The horror genre is defined by its ability to thrill and terrify audiences, but horror movies are far from the only films that scare the viewer and make an impact. Whether these projects belong to the thriller genre and use increased tension to make up for the lack of gore or they’re more action-oriented, something about these movies will chill you to the core. Horror has never cornered the market on being scary, as there are even non-horror movies where all the characters die. Sometimes, there’s more fear to be cultivated in the threat of violence rather than the act.

No Country for Old Men, an iconic addition to the Coen Brothers’ filmography, is a great example of a film that no one would consider horror. However, everyone knows it will give them nightmares. In horror, since there’s often a supernatural or otherworldly element, it’s easy to distance yourself from the story and feel certain the events of the story could never happen. The same can’t be said for many of these movies, as even the fantasy and sci-fi contributions root themselves in realistic themes and comment on the terrors of real life.

10

Threads (1984)

Directed by Mick Jackson

The critically acclaimed and harrowing British drama Threads imagines a dark and desperate version of reality as the end of civilization descends. To this day, Threads is considered one of the most realistic depictions of what would happen if nuclear war broke out on Earth. Though horror movies often prey on the viewer’s fear of the unknown, Threads forces us to confront a potential future full of death and tragedy.

The result is a movie that lingers, staying with you long past when the screen goes dark and the tragedy has ended.

As a disaster movie where the world actually ends, it’s no surprise that Threads doesn’t hold back in terms of its harsh depictions of environmental decay and how people would turn on each other. In Threads, the apocalypse comes as a matter of course, unavoidable and unflinching. Through several generations, we see the results of a life upended by catastrophe. The result is a movie that lingers, staying with you long past when the screen goes dark and the tragedy has ended.

9

Under The Skin (2013)

Directed by Jonathan Glazer

Before Jonathan Glazer made waves with his horrifying historical drama The Zone of Interest​​​​​​, he directed the sci-fi thriller Under the Skin. In an interesting departure for Scarlett Johansson, the actress takes on the role of the alien life form the movie follows as it takes the form of a woman and preys upon the men who cross its path. Thanks to its uncomfortable atmosphere and surrealist elements, Under the Skin,​​​​​​ has no trouble striking a terrifying tone.

Though Under the Skin didn’t make waves at the box office, it received overwhelming critical appreciation and made an impact on every audience member who has sought out the project. Under the Skin takes an unexpected approach to scare the viewer, as you come to fear both the alien and fear for her as the story progresses. The cycles of violence that are portrayed onscreen in Under the Skin open the door for Glazer to play with perspective and make you feel deeply for the characters.

8

The Road (2009)

Directed by John Hillcoat

Sparse, desolate, and carnal, The Road brings to life Cormac McCarthy’s brutal novel of the same name. Viggo Mortensen stars the unnamed man struggling to keep his young son alive as they travel across the U.S. Though they’re navigating an unfamiliar and unforgiving landscape, it’s the interactions with other human beings that cause the most trauma in The Road. The unending loneliness the father and son feel is nothing compared to what other people might do to them.

The director, John Hillcoat’s earlier film, The Proposition, is one of the most messed up Western movies ever made, and this style of storytelling paved the way for Hillcoat’s adaptation of The Road. Though the post-apocalyptic genre has been expanding in recent years, The Road is an excellent touchstone for new additions to this niche of cinema. Even the characters that come out alive in The Road don’t get a happy ending, as none exists in the world they live in.

7

No Country For Old Men (2007)

Directed by Joel & Ethan Coen

In perhaps one of the greatest villain performances of all time, Javier Bardem strikes an unforgettably scary tone as Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men. Largely considered the Coen Brothers’ masterpiece, No Country for Old Men was showered with accolades after its release and has maintained the strength of its legacy since then. Both a thriller and a neo-Western, No Country for Old Men is easy to appreciate not only for the effectiveness of the story but also for the brilliance of its craft.

Movies that fall within the crime genre can use the tropes and formulas of these narratives to their benefit, and No Country for Old Men does this flawlessly. Packed with tension from beginning to end, watching and wondering what Anton is going to do next and how he’ll torture the characters is a fear that worms its way into your heart. No Country for Old Men will likely never be forgotten and only continue to age well, if terrifyingly.

6

We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011)

Directed by Lynne Ramsay

Even though it’s a tense drama, it wouldn’t be surprising if many audiences leave We Need to Talk About Kevin believing the movie is pure horror. Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller match wits as a mother terrified of her own son, who begins to torment her for seeing through his facade. Miller’s performance as the тιтular Kevin is memorable, as they have the ability to charm and trick in equal measure, all while communicating the cold, calculating, murderous intent hidden within Kevin.

Even though the viewer is aware that Kevin is on a dark path that there’s no turning back from, watching his every move creates enough tension to make the audience snap.

