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For Sale Apr 1, 2026 at 2:35 PM

Best "Pure" horror movies?

Posted by fudgemental


To preface, I watch movies rarely, reading and gaming are my poisons of choice. That said, the few movies I do watch are those I've seen reviews for and/or have been recommended to me by sources I trust. So, most of the movies I've seen, especially recently, have been ones I've thoroughly enjoyed. All except horror. Watching horror movies for me is a social activity. I've this group of friends and friends' friends, pretty big (anywhere from 7 to 15 people), we tend to make an event out of doing a big movie night a few times a year, have been doing so for close to 15 years with some regularity now. I've seen some absolute bangers in that time, stuff that we still talk about to this day, from the Conjuring movies, Insidious movies, Paranormal activity movies, to East Asian movies like Ju On, Gonjiam, Middle Eastern ones like Siccin or Dabbe, or one of my favorite ones yet, Aterados (Argentina). Or Hereditary. Not all movies we saw were stellar of course. For every Ouija: The Beginnings, we saw some A24 classic that turned out to be less horror, more emotionally devastating. Bring her back, Babadook, etc. True there are horror elements, but the movie can't decide whether it wants us to shit ourselves or bawl our eyes out. So in anticipation of an upcoming movie night this month, I turn to you for help: please give me your best scary-demon-impersonal-pure-evil-nightmare-fuel horror movies you know. No blind babies or disabled orphans, no complex villains, no metaphors or "reality is stranger than fiction", give me all the fiction. No sexual horror, no thrillers, no suspense, just the scary stuff. Movies you've seen that just stay with you in their own seperate compartment as being scary on their own, without having to latch on to your personal trauma to shine. Sorry for the write up; I'm really that desperate. Thanks in advance! Edit: I believe I have my line-up for consideration, in no particular order, The Autopsy Of Jane Doe, Oddity, The Wailing, Late Night With The Devil. Should be a fun night haha.

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limbodog Apr 1, 2026 +23
The Thing
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fudgemental Apr 1, 2026 +1
Absolute classic
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limbodog Apr 1, 2026 +5
Already seen it? Ok, how about "Hellraiser"?
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fudgemental Apr 1, 2026 +2
Ooo never got into it. All I remember about the movies is they came out around the same time as Friday 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street and the slasher flicks (I know what you did last summer, scream, urban legend etc.) Ended up seeing most of those, never Hellraiser though.
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limbodog Apr 1, 2026 +1
I don't think I've ever seen it from start to finish. I've just walked in while it was already on numerous times. But pinhead's look is excellent (especially knowing those pins are real)
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Pale_Possibility5083 Apr 1, 2026 +1
Showgirls.
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Nice-Translator-1538 Apr 1, 2026 +16
Late Night with the Devil Evil Dead (2013)
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WhoStoleMyBicycle Apr 1, 2026 +7
Late Night with the Devil instantly became an every year Halloween season watch
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fudgemental Apr 1, 2026 +2
Haven't seen Late night with the Devil, always thought they marketed it extremely well (no previews of the horror stuff) and have wanted to see it because of that.
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Longjumping_Field835 Apr 1, 2026 +7
Sex and the City
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Physical-Compote4594 Apr 1, 2026 +4
Here are some of my favorites. I'm leaving out SF horror and body horror. The Thing; Prince of Darkness; In the Mouth of Madness When Evil Lurks The Autopsy of Jane Doe The Ring (the US remake is better than the original, IMO) The Grudge Oddity
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fudgemental Apr 1, 2026 +2
I've seen The Ring and Ringu both, and The Grudge and Ju On both, The Thing was amazing, When Evil Lurks is by the same guy who made Aterados, which is one of my favorite horror movies. Based on that, I think Oddity and Autopsy of Jane Doe just shot to the top of my list.
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CakeMadeOfHam Apr 1, 2026 +1
Oddity is fantastic!
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Physical-Compote4594 Apr 1, 2026 +1
I don't think you'll be disappointed :-)
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itsReadit Apr 1, 2026 +3
Haute Tension (2003) French.
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rpmayor Apr 1, 2026
While I love this movie, I think its too artistic for what OP is looking for
0
Nice-Translator-1538 Apr 1, 2026 +3
Christine Misery
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fudgemental Apr 1, 2026 +2
They better as movies than books? I've read them, liked them a lot
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Nice-Translator-1538 Apr 1, 2026 +2
I'm still to read the books so I can't say. But Misery man, that's scary af as a movie.
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Famous_Abrocoma_1335 Apr 1, 2026 +3
Based on exactly what you're describing — evil that doesn't need explaining, no metaphor, just dread: *REC* (2007, Spanish) — found footage, apartment building, things go wrong fast. No backstory needed. Just run. *The Wailing* (2016, Korean) — a stranger arrives in a village and people start dying. Builds slowly then completely loses its mind in the third act. Pure malevolent force, no redemption arc. *Sinister* (2012) — the Super 8 footage sequences are some of the most effectively disturbing images in modern horror. Impersonal evil at its best. *Terrifier 2* — not subtle, not metaphorical, not emotionally complex. Just relentless. Bring people who can handle it. You've already seen Hereditary which complicates things because that one straddles both worlds. The Wailing is the closest thing to 'pure evil' horror that also has genuine craft behind it.
