Best Horror Films Of 2017
by strangemedia | created - 29 Mar 2017 | updated - 6 months ago | PublicThis list is for films *released* in 2017. 2016 films that didn't get a theatrical release until 2017 will be put here.
List is in a vague order, starting with the better films.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS: 47 Meters Down, The Blackcoat's Daughter, The Mummy, Happy Death Day, Dead Shack.
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1. Get Out (I) (2017)
R | 104 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
A young African-American visits his white girlfriend's parents for the weekend, where his simmering uneasiness about their reception of him eventually reaches a boiling point.
Director: Jordan Peele | Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener
Votes: 696,953 | Gross: $176.04M
A great melting pot of different ideas and styles that somehow comes together almost perfectly. The social commentary could have easily been too overbearing or crass if handled poorly, but it's executed brilliantly and there's enough humour and tongue-in-cheek horror tropes interspersed throughout to keep things tense, intriguing and thoroughly entertaining.
A highly enjoyable, as well as slightly subversive, horror masterclass.
2. It (I) (2017)
R | 135 min | Fantasy, Horror
In the summer of 1989, a group of bullied kids band together to destroy a shape-shifting monster, which disguises itself as a clown and preys on the children of Derry, their small Maine town.
Director: Andy Muschietti | Stars: Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Martell, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis
Votes: 606,316 | Gross: $327.48M
A remake that does justice to the classic 90's mini-series, actually surpassing it in most ways. Bill Skarsgård has done what many thought impossible by giving a performance that rivals Tim Curry's, not by copying, but by bringing his own take on the titular role.
It's not perfect though, there's way too much CGI, and it's not subtle either. The Losers Club also needed a bit more screen time to build relationships between the characters, a couple of them are just in the background for most of the film, which is a shame.
Still a big thumbs up though!
3. Mother! (2017)
R | 121 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
A couple's relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence.
Director: Darren Aronofsky | Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris, Michelle Pfeiffer
Votes: 249,711 | Gross: $17.80M
Is it horror? I'm not too sure as it has no fixed genre. It does have a few horrific moments, however, whether that qualifies it as a horror movie or not is up for debate.
What's it all about? Again, I'm really not too sure. Fame, faith, life, death, love ...probably all of the above.
It's definitely one of the most divisive "horror" movies in recent memory, that's for sure! As far as my opinion goes, I was thoroughly engrossed throughout, and it gets wonderfully surreal and unsettling towards the end, so it gets a solid thumbs up from me. But be warned, this film seems to split opinion like nothing else.
4. The Girl with All the Gifts (2016)
R | 111 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A scientist and a teacher living in a dystopian future embark on a journey of survival with a special young girl named Melanie.
Director: Colm McCarthy | Stars: Sennia Nanua, Fisayo Akinade, Dominique Tipper, Paddy Considine
Votes: 64,422
This was a pleasant surprise! A very good, thoughtful zombie film. Reminiscent of 28 Weeks Later, although less action orientated.
Released in the US in January 2017
5. A Cure for Wellness (2016)
R | 146 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
An ambitious young executive is sent to retrieve his company's CEO from an idyllic but mysterious "wellness center" at a remote location in the Swiss Alps, but soon suspects that the spa's treatments are not what they seem.
Director: Gore Verbinski | Stars: Dane DeHaan, Jason Isaacs, Mia Goth, Ivo Nandi
Votes: 109,640 | Gross: $8.11M
A very classy production that is part Shutter Island and part classic Hammer horror. The tone of the movie shifts over its duration, going from a slick, modern-style psychological mystery / thriller to old school Hammer b-movie horror. This tonal shift will not be to everyones taste, but I loved it!
I'd recommend any horror fan to give this film a go. The stunning production values, intriguing mystery, very solid acting and just sheer oddness make this worthy of anyones time. I can't guarantee you'll dig it, but I doubt you've seen anything quite like it.
For anyone who misses the classier movies Hammer put out back in the day, this is an absolute must see!
Released in the US in February 2017.
