{"id":5885,"date":"2026-04-29T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/?p=5885"},"modified":"2026-04-28T16:11:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T20:11:46","slug":"highlights-from-my-journey-watching-666-horror-films-the-last-decade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/2026\/04\/29\/highlights-from-my-journey-watching-666-horror-films-the-last-decade\/","title":{"rendered":"Highlights from My Journey Watching 666 Horror Films: The Last Decade"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"seriesmeta\">This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/series\/666\/\" class=\"series-69\" title=\"666\">666<\/a><\/div>\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">By Draven Copeland, Managing Editor<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s been a ride, but we\u2019re finally at the end: I\u2019m now covering the top hits for each category from the final entries on <a href=\"https:\/\/letterboxd.com\/bigspankin666\/list\/road-to-666-horror-films-and-beyond\/\">the long list of horror films I\u2019ve seen.<\/a> Having reached my goal of 666 horror films watched, I\u2019ve learned a lot about myself, my own fears, and which directors to look out for whenever something new is about to drop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As this entry in the series will be covering films released in the last decade, these are all picks you may remember coming out \u2013 I\u2019ll hopefully still have some films off the beaten path that you may not have heard of, so you can expand your horror horizons a little bit more. That\u2019s what I\u2019m here for!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019d like to thank you all for reading, and I\u2019d like to thank <em>Imaginary Gardens<\/em> for letting me do this little series of mine. It&#8217;s been fun looking back at the good, the bad, and the disturbing from my adventures watching the movies no kid should be allowed to watch. So, check out my highlights from the last decade of horror, and maybe try one out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Least Scary of the Bunch<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"719\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Velocipastor.jpg\" alt=\"Velocipastor\" class=\"wp-image-5863\" style=\"width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Velocipastor.jpg 719w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Velocipastor-351x500.jpg 351w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 719px) 100vw, 719px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This poster is actually pretty creative considering how extremely low the budget was; it&#8217;s cool to see this type of thing being made without AI. | Wild Eye Releasing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>The VelociPastor (2017)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I can\u2019t pretend this isn\u2019t one of my favorite movies of all time, and that\u2019s not even an exaggeration. To me, this is the perfect example of a B-movie horror comedy, made with only 1% of the budget for <em>Sharknado<\/em> \u2013 the low budget is clear from the very beginning, as a flaming car is portrayed as literally just the words \u201cVFX Car on Fire\u201d on the screen while the characters react as if they were actually seeing it. Following a pastor who gains the ability to turn into a velociraptor after being cut by the fossilized tooth of an ancient \u201cDragon Warrior\u201d on his trip to China, he teams up with a sex worker to defeat Christian ninjas attempting to smuggle cocaine into America.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s truly the most insane movie I\u2019ve ever seen, and a true testament to the genuine quality that can come out of indie \u201cno-budget\u201d filmmaking. Similar to 80s classic comedies like <em>Airplane! <\/em>and <em>The Naked Gun<\/em>, the film leans into the absolute ridiculousness of the plot and takes itself way too seriously, which makes for a hilariously enjoyable watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WillysWonderland-800x1200.jpg\" alt=\"WillysWonderland\" class=\"wp-image-5862\" style=\"width:681px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WillysWonderland-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WillysWonderland-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WillysWonderland-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WillysWonderland.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">You can definitely see the Five Nights at Freddy&#8217;s influence here, I just wish they&#8217;d been a little scarier. | Screen Media Films<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Willy\u2019s Wonderland (2021)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Starring Nicholas Cage as a silent drifter who mysteriously breaks down near a <em>Five Nights at Freddy\u2019s<\/em>-esque children\u2019s pizzeria, Nic must work on cleaning up the run-down business in trade for his car repairs. Before he knows it \u2026 surprise! The animatronics come to life and try to kill him, and he fights back to violent effect, killing the evil machines before cleaning up their electronic corpses and getting back to work. Featuring gallons of oil for animatronic blood, an intensely sensual relationship between the drifter and the pinball machine in the break room, and a fantastic wordless performance by Cage, this is the <em>Five Nights<\/em> movie that the actual <em>Five Nights<\/em> movies should\u2019ve been.