20 Scariest Horror Movies to Come Out in the Last 5 Years

Horror movies are meant to shock and scare, right? While this does remain essential to the genre, it has evolved in various ways, and sometimes the focus is more on entertaining through blood-soaked humor, creating a dark and tense atmosphere to evoke unease, or as a way to explore certain social issues. Scares are not necessarily required to make a good horror movie, and what is scary is going to be subjective to each. Still, fans of the genre always seek movies that will scare them or touch a particular nerve to make them squirm.

Modern horror continues to push the boundaries of the genre in intriguing ways. Here we have put together 20 movies from the last 5 years that offer scares and highlight the genre at its most terrifying.

20 Alone With You (2021)

Waiting at home for her partner to return, Charlie soon begins to experience odd occurrences in her home, including a crying voice coming from another apartment and ominous figures lurking around her flat. These bizarre instances become all the more troubling when she finds she is unable to leave her place, which forces her to deal with the surrounding nightmares that also manifest as reflections of her past years of personal trauma.

Pandemic Paranoia and Night Terrors

While there was an abundance of lockdown-related films during the pandemic, not all of them captured the sheer everyday anxiety that everyone felt while effectively interjecting moments of horror. Emily Bennet and Justin Brook’s Alone With You did an exceptional job of capturing pandemic paranoia that did irreparable mental health damage to many, but it also interjected a surreal nightmarish scenario mimicking sleep paralysis and night terrors.

Consistently discomforting, especially when going into themes of abuse and trauma from Charlie’s past, Alone with You was able to punctuate the tense atmosphere with some strong scares. The movie also features a strong performance from lead Emily Bennet (who also co-wrote and directed the film) and has a pleasant surprise in Barbara Crampton in a supporting role as Charlie’s dotting mother. Still, those who have had issues with sleep conditions will find that the real terror/scares come from how well the film captures the uncertainty of reality versus the dream state. Stream Alone With You on AMC+.

Related: 10 Movies That Feel Like a Nightmare

19 Barbarian (2022)

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A tale of two different storylines, Barbarian focuses on a B&B in a long abandoned town that harbors a dark secret in its basement. It starts off following a woman, Tess, played by Georgina Campbell, who accidentally ends up double booking the place and spending it with a stranger; their disappearance then cuts to the owner of the BnB, AJ, played by Justin Long, heading out to the same location, further exposing what lies beneath.

The Monster Below

Barbarian’s plot is rather disjointed and nonsensical, yet this does little to diminish the film’s scares and explored themes. This obviously did not dissuade audiences or critics either, with the film topping the box office on its debut and sitting at a 93% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. Much of this praise came from exploring themes such as entitlement, gentrification, greed, and gender dynamics through the horror genre.

For those looking for scares, though, and not caring about the greater messaging of the movie, there is plenty to squirm at with the odd deformed creature living beneath the BnB. Whether it be in the confines of the underground lair or running through the streets, the elongated creature is wonderfully nightmare-inducing and knows exactly when to pop out to deliver a good scare. Rent Barbarian on Apple TV.

18 Caveat (2020)

Suffering from amnesia and struggling to make a living, Isaac, played by Jonathan French, takes on a peculiar job offer of heading to a remote island to look after a psychologically disturbed woman named Olga. As part of the job, Isaac is forced to wear a harness that allows him only to reach certain areas of the home. This makes him unable to escape or fully investigate as odd occurrences happen around the house.

A House Holding Horrific Secrets

There is a constant sense of unease over the entire production of Damian McCarthy’s Caveat, from the moment he is ‘shackled in’ to perform an unconventional ‘job’ for an acquaintance of his. The way the film unravels, with Isaac’s memory slowly returning and places in the home remaining just out of reach, presents an intriguing mystery thick with atmosphere.

While the movie thrives as a slow-burn, atmospheric mystery with horror elements, Caveat builds up to several great scares that punctuate the odd events unfolding. This includes a shocking encounter with a figure in the tight confines of a shaft that will shake up the most hardened horror fan. All this is also complimented by a great performance from Johnny French as Issac. Stream Caveat on AMC+.

17 The Dark and the Wicked (2020)

After the death of their mother, two siblings return to the family home in order to take care of their infirm father. The meeting brings up past grievances shared by the siblings, but the horrors come as they slowly begin to realize their father’s illness is tied to something much more sinister. Finding themselves bound to the land by caring for their father and an unknown demonic force, the two begin to spiral into the darkness of their situation.

