10 Great Horror Movies That Are Landmarks of the Genre

A landmark in culture is, by definition, “an event or discovery marking an important stage or turning point in something.” Landmarks of the horror genre were pretty much the firsts of their kind, the movies that started a trend or inspired later creators to do something similar with their visions. With so many horror features being made all the time, a lot of them can be seen as moving the boundaries in the genre, though they’d hardly be landmarks like their biggest representatives.

Horror in film has been around for over a century, and was mostly inspired by horror stories by Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, and alike. With an initial focus on gothic tales and influences, horror in film grew together with the demand for it. It’s the best way to experience thrills and the racing of the heart without ever leaving the comfort of a chair (or one’s couch at home). We have the great horror movies that are landmarks of the genre to thank for that.

10

‘Godzilla’ (1954)

A Japanese Monster Movie with a Real-World Horror Allegory

Godzilla ravaging a city in 1954's Godzilla. — Image via Toho

Though many remember Godzilla as a kaiju movie, this Japanese monster feature is fundamentally a horror movie rooted in post-war trauma and anxiety about the nuclear age. Ishirō Honda‘s feature relied on special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, with them creating a globally famous city-capturing monster that instills fear into those it terrorizes. The appearance of a mutated monster named Godzilla (Gojira) is an allegory for the nuclear devastation that happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, making Godzilla not just an influential kaiju movie but a political statement.

The plot of Godzilla revolves around villagers settled on the fictional Odo Island. When their homes are destroyed by something massive, one of the villagers says Godzilla, an ancient sea monster, is seeking revenge. After the survivors evacuate to Tokyo, local researchers find traces of radiation in Godzilla’s tracks, concluding that the monster was aggravated by a hydrogen bomb test underwater. Its fear of extinction drives its survival instinct, thus destroying everything in sight. Godzilla sets a precedent in using horror to explore larger societal issues, but it’s also a brilliantly devised monster horror.

Godzilla

Release Date: November 3, 1954
Runtime: 96 minutes
Director: Ishirō Honda
Writers: Ishirō Honda, Shigeru Kayama, Takeo Murata, Tomoyuki Tanaka, Eiji Tsuburaya

9

‘Cannibal Holocaust’ (1980)

The Foundation of Found Footage and Exploitation Horror

Luca Barbareschi and Perry Pirkanen as Mark Tomaso and Jack Anders, standing in the woods and recording on a video camera in Cannibal Holocaust — Image via United Artists Europa

Ruggero Deodato‘s Cannibal Holocaust is one of the most controversial movies ever made, yet its influence on the found footage horror subgenre is undeniable. Through shocking realism, documentary-style camerawork, and brutal themes of exploitation, Cannibal Holocaust became one of the most talked about horror movies in the 1980s, with Deodato facing legal problems from its beginnings. It was easy for that to happen, too, since the lines between reality and fiction feel blurred precisely because of the ‘found footage’ concept.

Cannibal Holocaust is a movie about an American film crew going to the Amazon to film a documentary about a tribe of cannibals. When they don’t come back, anthropologist Harold Monroe (Robert Kerman), goes to find them, but only retrieves their footage. The lost footage shows the reality of events that took place in the Amazon, showing some very difficult to watch scenes mostly caused by the film crew. Though this is a brutal film, it paved the way for some of the biggest successes in found footage horror, like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity. In that sense, Cannibal Holocaust is a landmark, for sure.

Cannibal Holocaust

Release Date: June 21, 1985
Runtime: 95 minutes
Director: Ruggero Deodato
Writers: Gianfranco Clerici

8

‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ (1956)

A Masterclass in Paranoia Horror

A group of characters looking curiously at something off-camera in Invasion of the Body Snatchers — Image via Allied Artists Pictures

Don Siegel‘s Invasion of the Body Snatchers may be a bit less iconic than its 1978 remake with Donald Sutherland, but without the 1956 one, there wouldn’t be material for Philip Kaufman‘s version. Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a superb example of paranoia horror; it’s a defining film for the Cold War era, delving into the fear of conformity and loss of identity. The movie blends science-fiction and horror, and it feels influential for some of the best movies in the genre.