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I guess this could be considered scary if you\u2019re freaked out by animatronics \u2013 no shade at all if you are \u2013 but the comedic tone present throughout the film really waters down any genuine horror to be had here. It\u2019s still one of my favorite horror comedies of all time, and worlds better than any robotic-horror competition in the modern era, although I will shout out 2025\u2019s <em>Companion<\/em> in that department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Scariest Picks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SaintMaud-800x1200.jpg\" alt=\"SaintMaud\" class=\"wp-image-5861\" style=\"width:652px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SaintMaud-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SaintMaud-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SaintMaud-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SaintMaud.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Taken from one of my favorite shots in the entire film, I like how she fades into the white background. | A24<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Saint Maud (2019)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><\/em>Directed by Rose Glass in her feature film debut, the best way I can describe <em>Saint Maud <\/em>is it\u2019s like 2019\u2019s <em>Joker<\/em> if it were a psychological horror film following an insanely pious Christian nurse dealing with PTSD and extreme loneliness as she cares for a dying lesbian woman. As her mental health spirals, Maud begins to believe that God himself is within her and telling her to do increasingly disturbing things that culminate into a horrific final act.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What I love about this film is its knowledgeable exploration of religious ecstasy and psychosis, as we see everything from Maud\u2019s point of view throughout the film; while any viewer will understand the things she is doing are absolutely crazy, it&#8217;s fascinating to put yourself into her shoes and see how she justifies her actions with her beliefs. While this film isn\u2019t as visually horrifying as a lot of other horror films on my watched list, the concept is incredibly psychologically scary because of how realistically it portrays loneliness and PTSD combined with religious psychosis.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for other great religious horror films, I\u2019d highly recommend 2024\u2019s <em>Heretic <\/em>and 2019\u2019s <em>The Lodge<\/em>; they were both very close contenders for this spot in the article, I just had to give <em>Saint Maud <\/em>a shout-out above the rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Host-800x1200.jpg\" alt=\"Host\" class=\"wp-image-5860\" style=\"width:609px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Host-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Host-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Host-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Host.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">It&#8217;s hard to make a really cool poster for a movie that takes place entirely over a Zoom call, but this works well enough. | Shudder<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Host (2020)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><\/em>At only 56 minutes and filmed entirely over a Zoom call during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, this film is one of the scariest I\u2019ve ever seen \u2013 impressively so, considering the very basic plot and effects. Following a group of friends who choose to perform an online s\u00e9ance while they practice social distancing, they inadvertently summon a demon that haunts all of them through the call. Influenced by many of the films I\u2019ve mentioned in this series, including <em>The Blair Witch Project<\/em>, <em>Lake Mungo<\/em>, and <em>Ghostwatch<\/em>, the computer-camera filming style and focus on the characters\u2019 reactions more than the supernatural events themselves make for a very realistic and terrifying experience similar to those films.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Followed up by the honestly horrible <em>Dashcam<\/em> film in 2021, <em>Host<\/em> is supremely terrifying and an incredibly creative spin on the found-footage subgenre, bringing horror to the online livestream-chat world that we all lived in during 2020 and beyond. This is a great pick if you don\u2019t have much time but still want to be scared!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Skinamarink-800x1200.jpg\" alt=\"Skinamarink\" class=\"wp-image-5859\" style=\"width:644px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Skinamarink-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Skinamarink-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Skinamarink-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Skinamarink.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">I love the surrealism and the blue tone on this, the upside down shot and the eternally extending doorframe is genuinely freaky to me. | Shudder<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Skinamarink (2022)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inspired by the analog horror trend primarily perpetuated by YouTube shorts and other short-form social media videos, <em>Skinamarink<\/em> is an experimental film the likes of which I\u2019ve never seen. The very basic and abstract plot features a young boy and his sister who are inexplicably left home alone at night as the doors and windows to the outside world disappear and leave them trapped with a terrorizing, malevolent entity.