6. Split (IX) (2016)
PG-13 | 117 min | Horror, Thriller
Three girls are kidnapped by a man with a diagnosed 23 distinct personalities. They must try to escape before the apparent emergence of a frightful new 24th.
Director: M. Night Shyamalan | Stars: James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Haley Lu Richardson, Jessica Sula
Votes: 553,876 | Gross: $138.29M
A really good thriller-horror with some thematic nods to Manhunter / Red Dragon. Some great performances, especially from James McAvoy, make this a cut above.
Released in the US in January 2017.
7. My Friend Dahmer (2017)
R | 107 min | Biography, Drama, Horror
A young Jeffrey Dahmer struggles to belong in high school.
Director: Marc Meyers | Stars: Ross Lynch, Alex Wolff, Anne Heche, Vincent Kartheiser
Votes: 23,641 | Gross: $1.36M
Chilling and extremely unsettling with an absolutely stunning lead performance. Heavy on drama and light on traditional horror, this is solely a character driven film, and at that, it excels.
8. It Comes at Night (2017)
R | 91 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
Secure within a desolate home as an unnatural threat terrorizes the world, a man has established a tenuous domestic order with his wife and son. Then a desperate young family arrives seeking refuge.
Director: Trey Edward Shults | Stars: Joel Edgerton, Christopher Abbott, Carmen Ejogo, Riley Keough
Votes: 103,116 | Gross: $13.99M
A character-driven drama set against the backdrop of a viral outbreak. It has a few unsettling moments, but is more focussed on the tensions between characters than full-on horror. It's not action packed in the slightest and opts for a slow build, so don't expect a thrill a minute scare-fest.
Reminded me of The Road, but with a bit of horror thrown into the mix. Very good and highly recommended.
9. Better Watch Out (II) (2016)
R | 89 min | Comedy, Horror, Thriller
On a quiet suburban street, a babysitter must defend a twelve-year-old boy from intruders, only to discover it's far from a normal home invasion.
Director: Chris Peckover | Stars: Olivia DeJonge, Levi Miller, Ed Oxenbould, Aleks Mikic
Votes: 46,258 | Gross: $0.02M
Well this came out of left field! I'd never heard of it, nor was I expecting such a huge tonal shift during the movie - after a fun but generic first 20 minutes the whole film gets turned completely on its head and it's a real breath of fresh air!
Excellent production values, great acting and a bit of dark humour. A must-see horror film of 2017.
Released in the US in October 2017.
10. The Limehouse Golem (2016)
Not Rated | 109 min | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
In Victorian London, a Scotland Yard inspector hunts down the sadistic killer behind a series of gory, Jack the Ripper-Like murders.
Director: Juan Carlos Medina | Stars: Douglas Booth, Olivia Cooke, Sam Reid, María Valverde
Votes: 23,320
Very classy production that has a hint of 'From Hell' about it due to the Victorian London setting. There's a great cast that all do their jobs admirably, there's no phoned in performances here. Unfortunately I guessed the "twist" after about 10 minutes, it's a shame the real killer is so obvious as it takes away a lot of the suspense. Still a really good movie tho, plus there's some gory scenes here and there, too.
Released in the US in September 2017.
11. Raw (2016)
R | 99 min | Drama, Horror
A young woman, studying to be a vet, develops a craving for human flesh.
Director: Julia Ducournau | Stars: Garance Marillier, Ella Rumpf, Rabah Nait Oufella, Laurent Lucas
Votes: 89,140 | Gross: $0.51M
An extremely well made film about cannibalism. Reminded me somewhat of 2014's 'Eat' albeit far better realised.
Probably won't please folks looking for a fast-paced thrill ride, the pace is leisurely and the cannibalism, while graphic, is not as gleefully cartoonish as it has been in the majority of cannibal-related horror films in the past. This is more of a coming of age drama that throws cannibalism into the mix in about as realistic a way as you can probably get. Metaphors abound if you want to dig into it, but it's a good enough film to just take it 'as is' if you so wish.
