The 10 Best Horror Movies Of The 2000s, According To Letterboxd

Horror movies tried interesting things in the 2000s from plenty of vampire stories to rejuvenating the zombie genre. Letterboxd users picked the best.

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For the most part, the horror movie genre was in a pretty strange place during the 2000s. Gone was the heyday of the slasher franchises from the ’80s and even the resurgence of it thanks to 1996’s Scream had faded by the time the decade hit. So, filmmakers had to get creative with their releases.

The 2000s saw horror movies try things like new spins on the zombie genre, fresh attempts at supernatural tales, and focus on the rise in popularity of vampires. That led to a string of great horror flicks that might not all be iconic but they scored impressively on Letterboxd.

10 Noroi: The Curse (2005) – 3.68

Stream On AMC+ & Shudder

A lot of the best horror movies from the 2000s (or actually any genre from any era) come from outside of the United States. Noroi: The Curse is a Japanese horror film that was met with widespread acclaim and works as something of a pseudo-documentary.

The plot follows a paranormal researcher investigating incidents (for his own documentary) that end up being connected by an ancient demon. The found footage aspects mixed with the documentary-style format and the scares made this a great horror movie. Most reviewers have it at four stars (29%).

9 Thirst (2009) – 3.68

Rent On Apple TV

As noted, vampires were all the rage during the 2000s. Whether it was through popular TV shows like The Vampire Diaries or hit movie franchises like Twilight, bloodsuckers were everywhere. A film to capitalize on the craze was Thirst, directed by the iconic Park Chan-wook.

Loosely based on a novel of the same name, Thirst follows a priest who gets turned into a vampire due to a medical procedure gone awry. His new bloodlust also leads him down a romantic path with his childhood friend’s wife. Most reviews on Letterboxd gave it four stars (34%).

8 The Others (2001) – 3.69

Not Available To Stream

One of the more commercially successful and known horror films to score this highly on the website is The Others. Starring Nicole Kidman, this was one of the biggest hit horror flicks of the decade, grossing over $200 million at the box office, while also being nominated for major awards at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs.

The Others centers on a religious woman who lives with her two photosensitive children in an old home they begin to believe is haunted. While the premise isn’t all that original, the screenplay delivers sharp twists and the performances from the cast are great. Four stars (33%) is the most common score.

7 28 Days Later (2002) – 3.72

Stream On HBO Max & Max Go

The zombie subgenre had kind of become stale and forgotten by the time the 2000s arrived. A few films helped to rejuvenate interest in zombies and it ended up becoming a popular one during the 2010s due to it. One of those movies was 28 Days Later.

This British film sees a deadly virus unleashed on the world and a group of survivors have to deal with the new harrowing changes in their world. Though director Danny Boyle doesn’t consider it a zombie movie, the fast-moving infected people helped revitalize the genre. Most reviews gave it four stars (34%).

6 The Host (2006) – 3.72

Stream On Amazon Prime, Hulu, Hoopla, Tubi, Vudu, Crackle, & Kanopy

Thanks to his incredible work as the writer and director of Parasite, Bong Joon-ho has become a household name and many who first saw him there have been seeking out his previous films. One of the best-reviewed of the bunch is The Host.

This South Korean monster movie has a squid-like creature at the center of the story but the heart of the film comes from the father who attempts to rescue his daughter from its clutches. The Host landed on several year-end lists for the best movies of the year and it received four stars (35%) quite often.

5 Noriko’s Dinner Table (2005) – 3.76

Rent On Amazon Prime

Returning to Japan for a psychological horror movie, there’s 2005’s Noriko’s Dinner Table. Written and directed by Sion Sono, this is actually the sequel to the cult classic Suicide Club. This iteration takes place before, during, and after the events of that film to answer some questions.

It focuses on Noriko Shimabara, a girl who runs away from her family and joins a cult that results in the mass suicide of 54 schoolgirls in Suicide Club. Most users have this at four stars (28%) and it makes sense because this harrowing but gripping story will captivate almost anyone.

4 Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000) – 3.79

Not Available To Stream

Too often do moviegoers ignore animated films, sometimes believing they’re only meant for children. Those who gave Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust a chance were pleased about it as this ended up as the only animated movie to rank among the best from the decade.

Based on the third entry in a series of novels, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust sees several characters, including multiple hunters, attempt to rescue a woman from the vampire who abducted her. The film received praise for the adventure story and the animation style, with most reviews giving it four stars (31%).

3 The Devil’s Backbone (2001) – 3.80

Rent On Apple TV

Another foreign language film, this Mexican picture actually takes place in 1939 during the Spanish Civil War. It focuses on Carlos who arrives at the Santa Lucia orphanage and must contend with the evil forces that seem to be out for revenge.

While the film may not sound all that familiar to most audiences, like The Host it is made by a highly accomplished director. Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro directed and co-wrote this. It’s not his most popular movie but it is one that received some of the best reviews. In fact, it got four stars (37%) a lot.

2 American Psycho (2000) – 3.92

Stream On Showtime

Although Christian Bale has been an impressive actor for his entire career, it was American Psycho that truly worked as his breakout performance. In it, he portrays Patrick Bateman, a yuppie New York banker who goes on a violent killing spree against co-workers, sex workers, homeless people, and more.

Based on a novel of the same name, American Psycho became a cult hit that helped launch Bale into superstardom. Mary Harron’s work as director was lauded, it felt faithful to the source material, and has become iconic. Most Letterboxd users consider this a four-star (35%) film.

1 Let The Right One In (2008) – 4.01

Stream On Amazon Prime, Hulu, Roku, Hoopla, Tubi, & Kanopy

The highest-rated horror film of the decade comes from Sweden. Let the Right One In is yet another vampire tale arriving just around the start of the height of the popularity of the creatures. Based on a novel of the same name, the movie is set in Stockholm in 1982.

It tells the story of a lonely bullied kid who befriends the girl he lives next door to only to discover that she is a vampire. There are certainly horror elements in this film but it mostly shines as a coming-of-age tale about two friends in unique circumstances. Most reviewers also gave this four stars (36%).

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/best-horror-films-2000s-letterboxd/