The 25 Creepiest Scenes from 2020s Horror Films. In this series of horror-themed articles, we’ll be reviewing the creepiest scenes from horror films by decade. These articles will showcase some of the subtle (yet terrifying) scares that gave you nightmares as a child and goosebumps as an adult.
Our sixth article covers the first half of the 2020s from 2020 – 2024 and was known for three major themes: the continued dominance of Supernatural Horror, the growing rise and impact of World Cinema Horror and new remakes and sequels of classic horror films of decades past. And if you’re looking for breakdowns on each year in the 2020s, we’ve previously prepared articles for the Best Horror Films for Halloween for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Though the 2010s were dominated primarily through The Conjuring and Insidious franchises, the 2020s featured new supernatural horror that would be some of the most popular horror films of the decade with franchise film potential. The Black Phone (2022) was one of the scariest and most successful horror films of the early 2020s with a sequel, Black Phone 2 (2025), releasing shortly before Halloween 2025. Talk to Me (2023) was an obscure Australian horror film that rose to prominence with its creepy atmosphere and shock scares with a planned sequel in development. And Tarot (2024), while receiving middling reviews but financially successful, is rumored to have a pending sequel.
World Cinema Horror’s impact on the horror genre continued into the 2020s with some of the creepiest (and most gruesome) films of the decade. Notable horror films included When Evil Lurks (2023) from Argentina, The Advent Calendar (2021), Infested (2024) and MadS (2024) from France, Speak No Evil (2022) from Denmark (with its eventual U.S. remake Speak No Evil (2024)), Venus (2022) and Sister Death (2023) from Spain, Amelia’s Children (2024) from Portugal and The Day of the Lord (2020) from Mexico. Asian Horror would also continue to produce quality horror films with #Alive (2020), Project Wolf Hunting (2022) and Exhuma (2024) from South Korea, The Sadness (2021) and Incantation (2022) from Taiwan and May the Devil Take You Too (2020) from Indonesia.
And finally, sequels and remakes of famous horror films and franchises were very popular in the 2020s. Hellraiser (2022) would be a reboot of the Hellraiser franchise, Evil Dead Rise (2023) would be a sequel within the Evil Dead franchise, The First Omen (2024) was a prequel to The Omen franchise, Alien: Romulus (2024) was a loose sequel to Alien (1979) and one of the scariest films of the 1970s, Salem’s Lot (1979), would get it’s first cinematic remake with Salem’s Lot (2024).
After we get through each decade, we’ll have a cumulative article with the 25 Creepiest Horror Scenes of All Time and you can find each article below as we post them over the following months:
- The 25 Creepiest Scenes from 1970s Horror Films
- The 25 Creepiest Scenes from 1980s Horror Films
- The 25 Creepiest Scenes from 1990s Horror Films
- The 25 Creepiest Scenes from 2000s Horror Films
- The 25 Creepiest Scenes from 2010s Horror Films
- The 25 Creepiest Scenes from 2020s Horror Films
- The 25 Creepiest Horror Scenes of All Time
For our rankings we’re going to use some criteria to help define and refine our list. First, what is considered ‘creepy’ is often subjective. What might be creepy to some people might come off as boring to others. For the list we’ve compiled, we narrowed down the Top 25 to scenes that genuinely scared most members of KBZ.
Second, though 2020 – 2024 was dominated by Supernatural Horror, we’re going to try to include as many other horror subgenres as possible such as Slasher Horror, Psychological Horror, Body Horror, Cosmic Horror and Folk Horror. We’ll even include some Found Footage films that reinvented the format with some very creepy scenes of the decade.
Third, as we noted above, the first half of this decade was filled with sequels and remakes of famous horror films or franchises. Though we’ll feature a few of these films on this list, we also want to list some of the notable (and original) horror films that creeped us out.
Fourth, though this decade rivaled both the 1970s and 1980s in terms of quality and quantity of creepy horror films, we only have 25 spots for this specific list. However, we will likely release 2-3 follow-up videos later this year to the KBZ YouTube channel that include honorable mentions that didn’t make this list. So, if you’re not a subscriber yet to our YouTube channel, now is a good time to sign up!
Fifth, we’re going to try something new with our lists by embedding BlueSky video posts of the scenes. You won’t need an account with BlueSky to view the videos, but there are some great film and horror buffs you can follow on the social network on hashtags feeds MovieSky and FilmSky. You can also follow KBZ Film on BlueSky here.
And sixth, we had to follow our rule for all of KBZ’s film listings where we only list films that have a 4.0/10 or higher rating.
As we mentioned above, we’ll be releasing additional lists of the creepiest horror films of the decade over the next few months. You can refer to our schedule above or subscribe to our newsletter to get updated as we release each new article.
Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
The 25 Creepiest Scenes from 2020s Horror Films
#25 Daddy’s Head (2024) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: The creature appears
#24 Speak No Evil (2022) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: Abel’s scream
#23 May the Devil Take You Too (2020) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: The hallway
#22 The Puppetman (2023) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: Charlie gets possessed
#21 The Advent Calendar (2021) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: Eva encounters her ‘demon’
#20 Infested (2024) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: Spiders…
#19 Host (2020) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: “Turn off the filter…”
#18 V/H/S/Beyond (2024) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: The alien invasion
#17 Longlegs (2024) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: The interrogation scene
#16 MadS (2024) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: The hallway
#15 Oddity (2024) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: Something outside the tent
#14 Salem’s Lot (2024) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: Vampire at the window…
#13 Late Night with the Devil (2024) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: “Please let yourself be known…”
#12 Heretic (2024) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: The cellar
#11 The First Omen (2024) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: “All for you…”
#10
Barbarian
Plot: In town for a job interview, a young woman arrives at her Airbnb late at night only to find that it has been mistakenly double-booked and a strange man is already staying there. Against her better judgement, she decides to stay the night anyway, but soon discovers that there is much more to be afraid of in the house than the other guest.
Scene: The underground tunnel
The Creepiest Scenes from 2020s Horror Films – Barbarian (2022)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #Halloween
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY
10s – youtu.be/NrihCcNU2zk
Asian Horror – youtu.be/NA7kX5Hhee4— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) October 15, 2025 at 2:01 PM
KBZ’s Take: This is a film of two halves. The first portion plays more like a Home Invasion thriller with Stalker Film elements, while the second half shifts gears quite a bit. We don’t want to mention the horror subgenre the second half turns to; we’ll just say it’s just as scary and unsettling as the first half. This was one of the most popular horror films in 2022 for a reason and one definitely worth checking out if you missed it.
Additional Lists: The Best Horror Films of 2022 for Halloween #4
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#9
Cobweb
Plot: Young Peter is plagued by a mysterious, constant noise from inside his bedroom wall – a tapping that his parents insist is in his imagination. As his fear intensifies, he starts to believe that his parents are hiding a terrible and dangerous secret.
Scene: Peter’s mom in the room
The Creepiest Scenes from 2020s Horror Films – Cobweb (2023)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #Halloween
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY
10s – youtu.be/NrihCcNU2zk
Asian Horror – youtu.be/NA7kX5Hhee4— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) October 15, 2025 at 4:01 PM
KBZ’s Take: Cobweb is a perfect example of a film that builds a sense of dread while also putting the viewer in a child’s view of nightmares. There are some very, very creepy scenes in this film and it’s a horror film from 2023 you shouldn’t miss.
Additional Lists: The Best Horror Films of 2023 for Halloween #9
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#8
Malignant
Plot: Madison is paralyzed by shocking visions of grisly murders, and her torment worsens as she discovers that these waking dreams are in fact terrifying realities.
Scene: Madison’s Reveal
The Creepiest Scenes from 2020s Horror Films – Malignant (2021)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #Halloween
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY
10s – youtu.be/NrihCcNU2zk
Asian Horror – youtu.be/NA7kX5Hhee4— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) October 15, 2025 at 6:01 PM
KBZ’s Take: James Wan is the current king of horror with the Saw, Insidious and The Conjuring film franchises. He has transformed various horror subgenres with unique themes and shocking scares, and he does the same with the Slasher Film subgenre in Malignant. This is a very scary film with one of the most demented ‘twists’ in the history of horror. By the time you get to the third act, you’ll be wondering how much more terrifying and crazy the film can get. If you want some guaranteed scares on Halloween, Malignant is a film you won’t ever forget.
Additional Lists: The Best Horror Films of 2021 for Halloween #1, Top Slasher Films You Haven’t Seen #1, Top Scariest Halloween Films for Adults You Haven’t Seen #2
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: Brynn finds solace within the walls of the home where she grew up until she’s awakened one night by strange noises from unearthly intruders.
Scene: The Alien Intruder
The Creepiest Scenes from 2020s Horror Films – No One Will Save You (2023)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #Halloween
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY
10s – youtu.be/NrihCcNU2zk
Asian Horror – youtu.be/NA7kX5Hhee4— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) October 15, 2025 at 8:01 PM
KBZ’s Take: Though this film sits squarely in the Alien Invasion and Alien Abduction film subgenres, it’s much more of a horror film. There is the home invasion (with Stalker Film elements) that takes up a good portion of the film and it’s very suspenseful and terrifying – especially once you get your first glimpses of the aliens. This is a film that doesn’t let up and is a horror adrenaline rush from start to finish. One of the best horror films from 2023 you can watch on Halloween.
Additional Lists: The Best Horror Films of 2023 for Halloween #2
Where to Stream / Buy: Hulu
Plot: Space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life-form in the universe while scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station.
Scene: The face huggers escape from the lab…
The Creepiest Scenes from 2020s Horror Films – Alien Romulus (2024)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #Halloween
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY
10s – youtu.be/NrihCcNU2zk
Asian Horror – youtu.be/NA7kX5Hhee4— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) October 15, 2025 at 10:01 PM
KBZ’s Take: There was little doubt that Alien: Romulus was going to make this list. While some critics of the film say it’s just a ‘greatest hits’ of the entire Alien franchise, we don’t see that as a bad thing. It utilizes many of the themes of previous Alien films and pays homage to them while also charting its own course with a revitalization of the franchise which has already spawned a rumored sequel.