Haunted by An Ancient Evil

The Dark and the Wicked is a wonderfully gloomy and bleak horror film that puts two siblings at the mercy of an unrelenting demonic force. The atmosphere here is stifling, thanks to sharp visual direction, an ominous score, and great performances from Marin Ireland and Michael Abbott Jr. All these elements come together for some shocking stings of horror through both practical effects and implied supernatural attacks. Those who love movies that are meant to push for discussion around the genre will also appreciate the ambiguity that much of the film exists in. Stream The Dark and The Wicked on Shudder and AMC+.

16 Deadstream (2022)

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Shawn, a disgraced content creator, is trying to reinvent his career by taking on a new challenge, entering a haunted house alone. As he starts filming, he is met by a super-fan who helps him with his investigation, but as they dig deeper into the house’s history, they learn its dark origins. Once Shawn awakens the spirits, he is forced to fight for his life over the course of a single night.

Life and Death of a Social Media Influencer

The real joy of Deadstream comes from its comedic edge, with Shawn (Joseph Winters) being such an insufferable social media personality (think 3 A.M. kids content) that it becomes fun to cheer for and witness him get attacked. Taking the obnoxious persona out of the mix, the movie really captures classic Evil Dead vibes and gives it a found footage spin; a blast for a movie night with friends.

While it may seem this is a more lighthearted affair in the horror genre, and in some ways, its silliness makes it just that, the amount of over-the-top gore and jump scares make sure audiences laugh and squirm in equal measure. This includes a gnarly filth-soaked bath encounter and a run-in with a mangled police officer. Fun from start to finish with a few good jump scares thrown in for measure, Deadstream is the perfect mix of gross-out horror with practical effects and dark comedy. Stream Deadstream on AMC+.

Related: 26 Best Found Footage Movies of the 2010s, Ranked

15 The Elderly (2022)

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A family is struggling with their elderly patriarch, Manuel, after the death of his wife seems to leave him in catatonic headspace and showing signs of dementia. Despite this, the family works hard to involve him in their life. But as a heatwave strikes the city, it seems that all of Spain’s elderly population is undergoing an odd transformation, often resulting in violence.

The Old Will Not Be Replaced by the New

For those who hold our older generations in high regard, The Elderly presents a scary scenario wherein that bond breaks down into something sinister and horrific. The Spanish horror film by Raul Cerezo Fernando & Gonzalez Gomez is not just a frightening concept, as the movie perfectly unravels the idea of a murderous octogenarian from a well-scripted family drama that teases up to the chaotic second half of the movie.

For those who want to dig a bit deeper, beyond exploring themes of caring for the elderly, the movie also offers up social commentary on various aspects of life, from climate change to fascism. Stream The Elderly on AMC+.

14 The Empty Man (2020)

In the process of investigating the disappearance of a girl, ex-cop James Lasombra (James Badge Dale) comes across a cult worshiping an ancient cosmic entity. His investigation takes him deep into the various branches and elements of the cult, with James slowly realizing that not only are they aware of his investigation, but that it is playing into their plans.

Lovecraftian Neo-Noir

Arguably one of the most divisive horror films of 2020, The Empty Man mix of Lovecraftian horrors and detective drama did not work for everyone. The film itself is also not one that remains consistently scary, with much focus on drama and the personal struggles of James.

Still, the movie’s opening is so wonderfully dark and disturbing in its set-up of what is to come, with the snow-bound origins of the empty man being explored. The movie follows this up with a few stings of abject horror to pepper the film with scares. Stream The Empty Man on Hulu.

13 Evil Dead Rise (2023)

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The tenants of an apartment complex come in contact with an ancient evil when some of them accidentally stumble upon the fated ‘Book of the Dead.’ As one family member after the other falls into demonic possession, the remainder must fight them off while trying to figure out a way to escape from the complex that they are now trapped in.

A Successful Return for The Evil Dead

The Evil Dead has remained a fan favorite, with Ash (Bruce Campbell) being one of the most beloved heroes ever to grace the genre. While Evil Dead Rise did not include the foul-mouthed hero, the movie managed to pay homage to its source while pushing the franchise forward for new and old fans.