The name, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, kind of explains the movie’s plot; it follows doctor Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy), working with patients who all believe their loved ones have been replaced with identical body doubles. Suspicious at first, Bennell and some of his friends realize there are duplicates of their neighbors and loved ones all around. As it becomes harder to discern truth from lie, paranoia grows and trust lessens for the protagonists. Hysteria and dread are the overarching themes, causing a heavy atmosphere. But of course, a movie that was so current in its social analysis for its time must feel heavy; it also must be a thought-provoking landmark of the genre.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Release Date: February 5, 1956
Runtime: 80 Minutes
Director: Don Siegel
Writers: Daniel Mainwaring, Jack Finney, Richard Collins

7

‘Jaws’ (1975)

The First True Blockbuster Horror

Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss looking at the shark in Jaws — Image via Universal Pictures

Steven Spielberg‘s Jaws transformed horror into a summer blockbuster event, something no one succeeded before him. The movie was so powerful in creating dread and terror, that not even the summer’s brightest days could make it less terrifying. In some ways, Jaws also shows less is more, though that’s not what Spielberg initially intended. With budget issues and mechanical problems, it transformed from a potentially outdated creature feature to a masterclass of suspense, just with Spielberg’s clever directing and innovative cinematography.

Jaws follows the residents of a small New England town being terrorized by a shark during the summer. As fear and hatred grows rampant in the townspeople’s minds, police chief Brody (Roy Scheider) gathers marine biologist Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and shark hunter Quint (Robert Shaw) to help him get rid of the shark properly. The iconic, minimalistic yet haunting John Williams score further proves how important music is in horror, becoming one of the examples of a great way to build and maintain suspense. As the first ever summer blockbuster, Jaws is often considered a thriller, though the presence of an antagonistic monster makes the movie a horror through and through.

Jaws

Release Date: June 18, 1975
Runtime: 124 minutes
Writers: Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb, John Milius, Howard Sackler, Robert Shaw

6

‘The Wicker Man’ (1974)

The Definitive Folk Horror Film

Robin Hardy‘s The Wicker Man is a landmark of folk horror; it shows pagan rituals, fanaticism, and religious extremism, turning them into psychologically heavy themes. The movie is a masterclass of slow-burns, building tension from the beginning to the very end… a very haunting end, admittedly. The Wicker Man is effective because of the story and its progression, but also because of brilliant performances all around. Special praise goes to horror king Christopher Lee in, what he claimed was his favorite role.

The Wicker Man follows Sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward) investigating the disappearance of a young girl. He flies to the girl’s supposed home, the nearby Scottish island, Summerisle. While trying to question the locals about her, he doesn’t get any answers; instead, the people behave bizarrely, making it seem like the young girl never existed. Howie also meets the island’s “leader,” Lord Summerisle (Lee), who is equally unhelpful. The Wicker Man is an obvious influence on folk horror, which stands as one of the most bone-chilling subgenres; you may not believe in the supernatural or monsters, but folk horror is about the very real existence of rituals, religions, and cults – engaged in by people.

5

‘The Exorcist’ (1973)

Pushed Horror Into the Mainstream With Its Religious Terror

Linda Blair as Regan, floating above a bed, possessed, with her arms spread wide in The Exorcist — Image via Warner Bros.

Many would consider The Exorcist one of the scariest movies ever made. William Friedkin‘s faithful adaptation of William Peter Blatty‘s novel brought the supernatural kind of horror into the mainstream; it was also one of the first horror movies to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, which is rare for the genre even today. This nomination and the blockbuster status of the movie show that The Exorcist and many movies similar to it can be artistic, socially significant, and commercially successful.

The Exorcist follows the story of 11-year-old Regan (Linda Blair), a girl who gets possessed by a demonic entity, Pazuzu. Regan’s family call father Damien Karras (Jason Miller), who is also a doctor; Karras, understanding the gravity of the situation, calls Lankaster Merrin (Max von Sydow), a paleontologist and a priest. The movie’s realistic performances, religious themes, and shocking imagery cement it as one of the landmarks of the genre, specifically in the religious horror area.

The Exorcist

Release Date: December 26, 1973
Runtime: 122 minutes

4

‘Night of the Living Dead’ (1968)

A horde of zombies walks towards the camera in 'Night of the Living Dead' (1968). — Image via Continental Distributing

Saying George A. Romero invented the zombie genre isn’t far from the truth. Night of the Living Dead made leaps when it came to horror becoming a more influential genre in modern film, infusing it with social and political subtext. Showing a zombie flick can also be a social commentary was unusual at the time, making Romero’s feature a lot more relevant, not to say, a landmark of the genre. The movie tackles themes of racism and Cold War paranoia, and is a bleak, nihilistic look at humanity due to its shocking ending.

