A special top ten for Halloween. The top ten horror movies of the decade. The problem with a genre list is that you don’t only have to pick films that are good enough for the list but also fit the genre, therefore although good enough to make the list Zombieland (2009) and Shaun of the Dead (2004) have been dropped as they are more comedy than horror.
10 Eden Lake (2008): A British horror thriller with a relatively low budget. From first time director James Watkins. The success and failure of the film relies on a great leading performance from Kelly Reilly. The chav, asbo, hoody kids of the movie are a clichéd Daily Mail representation of all that is wrong with modern society. The characters make stupid irrational decisions that symbolise bad horror. Despite these problems it is still a great little film.
9 Drag Me to Hell (2009): 2009 is a special year, Sam Raimi is back to doing what he does best, horror with a comic twist. I shouldn’t have to describe the film, if you are reading a movie blog and you haven’t seen this film yet what is wrong with you? For those that haven’t seen it, it is the story of a young woman who becomes the victim of a supernatural curse that threatens to drag her to hell. It is funny, scary and shocking with no Lycia clad superheroes, everything a Sam Raimi film should be!
8 The Orphanage (2007): Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona the film had Guillermo del Toro attached as a producer, you would be forgiven for thinking it was one of his films. Full of layered characters and strong performances the film is more chilling and disturbing than actually scary but it will still make you jump from time to time. Like any film with Guillermo del Toro’s name on it the photography is nothing short of stunning.
7 [•REC] (2007): Fake documentary horror films with shaky cameras will always be compared to Blair Witch Project but once in a while there is a great example of the genre. This Spanish film is one such example. Set in the confines of an Barcelona apartment block the film chronicles’ the beginning of a zombie outbreak. The simple story with minimal plot and down to earth dialogue is elevated by charismatic performances and some really scary moments. Like the successful Japanese horrors of recent years the film has also had the Hollywood remake treatment.
6 Switchblade Romance(2003): Original title Haute tension, released as High Tension in some countries is a French horror/thriller directed by Alexandre Aja whose remake of The Hills Have Eyes nearly made the list too. It is a simple story of two young women who are terrorised by a crazed killer, or is it? The film is graphic, bloody and violent, it really lives up to the tag horror!
5 Ginger Snaps (2000): Whilst these days we are inundated with Vampire movies, 2000 saw the first good and original werewolf movies since An American Werewolf in London. The eponymous Ginger and her sister Brigitte are slightly weird and moody outcasts at school to begin with, then Ginger becomes a werewolf. This complicates maters somewhat! The film works as a visceral horror as well as a metaphor for puberty.
4 Let the Right One In (2008): When you mention a vampire movie based on a book all people can think of these days is Twilight. While I don’t have a problem with the teen romance vampires of that particular saga this Swedish vampire movie offers so much more. The film centres on the relationship between a twelve year old boy and a girl who appears to be a similar age who turns out to be a vampire. The film explores lots of issues and lingers in the mind long after you have seen it.
3 The Devil’s Backbone (2001): Set during the Spanish civil war The Devils Backbone is one of visionary director Guillermo del Toro’s best films. More an eerie ghost story than an outright horror. Told from the point of view of an abandoned child in an uncertain situation, the characters mirror the political turmoil of the era and setting. The film is both beautiful and unnerving.
2 28 Days Later(2002): Zombies got reinvented as The Infected in Danny Boyles modern horror classic. Cillian Murphy awakening to a deserted London is an amazing creepy and memorable scene. Subsequent scenes offer some gruesome horror and genuine scares.
1 The Descent (2005): With a relatively unknown cast Neil Marshall created a fantastic film. There is a great sense of foreboding from the start as the group of female friends descends into the darkness of a cave system. Foreboding gives way to unsettling before becoming seriously tense and scary. Great characters, strong performances and horrific images what more could you ask for.