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fudgemental Apr 1, 2026 +2
I loved Sinister. Another classic of movie nights. Scary children will never NOT be scary. I love the description of Wailing, another absolute favorite of mine is Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, which has similar elements. I separated out Hereditary for exactly that reason. It's family trauma, but the horror elements are so good that it wins out purely off that. Rec sounds amazing. Gonna keep it in mind. Solid list, thanks!
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mcquarrie Apr 1, 2026 +3
Based on your description, have you seen the exorcist yet? And not based on your description, I recommend House 1977 lol
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fudgemental Apr 1, 2026 +1
Yep, we've seen the classics haha, The Exorcist, Exorcism of Emily Rose, Evil Dead etc.
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mcquarrie Apr 1, 2026 +1
Oh sweet! I’ve got no other suggestions then. The idea of a “pure horror” without many accentuating plot points is a pretty slim category in my mind. I’m curious to see what other suggestions come up
1
ClaimRadiant Apr 1, 2026 +2
The Ring
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fudgemental Apr 1, 2026 +2
One of the best. Ringu is awesome.
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ISawTheDevyl Apr 1, 2026 +2
not sure but maybe terrifier 1-3, Eden Lake, rec (spain), The Sadness
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Noswad_12 Apr 1, 2026 +2
I’ll second Late Night With the Devil, totally a fun movie night movie. Fun concept of filming as well. First one that came to mind would be The Dark and the Wicked, I can’t remember the movie verbatim so sorry if it has one of your disqualifying aspects but it’s definitely a movie I think about when people ask me of the scariest I’ve seen.
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fudgemental Apr 1, 2026 +1
>First one that came to mind would be The Dark and the Wicked. I'll definitely look into it then!
1
__Shake__ Apr 1, 2026 +2
The Exorcist (1973) is just such a good horror movie and holds up really well. When I finally watched it a few years ago, I immediately wished I had watched it 2 decades earlier
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okpaimeihereicome Apr 1, 2026 +2
Nightmare on elm street
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Nevarian Apr 1, 2026 +2
Color Out of Space?
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joseph4th Apr 1, 2026 +2
Cabin in the Woods
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fudgemental Apr 1, 2026 +2
Happy April the 1st to you too hahaha
2
joseph4th Apr 1, 2026 +1
I made the joking comment after seeing it that I now fully understood horror movies now. It all finally made sense.
1
ClaimRadiant Apr 1, 2026 +2
Altered States 1980
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hatmatta Apr 1, 2026 +2
• In The Mouth of Madness •
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Admiralattackbar Apr 1, 2026 +2
Cure by Kiyoshi Kurosawa Great Hitchcockian horror with a great sense of dread. House by Nobohiku Obayashi Unbelievable group movie experience. Not scary but just weird as f***. Oddity by Damian McCarthy Really fun stuff though a predictable ending. Don’t Look Now by Nicholas Roeg Masterclass in editing. Just don’t read anything about it
2
hypelisthq Apr 1, 2026 +1
okay so based on what you're saying you need pure nightmare fuel, i get it. The Wailing (2016) from South Korea is exactly what you want - just pure dread and evil with no metaphors or emotional backstory. that movie had me checking corners in my apartment for weeks. for something more recent, Host (2020) is short but absolutely relentless. no complex villains, just straight up supernatural terror. Also if you haven't seen Terrified (2017) from Argentina yet, that's mandatory viewing for your group. pure demon horror, no emotional manipulation, just scene after scene of genuine scares. I keep a running list of horror recs on Hypelist actually - could share the whole thing if you want more options for future movie nights
1
fudgemental Apr 1, 2026 +1
Terrified is Aterados, I think I mislabeled it as being Spanish, it's on my list of all time favorite horror movies. Amazing movie, the group still talks about it to this day. Edit: yes please, a list could be cool
1
OscarTV1453 Apr 1, 2026 +1
The witch
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fakeguitarist4life Apr 1, 2026 +1
The Descent is a fantastic horror movie. Great beginning to end. Make sure to see the original UK ending. The US one ruined the movie
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fudgemental Apr 1, 2026 +1
We had a choice to watch between The Descent or Event Horizon. Chose to watch The Descent, not sure which ending we saw, but it ends with >! the main girl stuck in the dark dreaming of better times !<
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fakeguitarist4life Apr 1, 2026 +1
That’s the original. The US version it cuts out after she gets out and sees her friend in the car. Not a fake out like the original. They did it so they could make a shitty sequel where she goes back in which makes no sense at all
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AppropriateSail5902 Apr 1, 2026 +1
If you want pure "there is something evil and it wants you dead" energy, go with The Autopsy of Jane Doe. No deep themes, just escalating dread and supernatural nightmare fuel!
