Attention, horror enthusiasts! If you’re on the hunt for some bone-chilling cinematic experiences to celebrate the spooky season, look no further. Here are five iconic horror films currently available on Amazon Prime:
The Ring (2002)
This American remake of the Japanese horror film Ringu became an instant classic, launching a wave of J-horror remakes.
Naomi Watts stars as Rachel, a journalist investigating a cursed videotape that kills anyone who watches it in 7 days.
With taut direction from Gore Verbinski and nightmarish imagery like Samara crawling out of a TV screen, The Ring delivers pulse-pounding terror. It cemented the image of the stringy-haired ghost girl as a modern horror icon.
Though light on gore, it seeps dread with its cold color palette and focus on psychological supernatural threats. The Ring proved slick Hollywood production values could be applied effectively to foreign horror concepts.
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
Legendary horror director Sam Raimi returned to his indie roots with this supernatural tale of a loan officer cursed by a vengeful gypsy.
Alison Lohman displays impressive range as the hapless Christine, experiencing increasingly brutal demonic attacks after denying the old woman an extension.
The clever script balances scares with dark humor, while Raimi indulges in his signature over-the-top shocks like a possessed goat attacking Justin Long.
It captures the director’s passion for campy B-movies, paying homage through clever camerawork and gooey practical effects.
Drag Me to Hell recaptured the fun spirit of 80s horror-comedies like Evil Dead 2 while upping the technical polish.
Hellraiser (1987)
Clive Barker made his directorial debut with this quintessential 80s horror flick based on his own novella The Hellbound Heart.
It introduced the Cenobites, extradimensional beings who subject humans to sadomasochistic horrors. Doug Bradley’s turn as Pinhead gave horror cinema a new fearsome villain, one who memorably chides his victims to “Taste our pleasures.”
The movie mixes gruesome practical effects by Bob Keen with Barker’s unique vision of hell as a realm of nightmarish sensory extremes.
Hellraiser reinvigorated the genre with its original concept, gonzo gore, and hints of eroticism that pushed boundaries.
The Fog (1980)
Master of horror John Carpenter directed this ghostly tale of a fog bearing vengeful spirits upon a seaside town. The moody cinematography envelops Antonio Bay in an eerie glowing mist, building tension as the glowing fog rolls in.
Moments like the resurrected lepers ghoulishly emerging from the fog cemented the film’s chilling imagery.
It also features haunting electronic music from Carpenter himself. While lighter on violence, it oozes atmosphere from its coastal setting, making it one of Carpenter’s most tightly focused films.
The Fog brought sophisticated craft to B-movie horror, launching a decade of fantastic Carpenter fright flicks.
Children of the Corn (1984)
This adaptation of Stephen King’s short story played upon fears of deadly children and religiosity gone wrong.
Set in rural Nebraska, a couple discovers a town where the children have killed all the adults after Isaac, a child preacher, convinced them to worship “He Who Walks Behind the Rows.”
The story tapped into the creepiness of secluded country towns and the inherent disturbiness of children rebelling against adult authority.
While very much an 80s B-movie, it featured truly shocking moments with convincingly natural child actors. It launched a franchise and became arguably the most iconic Stephen King adaptation of the decade.
