Fear and violence have always been part of the human experience, and have been represented in the horror genre in one way or another since the art form itself began. Horror is a perfect outlet to tackle those phenomena head-on by shedding light directly onto them. Many viewers find escapism in the genre, and a lot of filmmakers behind the best horror movies have found new and beautiful ways of exploring the various themes of the genre, elevating them from horror B-movie status to a highly respected and decorated subcategory of cinema.

The Academy Awards have had a very tumultuous relationship with horror, often omitting strong performances and production design from its shortlists. While films like Rosemary’s Baby and Silence of the Lambs may have seen some Oscar appreciation, there has been an outcry for more respect to be given to this often-underrated genre. But, certain directors have been flying the flag for horror and creating films with some stunning visuals, exceptional acting, and a focus on the emotional toll on the protagonists as well as the audience.

10

Let the Right One In (2008)

Directed by Tomas Alfredson

Snow-covered ground and a drab and dreary color scheme hint at the Scandinavian origins of this minimalist horror film. Its diffused lighting and muted tones set the scene for a tragic tale of loneliness, and a yearning for connection. The cold can be felt through the screen, and viewers are immediately immersed in the severe Swedish winter, and a seemingly innocent relationship between Oskar and Eli is formed. Their story is handled in a delicate way at first, lulling viewers into a false sense of security.

The horror in this film does not feel chaotic. It somehow hypnotizes the audience with the juxtaposition of the white background and dim lighting, which give the violence an almost poetic feel. Paced in a slow and deliberate way, the tension grows slowly, which makes it that much more emotionally impactful when the reveal is finally shown. One of the most un-vampire-like vampire films, this melancholy tale is beautiful both on the inside and out.

9

Cat People (1942)

Directed by Jacques Tourneur

Though the use of light and shadow was not particularly new, even in the 1940s, the way it is utilized here is something quite special. The psychological tension builds through haunting visuals that often mislead the viewers and take them in a different direction than they thought. Filmed during the Golden Age of cinema, there is an undeniable elegance in this picture, which can only come from the type of old-school techniques used back in the day. And, Simone Simon’s performance is full of class, glamor, and grace.

There are a few scenes that stand out that have been oft-copied and recreated, but it’s the originals that show just how influential this atmospheric horror film was. The suspenseful sequence that leads to a bus bringing the ultimate scare was quite a unique twist at the time, filled with long and silent moments that let the audience settle into the moment before being shocked out of it. And, the transformation scene in the pool is filled with glistening beauty and shadowy nuance. It goes to show, the lack of CGI can create some truly stunning cinematography.

8

The Neon Demon (2016)

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn

Though many horror films rely mostly on darkness and shadows to create a frightening atmosphere, this one goes in the completely opposite direction, lighting it up in technicolor. Soaked in rainbow-hued neon, the highly stylized Neon Demon is a masterpiece of psychological horror, building tension and suspense under the bright spotlight of purple, blue, and red neon. It’s an abstract tale that relies heavily on the visuals, but once the viewer is drawn in by the pretty lights and pretty people, the penny drops.

The horror sequences in this fashion-based movie led by Elle Fanning, are abstract and surreal, which make for a true visual feast. Many of the scary moments have the look and feel of a high-fashion shoot for an Avant-Garde magazine, which naturally translates beautifully to the screen. The ritualistic nature of the shocking final sequence seems almost put of place, and that is exactly why it needed to be there.

7

The Shining (1980)

Directed by Stanley Kubrick

It’s safe to say this horror classic is filled with frightening moments and unsettling violence, but it also boasts some of the most memorable visuals from the genre. Many people who do not enjoy horror films would be able to recognize Jack Nicholson’s face through the slit in the door, or the creepy twins standing in the pastel corridor. These scenes are perfectly orchestrated moments that elevate The Shining (an adaptation Stephen King hated) from a grisly bloodbath to a psychological horror filled with visually striking imagery.

Symmetry is at the heart of the film’s aesthetics, as perfectly aligned geometric patterns meet perfectly balanced hues to give an unsettling look and feel to the setting. A bold use of color bathes the horror in light and shade, with blood reds and icy blues dominating the palette purposefully. The tension is mostly built on long, stressful takes, which make the audience dread what’s to come and, more importantly, when it will happen. Kubrick’s vision was indeed a masterful one.

6

The Others (2001)

Directed by Alejandro Amenábar

SH๏τ through a soft and muted color palette, this hauntingly beautiful horror relies much more on the elaborate and eerie setting than on the obvious jump scares. The rooms are dimly lit, the exteriors are covered in fog, and the viewers have a constant feeling that there is something hidden that they cannot quite make out. Each frame feels almost like a ghostly vision that haunts their waking hours, and they cannot tell what is real and what is not. Much like the plot of the film.

