10 Essential ‘90s Horror Films That Are Still Relevant Today

The only thing that burns in hell is the part of you that won’t let go of life,” goes the most haunting line from this Alan Marshall film. The film follows Jacob Singer, a Vietnam War veteran, who struggles with strange visions and hallucinations as he relives his most horrific battle experience while struggling to come to terms with his reality. The lines between death and life become blurred as it is no longer clear whether Jacob ever left that battlefield. Fans are forced to relive the horror of death on the battlefield from the eyes of a potential victim, which has a gripping effect, hence the sustained popularity of the film decades after its release.

Jacob’s Ladder slowly crosses the border between a psychological thriller and a horror film as more of Jacob Singer’s last battle is revealed. For a first-timer, the film evokes an emotional rollercoaster as viewers struggle between settling for Jacob’s peace or going for revenge against those who betrayed him. Overall, Jacob’s Ladder is a horror film that keeps fans on edge without being overly scary, embodying the maturity of 1990s horror.

Dr. Hannibal Lecter became a household name in horror thanks to the popularity of Anthony Hopkins’ character in this film. Lecter is an imprisoned psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer who is interviewed by Clarice Starling, an FBI trainee, in a bid to profile and stop a prowling serial killer named Buffalo Bill. As Clarice does her best to catch the killer, Hannibal seems to be working harder to get into her head, making it seem as if the protagonist could end up becoming a serial killer, too.

The absolute horror of this movie is the constant tension as Hopkins keeps Hannibal unpredictable. It is not clear whether he genuinely likes Clarice or whether he is trying to eat her too.

The film, however, utilizes dark humor to keep the mood light and enjoyable. The poetic title and creative writing also combine perfectly to musk the scariest aspects of the plot. The movie doesn’t hide too much of the gore either, although it never gets too scary, making it a true 90s masterpiece.

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Bram Stoker’s Dracula stars Gary Oldman as Dracula and Winona Ryder as his wife, Elisabeta.“I’ve crossed rivers of time to find you,” goes the line that explains the old vampire’s return as he believes that his lawyer’s fiance is the reincarnation of his wife Elisabeta who committed suicide centuries ago. This was the first film to actually make a case for Dracula in the 90s, drifting away from the typical presentation of the Count as a senseless, bloodthirsty vampire.

Its star-studded cast, which includes a younger Keanu Reeves, Anthony Hopkins, and Sadie Frost, delivers compelling performances that draw in the viewer. The film has stood the test of time as gothic horror fans still enjoy its screenings. Its packed plot also utilizes a lot less scary and more gothic visuals to present an authentic and interactive horror tale.

Dracula overlooking the newly constructed Theater of London is one of the film’s most chilling scenes. Overall, the film leaves fans feeling sorry for Dracula’s victims without necessarily hating Dracula, which makes it great to watch.

While driving to the beach in North Carolina with her friends, a college student, Julie James, accidentally hit a pedestrian. To cover up their crime, they drag the body to the ocean, but their whole plot unravels a year later when they start receiving letters from someone who claims to know their secret. The real horror begins when the haunting letters turn into an attack as the mysterious figure starts hunting the four teenagers down with a giant hook, killing them one by one.

The film borrows heavily from the infamous “Legend of the Hook,” although its plot was also influenced by horror from the 1950s and 60s.

The script by Kevin Williamson, who also wrote Scream, is predictable but action-packed, keeping the audience on edge. Like Scream, IKWYDLS draws heavily from the gore of 1980s slashers but with a touch of comedy. The jump scares keep the horror going, including the typical 80s ending twist that keeps viewers guessing.

Many substandard sequels followed the booming horror classics of the 80s, but some still lived up to expectations, and Exorcist III is one of them. Although it never hit the heights of IKWYDLS and Scream, this film by Peter Blatty earned a lot of credit from critics by largely independent of its 1973 predecessor. It follows Lieutenant Kinderman and his priest friend, Father Joseph Dyer, as they try to solve a string of violent murders resembling those of a serial killer ( The Gemini Killer), who was executed 15 years prior.

As the two come face to face with the real evil, they realize that they will need a little bit more than a regular exorcist to expel the spirit of the serial killer from its latest host.

Exorcist III is not nearly as chilling as the original Exorcist, but it is just as genre-defining. Its nuanced approach to the exorcism plotline makes it more appealing to watch as viewers have a funnier and more engaging premise to follow. The film also brings to life a story that affects the whole society, personifying the evil spirit better than its immediate predecessor.