&nbsp; Filmed from varying unnatural perspectives and never showing any character\u2019s face clearly, the film evokes childhood fear of the dark through grainy and unconventional cinematography that keeps you from ever knowing what\u2019s happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I will say, the viewing experience with this will vary, arguably more so than any film I\u2019ve mentioned thus far; at over an hour and a half and with very little onscreen action or discernible dialogue, <em>Skinamarink<\/em> can be <em>very<\/em> boring if the slow-surreal vibes don\u2019t work for you. If you really like experimentalism in film or the analog horror vibes popular on social media, I\u2019d definitely recommend this one, but stay away if you\u2019re easily bored or don\u2019t like not knowing what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Most Disturbing to Watch<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Titane-800x1200.jpg\" alt=\"Titane\" class=\"wp-image-5858\" style=\"width:628px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Titane-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Titane-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Titane-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Titane.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The neon vibes on the poster are just a hint at the bright, multicolor cinematography that I love in this film. | NEON<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Titane (2021)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the best French body horror films of the modern era, <em>Titane<\/em> is easily one of the strangest LGBTQ+ films to come out of the post-French Extremity movement. The plot follows a mentally ill model, Alexia \u2013 who compulsively murders people and has sex with cars \u2013 as she navigates life hiding from her crimes and nurturing a growing half-human, half-car baby in her womb. Exploring themes of gender transition, found family, trauma, PTSD, loneliness, and paraphilia, the film tells a winding multi-thematic story that is surprisingly emotionally resonant in a lot of moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While I feel like it\u2019s not nearly as disturbing as other horror films I\u2019ve talked about in this category before, it definitely has moments of intense violence, oozing body parts, and deviant sexuality that aren\u2019t for the faint of heart. It\u2019s beautifully shot by the award-winning writer\/director Julia Ducournau, and is a great entry-level piece to New French Extremity, as it carries a lot of similar themes but isn\u2019t nearly as bothersome as defining films of the movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/CrimesoftheFuture-800x1200.jpg\" alt=\"Crimes of the Future\" class=\"wp-image-5857\" style=\"width:575px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/CrimesoftheFuture-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/CrimesoftheFuture-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/CrimesoftheFuture-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/CrimesoftheFuture.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">I feel like this film has the opportunity for way more interesting posters, but I also respect the studio not giving anything about the plot away. | NEON<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Crimes of the Future (2022)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><\/em>Written and directed by the creator of body horror in film, David Cronenberg, <em>Crimes of the Future<\/em> is a really difficult film to describe because it relies heavily on its commentary on the intersections between biological and social evolution, focusing on how advancements in surgical technology could change the way we live our lives. Starring Viggo Mortensen (popular as Aragorn from <em>The Lord of the Rings <\/em>films), L\u00e9a Seydoux (known for <em>Blue is the Warmest Color<\/em> and the recent James Bond films), and Kristen Stewart (from the <em>Twilight<\/em> Saga), the film is packed with incredible talent, and the award-winning makeup and practical effects are some of the best in the genre to date \u2013 they really are pretty impressively disgusting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following a performance artist who has the unique ability to grow new organs in his body and has made a profit by surgically removing these organs in front of audiences with the help of his stage partner, the film explores the meaning of art and the extreme sacrifices that artists make for the sake of their work. Of course, all of this is also tied into the evolutionary commentary, as surgery and sex become practically synonymous, governmental powers fight to eliminate those that evolve for the better, and doctors can\u2019t be trusted to keep one\u2019s evolutionary abilities a secret.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re a fan of Cronenberg\u2019s work or want to see body horror put to philosophical use, this is a great pick for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/InfinityPool-800x1200.jpg\" alt=\"InfinityPool\" class=\"wp-image-5856\" style=\"width:629px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/InfinityPool-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/InfinityPool-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/InfinityPool-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/InfinityPool.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">I would honestly say that this is the most evil character that Mia Goth has ever played, and you can see it in her eyes here &#8212; it&#8217;s a neat poster that doesn&#8217;t give anything away while still setting the vibe. | NEON<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Infinity Pool (2023)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The talent for creating the disturbing must run in the family, as Cronenberg\u2019s son, Brandon Cronenberg, wrote and directed this sci-fi-horror film only a year after his father returned to the horror genre. Like <em>Crimes of the Future<\/em>, <em>Infinity Pool<\/em> also uses the genre as a platform for philosophical exploration, this time following a vacationing novelist who is seduced into inadvertently joining a group of ultra-rich hedonists who found a new way to buy their way out of punishment for their crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The titular \u201cinfinity pool\u201d refers to a futuristic machine used to create clones, a process which the criminally condemned foreigners can pay for in order for their copies to suffer the death penalties they have accrued on their vacation. Exploring the horrific depths of depravity that the rich can buy their way out of, <em>Infinity Pool<\/em> is a very interesting, albeit increasingly hard to watch as the film goes on. While some might find it to be needlessly indulgent, I think the overindulgence is the message \u2013 and it\u2019s still not nearly as graphic as older films I\u2019ve talked about here before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Worst Ones<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TheMeanOne.jpg\" alt=\"The Mean One\" class=\"wp-image-5855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TheMeanOne.