When compiling the list it didn’t occur to me until I started adding the photographs that most of my chosen films feature strong female roles often leading roles. Is this a pointer to an ingredient that makes horror movies good or just a reflection on my taste?
Fandango Groovers Movie Blog 
Holy Hannah…That’s a great list! Hasn’t been a bad decade for freakiness!!
The only one I might add to the tally is JU-ON, the original Japanese version of THE GRUDGE. Great flick, good and creepy…again, with a strong leading female character!
I found it really tedious and boring and I didn’t bother watching the remake.
Well alrightee then. What about PARANORMAL ACTIVITY…seen that one yet? I aks ’cause it’d easily make my all-time list, not just my decade list.
No it doesn’t come out here until the end of the month, I have heard good things about it, not least your review that I just read, so will be going to see it.
Cracking list. havent seen em all but those i have seen gave me a good scare. excellent number one shout
Another great list…
re. 28 Days Later (easily the best horror film of the decade) – I remember seeing this when it came out and grinning all the way home because, after an age of knowing winks, it felt like good old fashioned frenzied horror was back.
I wouldn’t have included Eden Lake as I didn’t watch it all having only got 20 mins in and deciding that the film hadn’t earned the right to be so nasty – a similar feeling to watching the Football Factory etc… and Drag Me To Hell is sat on my ‘to watch’ list.
Some more that would have probably found their way onto my list…
The Hills Have Eyes: as remakes go this kicks ass and takes names plus I’m a sucker for any film where the ‘hero’ picks his blood sprayed broken specs off the floor before going all shotgun a’la David Sumner
28 Weeks Later: a great film that scores high thanks to going big selling out and an opening ten mins to rival Dawn of the Dead (another worthy mention in a decade where Romero has proved himself tired).
Saw… etc: okay so I’ve gotta say that I hate these films, I really hate them and the crass politics they push BUT, as the series has gone on, they have shown a level of detail and respect for the fans that earns a place on the list.
Fears of the Dark: A collection of creepy animated tales that show what is missing from most horror – brains
Vacancy: Honest, B-movie, nuts and bolts, horror – also see Joy Ride / Road Kill
…and, finally, Martyrs: endure and you shall be rewarded
Some interesting thoughts; I can appreciate why you would have put 28 Days Later at number one, it was a close run thing but I am happy with my number one. 28 Weeks Later was a worthy sequel but I didn’t really consider it good enough for the list. The Hills Have Eyes remake and Joy Ride where both on the shortlist as was Pitch Black (horror y/n?) but didn’t make the final cut. Dawn of the Dead was a good film but I am too much of a fan of the original to really appreciate it. Saw, I have only seen the first one; it was okay at best, never considered it for the list and not bothered about seeing the sequels. I haven’t seen: Fears of the Dark, Vacancy or Martyrs but do have Martyrs queued on my rental list.
What a terrific list! I love that you included some out-there choices, like no. 10, and you put “The Descent” as no. 1 — I always feel like people neglect that one when they talk about great horror movies. It was so unbelievably tense, and there was enough blood to satisfy — if not satiate — the torture porn fans.
Sheesh. I’m eons behind on my horror movies. Maybe it’s because I only have the temperament for them during certain occasions throughout the years.
I’m hearing a lot about The Orphanage and recently REC, which I’m intrigued to see now.
The Descent? Never saw it, nor was implored to, but you’ve perked my interest.
I agree with The Mad Hatter about Paranormal Activity, one of the better movies of the decade. You should definitely see it. Here’s my review for you if you’d like to hear another positive perspective: http://www.moviemobsters.com/2009/11/02/paranormal-activity-2009/
My personal choice without question would be 28 Days Later. Phenomenal Flick.
this is a pretty good list!! i personally wouldn’t have put the descent at the top, though.
i’ve been working on a similar list. however, i’ve separated it by year and included the worst movies.
you might like it…
http://thenoisingmachine.wordpress.com/2009/12/20/top-10-horror-movies-of-the-2000s-part-1/