The 2000s were a notable decade for horror movies. The dawn of the 21st century ushered in some incredible horror entries, introducing new subgenres that would dominate the first decade while elevating classic tropes with fresh and exciting ideas. Experimentation was not only welcome, but it would also influence filmmakers in the years to come.
The following movies are solid proof that horror peaked in the 2000s, showcasing talented newcomers with a unique perspective. It was a decade that reinforced the notion that within the genre of horror, the possibilities of expression are limitless; it could be funny, heartbreaking, intelligent, and, of course, frightening. This list honors highlights of the decade rather than ranking which one was the best, but all the movies mentioned are worthy of the deepest praise.
10
‘Let the Right One In’ (2008)
Directed by Tomas Alfredson
A lonely boy befriends an unusual girl in the Swedish horror film Let the Right One In. 12-year-old Oskar (Kare Hedebrant) has difficulty fitting in and making friends and is usually the subject of torment by the bullies at his school. When a new girl named Eli (Lina Leandersson) moves into his neighborhood with a man he assumes to be her dad, Oskar is grateful for the friendly face. However, Oskar will soon learn Eli is not a child, but rather a vampire in a new hunting ground.
Eli and Oskar’s friendship is simultaneously sweet and disturbing, so there are always two emotions battling for supremacy in any given scene. On one hand, Let the Right One In can be viewed as an unorthodox coming-of-age story, but it’s also the corruption of an innocent by a vampire that needs to groom its next familiar. This unique dynamic, plus the shocking moments of violence, make Let the Right One In an unforgettable, thought-provoking watch.
9
‘Rec’ (2007)
Directed by Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza
In Rec, Ángela Vidal (Manuela Velasco) is a reporter covering an assignment with her cameraman Pablo (Pablo Rosso) at a fire station. When the fire station prepares to answer a call at an apartment building, Ángela and Pablo happily tag along to get exciting footage, unaware of the hell they’re walking into. A routine call quickly turns into a possible viral outbreak after the firefighters are attacked, causing everyone in the building, including Ángela and Pablo, to be quarantined inside.
There’s always the criticism with found footage movies concerning a person in mortal danger holding a camera, but Rec smartly incorporates the technique by having it be via a news crew. The runtime is 78 minutes, and in that brief time, the story convincingly builds in a way that feels organic and frighteningly plausible, despite the supernatural aspects of the plot. Rec spawned a number of compelling sequels and an American remake called Quarantine, but none top the scares found in the original.
8
‘Saw’ (2004)
Directed by James Wan
The 2000s saw the birth of one of horror’s most prolific franchises when Saw premiered to stunned audiences. The movie focused on the elusive Jigsaw Killer (Tobin Bell), who torments his victims with lethal traps designed to test the captured person’s willingness to live. As the two newest victims, Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes) and Adam (Leigh Whannell), wake up chained in a filthy bathroom, they must piece together what they know about the killer and how to escape their fate.
Slashers were still the horror genre of choice by many producers, and Saw’s mix of mystery and graphic death scenes piqued the audience’s interest when looking for fresh alternatives. Operating on a meager budget of roughly $1.2 million, Saw became a blockbuster success that would launch an annual tradition of Saw sequels featuring newly designed traps. Those sequels would get gorier, properly earning their “torture porn” badge, but the first is a clever piece of filmmaking with a twist ending fans still gush over.
7
’28 Days Later’ (2002)
Directed by Danny Boyle
One of the most important horror movies of the 2000s came near the beginning of the decade in the form of 28 Days Later. A bicycle courier named Jim (Cillian Murphy) suffers an accident that leaves him in an extended coma, but it spares him from the country being ravaged by a “Rage” virus that turns those infected into vicious monsters. When Jim awakens in an unrecognizable city, he’ll be forced to adapt to a new way of life where survival is top priority.
Shot primarily on handheld digital cameras, 28 Days Later’s grainy footage makes the film look more like a historical document than the game-changing horror movie it was. Shifts from intense violence to peaceful melancholy make the film as unpredictable as the other survivors Jim encounters on his journey. Whether you’re in the camp that 28 Days Later is a zombie film or not, it would go on to influence the genre moving forward and be widely regarded as a classic with few equals.
6
‘The Orphanage’ (2007)
Directed by J. A. Bayona
In The Orphanage, Belén Rueda stars as Laura, a woman who returns to the orphanage she called her childhood home with hopes of renovating it to help others. However, when her young son Simón (Roger Princep) goes missing on the property, the heartbroken Laura is left to search endlessly for her child. Laura’s quest for closure uncovers secrets in the orphanage’s past, as well as the spirits of the children that still walk its halls.
