Horror movies of the ’90s entered a new form of a renaissance. This reawakening ushered in a wave of horror that was stern on realism, coupled with self-parody as well as ironic humor. It also ushered new waves of Asian horror and found footage. As it stands, cinephiles note the decade as the transitional period due to advancements in technology. Special effects had a notable shift from the traditional, practical effects to digital and computer-generated imagery.
Also, of interest, this decade led horror movies into the mainstream by breaking the traditional norm and birthing psychological thrillers. Without an iota of doubt, it has pushed the boundaries of what horror movies could be like on screen, on stage, at the box office, and even at award shows. For example, there was The Silence of the Lambs (1991), which won several Academy Awards. It brilliantly featured a psychological horror that is quite compelling! What about Ravenous (1999)? This is a $12 million horror-comedy that exploded at the box office. Now, horror fans recognize it as one of the horror movie genre’s greatest offering!
Not to make eyes watery from the entire gist, let us dig right into:
Presenting the Greatest 1990s Horror Movies:
#10 Scream (1996)
“You Should Never Say ‘Who’s There?’ Don’t You Watch Scary Movies?”
Scream is a brilliant modern horror classic that creatively merges Black Comedy and mystery. It further combines its comedy with the violence usually attributed to the slasher genre. As far as the ’90s is concerned, Scream has multiple reasons to be loved. It has spot-on casting, brilliant movie directing from Wes Craven, and of course, Kevin Williamson’s fantastic script. It is completely deserving of the title “one of the greatest 1990s horror movies”.
In Scream, a creepy-masked knife maniac hunts high-school student by stalking them. The killer employs horror films then uses them as part of a deadly game designed for these teenage girls’ doom. A year after Sidney Prescott’s (Neve Campbell) mother’s death, some weird phone calls start to slip in. The horror that follows makes Scream a vastly entertaining and craftily made horror classic!
#9 Dead Alive (1992)
“They’re not dead exactly; they’re just… sort of rotting.”
Peter Jackson did a fantastic job even with the simplest of plots and brilliantly birthed Dead Alive! This is one horror movie that is now known in the ’90s for its succinct creative output with minimal resources. It is no doubt that it sits boldly as number 9 on this list.
Here, there is simply an overprotective mother who a rat-monkey somehow bites. Subsequently, it turns the neighbors into a swarm of walking dead. They could not help crashing a party together. As the dark sense of humor bursts out, audiences adjust to the new tone in less than a minute. What follows is a bloody fun time with an unusual, sweet lawnmower massacre. A ghastly horror that is not unnoticeable as far as the ’90s horrors are concerned.
#8 Army of Darkness (1992)
“Good. Bad. I’m the guy with the gun.”
Army of Darkness is probably unlike anything else you would see and expect in the ’90s. This was a decade that swerved away from self-specific horror to slightly more serious superficial horror. This movie creatively combines all shades of silly, bloody, and of course, fun side with sufficient spooky moments. This kept viewer’s pulse and heart pumping. It is particularly an ideal gateway film for young horror fans who are just getting familiar with the genre.
In the story, Ash finds himself sent back to the medieval era, and the dreadful Lord Arthur captured him. Afterward, Ash attached a chainsaw to his missing limb, which became an extended sharper arm he had. He embarked on a dreadful mission to get back the Book of the Dead. No doubt, Bruce Campbell’s execution of this role was god-like, suggesting that he was born to play Ash.
#7 Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
“Eckhart saw Hell too. He said: The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won’t let go of life, your memories, your attachments…”
As far as horror is concerned, in the ’90s, Jacob’s Ladder is a movie that surely passes as one that can get under one’s skin and soul. The scenes in the movie are mind-bending and confusing. They can also induce nightmares. The effect of the movie can stay with you for an exceptionally long time. And with a movie that nerve wrecking it is completely deserving of being called one of the greatest 1990s horror movies.
Director Adrian Lyne brilliantly explores the disheartening effects of PTSD. He did this through the haunted lenses of a Vietnam veteran. This brought the seeming reality to the audience with a firsthand taste. Here, a Vietnam veteran world is falling apart, and he finds himself boxed up in the deepest reaches of madness, where a thin line that is hardly distinguishable between reality and hallucination defines his condition.
#6 Misery (1990)
“I don’t want her spirit! I want her, and you murdered her!”
A phobia that can bedevil a writer is the fear of being kidnapped by a delirious fan. Bates’ brilliant performance of the role makes Misery genuinely frightening and gruesome. This slots Misery easily into the sixth position of this exquisite list of the top horror movies of the ’90 since it is filled with intrigues that keep your heart racing with terror. In this brilliant piece, Rob Reiner adapted Stephen King’s Misery.
