1.It Follows
Director: David Robert Mitchell
Stars: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Olivia Luccardi
In It Follows (2014), after a sexual encounter with her boyfriend Hugh, college student Jay Height finds herself pursued by a supernatural entity that can take the form of anyone. This curse, passed through intimacy, forces Jay to confront her fears as the entity relentlessly approaches, unseen by others. With the help of her friends, she attempts to escape or confront this terrifying presence, leading to a series of harrowing encounters that blur the lines between adolescence and adulthood. The film explores themes of desire, vulnerability, and the consequences of sexual relationships.
2.The Babadook
Director: Jennifer Kent
Stars: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall
In The Babadook, Amelia Vanek, a widowed mother, struggles to raise her troubled son, Samuel, in Adelaide after the traumatic death of her husband during childbirth. Samuel becomes fixated on a sinister pop-up book titled Mister Babadook, which introduces a malevolent entity that terrorizes them. As strange occurrences escalate, Amelia’s mental state deteriorates, leading her to violent outbursts and hallucinations. Ultimately, she confronts the Babadook, realizing it symbolizes her grief and unresolved trauma. The film concludes with Amelia learning to coexist with her fears while nurturing her bond with Samuel.
3.Annabelle
Director: John R. Leonetti
Stars: Annabelle Wallis, Ward Horton, Alfre Woodard
In Annabelle (2014), a couple, John and Mia, prepares for their first child when John gifts Mia a vintage doll. Their lives take a dark turn after a home invasion by satanic cultists leads to violence and the death of one assailant, Annabelle Higgins, whose blood inadvertently imbues the doll with evil. Following paranormal disturbances, Mia discovers the doll serves as a conduit for a demonic spirit seeking a human soul. As terror escalates, Mia must confront the malevolent force threatening her family
4.Oculus
Director: Mike Flanagan
Stars: Karen Gillan, Brenton Thwaites, Katee Sackhoff
In Oculus (2014), siblings Kaylie (Karen Gillan) and Tim (Brenton Thwaites) confront their traumatic past involving a haunted mirror, the Lasser Glass, which they believe caused their parents’ violent deaths. Ten years after the tragedy, Tim is released from a psychiatric facility, where he was treated for killing their father, who had succumbed to the mirror’s malevolent influence. Kaylie, convinced of the mirror’s supernatural power, sets up an experiment to document its effects before attempting to destroy it. As they delve deeper, reality blurs with terrifying hallucinations, leading to a tragic conclusion where the siblings must face the mirror’s dark legacy and their own fractured memories.
5.As Above, So Below
Director: John Erick Dowdle
Stars: Perdita Weeks, Ben Feldman, Edwin Hodge
In As Above, So Below (2014), Scarlett Marlowe, a determined scholar, seeks the legendary Philosopher’s Stone, believed to grant immortality. Following clues left by her deceased father, she ventures into the perilous Paris Catacombs with her ex-lover George and cameraman Benji. Joined by local guides, they navigate the dark tunnels, confronting terrifying apparitions that force them to face their deepest fears and regrets. As they descend further into chaos and danger, they must confess their sins to escape the horrors that await them, ultimately discovering that the true power lies within themselves.
6.Housebound
Director: Gerard Johnstone
Stars: Morgana O’Reilly, Rima Te Wiata, Glen-Paul Waru
Kylie Bucknell, a troubled young woman, is sentenced to eight months of house arrest at her childhood home after a failed ATM heist. Living with her well-meaning but eccentric mother, Miriam, and stepfather Graeme, Kylie quickly becomes frustrated. Miriam believes the house is haunted, a claim Kylie initially dismisses. However, strange occurrences lead her to suspect an intruder. With the help of Amos, a security contractor and amateur ghost hunter, Kylie uncovers a dark secret involving a former resident, Eugene, who has been hiding in the house’s hidden passages. As tensions escalate, Kylie confronts the true nature of the haunting and ultimately fights for her and her mother’s safety against a more sinister threat.