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TheMeanOne-333x500.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">I really loved seeing David Howard Thornton in this poster as the Grinch after breaking onto the horror scene with his portrayal of Art the Clown in the Terrifier films. | Atlas Film Distribution<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>The Mean One (2022)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dodging copyright lawsuits by never calling \u201cThe Mean One\u201d the Grinch and changing the name of the Christmas town to Newville instead of Whoville, I initially went into this film excited because David Howard Thornton was cast as the mean green slasher. Known for his role as Art the Clown in the incredibly successful <em>Terrifier<\/em> franchise, Thornton doesn\u2019t disappoint here; everything else does, however, and his role in the film was badly edited and surprisingly small, considering he plays the main antagonist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Set years after the Grinch murdered Cindy Lou\u2019s family on Christmas night, she returns to her hometown and is hunted down by the monstrous killer when her arrival lures him from his cave in the mountains. After CGI bloodfests ensue, the film ends with a video-game-like beat-down between the two, which is admittedly pretty funny to watch. While this is easily one of the worst films I\u2019ve ever seen in my life, it\u2019s still enjoyable enough to watch if you go into it with no expectations for anything coherently good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Crackcoon-800x1200.jpg\" alt=\"Crackcoon\" class=\"wp-image-5854\" style=\"width:617px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Crackcoon-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Crackcoon-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Crackcoon-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Crackcoon.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">What a wild yet simple poster. I love the blurry trash flying at the camera, it&#8217;s like CrackCoon himself is coming at me. | Fuzzy Monkey Films<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Crackcoon (2023)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a raccoon that goes on a killing frenzy when it ingests a fictional designer drug based on crack. What more could you really need from a movie?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the wildest B-movies out there, this is actually a fun watch \u2013 it\u2019s just horrendously badly-written and poorly-acted, which kind of adds to the charm. With decent practical blood effects and an adequately ridiculous plot, <em>Crackcoon<\/em> is more of an exercise in putting crazy shit to camera than it is any kind of coherent piece of art. I still liked it better than <em>Cocaine Bear<\/em>, though.<strong><br><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Most Underrated Ones<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Cam-800x1200.jpg\" alt=\"Cam\" class=\"wp-image-5853\" style=\"width:548px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Cam-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Cam-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Cam-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Cam.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">I love the body-horror editing on this one, unnaturally merging the two photos of Madeline Brewer&#8217;s face. | Netflix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Cam (2018)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Delving into the world of webcam modeling that still remains relatively unexplored in cinema to this day, <em>Cam<\/em> follows a camgirl who discovers her profile has been taken over by a terrifying d\u00f6ppelganger livestreaming increasingly disturbing content and gaining more followers than she had before. Along with surreal visuals and a twisting plot, the film discusses the extreme competition in the online adult modeling sphere and the lengths that performance artists in the profession will go to gain followers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similar to Darren Aronofsky\u2019s <em>Black Swan<\/em>, <em>Cam<\/em>\u2019s use of look-alikes to explore a shattered sense of self works as both a vehicle for creepy situations and psychological analysis. For me personally, the film\u2019s very realistic understanding of internet culture and those involved in both the watching and the performing of live pornography is what sets this movie apart from many films of all genres that have attempted to analyze such an ever-changing demographic. It\u2019s also plenty creepy and feels like a feature film version of a <em>Black Mirror <\/em>episode, so that\u2019s fun too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ButterflyKisses-800x1200.jpg\" alt=\"ButterflyKisses\" class=\"wp-image-5852\" style=\"width:593px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ButterflyKisses-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ButterflyKisses-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ButterflyKisses-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ButterflyKisses.