Told through flashbacks, We Need to Talk About Kevin doesn’t need to hide the fact that Kevin will be imprisoned for shocking murders and atrocities. This doesn’t lessen the impact of the events. Even though the viewer is aware that Kevin is on a dark path that there’s no turning back from, watching his every move creates enough tension to make the audience snap. The dynamic between Eva (Swinton) and Kevin puts you directly in the action, fearful that Kevin might be hiding in the dark.

5

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro

One of the best fantasy movies that are pretty dark, Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth is considered a modern fantasy masterpiece. Though it’s an escapist fairy tale and features many magical elements, Pan’s Labyrinth doesn’t shy away from the historical realities of its period. A harsh critique of the rise of fascism in 1940s Spain, Sergi López embodies the violence and cruelty of this line of thinking as Captain Vidal, the merciless antagonist of the film, willing to murder innocents at every turn.

However, the creatures in Pan’s Labyrinth are just as chilling. The notorious Pale Man, brought to life by del Toro’s frequent collaborator, Doug Jones, is only onscreen for a few minutes, but this scene might be the most horrifying of the film. As in all of del Toro’s works, Pan’s Labyrinth uses the fantastical to tackle the horrors of reality, giving the audience an excuse to feel these tragedies and devastation of life in a safe, contained space.

4

Nightcrawler (2014)

Directed by Dan Gilroy

Jake Gyllenhaal has played a wide array of characters throughout his long career. From romantic leads to heroic heroes, Gyllenhaal has proved he can embody anyone, and he’s pushed to his limit in Nightcrawler. As Lou Bloom, the protagonist of Nightcrawler, Gyllenhaal disappears and becomes the unscrupulous and vile man who profits off the deaths and tragedies of others. Though Lou begins the film as an observer who encourages destruction, it doesn’t take long for him to cross the line and start to cause it.

The scariest part of Nightcrawler might be the fact that Lou couldn’t exist without us.

Though it’s clear that the greed and desperation for recognition that drives Lou are the results of capitalism and the consumer’s thirst for violent imagery and tabloid journalism, that doesn’t make it easier to sympathize with him. He goes well past the point of no return, and the viewer learns to fear him and what he might do next. However, the scariest part of Nightcrawler might be the fact that Lou couldn’t exist without us.

3

Prisoners (2013)

Directed by Denis Villeneuve

Jake Gyllenhaal also stars in Prisoners alongside Hugh Jackman, and the two men play off each other brilliantly as they descend into borderline madness. Driven by desperation to find his kidnapped child, Dover (Jackman) partners with the detective ᴀssigned to his case, Loki (Gyllenhaal), and quickly becomes someone unrecognizable. Resorting to torture to get answers from the man he believes has his daughter, Dover’s behavior demonstrates the harsh reality that ordinary people can be pushed to become unrecognizable.

However, Dover is far from the only terrifying element of the film. The true villain and the perpetrator of the kidnapping are linked to larger conspiracies and generations of abuse that shock the audience. At the end of the film, the game of cat and mouse between the men pursuing the kids and the kidnapper comes to a head in an excruciatingly stressful scene that will leave you sweating. The director, Denis Villeneuve, might be best known for his sci-fi films, but Prisoners proves he understands fear.

2

The Killing Of A Sacred Deer (2017)

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos

Yorgos Lanthimos has been putting out beautifully crafted and deeply unsettling works for a long time. Before he and Emma Stone made headlines with Poor Things and The Favourite, one of Lanthimos’ most prominent films was The Killing of the Sacred Deer. Starring Colin Farrell, another one of Lanthimos’ frequent collaborators, The Killing of the Sacred Deer also helped put Barry Keoghan on the map for his portrayal of Martin.

Like many of Lanthimos’ most gruesome films, The Killing of a Sacred Deer forces Steven (Farrell) to make an impossible decision or face gruesome consequences. With mystical elements and circumstances that can’t be explained, it’s the sense of a lack of control that defines The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Without the ability to understand what’s happening to him and his family, Steven loses his grip on reality, and the viewer is taken along with him.

1

Inland Empire (2006)

Directed by David Lynch

It’s difficult to parse through what the larger themes and story beats of Inland Empire are, as David Lynch’s 2006 thriller is one of his most experimental works. Though the director is well known for incorporating surrealist and dreamlike moments into his scripts, Inland Empire exemplifies this style and atmosphere. From the use of grainy camcorder footage to the unforgettable performance by Laura Dern, Inland Empire is hard to watch for many reasons.

Understanding Lynch’s work and his intent with Inland Empire helps viewers cross the barriers to entry that sometimes feel insurmountable when approaching a non-traditional film. However, this doesn’t stop the audience from being scared witless by the end of the movie. It doesn’t require a deep understanding of the story to know that Inland Empire is trying to terrify you. However, it’s likely best watched after getting a few other Lynch projects under your belt.