Hello Old Sports! We’ve arrived into a new decade and it’s time to redo the roaring twenties. But behind us is one incredible decade where a lot of shit happened and a lot of great horror movies hit screens. A lot of the Horror Bound writers decided to put together their own personal top 10 lists of the past decade. Obviously there is a ton of great horror and this was super hard to choose just ten!

DAHLIA’S TOP TEN HORROR OF THE DECADE

Evil Dead (2013) The movie took an old favorite and gave it a brand-new life with a fresh coat of blood. Updated effects, a larger budget, & a phenomenal cast brought to the screen a movie that reminded us that not all remakes are bad.

Get Out (2017) Brand new film from a brand-new director, and Jordan Peele came out running. The movie tackles a modern commentary on racism, and also presents an unsettling & new kind of fear.

A Quiet Place (2018) Another break-out film from a new director, John Krasinski gave us a movie that balances an unsettling atmosphere with realistic characters, and a perfectly paced script. It’s hard to look away while watching, and you find yourself not wanting to make a sound.

The Cabin in the Woods (2011) This film brought a new level of meta to meta-horror, and it has twists and turns written into its story that will be remembered fondly. Your first-time watch will always be the best, but what adds to this film is all the little things you can find with each viewing.

The Taking of Debra Logan (2014) Absolutely the best found-footage film in the decade, and one that will keep you thinking about it well after. Centered around Alzheimer's patient, Debra Logan, the film gives us a documentary-style film with an intense build & satisfying conclusion.

Mayhem (2017) Steven Yeun and Samara Weaving give us a thrilling rush, peppered with well-timed comedic moments & touching emotional ones as well. Every character was well cast, and the antagonists were set up so everyone has someone they love to hate the most.

You're Next (2011) Few things are as terrifying as a home invasion horror, because it feels so much more possible. This film doesn’t miss that mark and hits it in a way that keeps the tension rising and falling exactly the way it needs to.

Train to Busan (2016) To put it simply, this is going to be one of the greatest zombie films you’ve ever seen. Great characters, both likable and hated ones, not to mention well-crafted zombie effects. You’ll love this movie from its very first opening sequence.

What We Do in the Shadows (2014) A mockumentary about vampires living in the modern age is easily a uniquely entertaining concept. Throw in being written & directed by the talented team of Jermaine Clement & Taika Waititi, and you have a top 10 film.

Sinister (2012) The best reason I can give you to watch this film is to point out that I have watched horror since I was 3 years old, without fear, and this movie made me sleep with the lights on at the age of 22.

HOLLY-MAE’S TOP TEN HORROR OF THE DECADE

You're Next (2011) Impressive twists, believable characters you can root for and tons of fun.

Scream 4 (2011) Not the best installment in the franchise, nor the worst, but as a Scream enthusiast, I had to include it.

The Innkeepers (2011) Close and intense; this film has all the charm of a classic ghost story. Small, intense, and spine-tingling with a few excellent performances.

The Cabin In The Woods (2011) Almost a game-changer. This film dropped the self-aware characters and pop culture references of the 90s-2000s in toxic waste and let it grow.

American Mary (2012) Body Horror through a softer, kinder lens. A rape-revenge story that is allowed to actually grow along with its characters.

Grave Encounters (2012) One of the more entertaining handheld ghost films with terribly cheesy characters and bad SFX.

The Babadook (2014) A charming little film with beautiful cinematography and slow build terror.

What We Do In The Shadows (2014) Pure gold that earned its TV adaptation (and the show’s not half bad either)

The Wailing (2016) The horrors of Xenophobia and small-town hysteria.

Gerald's Game (2017) One woman, one dog... dehydration. Sounds dull but crept up my spine and stayed there for a while.

MIKE’S TOP TEN HORROR OF THE DECADE

The Conjuring (2013) Compelling characters, great scares, and full of heart. One of the first movies to actually scare me in a long time.

