In this fast paced world of instant gratification it can be hard for a filmmaker to tell a story that takes a little longer to develop. This is especially true if a viewer is distracted by a cellphone or other device that diverts them from the TV screen. If you are one of those people you might be missing out on some good atmospheric horror films.
We have put together a list below of eight horror movies that aren’t energetic right out of the gate. Instead they take the time to develop their characters and build mood by way of cinematography or dialogue. For instance, Ti West’s The House of the Devil is a casually-paced supernatural gem. It’s not concerned with jump-scares or gotcha moments, instead it simmers on the surface while the terror brews below.
It is also a period piece set in the 1980s. West was meticulous in his set dressings and production design, so much so, you would swear this was made 40 years ago. The film, like most below, really starts to pick up in the third act and the payoff is jaw-dropping.
Don’t get us wrong, we love a good fast-paced James Wan horror movie or something from Radio Silence, but there is a different kind of gratification in making it to the end of Session 9, or the final moments in Mothman Prophecies when Richard Gere watches an entire bridge full of cars collapse thanks to a winged-cryptid.
You might be saying, “there are some films out there that are so sluggish I didn’t finish them out of boredom,” and you would be right, but the ones below don’t fall into that category. Choose one from the list, get some popcorn ready, turn off your phone, and just let the movie unfold. We promise when you reach the end you’ll be glad you took the chance.
You can find out where these movies are streaming at JustWatch.
Suspiria (2018)
A darkness swirls at the center of a world-renowned dance company, one that will engulf the artistic director, an ambitious young dancer, and a grieving psychotherapist. Some will succumb to the nightmare. Others will finally wake up.
The Boy (2016)
n American nanny is shocked that her new English family’s boy is actually a life-sized doll. After she violates a list of strict rules, disturbing events make her believe that the doll is really alive.
The House of the Devil (2009)
In 1983, financially struggling college student Samantha Hughes takes a strange babysitting job that coincides with a full lunar eclipse. She slowly realizes her clients harbor a terrifying secret, putting her life in mortal danger.
The Witch (2015)
An isolated Puritan family in 1630s New England comes unraveled by the forces of witchcraft and possession.
Session 9 (2001)
Tensions rise within an asbestos cleaning crew as they work in an abandoned mental hospital with a horrific past that seems to be coming back.
Willow Creek (2013)
A man and his girlfriend camp in the woods to capture firsthand evidence of Bigfoot.
Starry Eyes (2014)
A hopeful young starlet uncovers the ominous origins of the Hollywood elite and enters into a deadly agreement in exchange for fame and fortune.
The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
A reporter is drawn to a small West Virginia town to investigate a series of strange events, including psychic visions and the appearance of bizarre entities.
:quality(85):upscale()/2025/05/19/981/n/1922564/93076eb0682bb18c994e06.89379902_.png "What to Wear to Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball Tour")
:quality(85):upscale()/2025/05/23/715/n/1922564/1e63d6e168309df259d956.72331408_.png "21 Best Memorial Day Clothing Sales 2025")
){kind=link}