The 21 Best Horror Movies of the 90s to Scare You All Night Long – menshealth.com

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More than ever, the 90s are coming to be recognized as one of the most significant decades in American horror history. Huge box office successes at the start of the decadefilms like Cape Fear and Silence of the Lambslegitimized the genre to certain sensibilities, hereby establishing the notion of prestige horror. These forces culminated in the massive success of The Sixth Sense by the decades end. Simultaneously, the 90s also brought a resurgence in Black Horror.

In her seminal text, Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films 1890s to Present, Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman discusses the absence of Black folks from prestige horror of the time, but she also noted that we were making our own movies and telling our own stories, and films like Def By Temptation, Daughters of the Dust, Demon Knight, and Tales from the Hood further established the Black Horror tradition in their reimagining of the genre.

Even within what she refers to as "Blacks in horror films," where Black folks are represented in otherwise white productions like Candyman, The People Under the Stairs, Blade, and Vampire in Brooklyn, the Black actors were granted significantly more substantive roles and better representations than had been offered in decades prior. Alexandra West also identifies this period as the decade horror went mainstream in her book, The 1990s Teen Horror Cycle: Final Girls and a New Hollywood Formula.

With the success of films like Scream and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the decade saw a steady stream of teen dream flicks like I Know What You Did Last Summer, Urban Legend, The Faculty, and Idle Hands, many of which were woman-fronted. With the genres higher production values and wider audiences, it became the breeding ground for the next generation of Hollywood stars.

The films on this particular list dont necessarily reflect those which generated the most money or the most critical acclaim, but I consider these to be the films which most challenged the norms and tropes of the genre, and which lean into horrors radical possibilitiesand whose influence well continue to see in the future. In chronological order, here are the 21 best horroe movies of the '90s.

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Nightbreed (1990)

When I say Nightbreed was decades ahead of its time, I mean its an excellent example of gatekeepers having no idea what actually subversive material is when they see it. Written and directed by British horror aficionado, Clive Barker (also responsible for the short story behind Candyman), Nightbreed flopped upon its original release, notably due to the studios decision to market it as a slasher film when its nothing of the sort. Rather, the story explores the carceral nature of human existence, fundamentally subverting the narrative structure of most classical film/literature which positions the good & righteous Man/Woman against some sort of abject, monsterized Other. In Nightbreed, the monsters are the good guysthe ones with the most humanity. Featuring the best of 80s camp and makeup effects, the film is a direct challenge toward the tendency to prescribe goodness to beauty, the police, and even the human.

Daughters of the Dust (1991)

Purists and scholars alike will balk at my inclusion of this film on a horror movie list, but Daughters of the Dust operates squarely within the Black Horror tradition. Historic as the first film directed by a Black woman (Julie Dash) to receive national distribution, Daughters of the Dust explores the horror of forced migration and generational trauma within several generations of a Gullah Geechee family. The film has been highly influential for its gorgeous cinematography and stylization which has helped establish a distinct cinematic aesthetic around the Southern Gothic.

The People Under the Stairs (1991)

Like Nightbreed, The People Under the Stairs is one of those decade-cusp films that still aesthetically feels like it belongs in the 80s. Written and directed by Wes Craven, this movie is a master-class in horror-comedy camp wherein the absurdity functions as a hilarious but searing critique of racialized American class warfare and capitalism. It stars Brandon Quintin Adams as Fool, a young Black boy trying to support his mother (who is being evicted while sick with cancer) by working with family friend, LeRoy (Ving Rhames) to steal a collection of rare coins from their landlords, played by Everett McGill and Wendy Robie (aka Big Ed and Nadine, from Twin Peaks). Come for the social commentary but stay for the critique of heteronormativitys psychosexual perversion.