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Considering the low budget for the film, this is a hella creative poster. I really like when human eyes are the focus of terror, and this is one of the best examples. | Gravitas Ventures<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Butterfly Kisses (2018)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This may actually be the most underrated film I\u2019ve ever seen. A meta-horror found footage\/mockumentary film, <em>Butterfly Kisses<\/em> follows a group of documentarians attempting to disprove a recently discovered set of tapes filmed by students claiming they had summoned a shadowy spirit named Peeping Tom. According to the students on the tapes, the spirit appears in the distance of the summoners\u2019 eyesight, coming closer and closer with every blink until they can feel his eyelashes against theirs, at which point he consumes them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s one of the best adaptations of an urban legend into a horror film, as the concept itself is terrifying enough, even while the film keeps the viewer on their toes as to whether the footage is real or not. The subtle jokes made towards those over-analyzing found footage movies are also hilarious, even including the director of <em>The Blair Witch Project<\/em> in a cameo featuring him talking shit about the student\u2019s films, calling them \u201cderivative\u201d of his film. The entire movie is free on YouTube and many streaming platforms, if you\u2019re into found footage frights, I\u2019d definitely recommend this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/HumanistVampire-800x1200.jpg\" alt=\"Humanist Vampire Poster\" class=\"wp-image-5851\" style=\"width:557px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/HumanistVampire-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/HumanistVampire-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/HumanistVampire-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/HumanistVampire.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">I love how the title just says everything in this poster. The pink coloring for the lettering is so cute even considering the depressing vibes of the plot. | H264<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person [original title: Vampire humaniste cherche suicidaire consentant] (2023)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of my personal favorites of all time, this French romantic horror-comedy drama is basically like if <em>Twilight<\/em> was well-written \u2013 I\u2019m so sorry, I love <em>Twilight<\/em>, but the writing is so terrible. The overlong title of this film is pretty much the plot: a young vampire girl doesn\u2019t feel comfortable killing humans for food, so she\u2019s looking for someone who wants to die so that her first time will be easier on her. When she finds a teenage boy who fits exactly the description she\u2019s looking for, she tries to enact her plan, but ends up catching feelings for him when they become close as she builds up the courage to kill him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a cute movie \u2013 not scary at all, but heavily underrated and a great date movie if you\u2019re looking for a teenage romance\/vampire vibe. What sets this one apart is its humanistic understanding of depression and loneliness, and its beautifully candid cinematography and fun take on vampirism in the modern world. Please do yourself a favor and check this one out, you won\u2019t be disappointed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Best Ones<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TheSubstance-800x1200.jpg\" alt=\"TheSubstance\" class=\"wp-image-5850\" style=\"width:533px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TheSubstance-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TheSubstance-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TheSubstance-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TheSubstance.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">I love this poster because it keeps the mysterious vibes of the film while hinting at the creepy body horror that goes absolutely crazy by the end. | Mubi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>The Substance (2024)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><\/em>If you had any amount of investment in the 2025 Academy Awards, you have certainly heard of this feminist body-horror masterpiece. Using the genre to explore the societal perception of female aging and the pitfalls of vanity in a system set up for eventual failure, writer\/director Coralie Fargeat continues to be the greatest contributor to feminist horror in the modern age. Starring Demi Moore in her return to the big screen, every part of this film is absolutely perfect; from the masterful cinematography and writing, to the Academy Award-winning makeup\/gore design, no part of <em>The Substance<\/em> isn\u2019t supremely intriguing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if you don\u2019t buy into the film\u2019s subtext, the creative creature designs and ultra-nasty visuals are some of the best of the modern age, combining the practicality from 80s classics with the storytelling and shot-framing popular in modern cinema today. If you like modern returns to the subgenre like <em>Crimes of the Future<\/em> and <em>Infinity Pool<\/em> that I mentioned earlier, this is easily the best there is right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MadS-800x1200.jpg\" alt=\"MadSPoster\" class=\"wp-image-5849\" style=\"width:577px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MadS-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MadS-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MadS-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MadS.