I think I would have been even more impressed with Raw had I not seen 'Eat' a few years earlier, as I did get some deja vu while watching. There's no doubt that Raw is the better film though.
Released in the UK in April 2017
12. 1922 (2017)
TV-MA | 102 min | Crime, Drama, Horror
A simple yet proud farmer in the year 1922 conspires to murder his wife for financial gain, convincing his teenage son to assist. But their actions have unintended consequences.
Director: Zak Hilditch | Stars: Thomas Jane, Molly Parker, Dylan Schmid, Kaitlyn Bernard
Votes: 71,677
A great film that could be too slow for some, as this is a drama film first and horror a very distant second.
An excellent film that deserves a watch. The acting is also superb.
13. The Devil's Candy (2015)
Not Rated | 79 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
A struggling painter's possessed by dark forces after he and his young family move into their dream home in rural Texas, in this creepy haunted-house tale.
Director: Sean Byrne | Stars: Ethan Embry, Shiri Appleby, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Kiara Glasco
Votes: 21,859
Very well made indie horror-thriller. It has shades of Amityville Horror and maybe even a touch of Driller Killer, among a few other influences that I can't quite place. The short run time means it never drags. Add in likeable characters, solid production values, good acting, a bit of metal music and a very strong finale and this is easy to recommend.
Released in the US in March 2017.
14. Gerald's Game (2017)
TV-MA | 103 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
A couple tries to spice up their marriage in a remote lake house. After the husband dies unexpectedly, the wife is left handcuffed to their bed frame and must fight to survive and break free.
Director: Mike Flanagan | Stars: Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, Chiara Aurelia, Carel Struycken
Votes: 127,367
A great mix of thriller, drama and horror, topped off with some brilliant dark humour. It plays out like '127 Hours' but with a slight horror twist. It's definitely one of the better Netflix films and the acting is absolutely fantastic throughout!
I do need to mention the ending, which I thought was shockingly bad and completely undid all of the ambiguity and mystery surrounding a certain "character" in the film - it's cheesy beyond belief. This may have bee a Top 3 horror film of 2017 for me if not for that damn ending! Oh well, it's still a very good film, and you never know, you may actually like the ending! I'm guessing it's true to the novel, so it should please fans.
15. Satan's Slaves (2017)
Not Rated | 107 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
After dying from a strange illness that she suffered for 3 years, a mother returns home to pick up her children.
Director: Joko Anwar | Stars: Tara Basro, Bront Palarae, Dimas Aditya, Endy Arfian
Votes: 11,240
Very decent Indonesian mystery-horror. As with most Asian horror movies, it's mainly about ghosts - so lots of ghostly women with long black hair and jump scares, but it's all very well done. Has a Satanic cult undertone, a la Rosemary's Baby.
Well made and with a great ending. Check it out if you like ghost flicks!
16. Prevenge (2016)
TV-MA | 88 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Widow Ruth is seven months pregnant when, believing herself to be guided by her unborn baby, she embarks on a homicidal rampage, dispatching anyone who stands in her way.
Director: Alice Lowe | Stars: Alice Lowe, Dan Renton Skinner, Jo Hartley, Tom Davis
Votes: 8,615
A semi-spiritual successor to the brilliant Sightseers. Alice Lowe, the co-writer and star of Sightseers, writes, directs and stars in this ultra dark comedy-horror. It doesn't quite reach the same levels of bleak, absurdist hilarity as that film, and it loses a little steam towards the end, but it's a great companion piece nonetheless.
The fairly slow pacing and extremely dark humour may be an acquired taste, but if you liked Sightseers you'll no doubt enjoy this.
Released in the US in March 2017.
17. The Void (I) (2016)
Not Rated | 90 min | Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Shortly after delivering a patient to an understaffed hospital, a police officer experiences strange and violent occurrences seemingly linked to a group of mysterious hooded figures.
Directors: Jeremy Gillespie, Steven Kostanski | Stars: Aaron Poole, Kenneth Welsh, Ellen Wong, Kathleen Munroe
Votes: 41,681 | Gross: $0.15M
Stunning practical monster / creature effects work and striking imagery. Think of The Thing meets Hellraiser and Event Horizon - and maybe even a little Silent Hill - then mixed up in a huge Lovecraftian blender!
