Best Horror Films Of 2013
My favourite horror films *released* in 2013.
I've given every film on this list at least a 6/10, so I recommend them all.
The list in in a vague order, starting with the better ones.
Many really good horror films made in 2013 weren't actually released until 2014 (Horns, Afflicted, The Sacrament, etc.) so appear on that years list.
I've given every film on this list at least a 6/10, so I recommend them all.
The list in in a vague order, starting with the better ones.
Many really good horror films made in 2013 weren't actually released until 2014 (Horns, Afflicted, The Sacrament, etc.) so appear on that years list.
List activity
12K views
• 19 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
31 titles
- DirectorJonathan LevineStarsNicholas HoultTeresa PalmerJohn MalkovichAfter a highly unusual zombie saves a still-living girl from an attack, the two form a relationship that sets in motion events that might transform the entire lifeless world.Surprsingly good zom-rom-com, but don't let the romance aspect put you off! Even the most hardened of horror fans should be able to get something out of this, it's genuinely funny, the zombies are well done and there's a decent amount pathos to round out the film.
- DirectorNeil JordanStarsSaoirse RonanGemma ArtertonSam RileyResidents of a coastal town learn, with deathly consequences, the secret shared by the two mysterious women who have sought shelter at a rundown hotel.Really good vampire-drama. Reminded me of a less glossy Interview With The Vampire, so if that sounds good to you then this is a must watch - I thought it was brilliant! Be warned; the pace is pretty slow (there's far more drama here than horror) so it won't be for everyone.
Released in the UK in May 2013. - DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsMia WasikowskaNicole KidmanMatthew GoodeAfter India's father dies, her Uncle Charlie, who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her unstable mother. She comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives and becomes increasingly infatuated with him.A mystery-thriller with some light horror elements. Beautifully shot with some good performances and a memorable ending. Well worth a watch.
- DirectorPaul HyettStarsRosie DaySean PertweeKevin HowarthSold at a brothel deep in the woods to work as a caretaker, a hapless deaf girl must summon the courage to fight for her life.Occasionally brutal kidnapping film. Uncomfortable viewing but very well made and extremely engaging, I'm not sure if I've ever rooted so hard for a protagonist!
Released in the UK in June 2013 - DirectorJames WanStarsPatrick WilsonVera FarmigaRon LivingstonParanormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse.I was expecting just another mediocre, studio-funded horror film - jumpscares and all - but this has some real class. While the general premise is nothing groundbreaking, it's the quality execution that helps this film shine. Well acted, a good atmosphere and some creepy moments.
- DirectorDon CoscarelliStarsChase WilliamsonRob MayesPaul GiamattiA new street drug that sends its users across time and dimensions has one drawback: some people return no longer human. Can two college drop-outs save humanity from this silent, otherworldly invasion?A quirky, odd, off-beat comedy with some horror and sci-fi elements. I really enjoyed it, but if you're looking for a traditional horror film you probably won't find what you're looking for here. That said, if you're up for something a little different and fancy a laugh, this is a really good film!
Released in the US in January 2013 - DirectorJaume BalagueróStarsLuis TosarMarta EturaAlberto San JuanCesar, a miserable man who works as an apartment concierge, takes a special interest in an attractive woman who lives there. He goes to great lengths to trouble her.A very different kind of horror film, definitely something a little different.
A unique premise with some creepy moments and even some humour.
Released in the US & UK in 2013 - DirectorAharon KeshalesNavot PapushadoStarsLior AshkenaziRotem KeinanTzahi GradAfter a little girl is brutally murdered, a suspect avoids arrest due to lack of evidence. Working separately, her father and a cop decide to do something about it.A darkly comic kidnap/torture film in the vein of '7 Days' and 'The Tortured' - it's not as powerful or brutal as 7 Days but it's far better than The Tortured.
