1.Midsommar
Director: Ari Aster
Stars: Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, Will Poulter
Midsommar (2019) follows a grieving woman, Dani, who joins her boyfriend Christian and his friends on a trip to Sweden for a midsummer festival. What begins as a picturesque retreat soon turns horrifying as they uncover the disturbing rituals of a pagan cult. As the group is drawn deeper into the cult’s practices, Dani faces personal and psychological challenges, leading to a chilling and unforgettable conclusion.
2.Us
Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss
Us (2019) is a psychological horror film directed by Jordan Peele. The story follows Adelaide Wilson, who reunites with her family at their beach house, only to be confronted by doppelgängers of themselves. As the night unfolds, the family discovers that these sinister duplicates, known as “Tethered,” have come to take their place, leading to a tense and bloody fight for survival. Themes of identity and societal division are explored.
3.The Lighthouse
Director: Robert Eggers
Stars: Willem Dafoe, Robert Pattinson
The Lighthouse (2019), directed by Robert Eggers, is a psychological horror film set in the late 19th century. It follows two lighthouse keepers, played by Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, isolated on a remote island. As the days drag on, their sanity begins to unravel amidst harsh weather, mysterious occurrences, and escalating tension. Themes of isolation, madness, and mythology are explored in this intense, visually striking, and atmospheric thriller.
4.Ready or Not
Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Stars: Samara Weaving, Adam Brody, Mark O’Brien
Ready or Not (2019) is a dark comedy horror film about Grace, a newlywed who is thrust into a deadly game of hide-and-seek with her wealthy in-laws. On her wedding night, Grace learns that as part of the family’s tradition, she must play a game to be accepted into the family. However, the game takes a sinister turn, and she must survive the night while being hunted. The film blends suspense, dark humor, and social commentary on class and privilege.
5.Doctor Sleep
Director: Mike Flanagan
Stars: Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyliegh Curran
Doctor Sleep (2019) follows Danny Torrance, the traumatized child from The Shining, now an adult struggling with alcoholism and psychic powers. He forms a bond with Abra, a young girl with similar abilities, as they battle a cult that feeds on children with “the shining.” As Danny confronts his past, he must protect Abra from the ruthless cult and come to terms with his own dark history. The film blends horror with themes of healing and redemption.
6.It Chapter Two
Director: Andy Muschietti
Stars: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader
It Chapter Two (2019) follows the adult members of the Losers’ Club as they reunite 27 years after their childhood battle with the evil entity, Pennywise. When strange occurrences resurface in Derry, the group returns to confront their fears. As they struggle to remember their shared past and defeat the shape-shifting entity once and for all, they must face both personal demons and the terrifying force of Pennywise. The film blends horror, nostalgia, and emotional closure.
7.Crawl
Director: Alexandre Aja
Stars: Kaya Scodelario, Barry Pepper
Crawl (2019) is a survival horror film about Haley Keller, a college student, who must rescue her father, Dave, after a deadly hurricane hits Florida. As floodwaters rise, they find themselves trapped in their home with aggressive alligators. Battling both nature’s fury and the predators, Haley fights to survive and save her father. The tense, action-packed film explores courage, survival, and the bond between parent and child.
8.Happy Death Day 2U
Director: Christopher Landon
Stars: Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard
Happy Death Day 2U (2019) is a sci-fi horror sequel to Happy Death Day. After Tree Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) escapes a time loop, she finds herself stuck in a new one where a different version of herself is killed repeatedly. To break the cycle, Tree must confront a new villain, deal with parallel timelines, and uncover the truth behind the loop, all while navigating relationships and her own survival. The film blends slasher, comedy, and sci-fi elements.
9.Child’s Play
Director: Lars Klevberg
Stars: Aubrey Plaza, Gabriel Bateman
Child’s Play (2019) is a horror-thriller about a malfunctioning, AI-powered doll named “Chucky.” A young boy, Andy, receives the doll as a gift, but soon discovers it has a sinister side. With the ability to control devices and mimic human behavior, Chucky begins committing violent acts. As the body count rises, Andy and his friends must fight to stop the doll before it becomes too powerful.
10.Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Director: André Øvredal
Stars: Zoe Colletti, Michael Garza
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) follows a group of teens in 1968 as they uncover a mysterious book of horror stories. When they begin reading from it, the terrifying events of the book come to life, with each story manifesting as a deadly reality. The teens must unravel the book’s secrets to stop the sinister forces before they become the next victims in a chilling race against time.
11.The Perfection
Director: Richard Shepard
Stars: Allison Williams, Logan Browning
The Perfection (2019) follows Charlotte, a former cello prodigy, who reconnects with her mentor’s new star pupil, Lizzie. As they bond, a twisted series of events unfolds, leading to a shocking and disturbing turn. Themes of manipulation, revenge, and psychological horror are explored, as both women confront dark secrets from their pasts. The film blends suspense with shocking twists in a psychological thriller narrative.
