Horror is arguably the most versatile genre of movies. A good horror movie does what it can to elicit feelings of fear, shock or disgust from its audience. Whether it’s copious amounts of gore, jump scares or establishing a general aura of dread, there are countless methods by which horror movies can frighten their viewers. Effective horror movies attack the senses and play tricks on the mind.

In regards to horror, every decade has its fair share of standouts that adopted certain trends and stylings of the period. The 2010s was a particularly great decade for the genre; a healthy variety in the horror movies of the time kept things interesting, and independent horror efforts saw the breakouts of many talented filmmakers. From a decade chock-full of choices, these ten offerings are the most frighteningly effective horror movies of the 2010s. The ranking will be according to their overall quality and effectiveness as horror vehicles, taking into consideration how visceral and impactful their scaryness is.

1. ‘Sinister’ (2012)
2. ‘Hereditary’ (2018)
3. ‘The Babadook’ (2014)
4. ‘The Autopsy of Jane Doe’ (2016)
5. ‘Green Room’ (2016)
6. ‘It Follows’ (2014)
7. ‘Under the Skin’ (2013)
8. ‘Creep’ (2014)
9. ‘The Ritual’ (2017)
10. ‘The Conjuring’ (2013)