Notably, the dark humor elements certainly still resonate with the evil dead (deadites) still having a knack for playfully mocking their victims, but the way they do it is more brutal than anything that came before it in the series. This also means a heavier emphasis on scares; whether it be a deadite lurking in the background or an elevator flooded with blood, Evil Dead Rise stays consistently frightening. We can’t wait till the next entry! Stream Evil Dead Rise on Max.

12 Good Boy (2022)

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A millionaire heir, Christian, has a peculiar living arrangement where he takes care of a man named Frank who dresses up and lives his life like a dog. Despite this shocking reveal to a girl he meets online, Sigrid, the two decide to go on a vacation retreat with all three of them. As Sigrid gets used to the situation and starts to fall in for the charismatic Christian, things soon take a turn when Frank finally speaks, asking for help.

It’s All Gone to the Dogs

The Norwegian horror/thriller by director Viljar Boe, Good Boy, made itself a surprise hit for a foreign, lower-budgeted feature. This is for good reason, as the film was built on an interesting premise that turns disturbing.

The film’s real focus comes from Ingrid realizing Christian’s cruelty and trying to navigate the seriousness of her situation while pretending she does not know what is happening between him and Frank. This is one of those movies that are best to go in blind, as the way the story unfolds and builds the terror of Sigrid’s situation. Rent Good Boy on Apple TV+.

Related: 28 Best Horror Movies on Prime Video to Watch Right Now

11 His House (2020)

A refugee couple from South Sudan, Bol, and Rial, is struggling to adapt to their new life in an English town, from the poor housing conditions, racism, and the struggle between trying to assimilate while still honoring their culture. While they are struggling, disturbing phenomena begin to occur in their new home, leading Rial to believe that an evil presence is haunting them.

Home Is Where the Horror Is

Remi Weekes’s His House proved to be an inventive entry into the horror genre, tapping into real-world dread and current social issues in Britain with immigration, all delivered with a polished cinematic style focused on evoking dread. The movie also boasted standout performances from Sope Dirisu and Wunmi Mosaku, as the couple struggled with the entity in their home.

The scares punctuate all these dramatic elements and reflections on social issues, and there are instances that will leave audiences audibly gasping. Stream His House on Netflix.

10 Impetigore (2019)

Maya, a toll booth operator, heads back to her ancestral village with her friend Dini after she learns of an inheritance left to her. However, this visit reveals her family’s dark past, with the small village holding a grudge against Maya’s family, which puts her face to face with dark secrets, curses, and a history forged in superstition and violence.

Atmospheric Horror from Indonesia

Director Joko Anwar has made a name for himself as Indonesia’s most prominent purveyor of terror, with his film Satan’s Slaves being the introduction to many of Anwar’s ability to craft distinct and haunting cinematic experiences. His follow-up in the genre, Impetigore, melded elements of folk horror with a striking visual style to create a haunting tale of superstition and violence.

Despite its name, the movie is light on actual gore, but it crawls under the viewer’s skin and is guaranteed to scare audiences with each shocking reveal. Stream Impetigore on AMC+.

9 Incantation (2022)

Inspired by true events that took place in Gushan District, Kaohsiung, in 2005, where a family claimed to be possessed by various Chinese folk deities, Incantation marks a unique entry in the found footage genre. The movie follows Li Ronan, who was cursed after breaking a religious taboo six years ago. Now, it is up to her to protect her daughter from her past transgressions. With the help of her friends, who sincerely believe in the supernatural, Li looks to address the curse hanging over her family.

Ancient Curses and Eerie Rituals

There is something about the found footage genre that works exceptionally well for building horror. From the way, it provides an intimate account of the events unfolding through the eyes of its participants to the way it keeps the viewer constantly looking for clues or monsters tucked away in the corners of an always-moving camera, the genre is ideal for inducing scares. Incantation is one of the genre’s better entries in the past five years, packed full of jump-scares and an unnerving environment that keeps viewers glued to the screen.

Taiwanese horror film has yet to carve out a place in the west as much as other Asian countries such as Japan or Korea, but Incantation also benefits from giving an inside look into movies from the region and certain superstitions and cultural elements. Those who love eerie rituals, cursed videos, and unexplained phenomena should jump at the chance to check this one out. Stream Incantation on Netflix.

