1.Get Out
Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford
Get Out (2017), directed by Jordan Peele, follows Chris, an African American man, who visits his white girlfriend Rose’s family estate. Initially, he notices unsettling behavior from the servants and guests, but soon uncovers a terrifying secret. The family has been using a mind-altering procedure to transplant white consciousness into black bodies. As Chris uncovers the horrific truth, he must fight for his life and escape the sinister plot. The film explores racism, exploitation, and identity.
2.IT
Director: Andy Muschietti
Stars: Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Lieberher, Finn Wolfhard
IT (2017) is a horror film based on Stephen King’s novel. Set in the 1980s, a group of misfit kids, known as “The Losers’ Club,” confronts a terrifying entity that preys on children in the small town of Derry, Maine. The creature, taking the form of a malevolent clown named Pennywise, feeds on their fear. As they uncover dark secrets, they must confront both their personal traumas and the supernatural force to end the terror.
3.Split
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Stars: James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Haley Lu Richardson
Split (2017) is a psychological thriller directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The film follows Kevin, a man with dissociative identity disorder, who kidnaps three teenage girls. As they try to escape, they discover Kevin has 23 distinct personalities, ranging from harmless to violent. The girls must navigate his dangerous psyche while confronting a darker, more powerful personality known as “The Beast.” The film explores trauma, identity, and the power of the mind.
4.Annabelle: Creation
Director: David F. Sandberg
Stars: Stephanie Sigman, Miranda Otto, Lulu Wilson
Annabelle: Creation (2017) is a horror prequel to Annabelle. It tells the story of a dollmaker and his wife, who, after the tragic death of their daughter, open their home to a group of orphaned girls. Soon, the girls become the target of a malevolent spirit that possesses a doll created by the dollmaker, leading to terrifying events. The film explores the origins of the cursed Annabelle doll.
5.Happy Death Day
Director: Christopher Landon
Stars: Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, Ruby Modine
Happy Death Day (2017) follows Tree Gelbman, a college student who is murdered on her birthday, only to wake up and relive the day repeatedly. Each time she dies, the cycle restarts. As she tries to identify her killer, Tree discovers personal growth and confronts her past, ultimately using the loop to her advantage. The film blends horror, mystery, and dark comedy with a time-loop twist.
6.Gerald’s Game
Director: Mike Flanagan
Stars: Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, Chiara Aurelia
Gerald’s Game (2017) is a psychological horror film based on Stephen King’s novel. The story follows Jessie, who is handcuffed to a bed in a remote cabin after her husband, Gerald, dies unexpectedly during a sexual game. Trapped and isolated, Jessie must confront her past trauma, fight for survival, and deal with psychological and supernatural horrors as she struggles to escape. The film explores themes of isolation, fear, and empowerment.
7.The Devil’s Candy
Director: Sean Byrne
Stars: Ethan Embry, Shiri Appleby, Pruitt Taylor Vince
The Devil’s Candy (2017) is a horror thriller about Jesse, an artist who moves with his family into a remote Texas home. As he becomes consumed by dark, violent visions, he discovers the house’s sinister past and its connection to a former resident, Ray, who was driven to madness by demonic forces. As the family’s lives spiral into danger, Jesse must confront the evil threatening them all. It’s a chilling exploration of art, possession, and madness.
8.The Ritual
Director: David Bruckner
Stars: Rafe Spall, Arsher Ali, Robert James-Collier
The Ritual (2017) follows four friends—Phil, Luke, Dom, and Hutch—who go on a hiking trip in the Swedish wilderness to honor a late friend. After an accident forces them off the path, they find themselves in a mysterious forest where they encounter disturbing signs of an ancient pagan cult. As they struggle to survive, they must face terrifying creatures and confront the dark forces lurking in the woods.
9.Life
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds
Life (2017) is a sci-fi horror film set aboard the International Space Station. A crew of astronauts discovers a rapidly evolving alien life form on Mars, which they bring aboard for study. However, the organism, dubbed “Calvin,” becomes increasingly hostile and intelligent, putting the crew’s lives in jeopardy. As the alien grows more dangerous, they must fight to survive in a tense battle against an unstoppable force.
10.The Bye Bye Man
Director: Stacy Title
Stars: Douglas Smith, Lucien Laviscount, Cressida Bonas
The Bye Bye Man (2017) is a supernatural horror film about three college students who unknowingly unleash a malevolent entity after discovering its name, “The Bye Bye Man.” This entity preys on those who say or think its name, leading to terrifying hallucinations and violent deaths. As the students struggle to break the curse, they must avoid speaking or even thinking about the creature to survive.
11.Flatliners
Director: Niels Arden Oplev
Stars: Ellen Page, Diego Luna, Nina Dobrev
Flatliners (2017) follows a group of medical students who experiment with near-death experiences, attempting to explore the afterlife by intentionally stopping their hearts. Each of them faces disturbing consequences as their past sins and suppressed guilt manifest in terrifying ways. As they push the limits of life and death, they must confront the psychological and moral consequences of their actions to survive the haunting repercussions.
