The Ten Most Intelligent Horror Films of The 21st Century

That a horror film can be considered intelligent is a fact taken for granted today; but it hasn’t always been so. The horror genre has a bit of a spotty history when it comes to receiving respect and the requisite funding needed to earn that esteem. In the early days of cinema, horror films tended to be kept out of the celebratory spotlight and relegated to the corner of the public stage normally reserved for various sideshows. While careening from sensationalism to extravagance to camp to outright silliness, Scare fare has persistently sought equal footing in the cinematic market.

With the passing years has come increased acclaim for the horror films that strive to “get it right,” and many of these now rank among the most elite movies. The 21st century has carried on that trend, and produced a number of classic entries into the horror canon. Here are ten of the smartest and most elegant efforts of the current century’s first twenty years.

10. A Dark Song (2016) – Liam Gavin

In a genre overflowing with oversimplified and dumbed down magic, A Dark Song stands out from the crowd. A quintessential example of a thinking person’s horror film, it spells out its magic in the best possible way – not by watering it down, but rather by presenting it in as much thorough detail as a movie script can contain. In fact, it’s one of the most accurate presentations of ritual magic ever put on screen.

A grieving mother hires an occultist to help her contact the ghost of her dead son, and the two move to an isolated house to begin a months-long magic ritual. At the end of the rigorous rite, the occultist promises, the mother will gain her wish. The magical process turns out to be difficult and exhausting, and after several months tempers start to flare and isolation takes its toll. The magic will get results, but can the pair stick with the program carefully enough to get the results they want? Either way, A Dark Song builds to an unforgettable climax that’s worth the wait.

9. The Village (2004) – M. Night Shyamalan

Though scores of self-styled horror critics dismissed The Village for failing to live up to their own preconceived notions of what it should be, many serious students of cinema recognized that it contains more than meets the eye.

Those willing to approach the film on its own substantial merits will find a remarkably astute analysis of the psychology of fear and the mechanisms of cult control. Couple these intelligent themes with an engaging storyline, and the result is one of the smartest recent films in the horror genre.

The setting is a quiet village in the woods where residents live a simple rural existence. All seems idyllic, but we soon learn that the woods surrounding the village are home to terrifying creatures which the villagers live in constant fear of.

The locals have formed a truce with the creatures based on humans staying out of the woods, but when one of their own becomes dangerously sick the villagers have to find medicine somewhere. The situation leads to a confrontation with the creatures which challenges the worldview of all who live in the village.

8. The VVitch (2015) – Robert Eggers

The Witch has a decidedly retro horror feel while still managing to succeed as a modern classic. Refusing to compromise its own voice, it’s a film that escapes easy categorization and description. What’s certain is that The Witch is understated and elegant while remaining genuinely unsettling. Through its choice of language, which is minimalistic and eloquent, the movie immediately pulls the viewer into its own universe, where anything is possible.

In 17th century New England, a local family decides to leave their insular church congregation and start a new life outside the community. The church elders declare that evil and trouble will certainly follow the family, and when things start to go wrong, appearances agree.

When a tragedy befalls the secluded family, suspicions flare among the family members, and even accusations of witchcraft start to fly. Has the family in fact been cursed, or has isolation loosened their grip on reality? Waiting to discover the answer is a cinematic pleasure in The Witch.

7. The Wailing (2016) – Na Hong-jin

When a Japanese man comes to live in a South Korean town, he keeps to himself and lives a quiet life. But, coinciding with his arrival, a strange sickness breaks out in the village, and the stranger comes under immediate suspicion. A police investigator tackles the case with an open mind, but is quickly deluged with wild stories about the mysterious newcomer. As the body count increases, paranoia and fear threaten the sanity and the lives of all involved.

This South Korean film delivers its terror with a double-edged sword: not only does it depict genuinely frightening physical events, it also dives into the dangerous psychological realms of paranoia and suspicion. Delving into themes of Eastern mythology, The Wailing shows itself to be a supremely literate movie while still unleashing plenty of frights upon those who dare to undertake a viewing.

6. The Devil’s Backbone (2001) – Guillermo del Toro

Horror master Guillermo del Toro helped to build his considerable reputation with this chilling classic. As always, del Toro’s horror film is both stylish and terrifying, with neither quality being diminished by the presence of the other. And while its message, partly relating to the events of the Spanish Civil War, is undeniably intelligent, The Devil’s Backbone never sacrifices the importance of the narrative at hand.

The Devil’s Backbone presents a young orphan boy named Carlos who is sent to the Santa Lucia School for training and care. The tenants of the school are a mixture of kindness, apathy, and hostility, but Carlos soon realizes that his new home houses dangerous secrets. The ghost of another boy stalks the halls, and may hold answers to the mysteries of the school.

