Smile (2022) follows psychiatrist Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) as she experiences mental deterioration after witnessing a patient’s suicide. Director Parker Finn’s debut explores generational trauma through jump scares and supernatural elements.
Saint Maud (2019), director Rose Glass’ first feature, centers on palliative-care nurse Maud (Morfydd Clark), who develops an obsession with saving her dying patient’s soul. The 83-minute film examines devotion and delusion while addressing loneliness and trauma.
Also read: Best horror movies to watch on Hulu this Halloween 2025Midsummer (2019) depicts Dani (Florence Pugh) attending a remote Swedish village festival with her emotionally distant boyfriend (Jack Reynor). Director Ari Aster’s film uses cultish folk horror elements to explore grief and transformation under daylight settings.
Late 1990s and early 2000s psychological horror
The Blair Witch Project (1999) presents recovered footage of three filmmakers, Heather Donahue (now Rei Hance), Josh Leonard, and Mike Williams, who disappeared while documenting the Blair Witch legend in Maryland woods. The found-footage film cost $60,000 to produce and grossed nearly $249 million worldwide, aided by an internet marketing campaign that blurred fiction and reality.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Get Out (2017) follows Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) visiting his girlfriend Rose’s (Allison Williams) family estate. Director Jordan Peele’s debut feature incorporates social commentary alongside horror elements drawing from Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) and The Stepford Wives (1975).
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
The Stepford Wives (1975)
Classic psychological horror films: 1970s
The Wicker Man (1973) centers on Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) investigating a missing girl on Summerisle, a remote island with a pagan community led by Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee). Lee considered Lord Summerisle among his finest roles despite his extensive career portraying Dracula for Hammer Film Productions.
Don’t Look Now (1973) follows John Baxter (Donald Sutherland) and his wife (Julie Christie) grieving their daughter’s death in Venice. A clairvoyant (Hilary Mason) claims their daughter is attempting to warn them of danger while a serial killer operates in the city.
Psychological horror films of the 2000s and 2010s
American Psycho (2000), director Mary Harron’s adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ novel, features yuppie Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) in late 1980s decadence. The film explores whether Bateman’s violence is real or imagined. Christian Bale secured the role after several actors, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Edward Norton, were attached to the production.
Audition (1999) depicts widower Shigeharu (Ryo Ishibashi) holding a fake audition to meet women, where he falls for Asami (Eihi Shiina). Director Takashi Miike’s film builds slowly before delivering a graphic climax. Quentin Tarantino called Audition “a true masterpiece if ever there was one.”
Black Swan (2010) follows Nina (Natalie Portman) landing dual roles as Odette and Odile in Swan Lake while dealing with pressure from her mother (Barbara Hershey) and a rival dancer (Mila Kunis). Portman trained for one year as a dancer and won the Oscar for Best Actress.
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The Babadook (2014) centers on single mother Amelia Vanek (Essie Davis) and her 6-year-old son Samuel (Noah Wiseman), who finds comfort in a pop-up book titled Mister Babadook after his father’s death. Director Jennifer Kent’s film combines supernatural elements with psychological trauma. Kent stated in a 2024 Screen Rant interview that she doesn’t anticipate making a sequel unless a “desperate urge to tell a story related to that” emerges.
Golden age and mid-century psychological horror
Cat People (1942) depicts Irena (Simone Simon) and Oliver’s (Kent Smith) marriage complications when Irena believes she transforms into a panther. Producer Val Lewton’s approach relied on viewers’ imaginations rather than explicit imagery.
Diabolical (1955) follows schoolmaster Michel Delassalle (Paul Meurisse) and his relationships with wife Christina (Véra Clouzot) and mistress Nicole (Simone Signoret), who conspire against him. The bathtub scene became iconic in psychological horror. Producer William Castle stated in the 2007 documentary Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story that seeing crowds lined up for Diabolique inspired him to make horror films.
Wait Until Dark (1967) features blind woman Susy (Audrey Hepburn) targeted by criminals led by Alan Arkin seeking a doll containing heroin. Theater owners dimmed auditorium lights during the final eight minutes to enhance the experience.
Psychological horror films of the 1990s
Se7en (1995) pairs Det. David Mills (Brad Pitt) with retiring Det. William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) investigating serial murders based on the seven deadly sins. Denzel Washington turned down the role of David Mills. Washington told Larry King in 2013, “And I just thought, ‘No, this is so dark.’ Then I saw the movie and cried.”
Misery (1990) depicts author Paul Sheldon (James Caan) held captive by fan Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) after a car accident. Bates won the Oscar for Best Actress. Jack Nicholson was originally considered for Paul Sheldon but declined, having recently completed another Stephen King adaptation.
The Sixth Sense (1999) follows young Cole (Haley Joel Osment), who sees dead people, working with psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis). Director M. Night Shyamalan’s third film features Mischa Barton as ghostly Kyra Collins.
The Vanishing (1988) centers on Rex (Gene Bervoets) searching for girlfriend Saskia (Johanna ter Steege) after her disappearance at a gas station. Three years later, Raymond (Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu) claims responsibility and offers Rex information in exchange for drinking drugged coffee.
Award-winning psychological horror films
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) pairs FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) with imprisoned cannibal Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) to stop serial killer Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine). The film became the first horror movie to win the Oscar for Best Picture, also winning Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director for Jonathan Demme, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Ted Tally.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Also read: Top must-watch horror movies to watch on Halloween 2025 on Amazon Prime Video
Rosemary’s Baby (1968) follows Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) experiencing a disturbing pregnancy orchestrated by those around her. Producer William Castle acquired rights to Ira Levin’s novel hoping to direct an important film, but Paramount Pictures assigned Roman Polanski as director. The film is part of Polanski’s informal Apartment Trilogy alongside Repulsion (1965) and The Tenant (1976).
Early masterpieces of psychological horror
M (1931) depicts serial killer Hans Beckert (Peter Lorre) targeting children, including victim Elsie (Inge Langdut). Director Fritz Lang depicts violence through imagery rather than explicit scenes, using an empty stairwell, untouched place setting, and a balloon drifting into power lines to convey the child’s fate.
The Shining (1980) follows Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) taking a winter caretaker position at the Overlook Hotel with his wife (Shelley Duvall) and son Danny (Danny Lloyd). Director Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation deviates from Stephen King’s novel, blending psychological and supernatural horror. The film was inspired by the Stanley Hotel, which accepts bookings.
Psycho (1960) marks Alfred Hitchcock’s first horror film, centering on motel keeper Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). Hitchcock financed most of the production himself with a budget exceeding $800,000 after acquiring rights to Robert Bloch’s novel. Shot in black-and-white to reduce costs, the film grossed $32 million during its original theatrical release.
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