Candyman (1992)

While Im critical of Candyman and consider it outside the Black Horror tradition, the films influence is certainly undeniable. How to imagine a Black monster when Black folks have been misrepresented in cinema as long as the medium has existed is, perhaps, the question Nia DaCostas highly anticipated forthcoming adaptation hopes to answer. Fingers crossed well soon get to see for ourselves!

Bram Stokers Dracula (1992)

This sprawling adaptation by Francis Ford Coppola reimagines the story behind Stokers 19th century masterpiece. Its cinematography, costume design and use of color makes this film an extra-Gothic opulent delight.

Fire Walk With Me (1992)

Released as a prequel to its television series predecessor, Twin Peaks, Fire Walk with Me indeed walks audiences back through the last week of tragic heroine, Laura Palmers (Sheryl Lee) life, right up to point where the events of the show begin. An oft-lodged critique of Twin Peaks is its romanticizing of beautiful dead white girls (though this impulse is precisely what director, David Lynch aimed to satirize). Fire Walk with Me rectifies this misstep, offering Laura voice, depth, and context for the horror surrounding the circumstances of her murder.

Tammy and the T-Rex (1994)

I went into Tammy and the T-Rex with precisely zero context and maintain the belief that this is the best strategy for peak enjoyment (its absurdity is completely irresistible). Heres all you need to know: Denise Richards stars as the titular Tammy whose boyfriend (Paul Walker) has an unfortunate encounter with a mad scientist who implants his brain into a robotic T-Rex with T-Rex needs. Tammys Black (queer!) best friend, Byron (Theo Forsett) also steals the show and though its not necessarily great representation, it was super rare for the time to see a Black queer person- let alone one treated positively- anywhere onscreen. Also, Walker sports a crop top. Nuff said.

Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994)

Two additions were made to the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise through the 90s but Wes Cravens New Nightmare is the only one that matters. Acting completely outside the chronology of the franchise, it employs the same self-referential metanarration which would go on to make Scream so successful. Craven, Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund, John Saxon, as well as industry figures (like Robert Shaye, founder of New Line Cinema) all show up as themselves in this postmodern take on what it means to create, star in, and be haunted by one of the most iconic horror franchises (and villains) of all time.

Demon Knight (1995)

The first of an intended trilogy of Tales from the Crypt feature films, Demon Knight was directed by Ernest Dickerson and accounts for the first and most successful representation of a Black Final Girl in horror history. Jeryline (Jada Pinkett-Smith) goes against all the typical rules regarding The One Who Survives, which is part of what makes her so compelling as a character. Pinketts performance is inspired and only made better with the support of Billy Zane and CCH Pounder.

Tales From the Hood1995

Structured as a four-part anthology film, Rusty Cundieffs Tales from the Hood uses elements of the supernatural to explore the banal horrors of Black life in white supremacist America. Cundieff directly addresses systemic issues like police brutality and political corruption, domestic violence, and cycles of abuse, using elements of horror to shed light on the disturbing realities located in daily life (while still maintaining a darkly comedic edge). A canonical film within the Black Horror tradition.

Scream (1996)

Wes Cravens postmodern masterpiece might be among the most influential films on this list, often credited with revitalizing the horror genre as a whole and definitely bringing new life to the slasher. Folks continue to love this movie hardsome for its self-referential qualities and others, for its subversion of tired genre tropes as Craven makes horror history in allowing his Final Girl (Sidney Prescott, as played by Neve Campbell) to have sex (with the killer, no less) and still survive to see the sunrise.

The Craft (1996)

The Craft is one of those films whose protagonist is literally the least interesting character onscreen. The most memorable performances of this film go to Fairuza Balk, Rachel True, and Neve Campbell who are all absolutely magnetic with their beautiful, messy complexity. Also, we are the weirdos, mistericonic.

Mars Attacks! (1996)

A lifelong favorite, Mars Attacks! is somewhat genre-less as an action-horror-sci-fi-comedy satirizing American culture through the alien invasion subgenre. Directed by Tim Burton, this perpetually-devalued film features the ensemble cast of the decade, including the likes of Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Pierce Brosnan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Danny DeVito, Natalie Portman, Jim Brown, and the inimitable, Pam Grier, amongst so many others. Genre camp to the max!