The set design is impressive, and the attention to detail on the Victorian-style furniture and luxurious heavy draping adds a dark and claustrophobic feeling of isolation. With suspense and unease driving the plot forward, Nicole Kidman does an excellent job expressing her emotions to the viewers so they can relate to the sadness that hangs over each frame. With a lot of poetic influence and more emotionally driven fear tactics, The Others stands out from the many other gory horrors of its decade.

5

House of Usher (1960)

Directed by Roger Corman

Edgar Allan Poe was a genius at creating frightful visions and scary scenarios through his writing, so a movie adaptation had a lot of source material to lean on. But, in order to do justice to “The Raven” writer himself, Roger Corman ensured the film he created was filled with poetic melancholy and gothic set design. The mansion itself is shown as a decaying masterpiece, and a relic of something that was once grand and opulent.

But, it’s that very disheveled state that adds to the eerie feel of the film, creating a striking setting for the horror to unfold. There is a lot of color used to bring this lavish yet tragic story to life, which creates an unsettling dream-like quality that never feels quite right. A sense of fatalism looms heavy on the viewers, as Vincent Price’s elegant and melancholic performance drives the plot. Though the 2024 Netflix adaptation explored this tale even more, this seductive ’60s version draws the audience in with its beauty and grandeur.

4

X (2022)

Directed by Ti West

Part of a trio of interconnected films by Ti West, Mia Goth leads the charge in each of them in roles that suit the facets of her personality perfectly. She herself embodies a lot of the feel of each story, and the styling and visual choices of all three deserve to be appreciated. X was the first film released, even though it is not chronologically the first chapter of the story. Set in the 1970s, the way West sH๏τ the film evokes the pictures of that era with an almost grainy feel to some of the sH๏τs.

The hazy cinematography lends itself perfectly to the story unfolding on-screen, as it suits the adult movie portions as well as the horror sections. Most of the beauty of the piece lies in the build up to the bloody finale. A sH๏τ where Mia Goth floats in a vast lake, with her face partially submerged, is as beautiful as any Best-Picture-winning film, and most of the action taking place at nighttime has an eerie and atmospheric feel to it.

3

Suspiria (2018)

Directed by Luca Guadagnino

While the original Suspiria relied more on color and loud music to score its larger-than-life sequences, the new iteration is much more subdued in tone. This applies both to the dim lighting and gray color schemes that build the austere world of a highly compeтιтive dance school. A sense of dread looms in every take, but even the more gruesome moments are sH๏τ with care and meaning. There is not much gratuitous gore, and a lot of the effects were created practically, adding a haunting realism to the film.

The dance scenes in particular are where a lot of the beauty happens, with Guadagnino creating frame-upon-frame that could serve as a museum-grade work of art in itself. Choosing to shoot the film with duller shades allowed the audience to experience the tumultuous and unsettling times during which the story was set, and it also made the culmination of the film feel that much more impactful. Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth, and Dakota Johnson fit in perfectly into this mysterious world of painful beauty and suspense.

2

Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)

Directed by Werner Herzog

This iconic vampire has been a part of cinematic history since 1922 when Count Orlok was showcased throughout exaggerated shadows and high-contrast lighting. An unsettling visual feast, there were certainly scares aplenty, especially for an unsuspecting early 20th century audience, but the distorted perspectives created a mesmerizing atmosphere. The most recent version lent into this aesthetic a lot, but considerably upped the ante when it came to jump scares and gore.

While each version has its merits, Werner Herzog’s version has a dream-like quality that creates an atmosphere of trepidation but sH๏τ in a beautiful way. The slow pacing is almost hypnotic, and the ambient score sets the scene for a tragic turn of events that are designed to pack an emotional punch rather than just scare viewers senseless. The performances suit the style of cinematography perfectly, and it remains one of the most visually striking horrors ever made.

1

Midsommar (2019)

Directed by Ari Aster

From start to finish, Midsommar is a collection of near-perfect scenes, one right after the other. From the tragic drama that occurs, to the carefully arranged set design and meticulous framing, audiences are hooked straight away. The whole journey is a wild roller-coaster of emotions, executed masterfully by Florence Pugh’s iconic facial expressions. Though there are dark moments in the film, there is also intense brightness, which almost overwhelms the senses, and feels out of place, yet it’s so incredibly necessary to convey the eerie message.

The folk aesthetic set the scene in an eerie, cult-like way, and the unrelenting bright blue skies somehow manage to feel more claustrophobic than any enclosed space could. Then there are the costumes and set design. From the iconic flower dress and colorful maypoles, to the huge bear and uncomfortably large outdoor table covered with food, everything that happens feels wrong somehow, despite looking so beautiful. Even the gory ways some of the bodies were displayed, were artistic and creative, making Misdommar one of the most beautiful horror films to watch again and again.