There’s been no shortage of quality horror films by talented directors this decade, so it’s a great time to be a horror fan! Even if you’ve never quite gotten into horror, there’s never been a better time than now! There are so many great ones to choose from, so we asked some of our favorite writers, podcasters, filmmakers, and artists to give us the films that scared them the most this decade!

Raw

Julia Ducournau’s Raw is the classic story of wanting to fit in at college all while discovering your intoxicating obsession with devouring human flesh. Hate when that happens. It’s a coming-of-age tale as much as it’s a macabre unraveling and it’s as smart as it is sick. It’s a wholly original tailspin into depravity with a brilliant final scene that’ll give you something to chew on long after it’s over. Cannibalism joke!

Aaron Chewning is a comedic writer/director/performer http://aaron.productions/

Tie: Sinister and Get Out

I'm going to have to cheat and choose two films for this one, because I simply can't decide. Both of these movies had me watching and re-watching, dissecting exactly what was so special about them. Sinister gets props for being one of the first films to genuinely scare me in years. The writing is tight, the concept unique and it has what I consider to be, arguably, one of the gutsiest third acts I've ever seen. It goes all out and does not stop. Get Out, on the other hand, managed to tap into something very real, timely and intense. It took us to a place that we didn't necessarily want to go and showed us things we may have wanted to ignore or look away from. And it did it all with grace. Jordan Peele has such an intensely unique voice and a mastery of the art of building suspense. It's a masterclass in making solid, intentional choices. I really enjoyed Us, as well, and can't wait to see what he does next. 

Dayna Noffke is a screenwriter and director from Atlanta. She is currently in development for her first feature film, GET CHINO!

It Follows

I grew up being scared of everything. EVERYTHING. It wasn't until around 2009 that everything changed, and I began to really get into film and thus, horror films. Since that time, I've really grown to love the genre, despite the multitude of frankly, bad movies out there. A smart, well-made horror movie is one of my absolute favorite things. Yes, I realize that's a weird/morbid thing to write, but it's so true. In 2015, one of those smart and well-made films was released. David Robert Mitchell's It Follows was one of the best theater experiences I've had in quite a while. With a distinct lack of jump scares, but an abundance of style and smarts, It Follows continues to be a film I'll suggest to absolutely anyone, and not just horror fans. All of its elements make it a great film. The music is full of haunting synths that create an atmosphere of dread, and the cinematography and camera movement are both unique and fully serve the story. It has never stopped being entertaining for me after multiple viewings, and I will highly suggest that YOU, dear reader, go out and watch this movie. At night, preferably. 

Colby McHugh is a writer who loves pop culture in all of its many mediums, who also would like to write comics one day. Any artists interested in talking ideas or just shooting the shit can email him at showandtellwords@gmail.com

One Cut Of The Dead

Wow. Wow. Wow! One of the smartest, most well-executed movies I’ve ever seen. Somehow Shin’ichiro Ueda and team were able to create an earnest, beautiful, meaningful, hilarious, super fun, brilliant horror-comedy in the long beaten dead horse of the zombie genre. I must admit, it’s not scary, but I’m willing to bet that by the end of the movie you won’t care that you weren’t scared. And I don’t even really like horror-comedies! See this movie!

 Jordan Noel is a director/editor/artist/dad/husband/ friend best known for not keeping his website, jordan-noel.com, up to date.

Cabin In The Woods

I am a huge horror fan, and have been my entire life. I’ve seen everything, which is one of the things I love about Cabin In The Woods. The movie KNOWS I’ve seen everything, and twists my preconceived notions of what should happen in a horror movie, while still honoring and acknowledging the mighty history of the genre. The movie is ostensibly about exactly what you’d think it would be about with that title—a group of kids spend the weekend at a cabin in the woods and scary things happen. I can’t really tell you more without spoiling the barrage unexpected twists and turns you’ll enjoy when you watch this film. The characters are memorable, the monsters are amazing, and the dialogue is snappy, and the plot is tight and smart. So good you’ll want to see it again to catch all the clever bits you missed the first time. Watch it!

Lynne Hansen is an Atlanta-based horror artist who specializes in book covers, and you can see her work at LynneHansenArt.com.

 Get Out 

Get Out was a film that revolutionized the horror genre and provided a thorough look into a delicate subject matter. On the surface it’s a movie about a young man who meets his girlfriend’s sadistic and unhinged family and must fight to survive. However, the movie dives deep with its messages, tones, Easter eggs, nods and winks to the audience. This was nothing short of genius. Peele’s mixture of horror and light comedy with in-depth commentary on race, history, relationships and culture made this one of the best social thrillers I’ve ever seen. I found no flaws with this film. And each time I sit down to give it another viewing, I find a new discovery and truth.

 Lisa Waring is a producer, screenwriter, director and owner of NXG Global Productions (www.nxgglobalproductions.com). She currently resides in South Florida with her husband and  five children.

 A Quiet Place 

There may be more macabre or horrific films of the last decade, but when it comes to “favorite”, not much can top John Krasinski’s family drama. Immediately arresting, genuinely exciting, and thoroughly engaging, it’s an inventive homage to popcorn thrillers past, scaring us as well as inspiring us, and genuinely leaving us all breathless for more. 

Nathan Rouse, occasional theater producer, frequent podcaster, father and husband, lives in Charlotte, NC, with his wife and 3 kids, foolishly hoping and hopefully foolish that all of our best days are still to come.

Black Swan

This has been an amazing decade for horror, especially for stories that walk the line between being both terrifying for audiences and critically acclaimed. There are so many I can list here, including The Babadook, It Follows, Get Out, Hereditary, The Witch (my runner-up pick) ...too many to cover here. When I think of movies that had a physical impact on me, though, I have to pick Black Swan as my favorite of the decade. I still remember the dying moments of the finale as I sat back and exhaled, not realizing I was sitting forward and holding my breath the entire time. It felt like the first warning shot of the decade which culminated in so much attention and so many awards for the genre. I look forward to what the upcoming decades will bring us when films like Black Swan and the others start influencing the next generation of storytellers.

Chuck Thomas is a screenwriter, producer, and podcaster in the Atlanta area. Check out his work at atlantascreenwriter.com, his production company hootyhooproductions.com, and his podcast Atlanta Film Chat at atlantafilmchat.com.

Happy Death Day

On its face, Happy Death Day shouldn't work. "It's Groundhog Day but with stabbing ..." sounds like something you'd read off the notepad you keep on the bedside table in case you get an idea in the middle of the night. In spite of all that, it's one of my favorite movies of the decade, genre be damned. It's a frothy affair anchored by one of the best lead performances from an actor I had never heard of in Jessica Rothe. If I could buy stock in a performer, I'd go broke betting on her. PG-13 horror is a tightrope, but Happy Death Day works because everyone involved knows precisely what film they're making and go all in on the silliness of the concept. It's fun, it's occasionally tense, and it's the kind of movie you can watch over and over and ... well, you get the drift.

Jacob York is a writer and actor from Benton, Kentucky who has lived in Atlanta for most of his professional career. @jkobbster on Twitter.