Horror is perhaps the most adaptable—and brazen—genre of film. It constantly reimagines itself, drawing on our darkest terrors and distilling them into unforgettable narratives. From streaming’s indie darlings to cult favorites that set an entire generation’s pulses racing, horror has created dozens of unique tracks. And within each of these subgenres exists its personality, its kind of fright, and its mechanism for leaving us sleeping with the lights on.
Here’s a list of 13 horror subgenres that have defined the genre—and still thrill, unsettle, and surprise us.
1. Slasher
Slashers are horror’s adrenaline addicts. Masked murderers and high body counts have been the genre’s rule since the late ’70s, thanks to the likes of Halloween, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Scream. These movies bring suspense, creative kills, and the infamous “final girl” who frequently survives the bloodbath. Following a doldrums in the ’90s, Scream revitalized the genre, as clever script and sharp knife never became obsolete.
2. Demons & Possessions
Few things hit as hard as the fear of unseen forces. From The Exorcist to The Conjuring, this subgenre taps into the terror of losing control to a demon, ghost, or ancient curse. Whether you’re deeply spiritual or not, there’s something universally creepy about malevolent entities that haunt our homes and our souls.
3. Sci-Fi Horror
Outer space, rogue technology, or an unknown future—sci-fi horror injects terror into the world of science. Alien is the paradigm case here, fusing survival horror with interstellar isolation. This subgenre runs the gamut from body snatching (Invasion of the Body Snatchers) to A.I. malfunctioning (Ex Machina), obscuring the distinction between human and monster.
4. Found Footage
With its unsteady camera work and amateurish look, found footage horror establishes a creepy sense of realism. The Blair Witch Project ignited the phenomenon in 1999, and later came Paranormal Activity, which became a hit. These movies leave much to the imagination, which makes them all the more frightening, because what you can’t see tends to frighten you the most.
5. Horror Comedy
Screaming and laughter are an unexpectedly excellent combination. Horror comedies such as Shaun of the Dead, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, and Ready or Not capitalize on the ridiculousness of being scared. They allow us to unwind just long enough to get ambushed, making the jump scares even more successful.
6. Psychological Horror
Sometimes, the scariest monsters live in our minds. Psychological horror explores paranoia, obsession, guilt, and mental unraveling. Think Psycho, Black Swan, or The Babadook. These films linger because they reflect fears we can’t always explain, but feel.
7. Zombies
Whether slow or quick, mindless or deformed, zombies simply refuse to give up. Since Night of the Living Dead, this subgenre has blown up into everything from apocalyptic sagas (28 Days Later) to heart-wrenching gut-punches (Train to Busan). The Walking Dead brought zombies to television supremacy, showing us that there are still some living moments in the dead.
8. Folk Horror
Folk horror derives its strength from isolation, tradition, and ancient ritual. Tend to be set in rural villages or old-world cultures, and explore what occurs when nature, superstition, and belief systems come up against outsiders. More recently, hits such as Midsommar and The Witch went deep into this ancient fear, and the outcome is lovely.
9. Vampires
Vampires are never out of fashion. Seductive, wicked, and impossibly trendy, they have moved from time-honored monsters (Nosferatu) to tormented antiheroes (Let the Right One In) and renegade icons (The Lost Boys, True Blood). Romantic or frightening, vampires are for all time—literally and in film.
10. Torture Horror
Sometimes referred to as “torture porn,” this horror subgenre is concerned with explicit, extended agony—physical and psychological. Saw and Hostel made audiences gasp in shock during the 2000s with their violence and moral subtext. Though not suitable for all, these films respond to our deep-seated fears of survival, suffering, and helplessness.
11. Elevated Horror
Also referred to as arthouse horror, this subgenre incorporates style, symbolism, and emotional complexity. Consider Hereditary, The Witch, or Get Out—movies that delve into themes such as grief, trauma, identity, and society, and also provide stomach-churning frights. A24 has emerged as a hub for this type of horror, and filmmakers like Ari Aster and Robert Eggers are taking the genre into new, daring areas.
12. Monster Movies
Big, little, or in between, monsters are an integral part of horror. From Godzilla to Gremlins, monsters capture fears about things that are unknown, whether they’re metaphors for everyday problems or merely an excuse for creature-feature mayhem. There’s something eternal about standing eyeball-to-eyeball with something that shouldn’t be.
13. Body Horror
Body horror crawls under your skin—literally. Such films investigate what occurs when the human body becomes a vessel of self-destruction, mutates, or decays in horrific ways. David Cronenberg reigns supreme as master of the subgenre (The Fly, Videodrome), but recent offerings such as Raw and Possessor keep the flame burning. It’s not gore—it’s metamorphosis, frequently with a disturbing emotional center.
Due to streaming services and the continued popularity of everything horror, all of these subgenres are booming. Whether you prefer psychological suspense or splatter films, there’s something out there that will scratch your horror bug, and perhaps give you a nightmare or two in the process.