The mystery element of Simón’s disappearance drives the narrative and keeps the film tense and compelling, but Laura’s contact with the ghostly children is bound to raise a few goosebumps when watching. The Orphanage is a beautifully crafted ghost story, enhanced by the heart-wrenching performance from Rueda as a mother desperate for answers, no matter how tragic they may be. Those who cry easily, be warned, this one has a bummer of an ending.
5
‘Lake Mungo’ (2008)
Directed by Joel Anderson
A documentary about a missing teenager uncovers unbelievable secrets and a supernatural presence in Lake Mungo. The fictional documentary tells the story of Alice Palmer (Talia Zucker), a 16-year-old whose disappearance weighs heavily on her concerned and grief-stricken family. As news comes in regarding Alice’s whereabouts, the family begins to learn things about her.
Lake Mungo didn’t enjoy a wide release that gave it the exposure it deserved, but the movie benefited from slow and steady positive word of mouth to live longer than its big-budget peers. Even now, people are still discovering Lake Mungo, which speaks to how well the movie holds up as a piece about tragedy and the intangible bond between family. Ultimately, Lake Mungo is frequently eerie, occasionally heartbreaking, but consistently well-paced and beautifully told.
4
‘Trick ‘r Treat’ (2007)
Directed by Michael Dougherty
Released quietly and without much fanfare, the horror anthology Trick ‘r Treat is a fantastic hidden gem from the 2000s. The film follows a few eclectic residents in the small town of Warren Valley as they celebrate Halloween in morbidly surprising ways. Before the night is over, the ageless trick-or-treater Sam will silently observe tales of murder, revenge, and transformations taking place in the sleepy suburban community.
Trick ‘r Treat has quickly become a Halloween tradition for horror aficionados who enjoy the tongue-in-cheek writing that successfully blends pitch black humor with some creepy imagery. Rather than focus on one story at a time, Trick ‘r Treat hops between narratives, allowing the stars of each plotline to cleverly overlap. Immensely rewatchable and fun, Trick ‘r Treat is a Halloween story that can be watched year-round.
3
‘The Ring’ (2002)
Directed by Gore Verbinski
In The Ring, a tape exists that will kill anyone who watches it seven days after it’s viewed. A remake of the 1998 Japanese film Ringu, The Ring follows Rachel (Naomi Watts), a reporter who begins to investigate a possible connection to a mysterious VHS tape and the death of her niece. Skeptical of any supernatural danger, Rachel watches the tape and unwittingly marks herself for death. With limited time, Rachel will need to find out the mystery behind the curse and a solution to her predicament.
The Ring’s gloomy atmosphere and unsettling imagery make even the most benign scenes carry a tone of menace or dread. Watts is outstanding as Rachel, giving her a breakout mainstream role after her performance in Mulholland Drive hinted at the arrival of an incoming star. The Ring became a massive hit with audiences and critics upon its release, ushering in a wave of Japanese-inspired horror movies that would remain a fixture in theaters for the remainder of the decade.
2
‘The Descent’ (2005)
Directed by Neil Marshall
A year after a tragedy takes the lives of her husband and daughter, Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) agrees to go with friends on a cave exploring expedition in the Appalachian Mountains. The trip promises to be a respite from the grief of her loss, but when the group is led into an unfamiliar series of caves, they find themselves trapped and lost in the dark tunnels. As panic sets in, the party comes in contact with humanoid creatures looking for their next meal.
The Descent is an immediate nightmare for the claustrophobic portion of the audience, tapping into the anxiety of constricted movement and inability to escape it. Horror movies tend to follow successful trends for reliable financial returns, but The Descent found its success by daring to be different. It was a rare horror movie that featured an all-female cast and put them in a location that is rarely seen in the genre, creating a unique and harrowing viewing experience.
1
‘Shaun of the Dead’ (2004)
Directed by Edgar Wright
A zombie apocalypse forces a slacker with no direction to become a hero, or die trying, in the excellent Shaun of the Dead. Shaun (Simon Pegg) is not living his best life: His job as a salesperson is unfulfilling, he spends the majority of his free time drinking and playing video games with his best friend Ed (Nick Frost), and his apathetic lack of direction causes his girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield) to dump him. However, when a zombie outbreak threatens to hurt those he loves, Shaun jumps into action, even though he’s not sure what to do.
Even the best horror comedies are often met with mixed reactions from lovers of the genre because the balance between the two sensibilities can sometimes cancel each other out. Shaun of the Dead is a shining example of how to approach the combination, focusing on the characters first, and allowing the horror and humor to come naturally through their reactions to an unfathomable situation. This approach allows each character to have a moment to shine and create surprisingly emotional moments in a film with more depth than its premise would imply.