7.Deliver Us from Evil
Director: Scott Derrickson
Stars: Eric Bana, Édgar Ramírez, Olivia Munn
In Deliver Us from Evil (2014), directed by Scott Derrickson, NYPD Sergeant Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana) investigates a series of disturbing crimes linked to demonic possession. Set in the Bronx, the film opens with Sarchie and his partner Butler responding to a domestic disturbance involving a former Marine. As they delve deeper, they encounter increasingly bizarre incidents, including a mother throwing her child into a lion’s den. Sarchie teams up with Father Mendoza (Édgar Ramírez), a Jesuit priest who believes that supernatural forces are at play. Together, they confront the dark legacy of Iraq veterans entangled in these events, culminating in an intense exorcism to save Sarchie’s family from malevolent forces. The film blends elements of horror and police procedural, exploring themes of evil and redemption.
8.A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Director: Ana Lily Amirpour
Stars: Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Marshall Manesh
Set in the eerie Iranian ghost town of Bad City, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night follows a lonely female vampire, known simply as The Girl, who preys on the town’s most depraved men. Arash, a young man burdened by his heroin-addicted father and a ruthless pimp named Saeed, finds himself entangled with The Girl after stealing diamond earrings to reclaim his car from Saeed. As The Girl stalks the streets, she embodies both predator and protector, targeting those who abuse women. Their paths intertwine in a blend of romance and horror, challenging societal norms and gender roles.
9.The Guest
Director: Adam Wingard
Stars: Dan Stevens, Maika Monroe, Brendan Meyer
In The Guest (2014), directed by Adam Wingard, the Peterson family is still grieving the loss of their son Caleb, a soldier killed in action. Their lives take a turn when David Collins (Dan Stevens), a charming stranger claiming to be Caleb’s friend, arrives at their doorstep. Initially welcomed into their home, David quickly ingratiates himself, helping the family cope with their loss. However, his presence triggers a series of violent events, revealing his dark past as a government experiment gone wrong. As suspicions grow, daughter Anna (Maika Monroe) uncovers David’s true nature, leading to a deadly confrontation that puts her and her brother Luke in grave danger.
10.Tusk
Director: Kevin Smith
Stars: Justin Long, Michael Parks, Haley Joel Osment
In Tusk (2014), a brash podcaster named Wallace Bryton travels to Canada to interview an eccentric recluse, Howard Howe. After discovering that his original interview subject has died, Wallace finds Howe, who offers him tea and disturbing tales of survival involving walruses. Unbeknownst to Wallace, the tea is drugged, and he wakes up to find his leg amputated. Howe intends to transform him into a walrus, driven by his obsession with a creature he once loved. As Wallace’s friends seek to rescue him, he undergoes a horrific metamorphosis.
11.The Purge: Anarchy
Director: James DeMonaco
Stars: Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zach Gilford
In The Purge: Anarchy (2014), set in a dystopian America, the annual Purge allows all crimes to be legal for twelve hours. As chaos erupts in Los Angeles, three groups of people—a mother and daughter, a couple on the verge of divorce, and a mysterious man seeking revenge—intersect while trying to survive the night. The film explores themes of class disparity and violence as they confront armed gangs and government death squads. Ultimately, it critiques societal issues while delivering intense action and horror
12.Horns
Director: Alexandre Aja
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Juno Temple, Max Minghella
In Horns (2014), directed by Alexandre Aja, Daniel Radcliffe stars as Ignatius “Ig” Perrish, a young man wrongfully accused of murdering his girlfriend, Merrin (Juno Temple). After a night of heavy drinking, Ig wakes up to find horns growing from his head, granting him the power to compel those around him to confess their darkest secrets. As he navigates his grief and the town’s hostility, Ig uses his newfound abilities to uncover the truth behind Merrin’s death, leading him to confront the real killer and his own inner demons. The film blends horror, fantasy, and dark humor.
13.The Town That Dreaded Sundown
Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Stars: Addison Timlin, Veronica Cartwright, Anthony Anderson
Set in Texarkana, Texas, The Town That Dreaded Sundown (2014) is a slasher film that serves as a metafictional sequel to the 1976 original. The story unfolds on Halloween night when a masked killer, echoing the infamous Phantom Killer from the 1946 murders, resurfaces. Jami Lerner, a high school student, becomes embroiled in the terror after witnessing her date’s murder. As the body count rises, she teams up with law enforcement to uncover the identity of the new Phantom, leading to shocking revelations about the past and present of her community.