1
Successful-Finger-35 Apr 1, 2026 +1
Evil dead 2012 remake. If you like the gore aspect. Most what I’d suggest has been mentioned. Ooooo Mandy if you want psychedelic horror.
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fudgemental Apr 1, 2026 +1
The robot one? Campy Ex-Machina? Haven't seen it, the trailers didn't do it any favours. Is it good?
1
Successful-Finger-35 Apr 1, 2026 +1
It’s a nice cafe film(don’t hold that against it.
1
garrettj100 Apr 1, 2026 +1
All great horror movies are about something other than the supernatural thing that they appear to be about.  There’s no such thing as: * A haunted hotel that drives someone mad * A crazy hotel owner who hacks people to bits on the shower * A serial killer making a suit out of women’s skins * An indestructible implacable slasher in a Shatner mask * A murderous xenomorph that consists mostly of teeth. * A serum that makes a young you emerge from your back. You know what does exist? * Writer’s block, alcoholism, and domestic abuse * Domineering parents whose children subsume their own personalities * Being a woman in a man’s world where every guy wants to f*** you * Teenagers having sex * R*** and psychosexual horror * Getting old The great horror movies always play on that.  You want horror?  Go watch *Alien*.  You want jump-scares with no (or at least **less**) subtext?  *Aliens* is a better choice.
1
fudgemental Apr 1, 2026 +1
You've listed out the roots in reality from which horror is born, and I understand that horror is subjective. For example, I don't live in a war-torn country or have served in active military, so I wouldn't be able to relate to the horrors of war, as much as someone who's experienced it or heard first-hand accounts of it. Similarly I believe there's another root of horror that you haven't mentioned, which is cultural taboos. Our traditions, religions and cultures, especially those that extend beyond the mists of memory (think East Asian, Arab, South or Central American, or even Native American) have these stories and legends and myths that make for fantastic nightmare fuel in the right context. These are impersonal, tend to affect everyone equally, and don't need one to have trauma of some kind to be able to be affected by. Aliens is a fantastic example of uncaring nature of certain kinds of horror, so is Cosmic horror (The Thing, Annihilation, Color out of Space etc.), but these aren't inherently evil or demonic.
1
garrettj100 Apr 1, 2026 +1
I don't imagine for an instant that I listed all the roots of horror. Just six examples I could think of while pecking away on my phone. *The Thing*, though, is body horror, and body horror isn't cosmic, it's tracing back to the fear of getting old. *Aliens*, on the other hand, is an allegory for Vietnam. Cameron walked away from the psychosexual bits of *Alien* and did a whole different thing. It was an **imperfect** allegory to be sure, but [he has spoken](https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/09/movies/a-sequel-to-alien-ready-to-go-into-production.html) several times [on the subject](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_6hxkCNE5M4).
1
LocusHammer Apr 1, 2026 +1
I thought sinister was pretty scary.
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fudgemental Apr 1, 2026 +1
Sinister was really really good. The whole gang was into it, so much so that we saw the Ethan Hawke had done another horror movie, The Black Phone, and we jumped right to it, unfortunately wasn't as good (still a decent flick)
1
ClaimRadiant Apr 1, 2026 +1
The Witch
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Perfect_bleu Apr 1, 2026 +1
Cure (1997) - A frustrated detective deals with the case of several gruesome murders committed by people who have no recollection of what they've done
1
Gay_Asian_Boy Apr 1, 2026 +1
The Exorcist, Omen, and some old Hong Kong horror films : 凶榜 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJV8b3iL-QQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJV8b3iL-QQ) 陰陽路系列 Troublesome Night series [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tON3PKb5qFU&list=PL97342RocT7VQxU5hJA5IUvtSIHco7zyF](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tON3PKb5qFU&list=PL97342RocT7VQxU5hJA5IUvtSIHco7zyF) No English sub though
1
ClaimRadiant Apr 1, 2026 +1
Pet Sematary 1989
1
fudgemental Apr 1, 2026 +2
Ooo read the book before knowing there was a movie too. But from what I've heard, it's amazing.
2
2347564 Apr 1, 2026 +1
I know you said no “sexual” horror but It Follows is one of the best horror films I’ve ever seen. Sex is a major theme of the film but it’s not fan service in any way.
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elevatedsteve Apr 1, 2026 +1
John Dies at the End
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AshleySchaefferWoo Apr 1, 2026 +1
The ending is whatever, but the first 3/4 of Jeepers Creepers always fucked me up.
1
FrogFlavor Apr 1, 2026 +1
The Descent
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cinnapear Apr 1, 2026 +1
I’m not sure whether you want crowd pleasers or more thoughtful horror.
1
fudgemental Apr 1, 2026 +1
Crowd pleasers for sure, thoughtful horror could work in a more intimate setting though.
1
La_Mano_Cornuta Apr 1, 2026 +1
Demons Poltergeist Prince of Darkness
1
ulisse19 Apr 1, 2026 +1
Troppi vincoli...esorciccio dovrebbe fare a caso tuo.
1
none-remain Apr 1, 2026 +1
The Ritual (2017) USA, Tumbbad (2018) India
1
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