Scared Smart: The 13 Best Elevated Horror Films

It is unfair to say that Elevated Horror is a new term, or even a new idea, because elevated horror films have been around for well over 50 years now. I would rather call it more of a trending term in the horror movie zeitgeist. At least for me, I wasn't aware of the term until this past year. However, it perfectly describes the trend that is happening in the horror movie genre today.

For those that are unfamiliar with the term, "elevated horror" is a horror movie subgenre that is categorized by the use of complex themes, artistic style, emotional depth, and a heavier focus on the craftsmanship of making the film instead of relying on graphic content: blood, gore, sex, etc. 

Now, most horror movie fans would say that any good horror movie that's worth its weight in blood already does that. There is a lot of debate as to which horror movies would be considered a part of this category. For example: in the film In A Violent Nature (2024), the film uses a unique style of filming that gives you a look into the point of view of a slasher movie villain (think Jason Voorhees) which would make you think it is elevated horror. However, it is also super gory, and follows a similar story plot of most slashers that have come before it. 

So it begs the question: What is an elevated horror movie, and where do I begin to watch these films (not movies; FILMS!)?

Well, look no further. I have curated a list of what I consider to be the 13 best elevated horror films that will not only send chills down your spine, but also make you think.

1.) The Babadook (2014)

The Babadook, on the surface, looks like a typical ghost horror: big, scary ghost thing haunting a family in New Zealand. However, the story is anything but typical. The bone-chilling smile of The Babadook helps propel the scares, for sure. But underneath the surface, this is a movie about grief, loss, and coping with what to do with the sad feelings associated with grief and loss. And don't worry; there are still PLENTY of scares to please even the most jaded horror movie fan.

2.) It Follows (2014)

Sex has always been considered a "sin" in the slasher film genre, with characters like Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers seemingly punishing teens for engaging in such activities. Well, what would happen if it was literally the sex that kills you? Well, that is the premise of It Follows. This film serves as an allegory for sexually transmitted infections. The rules are simple: It will follow you until it kills you. It will never run, only walk, and it can take the form of anyone to get to you. The only way to get it to stop following you is to have sex with someone. Then, it follows that person. It only follows one person at a time. If you get killed by it, it follows the person that you received it from. This is one of those horror films that leaves audiences wondering what they would do in that situation. This is my wife's favorite horror film. The clever plot of the film is supported by incredible cinematography and a score that leaves you unsettled.

3.) Weapons (2025)

This film exploded onto the scene this year, and is leaving audiences talking for weeks after seeing it. It's a mystery, wrapped in a thriller, wrapped in a witchy horror. When an entire class of students run out of their homes at the same time of night one evening without any notice and seemingly unprompted, the small town wants to know what happened, and where the children went. Since they all are from the same class, they immediately villainize the teacher, who has had a checkered past with previous schools as the culprit, even there is ZERO evidence pointing to her or anyone. The same story is told from 4 different and unique perspectives: the teacher, an emotionally volatile parent, a cop who is investigating the crime, and a local homeless drug addict who wants the reward money for finding the kids. All of them are red herrings for the true culprit: the eccentric and obnoxiously nice Aunt Gladys, played by the incomparable Amy Madigan (Field of Dreams, Uncle Buck, Streets of Fire) which earned her a Golden Globe nomination (possibly Oscar, but the nominees have not been announced yet.). It's a really intricate film, filled with chilling moments and amazing cinematography. 

4.) Sinners (2025)

I'll be completely honest: I am not a vampire movie fan. I find vampires to be obnoxious, and most of the films about them are too melodramatic and emo for my blood. However, if you are like me, I ask you to consider watching Sinners. Arguably the biggest blockbuster horror of 2025, this vampire film tells the story of twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan), two former Al Capone hitmen returning to their childhood town to open an illegal blues bar. Everything seems to be going well, until they are approached by a small group of white folk singers wishing entrance into their establishment. As it turns out, they are more than just mere folk musicians, but a team of bloodthirsty vampires. This instant classic is filled with phenomenal performances from the entire cast, a provocative plot about racism and religion in the 1930's south, and an infectious score that will sure get stuck in your head for years to come. 

5.) Get Out (2017)

I don't think I need to belabor the point with this film. Arguably one of the most commercially successful horror films of all-time, Jordan Peele's modern classic Get Out has viewers reacting to it in very different ways. At its heart, it is a suspense thriller with some excellent storytelling from its cast. If you haven't seen it yet, I suggest you get on it.

6.) The Shining (1980)

This one might get some eye rolls from people. This 1980 Stanley Kubrick masterpiece, based on the classic Stephen King novel, has stood the test of time as one of hollywood's most terrifying films ever made. There are so many iconic moments: the bloody twins in the hallway, the old lady in the bathtub, the snow-covered garden maze chase scene, and the famous blood flood at the elevator doors. Those scenes are all great, but they are not the reason why I put this movie on this list. The reason why I consider it an elevated horror is because of the complex and contemplative story. Every time I watch this movie, I walk away with different thoughts about the ending. That, to me, makes it an elevated horror. It goes beyond the bloody hallways. Also: Jack. F'in. Nicholson.