Really well made and it kept me guessing right until the end. - DirectorAdam WingardStarsSharni VinsonJoe SwanbergAJ BowenWhen the Davison family comes under attack during their wedding anniversary getaway, the gang of mysterious killers soon learns that one of the victims harbors a secret talent for fighting back.Really solid home invasion thriller / horror. I can't see any horror fan not liking this, a least a little bit! It's well paced, well acted, has good production values, doesn't hold back on the nasty bits and keeps the tension high throughout.
Released in the US in August 2013. - DirectorJustin BensonAaron MoorheadStarsPeter CilellaVinny CurranEmily MontagueA man imprisons his estranged junkie friend in an isolated cabin in the boonies of San Diego to force him through a week of sobriety, but the events of that week are being mysteriously manipulated.A very unique, low-budget indie flick. It's a strange hodgepodge of genres and is quite memorable - I never guessed what the hell was going on, which is a good sign seeing as this is a mystery-horror.
Released in the US in January 2013. - DirectorRob ZombieStarsSheri Moon ZombieMeg FosterBruce DavisonRadio DJ Heidi is sent a box containing a record--a "gift from the Lords". The sounds within the grooves trigger flashbacks of her town's violent past. Is Heidi going mad, or are the Lords back to take revenge on Salem, Massachusetts?Rob Zombie is a filmmaker with obvious talents (a great eye for cinematography) and obvious shortcomings (pretty poor at writing scripts) so when he makes a film that largely eschews dialogue and instead leans very heavily on the visuals, I think it works in his favour. The pace is quite slow and the savage gore of his earlier films is absent for the most part (so will alienate a lot of his fans), but in its place is a visually stunning horror film about witchcraft and satanic possession. Think of it as a homage to films like Susperia and Rosemary's Baby.
Released in the US in April 2013. - DirectorJim MickleStarsBill SageAmbyr ChildersJulia GarnerThe Parkers, a reclusive family who follow ancient customs, find their secret existence threatened as a torrential downpour moves into their area, forcing daughters Iris and Rose to assume responsibilities beyond those of a typical family.A really interesting, well made horror-drama. A fairly slow-burn but I doubt most folks would even notice. Highly recommended if you like a serious horror film once in a while.
- DirectorBlair EricksonStarsKatia WinterTed LevineMichael McMillianJournalist Anne Roland explores the disturbing links behind her friend's sudden disappearance, an ominous government research chemical, and a disturbing radio broadcast of unknown origin.A bit messy, and there's a Hunter S Thompson-type character who felt out of place, but the creepy moments really lift it up. Great ending.
- DirectorJen SoskaSylvia SoskaStarsKatharine IsabelleAntonio CupoTristan RiskThe allure of easy money sends Mary Mason, a medical student, into the world of underground surgeries which ends up leaving more marks on her than her so-called "freakish" clients.Unique and gruesome with an underlying dark sense of humour. The surgical scenes may be a bit much for some folks, but hardcore horror fans will take it in stride. Very enjoyable and quite refreshing.
Released in the US in May 2013. - DirectorElliot GoldnerStarsGordon KennedyRobin HillAidan McArdleA team of Vatican investigators descend upon a church in a remote area to demystify the unusual happenings, but what they discover is more disturbing than they had first imagined.A really well made found-footage film. Some decent humour, good scares and an ever mounting sense of dread. Great ending - very Lovecraftian.
- DirectorCameron CairnesColin CairnesStarsOliver AcklandPaul BlackwellWard EveraardtReg and Lindsay run an organic fertiliser business. They need a fresh supply of their "secret ingredient" to process through the meat grinder. Reg comes across two guys and a girl with a broken-down vehicle on their way to a music festival.Played solely for the laughs, this Aussie film is a really good time if you want something a little lighter. Had me laughing throughout!