And despite what the critics might say, this is the second scariest film of the entire franchise. No Alien film will likely top the claustrophobic survival scares of the original Alien (1979) but Romulus comes close. It has more face huggers, xenomorphs and one of the most exciting and suspense-filled sequences of the franchise involving xenomorph acid blood and gravity.
There are likely few people reading this list who haven’t seen Alien: Romulus yet, but for those who haven’t, there’s no better Halloween horror trifecta than Alien, Alien: Romulus and Aliens (1986).
Additional Lists: The Best Horror Films of 2024 for Halloween #1
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: A reunion between two estranged sisters gets cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.
Scene: Ellie possessed by a Demon
The Creepiest Scenes from 2020s Horror Films – Evil Dead Rise (2023)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #Halloween
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY
10s – youtu.be/NrihCcNU2zk
Asian Horror – youtu.be/NA7kX5Hhee4— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) October 16, 2025 at 8:04 AM
KBZ’s Take: If you’re a fan of the Evil Dead franchise but were let down by the 2013 remake of the original, Evil Dead Rise is a must-see film. This is a film that drops the comedy for an all-out horror and gore fest that harkens back to The Evil Dead’s (1981) groundbreaking roots in the horror genre. If you haven’t seen any of the Evil Dead films, we would suggest watching the original Evil Dead film first, so you know what you’re getting into with The Book of the Dead….
Additional Lists: The Best Horror Films of 2023 for Halloween #4
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: The residents of a small rural town discover that a demon is about to be born among them. They desperately try to escape – but it may be too late.
Scene: The Goat
The Creepiest Scenes from 2020s Horror Films – When Evil Lurks (2023)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #Halloween
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY
10s – youtu.be/NrihCcNU2zk
Asian Horror – youtu.be/NA7kX5Hhee4— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) October 16, 2025 at 10:05 AM
KBZ’s Take: This film was released after we had already posted our article for The Best Horror Films of 2023 for Halloween but it easily would have made our Top 10 list and is the best Exorcism & Possession Horror Film of 2023.
It’s brutal, disturbing, gory and holds nothing back. This Argentinian film is for hardcore horror fans only and not for the squeamish.
Additional Lists: The Best Horror Films of 2023 for Halloween Special Mention
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#3
Talk to Me
Plot: When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits with an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill and high-stakes party game – until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.
Scene: The Possession
The Creepiest Scenes from 2020s Horror Films – Talk To Me (2022)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #Halloween
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY
10s – youtu.be/NrihCcNU2zk
Asian Horror – youtu.be/NA7kX5Hhee4— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) October 16, 2025 at 12:03 PM
KBZ’s Take: Though this film is clearly aimed at a younger teen audience, if you’re an older fan of 70’s and 80’s horror, you won’t want to miss it. The film harkens back to those good old days of horror when films were more reliant on storytelling, atmosphere and creepiness vs. CGI.
Our advice is to follow our path of just going into the film, knowing little to nothing about it. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by a film that brings the best aspects of old school horror to Generation Z.
Additional Lists: The Best Horror Films of 2023 for Halloween #1, Best Recent Films About Ghosts & Hauntings #3
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#2
Smile
Plot: After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can’t explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.
Scene: The ‘smile’
The Creepiest Scenes from 2020s Horror Films – Smile (2022)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #Halloween
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY
10s – youtu.be/NrihCcNU2zk
Asian Horror – youtu.be/NA7kX5Hhee4— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) October 16, 2025 at 2:02 PM
KBZ’s Take: Smile came out of nowhere to scare viewers and become one of the most successful horror films of 2022. We can say the hype is real and this is a film that will stay with you long after you’ve seen it.
The psychological horror in the film is some of the best of the subgenre with an intense and horrific finale. This is one film we’ve been recommending to others lately, and it’s one of the scarier (and unsettling) recent films you can watch on Halloween.
Additional Lists: The Best Horror Films of 2022 for Halloween #1
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: Finney Shaw, a shy but clever 13-year-old boy, is abducted by a sadistic killer and trapped in a soundproof basement where screaming is of little use. When a disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring, Finney discovers that he can hear the voices of the killer’s previous victims. And they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn’t happen to Finney.
Scene: Finney goes upstairs…
The Creepiest Scenes from 2020s Horror Films – The Black Phone (2021)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #Halloween
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY
10s – youtu.be/NrihCcNU2zk
Asian Horror – youtu.be/NA7kX5Hhee4— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) October 16, 2025 at 4:01 PM
KBZ’s Take: Based on Joe Hill’s collection of short stories in 20th Century Ghosts, the film is a unique mixture of child abduction, serial killers, psychic powers and the supernatural. Also, like Talk to Me (2022), it’s a throwback to 1970’s and 80’s horror with a dark theme and even darker content. It replicates an era of horror where what you are watching is not only unsettling but increasingly frightening.
If you have somehow missed this film, we would strongly recommend checking it out as soon as possible. It’s one of the best and scariest films you can watch on Halloween.
Additional Lists: The Best Horror Films of 2022 for Halloween #1, Best Recent Films About Ghosts & Hauntings #1
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
