Best Abstract Horror Movies

Key Takeaways

Abstract horror films create fear through unsettling atmospheres and explore psychological themes.
Movies like Babadook and Under The Skin use symbolic creatures to reflect deeper emotional struggles.
From confinement in The Lighthouse to bizarre visuals in House, abstract horror offers imaginative, boundary-pushing experiences.

As a connoisseur of all things eerie and unsettling, I can confidently say that these films have left an indelible mark on my psyche. Each one masterfully crafts a unique atmosphere of dread and unease, making them standouts in the horror genre.

Unique to horror is the abstract genre, which generates fear not through conventional monsters or sudden shocks, but by constructing intensely disquieting settings and delving into psychological, surreal, and philosophical aspects. Movies in this category frequently embrace the enigmatic, causing viewers to ponder long after the movie ends, with lingering unease as their lasting impression.

These films explore the extremes of terror, transitioning from chilling childhood nightmares to solitude-driven insanity. They present horror in its most creative and thought-provoking manifestations, constantly challenging boundaries. Symbolic monsters, peculiar landscapes, and ambiguous narratives are used to create some of the most haunting memories in the genre. These movies frequently encourage viewers to ponder their own interpretations by reflecting aspects of human experiences back at us.

1 Skinamarink

Childhood Fears Come To Life

Release Date: July 25, 2022
Director: Kyle Edward Ball
Runtime: 100 minutes

“For instance, Skinamarink is an experimental horror movie from Canada that draws on the unusual fears and fantasies that children often experience.

This thought-provoking movie uses unconventional camera angles and prolonged scenes of doorways to foster a surreal ambiance that leaves viewers feeling detached from everyday life. Once their parents vanish, the windows and doors in their house mysteriously disappear too, trapping a young brother and sister within their home, with no means of escaping the terror lurking inside.

2 It Follows

A Slow But Certain Death

Release Date: March 27, 2015
Director: David Robert Mitchell
Runtime: 100 minutes

The movie “It Follows” revolves around a chilling supernatural being, resembling different people, which persistently hunts down its victim, although it moves quite gradually.

Apart from being infamously terrifying, this deliberately enigmatic creature pursues characters in a setting brimming with peculiar time distortions that intensify the feeling of being in a transitional space, making it difficult for viewers to fully grasp their surroundings. The show’s enigmatic narrative and unsettling ambiance have earned it recognition as a contemporary masterpiece in abstract horror.

3 Babadook

Bedtime Stories Gone Bad

Release Date: November 28, 2014
Director: Jennifer Kent
Runtime: 94 minutes

According to Kent’s short movie, Monster, The Babadook is a chilling Australian psychological horror film that primarily revolves around a grieving, solitary mother and her disturbed child. The story employs an eerie children’s book monster to represent more profound psychological motifs. Instead of relying solely on startling moments, the movie explores the protagonist’s sorrow, despair, and submerged feelings through the Babadook character.

The enigmatic, seldom-revealed entity symbolizes the profound internal conflicts of its subject, lingering as a chilling reminder for the mother – both physically and symbolically. This elusive portrayal leaves room for multiple interpretations, making the film more about the terror of unresolved trauma than a typical monster narrative.

4 Under The Skin

More Than Meets The Eye

Release Date: March 14, 2014
Director: Jonathan Glazer
Runtime: 108 minutes

In a cinematic rendition inspired by Michel Faber’s book, this science fiction thriller showcases Scarlett Johansson as a character disguised as a human woman, luring men in Scotland towards their demise.

In the film Under the Skin, we get a glimpse into the detached viewpoint of an alien, devoid of human empathy and comprehension. This unique perspective offers a more profound insight into the human race as a collective entity. The sparse dialogue, eerie imagery, and overwhelming sense of loneliness intensify the alien terror, creating an atmosphere that’s both unsettling and philosophically profound.

5 House

An Avant-Garde Horror Flick

Release Date: July 30, 1977
Director: Nobuhiko Obayashi
Runtime: 88 minutes

One of the most unconventional Japanese horror films, titled “House“, skillfully combines elements of horror, surrealism, and humor in a way that transcends traditional genre boundaries. The narrative centers around a schoolgirl and her companions as they embark on a journey to her aunt’s secluded countryside home, where they encounter supernatural entities that challenge our understanding of logic and reality.