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">I love how trippy this poster is, featuring multiple shots of the lead actress in various levels of zombie makeup overlaid onto each other. Really really cool! | Shudder<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>MadS (2024)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><\/em>This incredibly creative French film ties with 2007\u2019s <em>[REC]<\/em> for the title of my favorite zombie film of all time. Shot entirely in one 85-minute take, the combination of trippy drug-fueled aesthetics of films like 2018\u2019s <em>Climax<\/em> and the flesh-eating viral undead plague we all know and love works so well in this movie in ways I never would\u2019ve expected \u2013 especially considering the fact that it was quietly released as a Shudder original with no promotion at all. Following a young man trying out a new hallucinogenic drug and encountering an infected young woman on his drive back home, it\u2019s unclear until the final act whether the virus is real or just a figment of the man\u2019s anxiety-ridden trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With very unique effects, such as a subtle glow in the eyes of the infected, and tremendously performed infections that are made to look like someone violently tweaking out on drugs, the combination of hallucinogenic imagery and the fears of viral infection is so perfect, I don\u2019t know why it isn\u2019t explored more. Combine all of that with an impressively choreographed film-length single shot, the likes of which I\u2019ve never seen before, <em>MadS <\/em>is a cinematic experience that doesn\u2019t get nearly enough love.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Sinners-800x1200.jpg\" alt=\"SinnersPoster\" class=\"wp-image-5848\" style=\"width:577px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Sinners-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Sinners-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Sinners-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Sinners.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Although this poster is super tough in its own right, it still doesn&#8217;t scratch the surface of how incredibly amazing this movie is. | Warner Bros. Pictures<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Sinners (2025)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I mean, I had to include this one; there\u2019s no way I could talk about the best horror films of the last decade without mentioning the masterpiece that is Ryan Coogler\u2019s <em>Sinners<\/em>. Using costumes from Coogler\u2019s unrealized Marvel <em>Blade <\/em>film and starring longtime collaborator, Michael B. Jordan, this is not only one of the quintessential films in modern horror but a beautiful love letter to African American culture throughout time. I may be biased, as Coogler is in my top three directors of all time, but it\u2019s safe to say this is an immediate classic and will be a mainstay in popular culture for some time to come \u2013 if my word isn\u2019t enough, check out the record-breaking 16 nominations it received from the 2026 Academy Awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following two twin brothers who open a \u201cjuke joint\u201d for the local Black community deep in the Mississippi south of 1932, chaos quickly ensues when an Irish vampire lures partiers out into the night and turns them into undead monsters, one by one. Playing off themes of cultural appropriation, racism, and the unique spirituality of cultural music, this action-horror film subtextually touches on all of these topics and more, all while still being a fun watch for any horror fan out there. Please watch this if you somehow haven\u2019t already, it really is that good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, that\u2019s it, folks: the best of the best and the worst of the worst from my journey watching 666 horror movies. I hope I had a few on here that you might not have heard of, or gave a shout out to ones you\u2019ve been hoping would get one. There\u2019s so much more I could say about all of the films I\u2019ve covered and even more for ones that I haven\u2019t, such as the super-freaky demonic indie film <em>Traumatika<\/em>, the amazing stop-motion masterpiece <em>Mad God<\/em> (that was made over the course of 30 years by special effects legend, Phil Tippet), and the relatively unknown psychological thriller-horror <em>Watcher<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve read all the way through the series, thank you, and I hope everyone has a good time with these picks, as I certainly did. This is your sign to make stupid goals for yourselves; they could become the doorway to finding even more enjoyment in the things you love the most!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"seriesmeta\">This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/series\/666\/\" class=\"series-69\" title=\"666\">666<\/a><\/div><p>By Draven Copeland, Managing Editor It\u2019s been a ride, but we\u2019re finally at the end: I\u2019m now covering the top hits for each category from the final entries on the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5853,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"series":[69],"class_list":["post-5885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts","series-69"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5885"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5885\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5948,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5885\/revisions\/5948"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5885"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=5885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}