1.The Vatican Tapes
Director: Mark Neveldine
Stars: Olivia Taylor Dudley, Michael Peña, Dougray Scott
In The Vatican Tapes (2015), directed by Mark Neveldine, Angela Holmes, a young woman, begins exhibiting signs of demonic possession after a traumatic accident. Following a birthday celebration, she suffers a severe injury that leads to a coma. Upon awakening, her behavior becomes increasingly erratic and violent, prompting her father and boyfriend to seek help. Father Lozano believes she is possessed and calls Cardinal Bruun from the Vatican to perform an exorcism. The film culminates in a battle against an ancient evil, revealing Angela’s connection to the Antichrist.
2.The Witch
Director: Robert Eggers
Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie
Set in 1630s New England, The Witch follows a Puritan family—William, Katherine, and their five children—banished from their settlement due to religious disputes. They establish a farm near a dark forest rumored to harbor witches. Soon, their newborn son Samuel disappears, leading to the family’s unraveling as paranoia and suspicion mount. Teenage daughter Thomasin becomes the target of accusations of witchcraft. As supernatural forces wreak havoc, family members die or disappear, culminating in Thomasin’s tragic transformation into a witch, embracing darkness and rejecting her oppressive upbringing.
3.Crimson Peak
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Stars: Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston
In Crimson Peak (2015), directed by Guillermo del Toro, aspiring author Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) is haunted by her deceased mother’s ghost, who warns her to “beware of Crimson Peak.” After a family tragedy, Edith falls for the enigmatic Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) and marries him, moving to his decaying mansion in England. There, she discovers dark secrets about Thomas and his sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain), including their murderous past. As supernatural forces and jealousy unfold, Edith must confront the horrors of her new life.
4.The Visit
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Stars: Kathryn Hahn, Ed Oxenbould, Olivia DeJonge
Two siblings, Becca and Tyler, visit their estranged grandparents for a week while their mother is away. Initially, the grandparents seem charming, but their bizarre behavior quickly escalates. The children document their stay, uncovering unsettling truths about their “Nana” and “Pop Pop.” As they investigate, they discover that the couple are actually escaped psychiatric patients who have murdered their real grandparents. In a terrifying climax, Becca and Tyler fight for survival against their captors before escaping to safety
5.Insidious: Chapter 3
Director: Leigh Whannell
Stars: Dermot Mulroney, Stefanie Scott, Lin Shaye
In Insidious: Chapter 3, set three years before the Lambert haunting, teenager Quinn Brenner seeks the help of psychic Elise Rainier to contact her deceased mother. However, Elise warns Quinn against such attempts after sensing a malevolent spirit. Following a tragic accident that leaves Quinn immobilized, she becomes haunted by a dark entity known as the “Man Who Can’t Breathe.” As paranormal occurrences escalate, Elise reluctantly returns to confront the spirit, leading to a battle where Quinn must ultimately find the strength to defeat the demon with her mother’s guidance.
6.Bone Tomahawk
Director: S. Craig Zahler
Stars: Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox
In Bone Tomahawk (2015), Sheriff Franklin Hunt, portrayed by Kurt Russell, leads a small posse into the desolate wilderness to rescue three townsfolk kidnapped by a savage cannibalistic tribe known as the Troglodytes. The group, which includes an injured rancher and a gunslinger, faces brutal challenges as they confront the tribe’s horrifying savagery. The film blends Western and horror elements, showcasing intense violence and moral dilemmas as the rescue mission unfolds in a fight for survival against overwhelming odds.
7.Krampus
Director: Michael Dougherty
Stars: Adam Scott, Toni Collette, Allison Tolman
In Krampus (2015), a dysfunctional family faces a terrifying holiday when young Max, disillusioned by his relatives, tears up his letter to Santa. This act of despair inadvertently summons Krampus, a demonic figure from folklore who punishes those who have lost their Christmas spirit. As a blizzard traps them, Krampus and his monstrous helpers—demonic toys and evil elves—attack the family. Max’s grandmother reveals her own traumatic encounter with Krampus, intensifying their plight. Ultimately, Max confronts Krampus, but despite his apology, the family’s fate remains uncertain, hinting at a dark ending as they find Krampus’s bauble among their gifts.