Night of the Living Dead follows the arrival of Barbra (Judith O’Dea) with her brother to their father’s grave. Attacked by a ghoulish looking man while there, Barbra’s brother dies defending her; she runs away, ending up in an abandoned house. Later, she’s joined by a group of people fleeing from the same flesh-eating ghouls, aka zombies, with Ben (Duane Jones) as the leader. Hiding in the house during the night, the survivors fend off the undead and do their best to stay alive. Night of the Living Dead is often placed on lists of the best movies of all time, and its influences go beyond horror.

Night of the Living Dead

Release Date: October 4, 1968
Runtime: 96 minutes
Director: George A. Romero
Writers: George A. Romero, John A. Russo

3

‘Psycho’ (1960)

The Slasher Prototype and a Psychological Horror Landmark

Psycho shattered genre conventions in a life-changing way, though it’s unsure if Alfred Hitchcock knew the movie would be so important to cinema history when he made it. However, choosing to believe the greatest horror movies of all time were made out of love and not for success should be the premise behind every landmark of the genre. The love for cinema and the tireless source of ideas are the magic ingredients in each of these movies, and Psycho is no exception; this movie is often considered the biggest inspiration for slashers and psychological horror.

Psycho follows Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), a secretary who steals money from her boss and runs across the country to meet up with her boyfriend. Along the way, she stops at a roadside motel named Bates, where Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) and his mother live and rent rooms. Psycho delivers several shocking twists throughout the movie with unparalleled suspense. It has an ability to manipulate viewers’ expectations while introducing one of cinema’s most complex and unsettling antagonists. Psycho is also iconic for a memorable soundtrack, which encapsulates the movie’s impact perfectly.

Psycho

Release Date: September 8, 1960
Runtime: 109 minutes
Writers: Joseph Stefano, Robert Bloch

2

‘Frankenstein’ (1931)

Defined Gothic Horror and the Mad Scientist Trope

Colin Clive as Henry Frankenstein confronting Boris Karloff's Frankenstein's Monster in 1931's 'Frankenstein.' — Image via Universal Pictures

The Universal Classic Monsters are a cinematic staple today, and fans of that beautifully strange world can thank director James Whale, and Boris Karloff as Frankenstein’s Monster. Frankenstein from 1931 was based on the highly acclaimed Mary Shelley novel of the same name, though the screenplay was directly adapted from a 1927 Frankenstein play. The movie helped define gothic horror, while Karloff’s portrayal of the misunderstood Frankenstein’s Monster remains the definitive version of the creation, greatly impacting the appearance of other, future versions. Frankenstein also reflects some social themes, such as hubris, fear, and existential dread.

Frankenstein revolves around Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive), a mad scientist obsessed with reviving the dead. He digs graves with his assistant Fritz (Dwight Frye), searching for complete body parts to put together a creature he could bring back to life. When he succeeds, The Monster comes alive, but its childlike qualities and behavior become mistaken for rabid aggression. The mad scientist trope comes fully alive together with the Frankenstein’s Monster in this movie, and though it’s a horror film and a creature feature, it’s also emotionally devastating.

Frankenstein

Release Date: November 21, 1931
Runtime: 70 Minutes

1

‘Nosferatu’ (1922)

The Birth of Cinematic Horror and Vampire Mythology

Max Schreck stands aboard a ship looking menacing in 1922's Nosferatu — Image Via Film Arts Guild

F.W. Murnau‘s iconic Nosferatu is one of the earliest and most influential horror movies. It propelled the genre to great heights, showing stories that revolve around a deep and profound vampire mythology, rooted in numerous global cultures. Murnau’s inspiration is named Count Orlok, but he was seemingly based on Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula; the name and setting were changed to fit into Germany, since Murnau was a German filmmaker. So, German actors make up the cast, with Max Schreck as the scariest cinematic vampire.

Nosferatu follows Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim), young estate agent in a fictional town called Wisborg, sent by his boss to visit Count Orlok (Schreck), a reclusive heir who wishes to purchase a property near Hutter’s home. Hutter goes on a long journey, encountering villagers terrified of Orlock along the way; he finds a book about vampires and brings it along, becoming convinced Orlock is one of the creatures from the book. Orlock’s appearance is rat-like and slightly deformed, a massive difference from movies portraying Count Dracula, where the vampire appears aristocratic and polished. The movie plays with shadows and light, and succeeds in creating an unsettling, heavy atmosphere with iconic imagery that influenced horror much later on.