Candyman perfectly bridges 1980s gore with 1990s thrill to create an impactful viewing experience beyond a typical slasher film. The film follows Helen Lyle, a cynical graduate student of semiotics writing a thesis on the urban legend of a malevolent being called the Candyman.

As Helen works hard to disprove alleged cases of Candyman murders as the depraved acts of a serial killer, she gets too close, startling the evil itself. The film boldly approaches difficult contemporary subjects of racism and urban poverty.

Candyman has since become a cult classic as its deep storyline redefined urban legend for many horror fans. Although the gore is slightly over the top for light-hearted viewers, the plot development is rich and exciting. Candyman is the kind of 90s classic that draws in both thrill seekers and lovers of moderate gore in slasher films.

It may not have hit the commercial heights of its predecessors, but Wes Craven’s New Nightmare remains one of the most rewatchable films in the Nightmare series. In this film, Wes Craven recreates a scarier version of Freddie Krueger, the dreaded villain from A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Krueger starts haunting the family of Heather Langenkamp, who played Nancy Thompson in the Nightmare series—everyone in the film stars as themselves, including Wes Craven, which only adds to the horror. The crossover gives the chilling impression of Krueger being unleashed on the real world.

Despite being a standalone film, horror fans enjoy this film best after watching A Nightmare on Elm Street because the plot borrows heavily from the series. It employs less comedy and a scarier costume for Freddie, making it feel darker and more terrifying than its predecessors. Langenkamp’s hearty performance brings the plot to life just as she does in the rest of the series.

The villain in this miniseries, Pennywise the Dancing Clown, is still considered one of the scariest villains in horror film history. It is a two-part miniseries that follows a group of seven kids who call themselves The Losers as they take on the malevolent entity they call It, which takes the appearance of a clown. In the second part, The Losers, now adults 30 years later, take on It once again, this time in the form of a scary giant spider. Stephen King’s creativity and imagination are evident in the sheer horror that the villain conjures throughout the series.

It all starts with a dark tone as the monster kills a little boy by severing his hand and leaving him to bleed out in the rain. The theme grows darker, although the humor of the teenage drama lightens the mood a little bit.

The idea of a villain that appears as one’s darkest fear and kills in the most painful way imaginable haunts the audience even before they finish the series. Innocents are also at the heart of the plot, which increases the emotional impact of the horror, hence the film’s enduring popularity.

Misery is another Stephen King book adaptation that has since become a fan-favorite classic. The movie features a limited cast but a rich, dark storyline with heavy action from the start to the end. It follows Paul Sheldon (James Caan), a struggling writer who crashes his car during a blizzard only to be rescued by an obsessed fan who imprisons him when she learns that he is planning to kill off her favorite character.

The obsessed fan, Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), is soon revealed as a deranged killer-nurse with a disturbingly dark past. Bates delivers an Oscar-worthy performance in Misery, turning Annie into a complex and terrifying character.

The location is claustrophobic and feels haunted, complementing the film’s intensity. Since this film adheres closely to King’s original idea, it delivers a more authentic storyline. Its desolate wintery setting magnifies Sheldon’s helplessness, supporting his victim arch. Annie, the villain, on the other hand, gradually disintegrates into her darkest personality, which also increases the impact of her personality.

Scream is set in the fictional town of Woodsboro, California, where a mysterious serial killer (Ghostface), obsessed with horror films, starts terrorizing innocent people. Written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven, Scream set the stage for the new age of horror. It employs eccentric tactics to impress and still distress, poking jabs at the genre while utilizing the trending public views about violence in horror movies to build the plot. The balance between comedy and gore forms an entertaining watch.

The film also features career-defining performances by David Arquette, Neve Campbell, and Courtney Cox, who bring life to every scene.It was released at a critical transition period for horror films, touching on the very subjects that the MPAA was cracking down on.

After the creators barely managed to get it R-rated, the film shocked the industry as horror fans flocked to cinemas to watch it despite heavy criticism for extreme violence. Its simplistic approach to horror also helped its popularity as the film set a new high standard for slashers. It keeps viewers on edge with sharp twists and jump scares without drifting from key storylines.

Conclusion

Despite being a transitional period, the 90s proved to be a transformative decade for horror films that saw genre-defining masterpieces like Jacob’s Ladder and Scream come to life. Deep psychological horrors became a mainstay in the industry, with a more gripping horror impact than their predecessors. While some of the decade’s best horror films were not instant successes, audiences have come to appreciate them over the years, and these ten rank among the 90s’most rewatchable horror films.

Written by Billy Oduory