8.The Final Girls
Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson
Stars: Taissa Farmiga, Malin Akerman, Adam DeVine
In The Final Girls (2015), Max, a teenager grieving her mother Amanda, a former scream queen, finds herself and her friends trapped in her mother’s iconic slasher film, Camp Bloodbath. After a fire during a screening, they escape through the movie screen, only to face the film’s killer, Billy. To survive, they must navigate the clichés of slasher films while Max confronts her mother’s on-screen persona, Nancy. The group learns that only the “final girl” can defeat the killer, leading to emotional revelations and a fight for survival against the backdrop of horror movie tropes.
9.Sinister 2
Director: Ciarán Foy
Stars: James Ransone, Shannyn Sossamon, Robert Daniel Sloan
In Sinister 2, a sequel to the 2012 horror film, troubled mother Courtney Collins and her twin sons, Dylan and Zach, seek refuge in a rural farmhouse haunted by the malevolent entity Bughuul. As they settle in, the boys begin to experience terrifying supernatural occurrences linked to Bughuul’s past victims, who attempt to corrupt them. The film intertwines themes of domestic abuse and childhood trauma, with Dylan drawn into watching disturbing home movies that compel him towards violence. Meanwhile, a former deputy sheriff seeks to stop Bughuul’s cycle of child abductions, leading to a suspenseful climax as family dynamics unravel amidst supernatural terror.
10.Maggie
Director: Henry Hobson
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin, Joely Richardson
In the 2015 film Maggie, directed by Henry Hobson, Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as Wade Vogel, a father grappling with the slow transformation of his daughter, Maggie (Abigail Breslin), into a zombie due to a viral outbreak known as Necroambulism. Set in a post-apocalyptic Midwest, Wade finds Maggie in a quarantine hospital after she has been bitten. He takes her home for her final days, facing the emotional turmoil of impending loss as she deteriorates. The film explores themes of love, family, and the struggle against inevitable tragedy, culminating in Wade’s heart-wrenching decision about Maggie’s fate.
11.The Blackcoat’s Daughter (February)
Director: Osgood Perkins
Stars: Emma Roberts, Kiernan Shipka, Lucy Boynton
At Bramford Academy, a prestigious Catholic boarding school, two students, Kat and Rose, are left behind during winter break. As their classmates leave, Kat experiences unsettling visions and fears for her parents’ safety. Meanwhile, Rose struggles with a pregnancy scare and sneaks off to meet her boyfriend. The tension escalates when a mysterious woman named Joan arrives, leading to a series of horrific events. As dark forces emerge, Kat succumbs to madness, resulting in violence and tragedy that intertwine their fates in chilling ways.
12.A Christmas Horror Story
Director: Grant Harvey, Steven Hoban, Brett Sullivan
Stars: William Shatner, George Buza, Rob Archer
Set on Christmas Eve in the fictional town of Bailey Downs, A Christmas Horror Story intertwines multiple narratives linked by a radio DJ, Dangerous Dan (William Shatner). The film features four main stories: a family stalked by the malevolent Krampus; three teens investigating a haunted school where a past murder occurred; a couple who discovers their son is a changeling while cutting down a Christmas tree; and Santa battling zombie elves at the North Pole. As chaos unfolds, the characters confront their darkest fears, culminating in a surprising twist that connects their fates.
13.The Nightmare
Director: Rodney Ascher
Stars: Various (documentary-style)
The Nightmare (2015), directed by Achim Bornhak, is a German psychological horror-drama that follows 17-year-old Tina during a chaotic summer in Berlin. After attending a party, she encounters a bizarre creature that only she can see, leading to a surreal bond between them. As Tina experiences intense psychological turmoil and alienation from friends and family, her connection to the creature deepens; they share pain and emotions. The film culminates in a dramatic confrontation at a party where Tina defends the creature, ultimately leading to an ambiguous escape together, symbolizing her struggle for identity and sanity.
