11 Classic Horror Movies That Remain Frightening Today

      Some classic horror films no longer evoke fear.

      Here are 12 notable exceptions.

      The Exorcist (1973)

      Warner Bros. – Credit: Warner Bros.

      Deeply unsettling even before Linda Blair’s head begins to spin, The Exorcist did for uncovering ancient demons what Jaws did for swimming in the ocean.

      The franchise made a comeback last year with David Gordon Green’s Exorcist: Believer, featuring Ellen Burstyn reprising her role as Chris MacNeil for the first time in 50 years.

      Jaws (1975)

      Universal – Credit: Universal Pictures

      A flawless film that expertly utilizes its doll-eyed antagonist, Jaws leaves everyone who watches it preoccupied with thoughts of sharks every time they visit the beach for the rest of their lives.

      It remains just as terrifying now as it was nearly 50 years ago.

      Additionally, it inspired a wave of other animal horror films — some featuring real animals.

      Carrie (1976)

      United Artists – Credit: C/O

      The most recent film on this list, adapted from Stephen King's debut novel, continues to evoke anxiety not merely due to the iconic bucket of blood, but because of the high-school cruelty that resonates with anyone who endured it.

      The casual bullying, which was far more accepted at the time, is still as distressing to observe as it ever was.

      Also Read: 10 Movie Sex Scenes Someone Should Have Stopped

      Night of the Living Dead (1968)

      Continental Distributing – Credit: C/O

      This low-budget classic from George Romero maintains an eerie, straightforward power that makes it even more terrifying than The Last of Us, The Walking Dead, or any other zombie narratives and horror films it inspired.

      It’s also one of the most profitable films ever, earning over 100 times its production budget.

      Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

      Paramount – Credit: C/O

      While gaslighting is a frequent topic of discussion today, Rosemary’s Baby immerses us in a Manhattan apartment building where it is taken to chilling extremes.

      As Rosemary (Mia Farrow) becomes pregnant, those around her dismiss her justified fears as mere hormones and paranoia. However, just because you're paranoid, as the saying goes, doesn’t mean they aren’t after you. Or your baby.

      Psycho (1960)

      Paramount – Credit: Paramount Pictures

      The classic by Alfred Hitchcock suggested more than it visually presented, though it did so very effectively.

      Psycho birthed the slasher genre, made horror films socially acceptable, and left many feeling less safe in the shower.

      It also features, without a doubt, at least one of cinema’s most remarkable twists.

      Suspiria (1977)

      Produzioni Atlas Consorziate – Credit: C/O

      A giallo masterclass worth watching for its striking colors alone, Dario Argento’s beautiful, haunting, and terrifying tale follows an American (Jessica Harper, above) at an elite German ballet academy who discovers, through creatively staged murders, that the institution is a hub of witchcraft.

      The puzzling sequel, Inferno, released in 1980, is also definitely worth viewing. Don’t try to piece together the plot. Simply allow yourself to be entranced by a blend of blood, color, and fire.

      Regardless of personal preference, Argento crafts some of the most visually breathtaking horror films.

      The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

      Bryanston Distributing Company – Credit: C/O

      Just reading that title gives you the creeps. The film’s incessantly ominous atmosphere — buzzing flies, animal sounds — cements its status as one of the most unsettling films ever made. The chainsaw scenes take it to another level, but Tobe Hooper's intelligent direction elevates it far beyond its many clones.

      Despite its menacing title, the film suggests more than it displays — as all great horror films do.

      Additionally: Grainy ’70s film stock amplifies the fear factor.

      What Have You Done to Solange? (1972)

      Italian International Film – Credit: C/O

      This giallo thriller features a simple plot: a private school teacher becomes a murder suspect when he cannot provide an alibi for a killing, as he was with one of his students. The nature of the murder remains shocking even after all these years.

      It's worth mentioning that the other horror films on this list are quite tame in comparison to the next two selections.

      Last House on the Left (1972)

      Hallmark Releasing – Credit: C/O

      The directorial debut of future Scream and Nightmare on Elm Street figure Wes Craven, Last House on the Left presents a harrowing tale of two young women who are tormented by escaped convicts.

      Ultimately, their parents seek revenge. But first, viewers must endure a deeply disturbing scene where the convicts treat the women abominably, and one, feeling hopeless, walks into the water to escape the terror