8 New Religion (2022)

After losing her daughter in an accident, Miyabi, gets a divorce and starts working as a call-girl. This leads her to a peculiar client who wants to take pictures of her body. Yet, Miyabi finds herself drawn to the odd figure, and she soon learns that his fetishistic obsessions are only part of a larger implication for both Miyabi’s personal life and the growth of an underground organization bent on destruction.

Breathing New Life into Japanese Horror

Proving that Japanese horror is not only alive and kicking, but evolving with the modern era, New Religionmay not have the long-haired ghosts or curses one might expect, but it touches on something much darker. Forged by modern paranoia, unchecked fetishism, and desires to see the world burn, Keishi Kondo’s debut film took a visceral approach to the horror genre. The movie is also complimented by a strong score that sways between ambient and intrusive, working wonderfully well to create constant tension.

New Religion may not be one of those movies that instantly evokes those feelings of being scared, and its blend of art-house, horror and mystery won’t work for all. Still, for certain viewers, it will prove to be a disturbing experience that will resonate with them long after the film has ended, making you question the intentions of those around you and what kind of perverse evils may lurk in the corners of every building. Sometimes, it is those sensations that linger with us after a film has ended that make it more frightening than anything else. Stream New Religion on Amazon Prime.

7 Relic (2020)

The disappearance of an elderly woman who suffers from dementia, Edna, brings her daughters, Sam and Kay, back to their childhood home to aid in the search. However, when Edna returns and insists nothing is the matter, the two decide to stay and keep a watchful eye over their mother. This leads to a series of bizarre encounters and notable transformations in their mother which, lead the two to believe something more sinister is afoot.

The Horror of The Inevitable

Director Natalie Erika James drew from her own personal experiences with dementia and the care/support system around the common condition as a starting point for her horror film Relic. This provided a highly emotional backdrop to the story, which allowed the push into horror to carry a sincere edge and make the instances happening with the family in the film all the more scary.

The way the film builds up suspense works incredibly well, with the surrounding house slowly decaying and the duo being haunted by strange imagery. By the end, when the home begins to contort and the matriarch starts to further decline, audiences will have already been treated to an abundance of great scares before the disturbing climax. Stream Relic on AMC+.

6 The Sadness (2022)

Separated during a pandemic in Taiwan that sees its residents turning viciously violent, Jim and Kat try to find each other in the chaos. Yet, as the virus spreads and every corner of the city is turned into a bloodbath, the chances of them finding each other only become slimmer with every passing moment.

Violence and Horror in Excess

Arguably one of the most gory and violent films ever conceived, The Sadness is unrelenting and excessive in its approach; a fact which won over many horror hounds. At the same time, director Rob Jabbaz did not compromise the story in favor of shock, and the movie is still deeply engaging, giving viewers more reason to get invested in the survival of Jim and Kat.

The Sadness does toe a fine line between shock and scares, and often the two kind of get melded together. This can be seen from the opening instances of the sudden outbreak, with a massacre on a subway train eliciting more of a visceral disgust than fear. Still, the amount of graphic imagery combined with an intense atmosphere will scare those who are a bit more green to extreme cinema. Just be careful when going in, you are in for a bloodbath. Stream The Sadness on AMC+.

5 Smile (2022)

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Haunted by her past, Dr. Rose Cotter has dedicated her life to helping others. However, when a young girl comes in and discusses an entity haunting her with a sinister smile, Rose soon becomes the next target of the mysterious force. As she investigates and realizes there is a timeline to how long before people afflicted end up dying, she desperately tries to find the origins and a way to escape the cures laid upon her.

Horror Served With a Deadly Smile

Smile proved to be a massive success at the box office, partly due to a viral marketing campaign where actors carrying a sinister smile were seen in the background of other programs. Thankfully, Smile was able to back up the hype with some wonderfully frightening jump scares and a tense atmosphere. While fans have been asking for a sequel, the movie stands great on its own thanks to its unique creature design and how the monster overtakes its victims by making them envision others with distorted smiles. Stream Smile on Prime Video.

4 Soul (2019)

Set in an undisclosed past in Malaysia, a young family living in the forest receives a peculiar visitor in a feral and dirty child. Shortly after taking her in, the young child shows her true face and ends her life in front of the horrified family to bring a curse upon them and their home. As tragedies and violence befall the family and others nearby, the mother must race to figure out how to break the curse.

