Horror moviesare meant to make audiences feel an array of feelings. Fear, as a crazed serial killer chases their prey. Anxiety, as a climactic showdown between a final girl and killer ensues. And oftentimes, catharsis as the movie’s villain meets their demise. Some horror movies give audiences a mixture of all these emotions and more. Here are ten cathartic horror movies for the hardcore horror fan.
10You’re Next (2011)
You’re Nexthas garnered a cult following based on its titular, tough-as-nails final girl, Erin. The film starts off with the Davison family targeted during a family reunion, with three masked intruders breaking into their home to strike them down one by one. What the intruders don’t expect is that amongst them is an even bigger threat, Erin, a trained survivalist ready to fight back.
In what’s arguably the film’s most cathartic sequence, Erin single-handedly takes down Zee, Felix, and her own boyfriend, Crispian, the three masterminds behind the whole attack. Erin undoubtedly earns her place in the Final Girl Hall of Fame.
9Ready or Not (2019)
Following in the footsteps ofYou’re Next,Ready or Notpresents audiences with a final girl that just isn’t ready to go down without a fight. Tricked into a deadly game of cat and mouse by her in-laws, Grace must use all her wits to survive until dawn as the De Lomas family pursues her, ready to use her as the sacrifice for their family’s deadly curse. To see the family blow up before Grace as she laughs maniacally is the cherry on top of a perfect slasher. Of course,Samara Weaving gives a stellar performanceas Grace, cementing her as a modern Scream Queen.
8Halloween Ends (2022)
There’s no such thing as a perfect horror movie, and even with every critique directed its way,Halloween Endsdelivers asatisfying ending to the Laurie Strode versus Michael Myers timeline. Audiences get to see Laurie work past her trauma in this closing chapter of David Gordon Green’sHalloweentrilogy, with her trying to lead a normal life alongside Allyson, embrace romance after a lifetime of seclusion, and lastly, put her biggest enemy to rest as Laurie finally beats Michael in a cathartic, final fight. It’s bittersweet to see Jamie Lee Curtis say her goodbyes to her career-defining role, but seeing Laurie’s overall arc inHalloween Endsis well worth it.
7Terrifier 2 (2022)
Just when horror fans thought that Art the Clown couldn’t get more vicious and menacing,Terrifier 2proved them wrong.Terrifier 2has Art coming back to lifewith a vengeance, this time after Sienna Shaw, a teenager who shares a strong connection with Art. Art does everything in his power to lure Sienna to him, from kidnapping her little brother, Jonathan, killing her mother, and in the film’s most disturbing scene, torturing and murdering her best friend, Allie. To see Sienna tap into her hidden superpowers to defeat Art is satisfying considering the amount of sadistic acts he commits throughout the film.
6M3GAN (2023)
M3GANis ultimatelya cautionary taleabout parents ill-equipped to their raise children. When Cady loses her parents, Gemma attempts to step up as her guardian, but she’s too self-involved and reckless to care about anyone but herself. Gemma soon relegates all her parental responsibilities to M3GAN, so she can focus on her career, failing to set proper protocols for M3GAN aside from protecting Cady at all costs. As a result, Cady becomes emotionally dependent on M3GAN, who in turn becomes a killing machine to protect Cady. While M3GAN is the film’s titular killer, Gemma is a villain in her own right, making it somewhat satisfying to see M3gan call her out on her selfishness during the film’s climactic showdown. Then there’s every characterM3GANannihilates in her quest for self-preservation; they’re immoral and arguably more vile than M3GAN.
5Tusk (2014)
Tuskis one of thedarkest comedies ever made, notably because it presents audiences with a anti-hero that’s hard to root for despite his nightmarish circumstances. Wallace Bryton is arrogant, mean-spirited, and downright cruel, making his ultimate fate seem like pent-up karma for his past misdeeds against innocent people. Nevertheless, Howard meeting his demise by his own creation is just as satisfying considering the mental and physical torture he subjects Wallace to throughout the film.
Related:A24’s 12 Most Emotional Movies, Ranked
4The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
InThe Texas Chainsaw Massacreremake, Sheriff Hoyt is just as despicable as Leatherface if not more. Hoyt abuses his power, subjects his victims to excruciating psychological and physical torture, and is simply the embodiment of evil in human form. Seeing Erin avenge her friends by ending his life is the perfect conclusion to one of the better horror remakes of the 2000s.
3Scream VI (2023)
Everything aboutScream VIscreams catharsis.Sam Carpenter gets a well-deserved redemptionfrom her presentation inScream (2022), cementing her as the new final girl of the franchise following Sidney’s departure. The three Ghostface killers are the most brutal incarnations of the titular villain, truly making audiences fear for Sam’s life through each of their attacks. Then there’s the big reveal, where the killers present themselves as Richie’s vengeful family. Seeing Sam and Tara defeat the Bailey family is extremely cathartic considering the bloodbath they left in their path, starting with theStab-obsessed Richie himself.
Related:Scream VI Post Credits Scene, Explained
2Fresh (2022)
Freshis a hard film to sit through not so much for its gory elements, as much of the surgical procedures occur off-screen; the film’s commentary on modem dating digs deep into audiences, showing the most exaggerated result of blindly trusting a new love interest. Noa may have acted naively to Steve’s charm, but who can blame her considering her disastrous past dates. Noa just wanted to be loved. So yeah, it’s cathartic to see Steve get taken down by Noa and the surviving women he tricked into captivity.
1Infinity Pool (2023)
Infinity Poolcomments on society’s excess and dissonance from consequences. James Foster finds his life meaningless alongside his wife, Em, primarily because she finances his entire lifestyle. James’ disconnect increases when he’s introduced to the Infinity Pool, a way to avoid all accountability for criminal acts. While James is somewhat of a victim of circumstance, he gets a cathartic reality check when Gabi ridicules his manuscript, reiterating that his artistic drive is hindered by his dependence on Em’s wealth.
