Some films lock you to your seat the moment the theater lights dim. Zach Cregger’s Barbarian is exactly that kind of movie. Beyond merely scaring, it stuns audiences with unexpected plot twists, masterfully blending suspense and humor to redefine the genre. If you’re chasing that unique fusion, here’s a list of 15 films—spanning subterranean terror, elderly frights, and laugh-out-loud horror-comedies—each opening a door to a different world.
- The Descent
British director Neil Marshall’s gripping thriller follows a group of women on a caving expedition trapped in an underground labyrinth. Beyond the darkness, an unknown threat hunts them, delivering the same nail-biting, claustrophobic atmosphere as Barbarian. - As Above, So Below
This found-footage horror follows a group searching for the Philosopher’s Stone in Paris’s eerie catacombs. Ghosts and demons lurk around every corner, pulling viewers into a claustrophobic nightmare. - The Tunnel
A group of journalists investigating missing homeless people in Sydney’s underground tunnels faces a chilling entity. Unlike The Blair Witch Project’s minimalist approach, this film builds terror with a “more is better” philosophy, keeping viewers on edge. - The Taking of Deborah Logan
This film follows Deborah Logan, an Alzheimer’s patient, whose condition evolves into a demonic, supernatural horror. It breathes new life into the hagsploitation subgenre, proving the elderly can be terrifying. - X
Ti West’s stylish, shocking film follows a group of adult filmmakers confronting the dark secrets of their elderly hosts. X showcases how modern horror can blend with art, elevated by Mia Goth’s unforgettable performance. - Drag Me to Hell
Sam Raimi’s return to his “splatstick” style, this film follows a banker cursed by an elderly woman after denying her a loan. Packed with dark humor and exaggerated horror, Raimi’s boundless creativity shines. - Evil Dead II
Raimi’s horror-comedy masterpiece abandons the original’s tension for anarchic absurdity, leaving audiences in stitches. With innovative camerawork and Bruce Campbell’s iconic performance, it practically invents its own genre. - Braindead (Dead Alive)
Peter Jackson’s zombie tale infuses Monty Python-inspired humor. Known for its stomach-churning gore, the film’s over-the-top violence becomes hilariously absurd, masterfully balancing horror and comedy. - An American Werewolf in London
John Landis’s more restrained approach earns its place in the horror-comedy pantheon. Following two American tourists attacked by a strange creature in rural England, it blends supernatural elements with natural humor. - Green Room
A punk rock band becomes the target of neo-Nazis at a gig, delivering claustrophobic suspense. Its realistic violence and relentless pace glue viewers to their seats. - Cabin in the Woods
This meta-horror mocks genre clichés, following college students at a remote cabin in an experience that combines the funniest and bloodiest moments of horror cinema. - Get Out
Jordan Peele’s masterpiece blends horror with social critique. A Black man visiting his white girlfriend’s family uncovers sinister events, exposing the insidiousness of racism. - It Follows
This indie horror follows a group of teens cursed after a sexual encounter, with the curse relentlessly pursuing them. Its slow, deliberate pace builds layered tension, bringing fresh air to modern horror with its unique concept and atmosphere. - The Babadook
This Australian film follows a grieving mother and son battling a monster in their home. The creature, Babadook, serves as a metaphor for their trauma and grief, making this a deeply emotional horror experience. - Hereditary
Following a family’s tragic losses, a woman uncovers dark secrets, blending psychological suspense and horror. The film dives into the depths of the human psyche, exposing the terror infiltrating a family.