5. Under the Skin (2013) – Jonathan Glazer

Jonathan Glazer’s enigma of a film is one sure to get under your skin – but only after it blows away all your expectations. With a story as seductive as its mysterious protagonist, Under the Skin explores brave new cinematic territory and makes no apologies for its ambitious vision.

If the idea of an otherworldly creature (disguised as Scarlett Johansson) driving around the Scottish countryside in a van and luring men into her vehicle sounds intriguing, then this is the movie for you.

But it’s not only the boldness of its plot that makes Under the Skin a modern classic; it’s also the deftness of its direction and the skill of its execution. This is understated directing at its finest, with director Jonathan Glazer content to withdraw from the forefront and let the strength of the story carry the day. And Scarlett Johansson delivers a career defining performance as the unfathomable stalker of human prey.

Best of all, Under the Skin knows that it’s a smart film, and refrains from exposition and amateur efforts to explain either itself or its meditation on human nature. An intensely horrific film that’s also the definition of smart art, this is a movie to be intellectually and emotionally experienced.

4. Let the Right One In (2008) – Tomas Alfredson

A vampire film that barely references its topic, Let Me In takes vampirism back to its roots – without the sexiness, the clichés, and the glamour of what is essentially the life of a leech.

At the center of the story is a lonely, bullied 12-year-old boy who strikes up a close friendship with and finds an emotional refuge in his new neighbor – a girl who only makes her appearances at night. As the two kids grow closer, it becomes apparent that the girl has something to hide; her oddly specific rules about when and where she can go begin to annoy her new friend who thought he had found a kindred spirit.

Let Me In is a highly intelligent Swedish film that addresses a typically sensational subject without sensationalism. It’s a movie made for adults that takes an honest look at the concept of vampirism, and follows its implications through to their logical conclusions. It’s also a touching story about human loneliness and connection, viewed through the eyes of two characters at sensitive stages in their lives.

3. Midsommar (2019) – Ari Aster

Carrying the torch of folk horror in fine style, Midsommar burst onto the scene in 2019. Following in the footsteps of the sub-genre’s classics like The Wicker Man and Night of the Demon, Midsommar can hold its head high in such elite company. Proving that the appeal of folk horror remains alive in the 21st century, it’s a film with the potential to inspire future followers of its own.

The pastoral setting in Midsommar is Sweden, where a yearly festival has drawn a young American couple for a visit. But (in case you didn’t see it coming), things quickly take a darker turn for the couple. Finding themselves in hostile territory, they embark upon a struggle for their very lives. Midsommar is a gorgeous film, and it’s another intriguing chapter in the career of director Ari Aster.

2. Suspiria (2018) – Luca Guadagnino

Fans of Dario Argento’s 1977 classic, Suspiria, weren’t exactly pining for a remake, but in 2018 they got one anyway. Argento’s fellow Italian director, Luca Guadagnino, defied expectations by reworking the beloved horror shocker for a new generation of moviegoers. Though the effort was bound to be enormously divisive, the ambitious Suspiria “2.0” manages to position itself as both respectful and rebellious… at once vintage and visionary.

This remake isn’t afraid to add considerable psychological depth to its main characters. The Suzy Bannion who shows up on the steps of the Tanz Dance Academy in this version has a detailed backstory and an unhappy home which she hopes the academy and its inhabitants can replace.

Likewise, Madame Blanc is a more fleshed out character who plays a crucial role in the psychological development of Suzy. As for the suspected witches – well, we see a lot more of their previously hidden nocturnal activities. It’s a smart movie on its own, and as a remake of a beloved classic Suspiria succeeds as well as we could have hoped.

1. Mother! (2017) – Darren Aronofsky

Darren Aronofsky’s heavily allegorical film is one that divided audiences across the world, and it’s easy to see why. However, few accused it of not being a smart movie… though many may assert that it was a bit too smart for its own good. But even if Mother! comes off a bit heavy-handed in places, it’s undeniably an intelligent film ripe for analysis. The fact that a wide variety of interpretations have been applied to the story is itself a testament to the depth of its content – quality art will always appear a little differently to each observer.

The basic setup is a deceptively simple one, far removed from its obvious allegorical implications. A married couple lives peacefully in a remote house, without a neighbor in sight. But one day some surprise guests show up at their door, bringing turmoil with them. Life in the house escalates into a hellish whirlpool of chaos that has to be seen to be believed. Mother! is a film with enormous social, philosophical, and religious implications, and you’ll need to watch it twice.
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