Released in the US in June 2013. - DirectorSimon BarrettJason EisenerGareth EvansStarsLawrence Michael LevineKelsy AbbottAdam WingardSearching for a missing student, two private investigators break into his house and find collection of VHS tapes. Viewing the horrific contents of each cassette, they realize there may be dark motives behind the student's disappearance.Not quite as good as the first V/H/S, but it still delivers the goods. As with nearly all horror anthology films, the quality is a little up and down, luckily most of the segments are clear hits and make up for the slightly weaker ones. Good stuff.
- DirectorVincenzo NataliStarsAbigail BreslinPeter OuterbridgeMichelle NoldenA teenager is stuck in a time loop that is not quite the same each time. She must uncover the truth, but her actions have consequences for herself and others.May be a bit tame for some, but the premise is great and they do a good job with it. The unfolding mystery kept me engaged until the end, even though it's pretty obvious what's going on.
- DirectorKarl MuellerStarsJon FosterSarah JonesMark StegerA young couple moves to the woods and soon finds their nightmares and reality colliding.Hmmm... Some people really don't seem to like this!
Well, I thought it was fantastic and a breath of fresh air in the found-footage genre. The first half of the film is pretty standard fare, but things get really weird in the second half - a real mind-bender! If you like found-footage films I can't help but recommend it. - DirectorJacob VaughanStarsKen MarinoGillian JacobsPatrick WarburtonA man learns that his unusual stomach pains are being caused by a demon living in his intestines.If you've ever seen Basket Case you'll know what to expect, and whether you like this or not will largely depend on how much you liked that film. Low-budget, campy horror-comedy with a touch of pathos.
- DirectorMarc ForsterStarsBrad PittMireille EnosDaniella KerteszFormer United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop a zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatens to destroy humanity itself.I guess this is the first blockbuster zombie film! It's decent enough, although the action overwhelms the horror a lot of the time. The scale of the carnage is worth the price of admission, it's just a shame the third act scales down the huge scope of the film so much (it feels like it goes from an epic blockbuster into a regular indie horror film) that it's quite jarring, but far from bad.
- DirectorMichael S. OjedaStarsAmanda Adrienne SmithMarc Anthony SamuelRodney RowlandA deaf girl is brutalized by a murderous gang who are then hunted by her when the bloodthirsty spirit of an Apache warrior inhabits her lifeless body.If you like the Evil Dead films then you MUST check this out, it's an absolute blast and mad as hell!
May be a bit too rough and quirky for most, but cult horror fans should have a blast! - DirectorRichard RaaphorstStarsRobert GwilymHon Ping TangAlexander TerentyevIn the dying days of WWII, a battalion of Russian soldiers is lured into the secret lab of a deranged scientist and forced to face off against an army of horrific flesh-and-metal war machines.B-movie goodness! Although quite low-budget, this is a must-see for anyone who appreciates cool creature designs, practical effects and a bit of tongue-in-cheek Nazi horror.
It may be too cheesy for folks who are looking for a more traditional horror film, I think this one is purely for fans of goofy cult horror. - DirectorFede AlvarezStarsJane LevyShiloh FernandezJessica LucasFive friends head to a remote cabin, where the discovery of a Book of the Dead leads them to unwittingly summon up demons living in the nearby woods.All in all it's a well made, brutal horror film, but it's just not an Evil Dead film - the humour and cartoonish monster design have gone completely. Leave your expectations at the door and pretend the film has a different name, you'll probably have a much better time.
- DirectorKaare AndrewsAngela BettisHélène CattetStarsIngrid Bolsø BerdalIván GonzálezKyra ZagorskyA 26-chapter anthology that showcases death in all its vicious wonder and brutal beauty.A real wild ride! When you have a horror anthology film with TWENTY SIX segments, it's going to be a little uneven in quality. Ultimately I found it to be a very enjoyable film, the segments are all very short so the weaker ones are over before you know it. Some shorts lean more on the side of traditional horror whilst others are surreal or just bats**t crazy!
Judging by the IMDB score, most people don't like this at all, which is a shame. I will gladly recommend it, however. At the very least I can guarantee you'll have never seen anything quite like it!
Released in the UK in April 2013.