Sadly the script and characterisation side of things aren't up to the same standard as the amazing visuals. The general synopsis is solid, but it's hard to get invested in what's happening and to whom.
Released in the US in April 2017.
18. A Dark Song (2016)
Unrated | 100 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
A determined young woman and a damaged occultist risk their lives and souls to perform a dangerous ritual that will grant them what they want.
Director: Liam Gavin | Stars: Steve Oram, Catherine Walker, Susan Loughnane, Mark Huberman
Votes: 21,411
Well made, slow-paced British horror. The first two acts are very slow and contain little in the way of horror, it almost plays out like a straight drama. Luckily it's nicely directed and well acted, so the drama aspect doesn't fall flat like it can with some other horror / drama films. All the horror comes in the third act.
When the horror does finally arrive it's well done but slightly understated, some folks may feel underwhelmed by it, but it hit the mark for me. If you don't mind a very slow build I'd recommend this one.
Released in the US in April 2017.
19. The Babysitter (I) (2017)
TV-MA | 85 min | Comedy, Horror
When Cole stays up past his bedtime, he discovers that his hot baby sitter belongs to a satanic cult that will stop at nothing to keep him quiet.
Director: McG | Stars: Judah Lewis, Samara Weaving, Robbie Amell, Hana Mae Lee
Votes: 108,195
An enjoyable comedy-horror flick. Light on horror but it's well paced and has a few good laughs.
20. The Sublet (2015)
TV-14 | 82 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
The Sublet is a suspense driven psychological thriller about Joanna, a new mom coping with her baby alone in an odd sublet apartment. As her husband neglects her to focus on his career, ... See full summary »
Director: John Ainslie | Stars: Tianna Nori, Mark Matechuk, Krista Madison, Porter Randell
Votes: 1,223
A very, very slow burning psychological horror with some brilliantly effective moments towards the end. This film seems to be flying under the radar, so it's a rare treat for folks who are looking for a new horror film that they haven't already seen. Definitely recommended.
NOTE: The film was broadcast once on Canadian TV in 2015, shown at a couple of small US film festivals in 2016, but wasn't available to the general public until 2017, hence why I've listed it as a 2017 film.
21. Berlin Syndrome (2017)
R | 116 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
A passionate holiday romance leads to an obsessive relationship, when an Australian photojournalist wakes one morning in a Berlin apartment and is unable to leave.
Director: Cate Shortland | Stars: Teresa Palmer, Max Riemelt, Matthias Habich, Emma Bading
Votes: 27,636 | Gross: $0.03M
Solid kidnapping film. It's well made, if a little slow. Leans more towards a thriller than horror, but it's brutal enough to warrant a recommendation - it's just not harrowing or unrelenting enough to really capture the despair of what it must be like to be kidnapped for months on end. It's good, but it could have been a little better.
22. It Stains the Sands Red (2016)
Not Rated | 92 min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
In the throes of a zombie apocalypse, a troubled woman from Las Vegas with a dark past finds herself stranded in the desert with a lone and ravenous zombie on her tail.
Director: Colin Minihan | Stars: Brittany Allen, Juan Riedinger, Merwin Mondesir, Kristopher Higgins
Votes: 5,546
I guess you'd call this a character-driven, black-comedy drama with zombies - it's kinda hard to describe. A women gets chased through the desert by one zombie whom she slowly grows attached to. Odd, kinda funny and well worth a watch. The ending was a little bit flat, that aside it was surprisingly good. I daresay this is a bit of a hidden gem!
A word of warning; it's not exactly fast-paced and it's light on horror, but if you like quirky horror films you can't really go wrong with this.
Released in the US in July 2017.
23. Two Pigeons (2017)
TV-MA | 80 min | Comedy, Horror, Thriller
An oily, amoral estate agent is preyed upon by one of his victims, who quietly moves into his flat and, unseen, begins a deliciously malicious campaign of revenge. Two Pigeons is a dark comedy with a sinister streak.