House delights in the unusual, ranging from a piano devouring individuals to a malevolent feline. This series thrives on absurdity, with its vibrant, kaleidoscopic visuals turning each scene into a disorganized terror. Its peculiar imagery and unpredictability foster an unsettling yet whimsically strange ambiance, establishing it as an exceptional abstract horror journey unlike any other.

6 The Menu

Eat The Rich

Release Date: September 10, 2022
Director: Mark Mylod
Runtime: 107 minutes

Featuring the captivating performance of Anya Taylor-Joy from “The Super Mario Bros. Movie”, “The Menu” offers a bone-chilling commentary on class and elitism, as it follows a group of affluent diners at an elite restaurant situated on a secluded island.

As the meals unfold, the chef’s motives become increasingly ominous, compelling diners to face their hidden truths and deepest desires. Combining chilling horror and dark wit, the movie offers a scathing commentary on consumerism and elitism through startling means, seamlessly integrating haute cuisine with an oppressive atmosphere that grows more suffocating as each course is served, thus amplifying the eerie ambiance.

7 The Lighthouse

There Is No Reality

Release Date: October 18, 2019
Director: Robert Eggers
Runtime: 109 minutes

As a captivated spectator, I found myself drawn into the chilling tale of “The Lighthouse.” In this haunting narrative, Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson assume roles as isolation-stricken lighthouse caretakers from the 19th century, who progressively succumb to the grips of madness. The pair’s eerie hallucinations intensify amidst a desolate landscape bereft of human connection and relentless storms.

The film’s monochrome camera work and box-shaped screen design contribute to a tense, confined ambiance, amplifying its psychological terror. With eerie images of mermaids and foreboding seagulls, it challenges the distinction between what’s real and imagined, offering a chilling portrayal of solitude and human vulnerability that stays with you long after the movie ends.

8 Midsommar

Fear In Full Sun

Release Date: July 3, 2019
Director: Ari Aster
Runtime: 148 minutes

Under the acting skills of Florence Pugh, “Midsommar” narrates a tale about a cluster of companions who journey to a secluded Swedish village for a midsummer celebration. At first glance, it appears innocent, but as events unfold, things take a darker and more ominous turn. Unlike conventional horror films, it takes place under the bright daylight amidst a sea of flowers, with unsettling rituals playing out against the picturesque countryside backdrop.

In Midsommar, sorrow, pain, and deceit are intricately intertwined within the storyline. This film delves into cultural disparities and profound fear of existence. The movie is equally stunning and chilling, engrossing spectators in a nightmare that’s eerily authentic yet strange.

9 The Killing Of A Sacred Deer

A Cursed Story

Release Date: October 20, 2017
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Runtime: 121 minutes

The Killing of a Sacred Deer” is a chilling narrative that explores themes of guilt, retribution, and moral uncertainty. The life of a surgeon takes a dark turn when the boy he has become close to starts implementing a curse that brings unsettling consequences upon his loved ones.

Known for his stark, no-nonsense approach, director Yorgos Lanthimos imbues this tale with an unsettling accuracy, using peculiar dialogues and a haunting soundtrack to create a disturbing, sterile ambiance. The film’s chilling, calculated terror lingers, prompting viewers to ponder about destiny, justice, and the repercussions of past wrongdoings.

10 Beau Is Afraid (2023)

Mommy Issues

Release Date: April 1, 2023
Director: Ari Aster
Runtime: 179 minutes

The movie “Beau Is Afraid” delves into the apprehensions and fears of its main character, Beau, during his journey to meet his mother. Director Ari Aster’s unique portrayal of intergenerational trauma blends dark wit with strange and frequently unsettling scenarios that make it hard to distinguish between reality and dreams.

Exploring motifs of remorse, anxiety, and dominance by mothers, this movie takes viewers on a turbulent, reflective trip. Its disjointed layout and bizarre imagery create a distinct blend of terror and humor, encapsulating the eerily peculiar inner realm of its lead character.

2024-10-30 17:04