Some horror films continue to give you chills even after several years of seeing them. You know, those ones that stay with you, lingering in your mind and giving you the creeps. Here, we shall take a trip down memory lane and uncover 21 horror flicks from the early 2000s that left a lasting impression.
The Others (2001)
Haunted houses’ storylines never get old in the horror genre! Although released in 2001, this movie will always have you on edge. The Others is a gothic supernatural horror about a mother who is convinced that the home she shares with her two sickly children is haunted.
Trouble Every Day (2001)
Saw Trouble Every Day some years ago, and I still find it very disturbing. Following a newlywed couple, the film quickly shows us that there is more than meets the eye as we encounter serial murders and cannibalism. Trouble Every Day is one of those movies that’s difficult to rewatch.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)
What makes The Exorcism of Emily Rose terrifying is the fact that it is based on a true story. The film is inspired by the story of Anneliese Michel who died after several attempted exorcisms. Though the movie covers the legal side of the story, it has its fair share of horrific scenes in between.
The Ring (2002)
The Ring is a supernatural horror movie based on Koji Suzuki’s novel The Ring. The film impresses with its great storytelling and characters with depth. The Ring is also responsible for some of the most iconic scenes in horror movie history.
Valentine (2001)
In Valentine, Jeremy Melton decides to embark on a slashing rampage targeting his old schoolmates because of a Valentine’s Day incident from thirteen years ago. With horrifying scenes like the morgue death scene, Valentine proves itself to be top-tier horror.
Frailty (2002)
Frailty follows a religious fanatic in a small Texas town who employs his son as a “demon hunter.” Now, whether the family’s victims are actually possessed by evil spirits or if they’re innocent bystanders caught up in a deadly delusion remains an open question.
May (2002)
This one right here is a downright creepy movie! May revolves around the titular character, a socially awkward woman, who goes about dismembering the body parts of those around her to create her own friends.
Ginger Snaps (2000)
Released in 2000, Ginger Snaps is critically acclaimed for its feminist themes despite being a horror movie. The story centers around two sisters whose relationship changes when a strange animal attacks. Ginger Snaps is credited for spotlighting female sexuality at a time when it wasn’t too popular.
American Psycho (2000)
Based on Bret Easton Ellis’s controversial bestseller, American Psycho tells the story of Patrick Bateman, a Wall Street investment banker who also doubles as a deranged serial killer. In addition to its gory scenes, the movie satirizes extreme consumerism and toxic masculinity.
Orphan (2009)
In Orphan, a couple adopts a sweet, charming Russian orphan, Esther, to cope with the loss of their child. Esther turns out to be demon-possessed to the fullest! Orphan is unpredictable and twisted in many ways.
Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)
Ju-On: The Grudge is one of Asia’s first modern horror films. The movie tells the story of a ghostly curse that attaches itself to anyone entering a house. While this film may not match the others on this list in sheer terror, it more than compensates with its creepiness.
The Devil’s Backbone (2001)
The Devil’s Backbone, set in a time of war, was made by Mexican director Guillermo del Toro. Arguably the scariest entry in del Toro’s filmography, this movie tells the story of a school for orphaned boys haunted by a melancholy corpse known as “the one who sighs.”
Saw (2004)
Saw really is a twisted movie centered around the twisted character of the Jigsaw Killer. The serial killer sets two unlikely allies chained together in a room with scant clues on how to escape. The two captives are encouraged to kill each other in order to survive. How twisted is that?
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
The original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) was about a group of young friends who end up stranded in the middle of Texas on their way to a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert. This 2003 remake was a double dose of more blood, gruesome stuff, and meanness from the first movie.
Haute Tension (2003)
The French horror film Haute Tension had so much depiction of violence that it got an NC-17 rating. The suspense-filled movie features a mix of decapitation and disembowelment, as well as graphic depictions of spurting arteries.
Pulse (2001)
Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Pulse is a ghost story about young Tokyoites who begin to observe strange apparitions and noises from their computer screens. It starts off slow but picks up with scenes that are scary enough that you might find yourself forgetting to breathe.
A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
Japanese horror stories really were the rage in the early 2000s. With weird camera angles and distorted scenes, A Tale of Two Sisters tells the story of a dysfunctional family living in a haunted mansion which keeps dropping disturbing clues about their shared past.
The Grudge (2004)
The Grudge is the American remake of Ju-On: The Grudge, the critically acclaimed Japanese horror film. Karen, a career nurse living in Japan, gets more than she bargained for when the spirits that haunt the cursed home set their sights on her.
Open Water (2003)
Open Water is a low-budget shark movie that does an excellent job of combining thrill and fright. Directed by Chris Kentis and produced by his wife, Laura Lau, the film tells the story of two scuba diving couples who wander from the pack and get caught up with sharks.
28 Days Later (2002)
You get the creeps from just listening to Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later opening track. Even without a typical horror plot, the movie remains a seriously disturbing one. It tells the tale of a virus that leaves London in chaos.
Pitch Black (2000)
Fast and Furious’s Vin Diesel stars in this 2000 sci-fi/horror movie. He plays the role of notorious convict Richard B. Riddick. Pitch Black featured terrifying alien monsters who had us closing our eyes in between scenes.