12.Ma
Director: Tate Taylor
Stars: Octavia Spencer, Juliette Lewis
Ma (2019) is a psychological horror film directed by Tate Taylor. The story follows a group of teenagers who befriend a lonely woman, Sue Ann, played by Octavia Spencer, and ask her to buy alcohol for them. Sue Ann invites them to party at her house but soon becomes obsessed with them. As her sinister motives unfold, the teens realize they’ve become pawns in her disturbing and dangerous game, leading to terrifying consequences.
13.Tigers Are Not Afraid
Director: Issa López
Stars: Paola Lara, Luke David Blumm
Tigers Are Not Afraid (2019) is a dark, fantasy thriller set in a Mexican city ravaged by drug violence. The story follows a group of orphaned children, led by the young Estrella, who are haunted by both supernatural forces and the harsh realities of the world around them. As Estrella gains mysterious powers, she and her friends must confront their fears while evading gangsters, making for a poignant tale of survival, loss, and hope.
14.The Nightshifter
Director: Dennison Ramalho
Stars: Daniel de Oliveira, Fabiula Nascimento
The Nightshifter (2019) is a Brazilian horror-thriller that follows Stênio, a night-shift morgue attendant who communicates with the deceased. He uses his gift to uncover hidden secrets but soon becomes entangled in a web of terror after discovering unsettling truths about the people in his life. As he confronts violent forces from both the living and the dead, Stênio’s dark past and strained relationships threaten to consume him. The film blends supernatural horror with psychological tension.
15.Climax
Director: Gaspar Noé
Stars: Sofia Boutella, Romain Guillermic
Climax (2019), directed by Gaspar Noé, is a psychological horror film that follows a group of young dancers who gather for a rehearsal in an abandoned building. After unknowingly consuming LSD-laced sangria, their night spirals into chaos. As the drug takes effect, tensions rise, and the group descends into violence, confusion, and madness. The film is a relentless exploration of euphoria and terror, set against a backdrop of intense, hypnotic visuals and music.
16.Brightburn
Director: David Yarovesky
Stars: Elizabeth Banks, David Denman
Brightburn (2019) is a horror-thriller that reimagines the Superman origin story with a dark twist. A young couple, Tori and Kyle Breyer, adopt a mysterious boy, Brandon, who crash-lands on Earth. As Brandon grows, he begins to exhibit supernatural powers. However, instead of becoming a hero, he turns violent and destructive, using his abilities to terrorize the people around him. The film explores themes of power, corruption, and the dark side of human nature.
17.Pet Sematary
Director: Kevin Kölsch, Dennis Widmyer
Stars: Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz
Pet Sematary (2019) is a horror film based on Stephen King’s novel. The Creed family moves to a rural town where they discover a mysterious cemetery behind their house. After their cat, Church, dies, Louis Creed buries it in the cemetery, only for it to return with a sinister change. Tragedy strikes when their son, Gage, dies in an accident, leading Louis to make a desperate, horrific decision to bring him back, with terrifying consequences.
18.In the Tall Grass
Director: Vincenzo Natali
Stars: Patrick Wilson, Laysla De Oliveira
In the Tall Grass (2019) follows a brother and sister, Cal and Becky, who stop at a field of tall grass after hearing a young boy’s cries for help. As they venture in, they become disoriented, trapped in an endless, shifting maze. The grass seems to distort time and space, and they encounter eerie, supernatural forces. Desperate to escape, they struggle against their growing paranoia and a darker force that controls the grass. The film explores fate, time loops, and the power of nature.
19.Haunt
Director: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Stars: Katie Stevens, Will Brittain
Haunt (2019) follows a group of friends who attend an extreme haunted house attraction on Halloween night, seeking thrills and scares. However, the night takes a deadly turn when they discover the house is a trap, and the actors inside are psychotic killers. As they fight to survive, the group must confront their deepest fears while trying to escape the horrific maze. The film blends slasher elements with psychological horror, exploring themes of trauma and survival.
20.The Hole in the Ground
Director: Lee Cronin
Stars: Seána Kerslake, James Cosmo
The Hole in the Ground (2019) is a psychological horror film about Sarah, a mother who moves to a rural Irish town with her young son, Chris. After they discover a mysterious sinkhole in the woods, Chris starts exhibiting strange, unsettling behavior. As Sarah becomes more paranoid, she suspects that her son may have been replaced by an eerie doppelgänger. The film explores themes of motherhood, fear, and identity, blending psychological tension with supernatural elements.