Get Out (2017) One of those movies that improves with every viewing. I always catch a new detail. As close to a perfect movie as one can get.

The Witch (2015) Dark, brooding, and atmospheric, The Witch had its claws in me from beginning to end. I would like to live deliciously.

Insidious (2010) Another one that falls into the “actually scare me” category. The Further as a concept is one of my favorite parts of the movie, and the Red Face Demon is creepy as hell.

Sinister (2012) The found footage element of Sinister puts this one over the top for me. A well written and executed story. It’s chock-full of scenes that will be burned into my brain for a long time.

The Cabin in the Woods (2011) Simultaneously deconstructs the tropes of the horror genre while itself is an excellent example of how to do it right. Equal parts hilarious and scary. Looking back it really shows off Chris Hemsworth’s comedic chops that came to the fore in Thor: Ragnarok.

IT (2017) I don’t really know what to say about IT other than I loved it. This may be controversial but Bill Skarsgård’s portrayal of Pennywise is my favorite. Hard to pick a favorite scene, but Georgie’s death is hella brutal.

Drag Me To Hell (2009) [EDITOR’S NOTE - this is 2009, but I’ll allow it cause this movie is fucking awesome] I’ve watched this movie at least a dozen times. It’s been one of my favorites since it was released and has one of the best endings ever! A prime example that a horror movie doesn’t have to be rated R to be great.

Hell House, LLC (2015) One of the best examples of found footage since The Blair Witch Project. A wave of anxiety washed over me every time they went in that damn basement.

Tusk (2014) As a huge Kevin Smith fan, I’d be remiss not to include Tusk on my list. It’s batshit crazy and I love it. Michael Parks carries most of the movie because he’s Michael Parks, and the walrus creature at the end is worth the price of admission alone.

ANGIE’S TOP TEN HORROR OF THE DECADE

Midsommar (2019) – A trippy, brutal exploration of grief. Also, nothing beats a movie where a guy gets point-blank told he’s not very good at fucking.

The Void (2016) – Cults, beings from another dimension, and inter-dimensional birthing!

Mandy (2018) – Beautifully composed, and containing one tweaked out, handmade axe-wielding Nic Cage on a rampage. Also, cults.

Train to Busan (2016) – Scary zombies? Check. Incredible acting? Also, check. Left me feeling like I wanted to cry forever when it was done? You got it.

Tragedy Girls (2017) – Snark. Mayhem. Murder. Friends Forever.

Deathgasm (2015) – Music used to summon demons! Corpse paint, black metal, and…oh yeah…a cult. I’m noticing a trend.

The Girl with All the Gifts (2016) – Another zombie entry, but this one has such a unique feel. The monsters aren’t always what we expect.

Get Out (2017) – Look, Daniel Kaluuya is beyond reproach as an actor. He’s phenomenal. Get Out is a wonderfully dark and terrifying exploration of benevolent racism. It presents the most severe possible form of colonization – colonization of the self.

Baskin (2015) – I love this movie because I still don’t feel like I understand it completely. I keep going back to it, again and again, trying to seek out that greater cultural context that I can sense but can’t quite keep hold of. It’s beautiful, horrifying, gory, and oh – there’s a cult (I’M SORRY I CAN’T HELP IT!).

The Boy (2015) – Not to be mistaken for the 2016 film of the same name. Directed by Craig MacNeill and put out by SpectreVision, this film is about a young boy with a death fixation whose alcoholic father owns a hotel in the middle of nowhere. A drifter shows up after having a car accident nearby and befriends the boy. After the drifter appears, the boy’s fascination with death becomes something more. Rainn Wilson does a stellar turn as the drifter.

LORENZO’S TOP TEN HORROR OF THE DECADE

From Zo: So, I couldn’t really decide how to write this list because there are multiple movies each year that really stood out for me. Instead, I thought I’d just list off one from each year between 2010 and 2019 that really did it for me. Without further ado….my top 10 Horror Films of the 2010s.