Scream 2 (1997)

While critics are notably tough on sequels, the fact remains that this onereleased less than a year out from the originalcertainly could have used some more time to simmer. Nevertheless, it still retains many of the elements which made the first film so successful. The trademark self-reflexivity around the nature of sequels lays a foundation for the franchises ongoing exploration of long-term trauma (also elemental in Scream 3 & 4) while further expanding the originals critique of capitalist media in commodifying tragedy, this time implicating the audience as a whole in the very act of horror spectatorship itself.

Eve's Bayou (1997)

Like Daughters of the Dust, Eves Bayou is another film canonical to Black womens horror traditions. Written and directed by Kasi Lemmons and starring Jurnee Smollett early in her career, this movie is definitely more cerebral, exploring the terror latent in the slipperiness of memory and perception. It received wide critical acclaim upon initial release and in legacy has also contributed toward the establishment of a Southern Gothic cinematic tradition.

Ringu (1998)

Id be remiss not to mention this terrifying classic directed by Hideo Nakata which ultimately brought J-horror and its unique aesthetics to American audiences. Known for its terrifying visuals, Ringus influence has been far-reaching, including an entire franchise in Japan and several American remakes. Appearing at the decades end, its impact is highly visible in the horror movies of the 2000s.

The Faculty (1998)

Part of the aforementioned Teen Horror Cycle, The Faculty is one of a number of 90s adaptations of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Disturbing Behavior & Body Snatchers also came out around the same time) which makes perfect sense for the whole anti-authoritarian, disaffected youth vibe defining Gen X aesthetics. Written by Kevin Williamson (who also wrote Scream) and featuring an absolute all-star cast in Elijah Wood, Josh Hartnett, Clea Duvall, Usher, and Jon Stewart, this ones not only fun to revisit, but youll be pleasantly surprised how well it stands as an adaptation.

Blade

As a lover of blaxploitation films (who is also critical of them when need be), Blade hits all the right referential notes, taking the best elements of what those films had to offer and leaving all the trash. Wesley Snipes stars as the sun-walking vampire other vampires fear- Blacula meets Shaft with some miscegenation anxiety thrown in for kicks. As Marvels very first box office success, it literally paved the way for the films which dominate the current market (.). It was announced last year wed be getting a reboot, making now the perfect time to dive into the original trilogy.

Beloved (1998)

Based on Toni Morrisons Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, and starring Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, and Thandie Newton, Beloved fails somewhat as an adaptation, but nevertheless stands as a horror movie & story. As is the case with all of Black womens horror, the film features a ghost who, though malevolent, is not necessarily what is to be feared in the storys treatment. More terrifying than the prospect of the supernatural is the actual history: the conditions of life under enslavement and the high cost of freedom. The time is ripe for someone to try their hand at another adaptation.

Deep Blue Sea

Deep Blue Sea is easily the most original creature feature of the decade (apart from Tammy and the T-Rex, of course). The sharks arent just big and fasttheyre scientifically engineered to be super fucking smart. Fusing the Frankenstein narrative with solid shark attack and underwater disaster elements makes this film enormously entertaining and genuinely anxiety-inducing.

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

The sleeper hit of the decade, The Blair Witch Project is among the most profitable films ever created, having single-handedly revived the found footage subgenre which would go on to be a mainstay of 2000s horror with films like Cloverfield, Paranormal Activity, and V/H/S. The significance of this revival is magnified when you consider the subgenres history as a tool of colonial racism with films like 1930s Ingagi. Blair Witch found new use for the mockumentary method which didnt rely on turning Black and Native folks into savage cannibals and for that, Ill personally be forever grateful.

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The 21 Best Horror Movies of the 90s to Scare You All Night Long - menshealth.com

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero