Cinema wouldn’t be what it is now without the horror genre. Indeed, it’s perhaps the most recognizable and enjoyed form of filmmaking and has had a lasting impact on pop culture long since the early silent era. From its infancy to now, it’s released various films that have captivated audiences, delivering unforgettable experiences and pushing newer boundaries for the entertainment world. There were so many horror movies created over the last century, ranging from timeless and revered to bland and forgettable. There are countless horror movies to be enjoyed, and we all have our own unique opinions on which ones are the best.
Being a massive horror buff since grade school, I’ve seen a whole host of these movies. Most were decent, some I hail as my favorites, but then there are those thatwere so bad that I can’t defend them. However,there are some films I’ve seen that a lot of horror fans enjoy and have even praised, but I just don’t see why.The following ten below are horror movies that I think aren’t as good as a lot of horror lovers say. They have their fans and are often cited as groundbreaking or remarkable, but are they really worth all this praise? FromThe Blair Witch ProjecttoDon’t Look Now, here are ten acclaimed horror movies that I think are overrated.
10’The Blair Witch Project' (1999)
Directed by David Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez
Let’s start off by talking about what is generally considered a landmark of horror,The Blair Witch Project, from 1999. While often praised for its influence and for reinvigorating the genre at the tail end of the ’90s, I’m not going to lie that I have mixed feelings about this one.
I don’t findThe Blair Witch Projectto be a bad film, far from it. I do appreciate its impact on the found-footage subgenre and for havingan innovative marketing campaign. But I can see why it’s divisive among many horror enthusiasts.Some say it’s one of the scariest horror movies; others find it boring and lacking a compelling narrative. While I’d never call it scary, I’m still somewhat in the middle. Yeah, there are some decent scares, and that ending is truly chilling, but there are many parts that just drag and don’t hold my attention.But I ranked this last only because, although I don’t think it really deserves to be called one of the best horror movies of all time, it still has some strong points.
The Blair Witch Project
9’Barbarian' (2022)
Directed by Zach Cregger
Zach Cregger’sBarbarianwas one of the most hyped-up horror movies in the latter half of 2022.It was praised for its unpredictable plot, sharp performances, and subversive storytelling at the time, and needless to say, my friends and I were excited to see it in theaters. After the movie, however, it was “alright” and shocking in parts, but not as good as so many people said it was.
I think the story was much better before the shocking midpoint twist and narrative shift.The characters and dialog were more engaging, and there was some genuinely great suspense, but things went a tad downhill in the second half, and the ending feels rushed and kind of a let-down. I know a lot of audiences enjoyed how it subverted expectations and went crazier in the bizarre second act, butthis twist and genre change just felt jarring and hindered the rest of the story. It’s not a terrible film, but it’s notthe best of the decadefor me.
8’A Quiet Place' (2018)
Directed by John Krasinski
A Quiet Placeis one of the most memorable horror films in recent years, being a chilling tale that offered something unique and new to the classic alien invasion formula.It was a massive critical and commercial hit that many horror enthusiasts, including me, flocked to the theaters to see.Though it was a mostly enjoyable flick, I don’t think it was exactly as groundbreaking orone of the best modern moviesas so many people claim.
While it was an enjoyable moviegoing experience, with compelling performances and intense suspense, nowadays,I don’t see it as exceptional as some critics at the time praised it.The story is predictable at parts and slow at times. And, after seeing so many unique-looking cinematic aliens, why are so many people finding the designs for the “Death Angels” to be scary or compelling? Their designs aren’t that much of a standout.Don’t get me wrong, it’s a solid film with a few great scares, but should it really be called a modern horror classic?
A Quiet Place
7’Split' (2016)
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
FromM. Night Shyamalancomes one of his most acclaimed films of the last decade,Split, a tense psychological thriller from 2016. It’s a pretty solid nail-biter throughout, featuring thrilling suspense and powerful performances byJames McAvoyandAnya Taylor-Joy. While I could get behind the acclaim that it’s probablyone of the director’s best works in years, it’s not without its issues.
It still suffers some of Shaymalan’s usual criticisms, like wonky dialog and odd direction.And while I enjoyed McAvoy’s captivating performance, I wouldn’t exactly say the antagonist, Kevin, is entirely compelling, as he gets quite goofy at times. His final split personality, “The Beast,” isn’t as terrifying as some of the subtle and creeper personalities like “Dennis” and “Ms. Patricia.” And the way he’s portrayed as an animal, running around mostly on all fours, is honestly kind of silly and sucks out a lot of the tension from his scenes. Overall,Splithas some good moments but is still very flawed.
6’Martyrs' (2008)
Directed by Pascal Laugier
Hailed asone of the darkest horror movies ever, 2008’sMartyrsis an exceptionally graphic and disturbing horror movie from directorPascal Laugier. It’s a hardcore film that’s quite difficult to watch at certain points, especially during its massacre scene in the first act. There’s a lot of violence and terrible things done to people in this film, which critics and audiences praised for pushing the limits of extreme violence and gore onscreen. And while I do say it’s strikingly bloody, I wouldn’t say it has a great story, unfortunately.
It’s quite confusing at points, and it’s hard to follow the characters' motivations and what the story is actually about.The violence greatly overshadows the characters and plot elements. By the end, after witnessing so many brutal things happening to the captive main character, it was hard to understand what the whole point leading up to this conclusion was.The revelation that all this torture, death, and mayhem were all part of a plan to figure out what happens to people when they die is a convoluted twist that I don’t think was greatly set up. While I applaud the filmmakers for their intense violence, I don’t really think the story is all too compelling.
5’The Black Phone' (2021)
Directed by Scott Derrickson
Another modern horror film that a lot of people loved but I couldn’t quite get behind was 2021’sThe Black Phone, bySinister’s directorScott Derrickson. Though it features an intriguingEthan Hawkeperformance and a few startling jumpscares, admittedly, I have trouble seeing why this one is such a standout today.
I liked most of the acting, and there were genuinely nail-biting moments here and there, but the story is kind of underwhelming, and the supernatural elements weakened the film’s more thrilling psychological parts.Many of the film’s strong points come from the intense psychological game between the main character, Finney (Mason Thames), and The Grabber. Itwould have been better if it had just focused more on the cat-and-mouse dynamic of the two main characters.The Black Phoneis decent at times but features a lot of pointless stuff that could have been left out.
The Black Phone
4’The Ring' (2002)
Directed by Gore Verbinski
An American retelling ofa ’90s Japanese horror classic,Gore Verbinski’sThe Ringhas become one of the most iconic horrors of the early 2000s and is cited as a decent remake. It captures the creepy tone of its predecessor and has some effective scares, but at the same time, it begs whether it’s still as good now as when it first released.
While certainly not bad or anywhere near the level of terrible quality as its unnecessary sequels,The Ringjust doesn’t feel as terrifying today as it was back in 2002. Sure, its iconic jumpscare scene and eerie ending are highlights, but it’s kind of forgettable these days, and the performances and some of the story don’t really stand out as particularly memorable. I think it’s pretty certain that the Japanese original,Ringu, is the definitive and superior version.
3’Midsommar' (2019)
Directed by Ari Aster
Ari Asteris a name associated with modern horror filmmaking. I do believe he’s one of the most influential today, having become a fan of his chilling works like the 2018 masterpieceHereditaryand his underappreciated 2023 dark comedyBeau is Afraid. But, the one that so many critics and audiences praised today was his 2019 folk horror dramaMidsommar, supposedly one of the horrors of the decade, but I honestly can’t see why.
Don’t get me wrong, the direction is great,the performances, and especiallyFlorence Pugh’s, are gripping, and there is some decent psychological tension, but at the end of the day, to me,Midsommarwas kind of a let-down that didn’t live up to the hype.One of the most notable criticisms this film has was that it’s overly reliant on symbolism and themes that, to some, including me, felt pretentious.I felt this film was more style than substance and that it was trying too hard to be deep and meaningful rather than just telling a more coherent horror story.
2’The Cabin in the Woods' (2011)
Directed by Drew Goddard
Drew Goddard’s andJoss Whedon’s subversive horror comedyThe in the Woodsis often praised as one of the most unique standouts of the genre in the modern century. A wild tale that poked fun at the classic horror movie tropes, it was seen as a breath of fresh air that brought something new and gave audiences a thrilling experience. WhileI’ll admit I was entertained by this film, I also wouldn’t exactly say it’s deserving all the acclaim.
It’s not a perfect film, as it has some annoying plot holes, sometimes the comedic lines fall flat, and, although the third act bloodbath goes balls to the wall crazy, it is a bit of a mess compared to the rest of the film. Overall,it’s a decent horror comedy with bits that I still appreciate today, but I wouldn’t go far as to say it’s as great or as game-changing as so many fans point it out to be.
The Cabin in the Woods
1’Don’t Look Now' (1973)
Directed by Nicolas Roeg
Lastly, this is quite a hot take. Personally, I find Nicholas Roeg’s 1973 horror classicDon’t Look Nowto be highly overrated.Though hailed for its psychological drama, unique visuals, and haunting atmosphere, these are all good things that, unfortunately, don’t really save it from its sleep-inducing pace and for having an uninteresting plot.
Don’t Look Nowjust doesn’t really have much going for it in its story or themes.Honestly, I think other horror films tackle the themes of grief better than this one, likeGerald’s GameandThe Changeling. And there are so many slow moments that don’t really have much impact on the rest of the story. Despite my criticism, the film is still regularly regarded as a standout classic and one of the best in the genre. And I wouldn’t exactly say it’s terrible, but it’s not one I often come back to for rewatches.