Director: Dominic Bridges | Stars: Mandeep Dhillon, Javier Botet, Kola Bokinni, Michael McKell
Votes: 1,317
Not really a horror film, despite being listed as one. This is more of a thriller with a healthy dose of comedy thrown in.
Despite having almost no gore whatsoever it's pretty damn gross, don't eat while watching!
Nicely shot, good acting, some tense moments, funny and different. Top marks!
24. Mayhem (2017)
Unrated | 86 min | Action, Comedy, Horror
A virus spreads through an office complex causing white-collar workers to act out their worst impulses.
Director: Joe Lynch | Stars: Steven Yeun, Samara Weaving, Steven Brand, Caroline Chikezie
Votes: 25,476
A very violent action comedy - listed as a horror film, but it's only horror in the very loosest sense.
Plays out like a comedy version of The Raid or Dredd set in a law firm.
Entertaining and packed with blood.
25. Double Date (I) (2017)
Not Rated | 89 min | Comedy, Horror
A man can't speak to ladies. His friend makes things happen but with 2 man-killing sisters looking for a virgin man to sacrifice to bring daddy back from the dead.
Director: Benjamin Barfoot | Stars: Danny Morgan, Georgia Groome, Michael Socha, Kelly Wenham
Votes: 2,812
Almost a straight comedy, but with a light sprinkle of horror on top.
Pretty funny, especially if you like British comedy.
26. Alien: Covenant (2017)
R | 122 min | Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
The crew of a colony ship, bound for a remote planet, discover an uncharted paradise with a threat beyond their imagination, and must attempt a harrowing escape.
Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride
Votes: 304,013 | Gross: $74.26M
A little disappointing, to be honest. Despite all of Prometheus flaws, I actually preferred that film to Alien Covenant.
What we have here is a weird, half-hearted follow-up to Prometheus with more Aliens added in to appease all the Alien fans who were let down by that film. Sadly, I doubt this film will satisfy folks who wanted either a true sequel to Prometheus or a "proper" new Alien film - it's lost in limbo between the two and fails to live up to either.
All that said, it's not bad by any means. It looks stunning, and although the CGI Alien isn't brilliant by 2017's standards, it's still looks cooler than 99% of other sci-fi aliens. Michael Fassbender holds it all together with a strong performance. The first half is quite interesting and kept my attention very easily, despite repeatedly questioning why crew members were acting in idiotic ways! The third act is an action heavy mess with no suspense whatsoever, but it's gory, that's something!
It's worth a look, but be prepared to be let down if you're expecting something on the same level of classic sci-fi horror as Alien or Aliens, or a satisfying sequel to Prometheus and some of the plot threads that went unanswered at the end - it's neither.
27. Zygote (I) (2017)
Not Rated | 23 min | Short, Horror, Sci-Fi
Stranded in an Arctic mine, two lone survivors are forced to fight for their lives, evading and hiding from a new kind of terror.
Director: Neill Blomkamp | Stars: Dakota Fanning, Jose Pablo Cantillo
Votes: 5,901
Cool short film by Neill Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium, Chappie) that is basically The Thing condensed into 20 minutes. The monster looks great considering what must have been a relatively small budget - you can tell it's CGI but it's still impressive.
28. The Belko Experiment (2016)
R | 89 min | Horror, Thriller
In a twisted social experiment, eighty Americans are locked in their high-rise corporate office in Bogotá, Colombia, and ordered by an unknown voice coming from the company's intercom system to participate in a deadly game of kill or be killed.
Director: Greg McLean | Stars: John Gallagher Jr., Tony Goldwyn, Adria Arjona, John C. McGinley
Votes: 58,390 | Gross: $10.16M
Another in a long line of "social experiment" / "deadly game" films - films where a group of people are put in a room / building together and pass tests in order to survive. This is one of the better films but doesn't do much new with the formula, so expect a strong sense of deja vu if you've seen any of the countless other 'social experiment' films.