14.What We Do in the Shadows
Director: Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement
Stars: Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Jonathan Brugh
In What We Do in the Shadows, a 2014 mockumentary horror-comedy directed by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, four vampire flatmates—Viago, Vladislav, Deacon, and Petyr—navigate modern life in Wellington, New Zealand. Each vampire, from various historical eras, struggles with mundane issues like paying rent and socializing. Their lives take a turn when they turn a human named Nick into a vampire, leading to comedic chaos. As they prepare for the annual Unholy Masquerade, conflicts arise with rival creatures, ultimately highlighting themes of friendship and adaptation in a humorous light.
15.The Sacrament
Director: Ti West
Stars: Joe Swanberg, AJ Bowen, Gene Jones
The Sacrament (2014), directed by Ti West, follows a documentary crew led by Patrick, who visits a secluded commune called Eden Parish to find his sister Caroline, a recovering addict. Upon arrival, they encounter the charismatic leader known as Father, who initially seems benevolent but gradually reveals a sinister control over his followers. As tensions rise and dissent grows within the commune, the filmmakers witness a horrific climax where members are coerced into a mass suicide. The film draws parallels to the Jonestown Massacre, exploring themes of manipulation and faith.
16.REC 4: Apocalypse
Director: Jaume Balagueró
Stars: Manuela Velasco, Paco Manzanedo, Héctor Colomé
In [REC] 4: Apocalypse (2014), Ángela Vidal, a television reporter, awakens on an oil tanker after being rescued from a zombie-infested building. Unbeknownst to the crew, she harbors the deadly infection. As the ship’s scientists, led by Dr. Ricarte, attempt to find a cure, chaos ensues when an infected monkey is released, leading to a rapid outbreak among the crew. Ángela and her allies must fight for survival while uncovering the truth about her infection and the sinister experiments being conducted on board.
17.The Canal
Director: Ivan Kavanagh
Stars: Rupert Evans, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Hannah Hoekstra
In The Canal (2014), film archivist David’s life spirals into chaos when he suspects his wife, Alice, of infidelity. His anxiety intensifies after discovering that their home was the site of a brutal murder in 1902. Following a traumatic confrontation, Alice goes missing, and her body is later found in the canal, ruled accidental. As David delves deeper into the house’s dark history, he becomes increasingly unstable, haunted by supernatural visions. His obsession leads to tragic consequences, culminating in a shocking revelation about his own actions and a haunting legacy for his son, Billy.
18.Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Stars: Vegar Hoel, Ørjan Gamst, Martin Starr
In Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead (2014), directed by Tommy Wirkola, the story follows Martin, the sole survivor from the first film, who faces a new wave of Nazi zombies led by Colonel Herzog. After a chaotic encounter where Herzog’s arm is grafted onto Martin, he discovers that the zombie appendage grants him the ability to raise the dead. As Herzog amasses an army of undead to complete his mission of exterminating a village, Martin teams up with an American zombie-hunting group to counter the threat. The film is a blend of horror and dark comedy, featuring over-the-top gore and absurd humor as Martin battles to save his town from the relentless Nazi zombies.
19.Jessabelle
Director: Kevin Greutert
Stars: Sarah Snook, Mark Webber, Joelle Carter
Jessabelle is a 2014 supernatural horror film that follows Jessie, a young woman who becomes wheelchair-bound after a tragic car accident kills her fiancé and unborn child. Returning to her estranged father’s home in Louisiana, she discovers eerie videotapes made by her deceased mother, revealing dark family secrets. As Jessie confronts the spirit of Jessabelle—a child murdered by her father in a fit of rage—she learns she is entangled in a sinister legacy of voodoo and revenge, leading to a chilling climax in the bayou.
20.Life After Beth
Director: Jeff Baena
Stars: Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, John C. Reilly
Zach Orfman is heartbroken after his girlfriend, Beth Slocum, dies from a snake bite. Grieving, he spends time with her parents, who are hiding a shocking secret: Beth has mysteriously returned from the dead but is not quite herself. As Zach reconnects with her, he realizes she’s become increasingly violent and zombie-like. Despite her parents’ attempts to keep her condition a secret, Zach confronts the truth. Ultimately, he must make a heartbreaking decision about their relationship as chaos ensues around them, blending dark comedy with horror elements.