Horror movies, a genre that simultaneously attracts and repels. For the faint of heart, the captivating storylines are often overshadowed by sheer terror, making them almost unwatchable. Conversely, for those with a taste for the macabre, the level of fear becomes the ultimate yardstick. Here’s a curated list of the top 10 horror movies from 2016, guaranteed to send shivers down your spine.
Top Horror Movies of 2016
1. The Witch
Release Date: February 26, 2016
Synopsis:
“The Witch,” a low-budget horror film that garnered significant acclaim at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, unfolds in 1630s New England. William and Katherine, along with their five children, lead a devout Christian life on the fringes of the wilderness. However, their idyllic existence shatters when their newborn son vanishes, and their crops fail. Suspicion and paranoia consume the family as they desperately seek the source of the curse plaguing them.
2. The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist
Release Date: June 10, 2016
Directed by James Wan of “Saw” fame, “The Conjuring” became a global phenomenon, raking in an impressive $320 million at the box office. This sequel delves into the infamous Enfield Poltergeist case that terrorized a family in England during the late 1970s.
3. Ghostbusters
Release Date: July 15, 2016
More accurately a horror-comedy, this film represents one of Sony’s biggest productions of the year. The original “Ghostbusters” (1984) and “Ghostbusters 2” (1989) were box office juggernauts for Sony, grossing $292 million and $215 million, respectively.
4. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Release Date: February 5, 2016
A comedic horror film that puts a spin on the classic Jane Austen novel. When a zombie plague descends upon Elizabeth Bennet’s town, she takes it upon herself to eradicate the undead. The film offers a unique blend of period drama and zombie action, complete with alluring scenes of young women wielding blades from beneath their petticoats.
5. The Boy
Release Date: January 22, 2016
The “boy” in this film is, in fact, a doll. The story revolves around a nanny hired by a couple to care for a lifelike doll, a surrogate for their deceased son. As the nanny spends time with the doll, she begins to suspect that it may be alive.
6. The Forest
Release Date: January 8, 2016
Set in the Aokigahara Forest at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan, a real-life location notorious for suicides due to its dense foliage that makes it difficult to find bodies. The film follows an American woman who ventures into the forest in search of her missing twin sister. She must confront the tormented spirits of the deceased to survive.
7. Underworld: Next Generation
Release Date: October 21, 2016
The “Underworld” series has created a dark and mysterious underworld inhabited by warring factions of werewolves and vampires. For centuries, these two species have battled for dominance, spilling blood and chaos into the human world.
8. The Purge 3
Release Date: July 1, 2016
“The Purge” has emerged as a prominent franchise in the horror genre in recent years. Set in a dystopian future America, the government sanctions an annual “Purge” on March 21st, during which all criminal activity is legalized for 12 hours. This gruesome event is intended to ensure peace and prosperity for the remaining 364 days of the year. As the annual “Purge” commences once again, the darkest aspects of human nature are unleashed in a blood-soaked spectacle.
9. Amityville: The Awakening
Release Date: April 15, 2016
A single mother moves her two daughters and her comatose son into a sinister house. Soon, terrifying events unfold as an evil presence invades her son’s body, turning him into a murderous instrument.
10. Patient Zero
Release Date: September 2, 2016
A modern zombie film where a super-virus transforms humans into zombies, triggered by adrenaline and stress. One survivor discovers he can understand the zombies’ language. To save his infected wife, he embarks on a quest with his companions to find a cure.