A decent budget, solid acting (with a few recognisable faces) and some pretty gory moments all help make this worth a look. It's good, just not particularly original.
Released in the US in March 2017.
29. Life (I) (2017)
R | 104 min | Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
A team of scientists aboard the International Space Station discover a rapidly evolving life form that caused extinction on Mars and now threatens all life on Earth.
Director: Daniel Espinosa | Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds, Hiroyuki Sanada
Votes: 253,912 | Gross: $30.23M
A serviceable Alien clone. A decent watch but it could have been so much better. The first act (when they are studying the new life form, before it becomes hostile) is incredibly short, which is a shame as it was very well done and the most interesting part of the film. The second and third acts are just a PG-13 Alien retread (apparently the film is rated 'R' but it felt pretty tame to me!) with a CGI octopus monster.
It's not as bad as I've made it sound, just don't expect too much.
30. Dismissed (2017)
Not Rated | 87 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
A straight-edged teacher finds trouble when an honors student is willing to do anything to get an A.
Director: Benjamin Arfmann | Stars: Kent Osborne, Dylan Sprouse, Rae Gray, Alycia Delmore
Votes: 8,003
Good little thriller with a solid script and a couple of impressive performances from the two leads. More a thriller than outright horror, so adjust your expectations accordingly.
The only thing that hampers it is its (quite obviously) small budget, there's a few scenes that are shot in a way that look almost home-made, not a problem in itself, but it does take you out of the experience a little. Some of the support characters could have done with fleshing out a bit more, too.
Good film tho, give it a shot.
31. Don't Knock Twice (2016)
R | 93 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
A mother desperate to reconnect with her troubled daughter becomes embroiled in the urban legend of a demonic witch.
Director: Caradog W. James | Stars: Katee Sackhoff, Lucy Boynton, Richard Mylan, Nick Moran
Votes: 14,942
A brilliantly eerie and unsettling atmosphere, a great witch design, good performances and some great visuals make this worth a look. However, after a very strong start with genuinely creepy scenes and some great character development, it gets a little bit silly - the Mother and daughter suddenly play detective and try to find a child killer - it jars with the first half of the film and somewhat undermines the scares, serious tone, as well as pushing their awkward, growing relationship to the wayside. It's a shame as there's some fantastic moments in here and I think this could have been a real gem if the script had a bit more work.
Definitely check it out tho, it deserves an audience.
Released in the US in February 2017
32. The Evil Within (I) (2017)
Not Rated | 98 min | Horror
A lonely, mentally handicapped boy befriends his reflection in an antique mirror. This demonic creature orders him to go on a murderous rampage to kill the people he loves most.
Director: Andrew Getty | Stars: Sean Patrick Flanery, Dina Meyer, Frederick Koehler, Michael Berryman
Votes: 3,934
A flawed film that spent 15 years going through endless re-edits by the writer / director before they tragically died - the film was then released after his death. It would have been his debut feature.
It's important to know the background before watching, not to elevate a bad film to a level it otherwise wouldn't (or shouldn't) be on, but to truly appreciate the incredible amount of work that went into it. It does have its flaws, but for every misstep there's a spark of astounding creativity - for instance, the ending is absolutely unmissable. It's an uneven watch but deserving of a cult audience, which I hope it finds.
A cautious recommendation - fans of cult horror will enjoy it, others may not be able to see past its flaws.
33. Most Beautiful Island (2017)
80 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
Most Beautiful Island is a chilling portrait of an undocumented young woman's struggle for survival as she finds redemption from a tortured past in a dangerous game.
Director: Ana Asensio | Stars: Ana Asensio, Natasha Romanova, David Little, Nicholas Tucci
Votes: 3,655
34. Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017)
Not Rated | 83 min | Fantasy, Horror, Mystery
A dark fairy tale about a gang of five children trying to survive the horrific violence of the cartels and the ghosts created every day by the drug war.
Director: Issa López | Stars: Paola Lara, Juan Ramón López, Nery Arredondo, Hanssel Casillas
Votes: 9,046 | Gross: $0.13M
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