14.Deathgasm
Director: Jason Lei Howden
Stars: Milo Cawthorne, James Blake
Deathgasm is a 2015 New Zealand horror-comedy directed by Jason Lei Howden. The film follows Brodie, a teenage metalhead who moves in with his strict Christian uncle after his mother’s institutionalization. Struggling with bullying and isolation, Brodie finds camaraderie with fellow metal enthusiast Zakk. Together, they form the band Deathgasm and unwittingly summon a malevolent entity known as “The Blind One” by playing an ancient piece of sheet music. As chaos ensues, Brodie must navigate friendships, romance, and the fight against demonic forces to save their town from destruction.
15.The Diabolical
Director: Alistair Legrand
Stars: Ali Larter, Arjun Gupta
In The Diabolical (2015), directed by Alistair Legrand, single mother Madison (Ali Larter) faces terrifying supernatural occurrences in her suburban home. As she struggles with financial issues and her son’s behavioral problems, a series of violent apparitions disrupt their lives. Despite seeking help from paranormal experts, Madison turns to her boyfriend, Nikolai, a scientist, for assistance. Together, they uncover a shocking truth: the malevolent force is linked to a failed teleportation experiment from the future involving her son. The film blends horror and sci-fi elements, culminating in a gripping revelation about time travel and familial sacrifice.
16.The Lazarus Effect
Director: David Gelb
Stars: Olivia Wilde, Mark Duplass
The Lazarus Effect (2015) is a science fantasy horror film directed by David Gelb. It follows medical researchers Dr. Frank Walton and his fiancée, Dr. Zoe McConnell, who create a serum capable of reviving the dead. After a successful trial on a euthanized dog, they face dire consequences when their project is shut down. In a desperate attempt to prove their work, Frank revives Zoe after a fatal accident, but she returns with sinister changes, including telepathy and aggression. As chaos ensues, Frank and their team must confront the horrifying implications of their experiment, leading to tragic outcomes for all involved.
17.Poltergeist
Director: Gil Kenan
Stars: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt
The 2015 film Poltergeist, directed by Gil Kenan, is a remake of the iconic 1982 horror classic. The story follows the Bowen family, who move into a suburban home only to discover it is haunted by malevolent spirits. Eric (Sam Rockwell) and Amy Bowen (Rosemarie DeWitt) are struggling financially and seek a fresh start for their three children: Kendra, Griffin, and young Madison. Soon after moving in, unsettling phenomena begin—electronics malfunction, eerie noises echo through the house, and Madison mysteriously vanishes, abducted by supernatural forces.
18.Intruders
Director: Adam Schindler
Stars: Rory Culkin, Leticia Jimenez
Anna, a woman with severe agoraphobia, has not left her childhood home since her father’s death. As she struggles with her condition, three intruders break in, believing the house is empty and searching for hidden money. However, they quickly discover that Anna is not the helpless victim they expected. The film unfolds into a tense battle of wits as Anna uses her knowledge of the house’s secrets to turn the tables on her captors. Ultimately, she confronts her dark past and the legacy of violence in her family, leading to a shocking climax that challenges her agoraphobia
19.The Gallows
Director: Travis Cluff, Chris Lofing
Stars: Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown, Ryan Shoos
In The Gallows (2015), a found-footage horror film, the story unfolds twenty years after a tragic accident during a high school play where actor Charlie Grimille was accidentally hanged. To commemorate the anniversary, students decide to resurrect the ill-fated production. However, when a group of friends—led by the obnoxious Ryan—sneak into the school to sabotage the play, they become trapped inside. As they try to escape, they encounter a malevolent spirit seeking vengeance, leading to terrifying consequences as they confront their darkest fears and the legacy of the past.
20.The House on Pine Street
Director: Aaron Keeling and Austin Keeling
Stars: Emily Goss
The House on Pine Street is a 2015 psychological horror film directed by Aaron and Austin Keeling. The story follows Jennifer Branagan, played by Emily Goss, who returns to her hometown in Kansas with her husband Luke after experiencing a mental breakdown during her pregnancy. As she navigates the challenges of impending motherhood, Jennifer becomes increasingly isolated, feeling the weight of her domineering mother and an unsupportive husband.