Horror is one of cinema’s most enduring and reliable genres. From the dawn of the medium, audiences have loved to be scared, with the seminal 1922 masterpiece Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror becoming a landmark achievement for the genre. Since then, each year has continued to bring at least one major horror movie, especially in the new millennium, and especially since the 2010s. Indeed, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say we are currently experiencing the golden age of the horror genre.
This slow rise in prominence began in the 2000s, through the boom of J-horror and the increase in psychological horror offerings. Many of these movies weren’t particularly great, but a few are actually worth your time. In fact, they might actually be close to being flawless, only held back by minor details in execution or narrative. Yet, these horror movies from the 2000s are near-perfect and should be on your watchlist if you haven’t actually experienced them already.
‘The Others’ (2001)
2000s horror began on the right foot with The Others, Alejandro Amenábar‘s spin on the haunted house subgenre. Nicole Kidman stars as Grace, a devoutly religious woman living in an isolated manor with her two photosensitive children. Confined to life in shadows, Grace seeks refuge in faith and hope as she awaits her husband’s return from the war. Things change with the arrival of three mysterious servants, and Grace soon finds herself fighting an unseen force within her walls.
Today, The Others is mostly remembered for its final twist, which has largely overtaken the overall conversation surrounding it. However, the film is an expertly crafted horror mystery. Amenábar maintains the tension throughout, often relying on psychological horror rather than overt jump scares to keep the audience on edge. Kidman delivers one of her strongest performances as a woman descending into paranoia, echoing Ingrid Bergman in Gaslight. Yes, the film loses some of its impact if one already knows the twist, but The Others can still be enjoyed as a chilling haunted house tale and as a rich exploration of guilt and trauma, making it a foundational entry into the modern elevated horror subgenre.
‘The Ring’ (2002)
In the US, the J-horror craze of the 2000s began with Gore Verbinski‘s 2002 English remake of Hideo Nakata‘s 1998 Ringu. The Ring stars Naomi Watts, fresh off her breakthrough role in David Lynch‘s Mulholland Drive, as Rachel Keller, a journalist investigating the deaths of three teenagers. Soon, she connects the deaths to a mysterious tape that carries a curse: whoever sees it will die in seven days.
A masterclass of dread, The Ring eschews overt gore and shock value in favor of a slow, methodical story full of paranoia and atmospheric terror. That said, the film still has many genuinely terrifying moments, most notably the scene where the ghostly Samara Morgan crawls out of the television, a sequence that traumatized an entire generation. The Ring is a very different movie from Ringu, which is neither good nor bad; in fact, it might be for the best, as this remake offers a new, more clinical take on a well-known story. Many remakes of Japanese horror movies followed, but none could match the disturbing and unforgettable heights that Verbinski reached with The Ring.
’28 Days Later’ (2002)
With Danny Boyle in the director’s chair, Alex Garland as screenwriter, and Cillian Murphy as the star, 28 Days Later had a winning formula. The film is set in a ravaged UK, devastated by the highly contagious Rage Virus, which infects people and turns them into mindless creatures driven by anger. Murphy plays Jim, a bicycle courier who awakes from a coma to find this new reality where he must learn to survive.
28 Days Later completely revolutionized the genre by introducing a new breed of zombies; they were faster, angrier, and more savage. Sure, they’re not strictly zombies — infected, more than anything — but come on, who are we trying to kid here? The film launched a new wave of zombie horror for the new millennium, spawned multiple sequels, and kick-started Cillian Murphy’s international career. Its reputation is well-deserved: 28 Days Later is a chilling and sobering look at what a global epidemic could look like, to the point where many found it genuinely distressing during the COVID-19 epidemic. It loses some steam by taking a turn into action territory during its third act, but 28 Days Later remains a triumph of 2000s horror.
‘A Tale of Two Sisters’ (2003)
Image via Cineclick Asia Big Blue Film
The 2000s also saw the rise of Korean horror alongside J-horror, and few movies are more representative of it than 2003’s A Tale of Two Sisters. Kim Jee-woon‘s film follows teenager Su-mi (Yum Jung-ah), who reunites with her beloved sister, Su-yeon (Im Soo-jung), following a stint at a mental health facility. Soon, the two begin experiencing strange events at their home and grow increasingly distrustful of their father and his new wife.
A Tale of Two Sisters has become well-known for its twist, which reframes the entire movie and would inspire a bunch of spiritual successors in the genre, some good, others not so much. The original remains unbeatable, though. Kim’s film thrives on its restraint, with a methodical but incredibly unnerving take on psychological horror that is as affecting as it is harrowing. A Tale of Two Sisters is as much about Su-mi’s state of mind as it is about the horror within the house, and Kim understands that. At times, the film seems more like a family drama, which greatly enhances the themes and the plot’s richness. Yes, the film loses some impact once you know the twist, but the experience is no less disturbing. Decades later, A Tale of Two Sisters keeps wowing new audiences, proving just how timeless it truly is.
‘Jennifer’s Body’ (2009)
One of the most misunderstood gems of 2000s horror was Karyn Kusama‘s supernatural coming-of-age tale Jennifer’s Body. Written by Oscar winner Diablo Cody and greatly indebted to Ginger Snaps, the film follows the transformation of Jennifer Check (Megan Fox) from popular cheerleader to boy-eating succubus after a failed satanic sacrifice. Oscar nominee Amanda Seyfried co-stars as her former best friend, Needy, the only one who can stop her.
Originally marketed around Megan Fox’s sex appeal, the film underperformed with critics and at the box office. However, Jennifer’s Body is actually a “good for her” movie long before “good for her” was even a thing. It’s more about female friendship, the dangers lurking behind the concept of “girlhood,” and the difficult transition into “womanhood.” Sure, the movie is actively trying to become a cult classic, but so what? It’s confident and stylish, with a script full of incredible quotes, many of which have successfully entered the mainstream lexicon. A sequel might be on the way, but even if it never actually comes, Jennifer’s Body will remain a gem of noughties horror and a bona fide cult classic of the millennial generation.