an investigator who rolls into the town of Sleepy Hollow dead set on getting to the bottom of the Headless Horseman’s murders. He meets Katrina Van Tassel (Christina Ricci), who just might be linked to the ongoing events of otherworldly madness.
Sleepy Hollow differs from most horror movies on this list, as it incorporates a striking and stylized sheen of gothic fantasy to its horror. The film’s ominous setting elevates the already foreboding story, and with Tim Burton’s razor-sharp direction, you’ll be looking over your shoulder for the Headless Horseman after reliving this throwback.
4. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Release Year: 1974
Written By: Kim Henkel, Tobe Hooper
Directed By: Tobe Hooper
Starring: Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow, Gunnar Hansen, Teri McMinn
Don’t be fooled by the 1970s marketing scheme claiming The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was based on a true story. Thankfully, calling it a true story was simply a ploy to get more eyeballs on the movie and the film’s events were simple fiction. But that doesn’t make them less harrowing.
Regarded as one of the best horror movies of all time, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre follows a group of friends who fall into the path of Leatherface, a cannibalistic killer wearing a mask of human skin and toting around a chainsaw. Charming.
The 1974 film quickly gained critical praise and commercial success. Since The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’s release, six more slasher films have been released in the franchise and the original has been restored in digital 4K. The 2003 remake starring Jessica Biel revived the story, but it’s the ’70s classic that stands the test of time.
3. Halloween
Release Year: 2007
Written By: Rob Zombie
Directed By: Rob Zombie
Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Sheri Moon Zombie, Tyler Mane, Scout Taylor-Compton, Brad Dourif, Danielle Harris, William Forsythe
We know Halloween as a harmless holiday where kids dress up in exchange for free candy. But in the horror movie world, it’s so much more. Based on the 1978 classic horror film, which was borne in a wave of post-Psycho slasher movies, Rob Zombie reimagined the story of Michael Meyers with his 2007 reboot.
Zombie’s Halloween sticks to the same premise as John Carpenter’s original, in which proven killer Michael Myers escapes from a psychiatric hospital to his childhood home to resume his killings. On Halloween night, Michael (Tyler Mane) stalks Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor-Compton) all while avoiding his psychiatrist, Dr. Loomis (Malcolm McDowell).
Unlike the original Halloween film, Rob Zombie explores the motivations of Michael Myers’ murders in an attempt to understand the man behind the mask. Almost 40 years after the original and 10 years after the remake, the story of Michael Myers still delivers the same slasher scares, and that’s no trick.
2. Friday the 13th
Release Year: 1980
Written By: Victor Miller
Directed By: Sean S. Cunningham
Starring: Adrienne King, Betsy Palmer, Harry Crosby, Kevin Bacon, Jeannie Taylor, Mark Nelson, Laurie Bartram, Ari Lehman
Another iconic slasher film with a long list of sequels and reboots, Friday the 13th opened in 1980 and forever changed the way we think of Fridays that happen to fall on the 13th of the month. The superstition took on a whole other life in the hands of Jason.
Friday the 13th centers on Camp Crystal Lake, which reopens after being shut down for two decades after a string of unsolved murders. Even though the new crop of campers hope for a fresh start, the camp’s curse remains on Friday the 13th, when a killer fatally attacks each of the counselors.
The film went on to become a cult classic and generate a successful franchise of films about Jason, the central antagonist. Friday the 13th crossed over with A Nightmare on Elm Street in 2003’s Freddy vs. Jason and received a reboot in 2009. But the original left its lasting legacy on the slasher film subgenre of horror movies.
1. The Neon Demon
Release Year: 2016
Written By: Mary Laws, Nicolas Winding, Refn, Polly Stenham
Directed By: Nicolas Winding Refn
Starring: Elle Fanning, Karl Glusman, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Christina Hendricks, Keanu Reeves
An Amazon Studios original production, Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Neon Demon creates a visually stunning albeit psychologically horrifying world onscreen. Like Only God Forgives, Refn’s follow-up to 2011’s Drive, The Neon Demon received a polarizing–if not passionate–response from critics for its out-there narrative.
Jesse (Elle Fanning) relocates to Los Angeles to pursue a modeling career, where she meets a pack of women immediately taken with her innocence and beauty. Ruby (Jena Malone), Gigi (Bella Heathcote), and Sarah (Abbey Lee) push Jesse to her limits until they take exactly what they want from her.
The Neon Demon isn’t for the faint of heart, but those who walked into Drive expecting a simple action thriller know this to be true. It’s weird, it’s wild, and it’s worth a bone-chilling view. Refn directs with a shocking style and Elle Fanning turns in another star-making role in The Neon Demon, Amazon’s in-house foray into horror movies.