7.) Psycho (1960)

I consider Alfred Hitchcock to be the KING of the elevated horror. They didn't call him "The Master of Suspense" for nothing. I always refer to Psycho when it comes to the genius of Alfred Hitchcock because there are so many elements that he incorporated into it that filmmakers still use today. He essentially laid the blueprint for jump scares that every suspense and horror filmmaker has used and copied over the generations since Psycho was released in 1960. For example: when he filmed the famous basement scene, he panned the camera from right to left instead of left to right. Now, to the ordinary eye, this doesn't seem like a big deal. However, it subconsciously puts you at unease because our brains naturally read from left to right. Or: When in he famous shower scene, the iconic music is delayed by just 1 second before it starts playing. That gives you 1 second between when the stabbing begins and the music starts, which subtly makes the jump scare that much more terrifying. 

8.) Jaws (1975)

If you live in Massachusetts like me, you probably grew up watching this movie every Independence Day. You can probably quote the movie from beginning to end word-perfect. This is not just one of the greatest horror films of all-time, but it is also one of my all-time favorites of any movie ever. I have put this movie on this list not just because of the quality of the film: cinematography, special effects (which at the time were groundbreaking), and an iconic score (you just heard it while you read this, didn't you?), but also its social impact. I have heard the age-old argument from the younger generations (referring to my generation, of course) that "the shark looks so fake," when compared to the effects quality of the modern film era. However, I would like those people to consider this: have those movies with better effects ever almost caused an extinction of an entire animal species? Was it fake to those people who were so scared in 1975 that they went out and began hunting Great White Sharks? If that's not elevated horror, I don't know what is.

9.) Midsommar (2019)

This film is, as my wife likes to say, a visual feast. At times, it almost reads like a Wes Anderson movie, and not a completely disturbing horror movie. The beauty of this movie, juxtaposed with the gruesome horrors happening around our main group of friends, makes this movie almost the definition of elevated horror. Many of the visuals are less terrifying and more shocking. But, going back to what I was saying about Hitchcock, you can definitely tell that Ari Aster was definitely inspired. Also, can did we mention the breakthrough performance from Florence Pugh in this movie? This is the film that made her a household name. Because of the cinematography and the pacing of the story, you grow more and more uncomfortable as the movie progresses. Even if you can predict what is going to probably happen at the end, you still watch to see how, which is the crux of an excellent film.

10.) Hereditary (2018)

Sometimes, you watch a horror movie once, and you are so terrified by the end that you refuse to watch it again. That is Hereditary for me. Another Ari Aster masterpiece, this film was brilliant in its execution. A mix of jarring imagery (the head, the people coming out of the woods, the possessions) and a heartbreaking performance from Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense, About A Boy), this movie is considered one of the scariest (if not the scariest) movie of the past 10 years. What I particularly enjoyed about the movie was the sound mixing. It's quiet, yet terrifying. It proves that you don't need an iconic score to scare people properly. Sometimes, less is more. 

11.) The Witch (2015)

I think what I found most impressive about this movie was the amount of historical research that went into making this film. I know for a fact from friends of mine who study this very topic in Salem that this is the most accurate representation of historical witchcraft in a movie ever. Even the work done by the actors on getting a period-appropriate accent was remarkable. It's safe to say that this is not your typical witch movie. This was the first time I ever saw Anya Taylor-Joy (The Menu, The Queen's Gambit), and she is a force in this movie. In fact, the entire cast was impressively dedicated to getting this film just right. And, of course, it is scary as hell. 

12.) Paranormal Activity (2007)

I remember watching this movie huddled around my roommate's laptop in college with the lights off. I was so terrified, that I couldn't sleep that night. That's how impactful this movie was. It is both groundbreaking in it's filming with the found footage and its use of practical effects. From every metric, this was a low-budget phenomenon. At the time, it became one of the most popular movies on the planet. It has what I call rewatchability. You want to watch it over and over again with new groups of people to see their reaction. Even though the sequels kind of ruined this franchise, the original was something that will forever be remembered in the history of cinema.

13.) The Sixth Sense (1999)

Many people consider this movie to be the gateway to the modern elevated horror era. M. Night Shyamalan's masterpiece checks all the boxes: 1.) Famous movie quote ("I see dead people"), 2.) The plot twist to end all plot twists, and 3.) Haunting imagery that will stick in your head forever. Underneath all of that, it is an interesting psychological drama about how children handle trauma. This style of plot-twisting has become synonymous with the filmmaker himself, and became a pivotal part of making elevated horror. He literally defined an entire generation of horror movies with this film. Even if you know what the plot twist is, you still want to watch this movie. Not to mention the career-defining performance from young Haley Joel Osment, which earned him an Oscar nomination at such a young age.

Please comment with your own suggestions. There's plenty of world out there for all of our trivial movie opinions.