In the 2010s, horror fans were treated to a series of truly terrifying films. And the horror films of the past decade have gone beyond the scare factor to explore themes such as childhood trauma, racial violence, greed, and family secrets. Over the past ten years, we’ve seen some bloody gems that gave us chills… check them out!
2013: The Conjuring
In this “based-on-a-true-story” film, two world-renowned paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren, chronicle the story of a family terrorised by otherworldly creatures in a farmhouse far from civilisation. The Perrons move into their new, lonely country house with their five children, unaware that someone is already living within its walls. The success of the film prompted director James Wan to build not just a franchise, but a shared horror movie universe. The Conjuring got two more sequels, the Annabelle trilogy came out, and more spinoffs were released, such as The Nun and The Curse of La Llorona. Overall, the franchise grossed nearly 2 billion USD worldwide, making the Conjuring universe the most successful film universe for Warner Bros.
2014: Babadook
Australian Jennifer Kent’s film strengthens the camp of horror films that tend to operate with a psychological basis of scares based on human traits. As with most horror films, the unknown is the greatest fear, but here it is, the ever-increasing grief that comes from the death of a loved one. The “tale” is about the Babadook, an illusionist of repression who feeds on fears and gains more and more space in the lives of mother and son, who become more and more isolated from the outside world. Babadook is a fresh, unusual and truly profound horror gem, a must for any true fan of the genre!
2015: The Witch
A committed Christian couple, William and Katherine, live on the edge of an impenetrable wilderness with their five children. When their newborn son mysteriously disappears one day, and their crops go to waste, the couple turns increasingly against each other. The Witch is a chillingly cold, blood-curdling portrait of a family consumed by their own fears and anxieties, and falling prey to inevitable evil. First-time director Robert Eggers’ masterpiece summons and unleashes Satan on those who, with a faith more solid than any other, created the concept of him.
2016: Blindspot
In this film by Uruguayan director Fede Alvares, three young Detroiters seek to break out of the seedy suburbs and start a new life. Their goal is essentially to break and enter, with the latest victim being a war veteran in his 60s who is grieving for his daughter. To make the job easier, the man is completely blind. After a successful burglary, it soon becomes clear that the elderly man is not as defenceless as they thought – and they haven’t even been to the basement, where a shocking secret lurks.
2017: Get Out!
The story is based on a situation familiar to all and uncomfortable for most: when the one we fall for introduces us to their parents. Chris, however, has double the excitement, because he is black and middle class, and his girlfriend’s parents are white and upper class. To Chris’s surprise, however, he is greeted by her family with an overwhelming welcome, and later by those who come to visit the family with excessive kindness and anxious curiosity. But behind the smiles, it is clear that something is very wrong in this house. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Screenplay.