James Caan plays the role of Paul Sheldon. A pretty successful novelist who drives through a blizzard. His car goes off but is rescued by a devout fan Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates). After the discovery of his latest manuscript, the events which subsequently occurred led to revenge on Paul. The movie was made in ways that leave your eyes watching, and your mind imagining at the same time.
#5 Audition (オーディション, Ōdishon) – (1999)
“Only pain and suffering will make you realize who you are.”
Audition is one of the greatest movies accredited to Takashi Miike. He made a lot of movies, with Audition coming in as the 88th! This Japanese masterpiece effortlessly pierces through genres, from drama, down to comedy, to thriller, and of course, the horror! As you watch the movie, you will find yourself watching a brilliant, eclectic mixture of a grisly shocker and psychological drama. Audition is a film that first creeps on you and then later shocks you with its artistically orchestrated insanity.
In this story, Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi) camouflages a dating service for auditions via a fake production. Soon she gets a ‘suitable suitor’ who begins to discover she is not all that she seemed to be. As the story unfolds, it leads to a progressive rise in tension and, of course, a disturbing climax. Nothing can prepare you for the sadistic and shocking finale in the movie.
#4 Candyman (1992)
“Your death will be a tale to frighten children, to make lovers cling closer in their rapture. Come with me and be immortal.”
Bernard Rose, the writer, and director of Candyman, creatively explored a sufficiently good short story. The story features a nasty urban legend, colored with an added layer of brilliancy. A must-watch for those who have not seen it.
In Candyman, everyone is a victim of this vengeance story, down to the creature that stalks the Cabrini-Green housing projects. In a land filled with teenage attackers, assailants, and assaulters, Candyman is that killer you can root since he creeps on the real scum and bad guys that took over the earth. So, it would not be wrong to say that America deserves a monster like this.
#3 Ravenous (1999)
“…If you die first, I am going to eat you, but the question is, if I die, what are you going to do? Bon appétit… Eat or die.”
Another fantastic movie, Ravenous gifts us an eccentric combination of western, black comedy, as well as cannibal horror, done in a way stunning manner. It would be ludicrous if we didn’t include it in this “greatest 1990s horror movies” list. Antonia Bird creatively captures this horror movie in a pre-civil war era. He garnished it with a distinct sense of humor and a crazy twist on the Wendigo mythology. With a perfect cast, consisting of Guy Pearce and Robert Carlyle at the forefront, they could capture all the sides the movie entails. Most especially, the dark and disgusting aspects of cannibal films.
The story succinctly features a gory and scary tale of a wagon train that a vicious U.S. Army colonel murdered. He has gone rogue. Out of fear for these claims by Colquhoun (Robert Carlyle), the regiment moves out into the wilderness to be sure of his claims. This story underlines the horror of historic times.
#2 The Sixth Sense (1999)
“…Walking around like regular people. They don’t see each other. They only see what they want to see. They don’t know they’re dead.”
M. Night Shyamalan is one screenwriter and producer that is known for the surprises he pulls off in Nollywood. I believe that The Sixth Sense is the winning contender for the birthing of the best surprise endings of the ’90s decade! This movie set the horror movie bar so high. It is a masterpiece riddled with twists and riches both in writing, directing, and acting.
This story deceptively appears straightforward. There was a boy that talks to spirits, who now needs the help of a broken child psychologist. Then child actor, Haley Joel Osment, was fantastic as his acts give a heightened emotional punch to viewers as he brilliantly tells the story. The Sixth Sense thus makes up for number 2 on the list!
#1 The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
“When the Fox hears the Rabbit scream, he comes a-running’, but not to help.”
Right at the top of the list is The Silence of the Lambs. It has won so many Academy Awards. It’s truly one of the greatest 1990s horror movies, if not the greatest. Anyone who feels someway about the movie could easily enjoy watching the contents of cannibalism. The Silence of the Lambs is a morbid fascination with serial killers and an exemplary psychological horror!
Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) is a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a psychopath. He serves life behind prison bars for atrocities he committed. He did brilliantly portray his character most profoundly. His characteristic life gave birth to a seeming paradoxical feeling of admiring the ‘bad guy’ rather than feeling loathing. He was unsettling, phenomenal, calculated, manic, weirdly creepy, intelligent, and wittingly attractive. The way he probes minds is terrifying. It gets under people’s skin, gifting them an opportunity to view the movie as a game of psychological chess to behold. This is a pure psychological horror at its best.
To wrap this up, do not be surprised if a few of your favorites do not make this list; that is simply because there were so many great horror movies in the ’90s. Regardless of what you have been told about horror movies in the ’90s, it was sure a fruitful time of harvest for brilliant horror films. The decade did make its mark. They amassed several awards and broke box office figures. Ultimately, the ’90s made a grand entrance in digital horror filmmaking.
About the Author
Author: Chris Ingledue
Contact: email
Bio: I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!