2010 – Insidious

2011 – You’re Next

2012 – Sinister

2013 – The Conjuring

2014 – As Above So Below

2015 – The Witch

2016 – The Conjuring 2

2017 – Tragedy Girls

2018 – Summer of 84

2019 - Midsommar

BUD’S TOP TEN HORROR OF THE DECADE

The Crazies (2010) Let’s not forget The Crazies remake when we start discussing the best horror films of 2010. That scene where the girl is strapped to the hospital gurney and dude is stalking bed to bed murdering with a pitchfork. Horror, terror, crazy to the extreme.

Mom and Dad (2017) I’ve gone into great length on my love for this absolute batshit crazy film. An absolutely bizarre premise, Nicholas Cage at one of his all-time craziest and a grand finale of generational murder that will have you applauding.

The Mimic (2017) I caught this on ShudderTv while gearing up for Joe Bob. The last 15 minutes were absolutely haunting so I added it to my queue to watch later and I can tell you this, the first hour is even more haunting than the end. Go to Shudder now and check out this absolutely terrifying Korean horror film.

The Lords of Salem (2012) I’ve never understood the hate that this one gets. Sure, it’s not what you would expect from Rob Zombie but to me, this is probably his best horror movie. It’s terrifying. Every scene has a sense of dread with a creeping creeper lurking in the shadow and a climax that rivals Rosemary’s Baby. Not to mention the reveal of short, pudgy Satan set to Mozart’s. I implore you, give this one another viewing, you’ll be glad you did.

The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014) My wife reacts strongly to horror movies and this one was no different. She was yelling and screaming all the way. At the end of the movie she even asked me, “Is this one of those real fake ones or one of the fake real ones?” I can only guess she asked because it’s found footage. The night we watched this a pretty heavy storm rolled in and our back door sometimes blows open. She got up in the middle of the night to go lock it to make sure it didn’t blow open and the dogs couldn’t get out. As she was wandering through the dark kitchen using her phone as a flashlight, I yell from the bed, “Watch out for snake grandma”. Terrified, she stormed back into the bedroom, “Fuck you, fuck that door and fuck snake grandma”. Scary enough to make a grown woman afraid of the dark. Good job The Taking of Deborah Logan.

IT (2017) The scene in the garage with the slide projector. Need I say more? So very scary! This scene had me grinning ear to ear and applauding in the movie theater. Most lists this time of year are going to include this film, so let me talk about the sequel for a minute. The drastic change from straight horror from IT to comedic slapstick in IT Chapter 2 is the biggest change in pace since Evil Dead and Evil Dead 2. It’s absolutely amazing how the original was so terrifying and the sequel was so...hilarious. I love both, but chapter 2 lands closer to Dead Alive and Killer Klowns from Outer Space than a strict horror classic.

Annabelle Creation (2017) This movie is so damned scary, it’s insane. Absolutely amazing how they packed so much terror into such an unassuming movie. A sequel to spinoff? In the horror world, this usually means a direct to video disaster in space. When it comes to Annabelle Creation, it ends up being one of the absolute most terrifying movies I have ever seen. People can bash jump scares all they want, but what else is going to bring you to the edge of your seat and then make you jump out of it in fear?

Unfriended (2014) I went into this one blind, I knew nothing about it at all. Casually laid back on the couch with the lights on, mildly paying attention. And then suddenly my ass found the edge of the seat. I paused the movie, turned off all the lights and cranked the volume up and buckled in for the ride. What a wild ride it is. This film is so unique and interesting that the creativity alone should be enough to land it on the Top 10 of the decade list. Add in the sheer terror and the little details you catch on a second viewing and this thing lands much higher. Absolutely amazing. The most shocking part about this movie has to be that no one from the crew has done anything since.

The Conjuring (2013) I used to hate James Wan. I said he killed horror with the release of Saw. In the aftermath of the release of Saw, it seemed that every horror movie wanted to copy Saw and be a brutal, violent, gory torture porn type film and that’s really not what Saw was. The Conjuring, on the other hand, is James Wan resurrecting the horror world and putting a clear definition of “Standard American Horror”. This is horror without gimmicks, without over the top frills. Just scary shit. Movies that are the things of nightmares. Quite often rated R for no reason other than being scary as all hell. This film is very, very scary and also kicks off the Conjuring Universe filled with similar films. It also sneakily resurrected The Amityville Franchise by including Ed and Lorraine Warren and numerous flashbacks to the Amityville house.

Evil Dead (2013) This was not difficult at all to place Evil Dead as #1. It is absolutely 100% of everything you would want from a new Evil Dead movie. Probably the bloodiest movie ever made and definitely one of the most disturbing. From the girl carving her face up with a shard of glass, to the box cutter licking scene, and using a turkey slicer to cut off an arm, this film truly fits the vision Sam Raimi set forth so many decades ago. This is now at least an annual watch and it’s interesting, it’s not a remake. It’s somehow a sequel. Go back and watch again and bask in its bloody glory.

CHARLOTTE’S TOP TEN HORROR OF THE DECADE

Happy Death Day (2017) This movie just made me so happy. Tree is such a joy to watch, and the movie was so unique. I mean, sure, it’s the horror version of Groundhog Day, but that in itself is so awesome! I watch this movie all the time and that’s why I’m choosing it as one of my favs.

Hereditary (2018) I’ve never had an experience like I did watching this movie in a theater. It was truly a full-body experience. And a completely unique film filled with some truly terrifying moments. I made everyone I know watch this movie, and I watch it quite a lot. Hence why it’s a fav!

Scream 4 (2011) The Scream franchise is my favorite horror franchise and the original film is my favorite film of ALL time. ALL TIME YOU GUYS. So, obviously, when the 4th came out it changed my life. Sidney was back! And I do love this film so much and I’m honored that Wes gave it to us before he passed.

American Mary (2012) The Soska Sisters are personal heroes of mine and have been so supportive of me over the years. American Mary is such an incredible film and it was so personal for them that it’s hard not to love this incredible body horror cautionary tale. A feminist flick with astounding acting and a really twisted tale. Anyone new getting into horror, especially if they’re female, this is one I always recommend.

Cult of Chucky (2017) I looooove me my Chucky films. And the most recent was no exception. In fact, this was the most bonkers yet. Amazing kills, amazing story, amazing acting, multiple Chucky dolls, Jennifer Tilly….I LOVE THIS MOVIE.

Housebound (2014) I loved this movie so much I named my website after it. A dry and sarcastic New Zealand horror comedy that just filled my heart with joy. It has a clever twist that you may or may not see coming, and solid acting all around.

Creep (2014) Just when you were starting to get tired of found footage flicks, Creep came out and changed the game. Two people, one camera, and one pretty simple story. But somehow it is so damn entertaining and creepy and you can’t stop watching. A great intro to horror too for those looking for somewhere to start.

Crimson Peak (2015) This is my favorite haunted house movie. Every little thing in this movie is beautiful and haunting. Guillermo Del Toro outdid himself in this story. The acting is great, the twist is shocking, and you’re going to want to live in this house forever. I ADORE this movie.

Don’t Breathe (2016) Home invasion movies always freak me out but this one twists the plot and has you rooting for the home invaders. It’s a shockingly simple premise but fuck does it work. It’s tense and you’ll be clinging to the edge of your seat the entire film. There are some really shocking scenes that, even after seeing it a few times, still catch me off guard.

The Shallows (2016) I love sharks, I love ocean horror, I love Blake Lively. So, obviously, this was a perfect fit. A great shark horror film with one woman stranded in the middle of the water with a very hungry shark. Blake Lively is phenomenal in this considering the entire story centers around her. There are some twists, there’s a lot of shark, there’s an adorable seagull. It’s a stunning flick.

And there you have it! Let us know which movies you felt were the best in the past decade. And stay spooky old sports!

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