In this sixth special edition KBZ article, we’re going to review the best horror films by decade for your Halloween movie night. We’ll select the best and scariest films from the 1970’s up to the most recent horror films from 2023.
These articles will act as more detailed companion articles to our previous Halloween articles which covered some lesser-known horror films to watch on Halloween. Our article on the Top Scariest Halloween Films for Adults You Haven’t Seen covered a mix of obscure and bone chilling horror while also breaking down some recommended horror films by popular horror subgenres. And we also have a list of the Top Scariest Halloween Films For Kids You Haven’t Seen if you’re looking for some tamer scares for various age groups.
This sixth article will cover the Best Horror Films of 2020 for Halloween and you can view articles as we release them from the list below:
- The Best 1970’s Horror Films for Halloween
- The Best 1980’s Horror Films for Halloween
- The Best 1990’s Horror Films for Halloween
- The Best 2000’s Horror Films for Halloween
- The Best 2010’s Horror Films for Halloween
- The Best Horror Films of 2020 for Halloween
- The Best Horror Films of 2021 for Halloween
- The Best Horror Films of 2022 for Halloween
- The Best Horror Films of 2023 for Halloween
For our rankings we’re going to use some criteria to help define and refine our list. First, we’re going to rank each film by how scary it is (and is known for). Though how ‘scary’ a film might be is subjective and older films might not be deemed scary by today’s standards, there are quite a few films that even decades later, will have you cringing in fear.
Second, we aren’t going to cover every sequel of every horror franchise out there. Horror is known for milking a franchise as much as possible with often increasingly subpar films. Unless a sequel or reboot is worth noting, we’ll be focusing on the initial iterations of these horror classics.
Third, we’ll try to make sure at least one film from every year per decade is included. Decades such as the 1980’s were top heavy with the amount of horror films released in the first half of the decade compared to the latter half.
And fourth, 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. We’re also only considering films released after 1970.
Our complete list of Horror Films for Halloween features over 167+ films from 1931 – 2023 and this is a good staring point if you’re looking for some of the best and classic Halloween Horror recommendations. And if you’ve seen most of the films on this list, we also have various articles reviewing the best obscure films by subgenre including the Best Body Horror films, the Best Space Horror Films, the Best Films about Ghosts and Hauntings, the Top Dark Fantasy Films and so on. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to get updated as we release future articles on these special edition Halloween lists or future articles on recommended horror films by subgenre.
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 Best Horror Films of 2020 for Halloween
Honorable Mentions: His House (2020), Scare Me (2020), Spree (2020), Relic (2020), Impetigore (2020), Gretel & Hansel (2020), Run Sweetheart Run (2020), The Closet (2020), Beauty Water (2020), The Hunt (2020), Becky (2020), Sea Fever (2020), An Ideal Host (2020), Soul (2020), Peninsula (2020), The Last Matinee (2020), The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020), Vampires vs. The Bronx (2020), 12 Hour Shift (2020), Caveat (2020), Books of Blood (2020), Spontaneous (2020) and The Other Side (2020).
Rank 20-1:
#20 The Unhealer (2020) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#19 The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#18 Don’t Listen (2020) Where to Stream / Buy: Netflix
#17 May the Devil Take You Too (2020) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#16 Run (2020) Where to Stream / Buy: Hulu
#15 Underwater (2020) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#14 Come Play (2020) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#13 Anything for Jackson (2020) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#12 Cadaver (2020) Where to Stream / Buy: Netflix
#11 Hunter Hunter (2020) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#10
Host
Plot: Six friends hire a medium to hold a séance via Zoom during lockdown – but they get far more than they bargained for as things quickly go wrong. When an evil spirit starts invading their homes, they begin to realize they might not survive the night.
Horror Subgenre(s): Films With Found Footage, Films About The Paranormal, Hauntings & Ghosts
KBZ’s Take: There have been a few other films that have utilized videoconferencing for horror such as Unfriended (2015), but Host is on another level with its creepiness and jump scares. The film is only about an hour long, but it’s an intense hour that doesn’t let up once it gets going.
Additional Lists: Best Recent Films About Ghosts & Hauntings #5
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: A retired priest is asked by his friend to perform an exorcism on his possessed daughter.
Horror Subgenre(s): Films About Exorcism & Possession
KBZ’s Take: Where to begin with this film? First, even the most hardened horror fans will have a tough time making it through this film. There are some hardcore ‘torture porn’ elements in the film that are very difficult to watch. Second, the writers and director were obviously influenced by both The Exorcist (1973) and Evil Dead II (1987). There are elements of both films in this film – some elements work, and some don’t. But when they do work, they are great. We would only recommend the film for hard-core horror fans as it’s one of the most brutal films you can watch on Halloween night.
Additional Lists: Top Films About Exorcisms & Possession You Haven’t Seen #5
Where to Stream / Buy: Netflix
#8
The Wretched
Plot: A family takes refuge in a fallout shelter to avoid a dangerous outbreak.
Horror Subgenre(s): Films About Folk Horror, Films About The Occult & Witches
KBZ’s Take: We’re recommending this film if you’re looking for some Halloween Horror in the vein of Stranger Things. Hardcore horror fans might not like the film as it doesn’t feature gore and violence typical of more mature horror. But it does have a great 80’s vibe, suspenseful mystery elements and a great ‘creature’ design for a surprisingly good little horror film. Though the film is unrated, we would say it falls within the PG-13/TV-MA rating classification.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: Retired cop James Lasombra is asked by a friend to investigate the disappearance of her daughter, who seemingly packed in the night and left an ominous message on the bathroom mirror – The Empty Man Made Me Do It. As he investigates this mysterious figure further, James begins to see and hear strange things, and is forced to come to terms with his past and what it means for his future.
Subgenre(s): Films About Cults, Films About Urban Legends
KBZ’s Take: This is a hard film to describe but is similar to other creepypasta (internet legend) films such as The Bye Bye Man (2017), Slender Man (2018) and Grimcutty (2020). Though the Empty Man isn’t a great film, it’s better than the aforementioned creepypasta films with a slow developing sense of dread.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: Two millennial entrepreneurs stage fake exorcisms on social media until one of their girlfriends becomes possessed by a demon.
Horror Subgenre(s): Films About Exorcism & Possession
KBZ’s Take: One of the more original horror films of the year, this film explores what a demon would do in the age of social media. The film starts off as a horror comedy hybrid as two entrepreneurs plan and perform their fake exorcisms. But the film turns on the horror and gore spigot in the final act with an ending that will last with you for days. It’s definitely worth checking out for Halloween if you’re looking for horror films with original and unique plots.
Additional Lists: Top Films About Exorcisms & Possessions You Haven’t Seen #4
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: Following the events at home, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.
Horror Subgenre(s): Films About Survival Horror
KBZ’s Take: We mentioned in our introduction that we’re avoiding listing horror sequels unless they’re worth noting and A Quiet Place II is one of those films. It’s arguably better than its predecessor as it sheds more light on the alien invasion and creatures while amping up the horror elements significantly. Both films make for a great double feature on Halloween night.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#4
#Alive
Plot: As a grisly virus rampages a city, a lone man stays locked inside his apartment, digitally cut off from seeking help and desperate to find a way out.
Horror Subgenre(s): Films About Zombies, Horror Films From Korea, World Cinema Horror Films
KBZ’s Take: #Alive answers the question of how you might combat and survive Zombies in the age of technology. There are few films that add to the Zombie Film subgenre and #Alive is one of those films. It has some unique elements of the subgenre and some of the better shock scares of the year.
Where to Stream / Buy: Netflix
#3
Possessor
Plot: A corporate assassin uses brain implant technology to take control of other people’s bodies to kill other targets.
Horror Subgenre(s): Body Horror Films, Psychological Horror Films, Splatter & Gore Films
KBZ’s Take: The definition of a powerful film is one that stays with you months or even years after you’ve seen it. Possessor is one of those films we still can’t get out of our head years later. This film is not for the faint of heart as it’s brutal, gory and will have you questioning the ethics and morals of the lead character (played by the great Andrea Riseborough). If you don’t like Psychological Horror Films than this film might not be for you. But if you like the thought-provoking themes typically found in Cronenberg horror, this is one of the best.
Additional Lists: Best Recent Body Horror Films #1, Top Assassins & Hitmen Films You Haven’t Seen #2, Best Cronenberg Body Horror Films #4
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: When Cecilia’s abusive ex takes his own life and leaves her his fortune, she suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of coincidences turn lethal, Cecilia works to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.
Horror Subgenre(s): Films About Monsters, Psychological Horror Films
KBZ’s Take: This current iteration of The Invisible Man is updated with contemporary themes involving domestic abuse. While the film doesn’t delve into the deteriorating psychological condition of the invisible like previous films, it focuses on the psychological condition of the abused – which is a better story alteration for modern audiences. If you somehow missed this film during Covid-19 lockdowns, it’s one of the best (and scariest) horror films from 2020.
Additional Lists: Best Recent Films About Genetic Engineering #4
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#1
Freaky
Plot: A mystical, ancient dagger causes a notorious serial killer to magically switch bodies with a 17-year-old girl.
Horror Subgenre(s): Horror Comedy Films, Slasher Films
KBZ’s Take: If you enjoyed Christopher Landon’s Happy Death Day (2017) and Happy Death Day 2U (2019), then you’ll also enjoy this film (if not more). Similar to how Happy Death Day created a unique experience by meshing together the Time Loop and Slasher Film subgenres, Freaky combines the Serial Killer, Slasher Film and Body Swap subgenres into a hilarious yet often suspenseful creation. Highly recommended film to see especially for Vince Vaughn’s many hilarious physical moments as the ‘teen girl’.
Additional Lists: Top Body Swap Films You Haven’t Seen #2, Top Slasher Films You Haven’t Seen #3, The Best Films of the Body Swap Film Subgenre #4
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
