Welcome back, loyal subjects of the Palace of Horror! The spectre of 2019 hovers before us, a year that engraved its mark on the annals of horror cinema. From haunted homes to terrifying truths, 2019 tantalized our fears and fortified our love for all things petrifying. Join us, if you dare, as we traverse the spine-chilling realm of the top 25 horror films of 2019.
- “Midsommar” – Ari Aster returned with a daytime horror that delves into the heart of a mysterious Swedish cult during its midsummer celebrations.
- “Us” – Jordan Peele’s sophomore film is a surreal and thought-provoking horror about doppelgängers and society’s underbelly.
- “Doctor Sleep” – Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of Stephen King’s sequel to “The Shining” dives deep into the life of a grown-up Danny Torrance.
- “The Lighthouse” – Robert Eggers’ black-and-white psychological horror presents two lighthouse keepers spiraling into madness.
- “Parasite” – While not a traditional horror, Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning masterpiece weaves social commentary and tension into a unique, genre-defying narrative.
- “It Chapter Two” – The Losers Club returns to Derry as adults to confront the malevolent entity, Pennywise, in this concluding chapter.
- “Ready or Not” – A newlywed bride is thrust into a deadly game of hide-and-seek in this darkly comedic horror.
- “The Hole in the Ground” – A chilling Irish horror about a mother suspecting that her son has been replaced by a doppelgänger.
- “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” – Adapted from the beloved children’s book series, this film captures the essence of urban legends and terrifying tales.
- “The Platform” – A dystopian horror that critiques societal inequalities through a vertical prison system where food descends from top to bottom.
- “Crawl” – Alexandre Aja’s survival horror pits a young woman and her father against deadly alligators during a hurricane.
- “Color Out of Space” – Richard Stanley adapts H.P. Lovecraft, with Nicolas Cage at the forefront, facing a meteorite’s mind-bending effects.
- “In Fabric” – A surreal tale centered around a cursed dress that affects the lives of those who wear it.
- “Child’s Play” – The reboot of the classic slasher sees Chucky reimagined for the AI age.
- “The Nightingale” – Jennifer Kent’s brutal tale of revenge set against the backdrop of 19th-century Tasmania.
- “One Cut of the Dead” – This Japanese film cleverly blends zombie horror with a behind-the-scenes filmmaking comedy.
- “Little Monsters” – A delightful horror-comedy where a kindergarten teacher protects her class from a sudden zombie outbreak.
- “The Prodigy” – A disturbing tale of a mother who believes her young son’s unsettling behavior is linked to supernatural forces.
- “3 From Hell” – Rob Zombie returns to his Firefly family characters in this blood-soaked continuation.
- “The Perfection” – A twisting narrative centered around two cello prodigies and their unsettling journey into the dark side of musical excellence.
- “Haunt” – A group of friends encounters real-life horrors in an extreme haunted house attraction.
- “Ma” – Octavia Spencer delivers a chilling performance as a seemingly kind woman with sinister intentions.
- “Rabid” – The Soska Sisters’ reimagining of David Cronenberg’s body horror classic.
- “Zombieland: Double Tap” – The awaited sequel to the horror-comedy “Zombieland” brings back the original cast for more undead adventures.
- “Sweetheart” – A survival horror about a woman stranded on an island with a nightmarish creature from the depths.
The shadows of 2019 cast a dense, eerie mist over the cinematic world, revealing that horror remains a vibrant and ever-evolving genre. It played with our fears, whispered in our ears, and made sure we stayed entranced in the dim glow of the screen.
Journey with Palace of Horror as we continue to uncover the dark treasures that await. In the echoing silence of dread, remember, every scream has its echo. Keep listening.