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.
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.
2
limbodogApr 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)
1
Pale_Possibility5083Apr 1, 2026
+1
Showgirls.
1
Nice-Translator-1538Apr 1, 2026
+16
Late Night with the Devil
Evil Dead (2013)
16
WhoStoleMyBicycleApr 1, 2026
+7
Late Night with the Devil instantly became an every year Halloween season watch
7
fudgementalApr 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.
2
Longjumping_Field835Apr 1, 2026
+7
Sex and the City
7
Physical-Compote4594Apr 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
4
fudgementalApr 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.
2
CakeMadeOfHamApr 1, 2026
+1
Oddity is fantastic!
1
Physical-Compote4594Apr 1, 2026
+1
I don't think you'll be disappointed :-)
1
itsReaditApr 1, 2026
+3
Haute Tension (2003) French.
3
rpmayorApr 1, 2026
While I love this movie, I think its too artistic for what OP is looking for
0
Nice-Translator-1538Apr 1, 2026
+3
Christine
Misery
3
fudgementalApr 1, 2026
+2
They better as movies than books? I've read them, liked them a lot
2
Nice-Translator-1538Apr 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.
2
Famous_Abrocoma_1335Apr 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.
3
fudgementalApr 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!
2
mcquarrieApr 1, 2026
+3
Based on your description, have you seen the exorcist yet?
And not based on your description, I recommend House 1977 lol
3
fudgementalApr 1, 2026
+1
Yep, we've seen the classics haha, The Exorcist, Exorcism of Emily Rose, Evil Dead etc.
1
mcquarrieApr 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
ClaimRadiantApr 1, 2026
+2
The Ring
2
fudgementalApr 1, 2026
+2
One of the best. Ringu is awesome.
2
ISawTheDevylApr 1, 2026
+2
not sure but maybe terrifier 1-3, Eden Lake, rec (spain), The Sadness
2
Noswad_12Apr 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.
2
fudgementalApr 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
2
okpaimeihereicomeApr 1, 2026
+2
Nightmare on elm street
2
NevarianApr 1, 2026
+2
Color Out of Space?
2
joseph4thApr 1, 2026
+2
Cabin in the Woods
2
fudgementalApr 1, 2026
+2
Happy April the 1st to you too hahaha
2
joseph4thApr 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
ClaimRadiantApr 1, 2026
+2
Altered States 1980
2
hatmattaApr 1, 2026
+2
• In The Mouth of Madness •
2
AdmiralattackbarApr 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
hypelisthqApr 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
fudgementalApr 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
OscarTV1453Apr 1, 2026
+1
The witch
1
fakeguitarist4lifeApr 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
1
fudgementalApr 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 !<
1
fakeguitarist4lifeApr 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
1
AppropriateSail5902Apr 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-35Apr 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.
1
fudgementalApr 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-35Apr 1, 2026
+1
It’s a nice cafe film(don’t hold that against it.
1
garrettj100Apr 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
fudgementalApr 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
garrettj100Apr 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
LocusHammerApr 1, 2026
+1
I thought sinister was pretty scary.
1
fudgementalApr 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
ClaimRadiantApr 1, 2026
+1
The Witch
1
Perfect_bleuApr 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_BoyApr 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
ClaimRadiantApr 1, 2026
+1
Pet Sematary 1989
1
fudgementalApr 1, 2026
+2
Ooo read the book before knowing there was a movie too. But from what I've heard, it's amazing.
2
2347564Apr 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.
1
elevatedsteveApr 1, 2026
+1
John Dies at the End
1
AshleySchaefferWooApr 1, 2026
+1
The ending is whatever, but the first 3/4 of Jeepers Creepers always fucked me up.
1
FrogFlavorApr 1, 2026
+1
The Descent
1
cinnapearApr 1, 2026
+1
I’m not sure whether you want crowd pleasers or more thoughtful horror.
1
fudgementalApr 1, 2026
+1
Crowd pleasers for sure, thoughtful horror could work in a more intimate setting though.
1
La_Mano_CornutaApr 1, 2026
+1
Demons
Poltergeist
Prince of Darkness
1
ulisse19Apr 1, 2026
+1
Troppi vincoli...esorciccio dovrebbe fare a caso tuo.
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