A Shocking Folk Horror from Malaysia

2019 proved to be an outstanding year for Southeast Asian cinema gaining greater recognition, with both Impetigore being brought to streaming platforms and Soul (Roh) becoming a minor hit on the festival circuit and, later, streaming. The two films certainly hold similarities, and their dive into the lore of each country proved to be an alluring theme that pushed the films forward. Yet, Soul offers a bit more visceral shock, with the opening of the curse though a child self-cancellation, being one of the most disturbing and frightening sequences committed to film.

While Soul does follow up its strong intro with a few more shocking and violent revelations, the thick brooding atmosphere and the journey into superstition and ancient evils of Malaysia ensure a singular scene does not just define the movie. Director Emir Ezwan, who primarily works as a special effects artist, would also have a hand in creating the horrors in one of the other great Malaysian horror films of the past five years, Blood Flower. Stream Soul (Roh) for free on Tubi.

3 Talk to Me (2023)

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A group of teenagers discovers that they can speak to the dead through a mysterious cast hand by holding it and allowing them in. This supernatural tool becomes a party game, where the experience is filmed and timed with the understanding that going past a certain point would only cause the participant irreparable mental damage. When Mia starts to play, the worse begins to happen, with both her being drawn in too deep to the world of the dead, and her younger brother being possessed by a particularly malicious entity.

Talk To Me may be A24’s most shocking, traditional, horror film, with a rather straightforward plot and lack of surrealism or exploration of greater themes that have earned the company praise in the genre. That said, what YouTubers turned filmmakers Danny & Michael Philippou were able to accomplish in their debut is nothing short of impressive, offering up what is arguably the most shocking and scary horror movie of 2023.

Jump Scares, Great Effects, and a Haunting Story

While there are some great jump scares here, the brutality of the dead is what will really churn stomachs. The initial possession of Mia’s kid brother is difficult to watch, and each moment will have audiences begging for someone to stop the kid from throwing around and harming his body. At the same time, the movie can get uncomfortably gross. Essentially, everything one would want in a horror movie (especially on the back of such a standout performance from Sophie Wilde). Rent Talk To Me on Apple TV.

2 V/H/S/99 (2022)

The found footage horror anthology V/HS/99, marked the fifth entry in the popular franchise. Presenting several short films from masters of horror, the entry included segments around a sorority prank gone wrong, a children’s game show hiding a sinister secret, and a duo accidentally getting teleported to hell.

One of the Most Consistently Frightening Modern Horror Franchises

It is difficult not to mention the V/H/S/ franchise when talking about the scariest movies in the past five years, with the film becoming an annual tradition for Shudder since 2021’s V/H/S94, with more planned. Picking a single entry is a bit arbitrary, as the best way to experience this franchise is to experience each, all have their strong and weak segments.

However, V/H/S/99 offers a good balance of scares and humor, thanks to its inclusion of some of the more ‘out there’ segments, including “Ozzy’s Dungeon” by Flying Lotus and Vanessa & Joseph Winter’s “To Hell and Back.” Still, for quickfire scares, the V/H/S franchise is perfect. Stream V/H/S/99 on AMC+.

1 When Evil Lurks (2023)

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When two brothers are called to the home of a neighbor to discover that one of its members has turned utterly grotesque due to harboring an evil spirit, they look to dispose of the body to keep their community safe. However, when they inadvertently lose the body out the back of their truck, its evil begins to slowly seep into the lives of the various townsfolk, causing bloody chaos.

Unrelenting Evil

When Evil Lurks is quite possibly the scariest movie released in the past five years. Director Demian Rugna shucks many modern horror movie tropes to deliver an unrelenting experience where evil is around every corner, and wants to destroy you both physically and mentally. Moreover, no one is safe, as the evil force targets anyone and everyone, leading to some highly tense and uncomfortable deaths that further push the movie’s bleakness.

However, like any good horror movie, When Evil Lurks is not just about the shock value, as the way that each instance is woven together flows perfectly from one instance to another. Demian Rugna will, undeniably, become one of the greatest talked about horror directors of his generation if he is able to continue to conjure the chaos as seen in this disturbing tale of possession and unrelenting evil. Stream When Evil Lurks on AMC+.