12.Jigsaw
Director: Michael Spierig & Peter Spierig
Stars: Matt Passmore, Tobin Bell, Callum Keith Rennie
In Jigsaw (2017), a decade after the death of serial killer John Kramer, new murders mimic his infamous traps. Five individuals—each with dark secrets—find themselves chained in a barn, forced to confront their past sins through gruesome challenges. As they struggle to escape, detectives investigate the possibility of a Jigsaw copycat. The film intertwines present-day events with flashbacks revealing Kramer’s earlier games, ultimately leading to a shocking twist about the true identity of the killer. The narrative explores themes of guilt and redemption while maintaining the franchise’s signature horror elements.
13.The Babysitter
Director: McG
Stars: Judah Lewis, Samara Weaving, Leslie Bibb
The Babysitter (2017) is a horror-comedy film directed by McG, centering on 12-year-old Cole, who discovers that his babysitter, Bee, is the leader of a satanic cult. After his parents leave for the night, Cole stays awake to spy on Bee and her friends, only to witness a shocking ritual involving murder. As the cult members attempt to silence him, Cole must use his wits and newfound courage to survive the night. The film blends humor with horror as it explores themes of adolescence and self-empowerment, culminating in a dramatic showdown between Cole and Bee.
14.Mom and Dad
Director: Brian Taylor
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Selma Blair, Anne Winters
In Mom and Dad (2017), a suburban family’s dynamics are shattered when an inexplicable epidemic causes parents to turn violently against their children. The story follows the Ryans—teenager Carly, her younger brother Joshua, and their parents, Brent and Kendall. Amidst a wave of hysteria, parents across the nation begin to attack their offspring. As Carly and Joshua fight for survival, they navigate a chaotic landscape where trust is shattered. The film blends dark humor with horror, showcasing the extremes of familial relationships in a nightmarish scenario where love turns lethal.
15.XX
Director: Roxanne Benjamin & others (Anthology)
Stars: Natalie Brown, Jonathan Watton
XX is a 2017 American horror anthology film that showcases four distinct stories, each directed by a female filmmaker. The film features segments titled “The Box,” “The Birthday Party,” “Don’t Fall,” and “Her Only Living Son,” all of which explore themes of motherhood, fear, and the supernatural through a female lens.
16.Rings
Director: F. Javier Gutiérrez
Stars: Matilda Lutz, Alex Roe, Johnny Galecki
In Rings (2017), the horror franchise continues as college professor Gabriel discovers a cursed videotape linked to the vengeful spirit Samara. After watching the tape, he passes the curse to his students, including Holt and his girlfriend Julia. As they race against time to uncover Samara’s dark past and break the curse, they face terrifying visions and a deadly countdown. The film explores themes of sacrifice and the consequences of curiosity but ultimately falls into familiar horror clichés, lacking the suspense of its predecessors.
17.The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Stars: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan
In The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017), directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, cardiothoracic surgeon Steven Murphy befriends a troubled teenager, Martin Lang, whose father died during Steven’s surgery. Martin believes Steven must sacrifice a family member to balance the scales of justice for his father’s death. As Steven’s family suffers from mysterious ailments, including paralysis and starvation, he faces an impossible choice. Ultimately, in a desperate act, he randomly kills one of his children, highlighting themes of guilt and moral responsibility.
18.Veronica
Director: Paco Plaza
Stars: Sandra Escacena, Bruna González
In Veronica (2017), set in Madrid during a solar eclipse in 1991, a teenage girl named Veronica plays Ouija with friends to contact her deceased father. The session goes awry, summoning a malevolent spirit that begins tormenting her and her younger siblings, whom she must protect while their mother works long hours. As supernatural occurrences escalate, Veronica seeks help from a blind nun, but the dark force proves relentless, leading to tragic consequences. The film is inspired by real events involving a mysterious death linked to occult practices.
19.The Blackcoat’s Daughter
Director: Osgood Perkins
Stars: Emma Roberts, Kiernan Shipka
Set in a Catholic boarding school during winter break, The Blackcoat’s Daughter intertwines the stories of three young women. Kat (Kiernan Shipka) and Rose (Lucy Boynton) are left behind as their peers go home, with Kat haunted by visions of her parents’ death. Meanwhile, Joan (Emma Roberts), an escaped mental patient, is drawn to the school for dark reasons. As eerie events unfold, the film builds to a shocking climax where their fates converge, revealing themes of isolation and possession in a chilling narrative structure.
20.Terrified (Aterrados)
Director: Demián Rugna
Stars: Norberto Gonzalo, Maxi Ghione
Terrified (Aterrados) is a 2017 Argentine horror film directed by Demián Rugna. Set in a suburban neighborhood of Buenos Aires, it follows a series of chilling supernatural events that lead to unexplained deaths and disappearances. The story begins with Clara, who hears ominous voices from her kitchen sink, escalating to her horrifying death. As paranormal investigators and a police commissioner delve into the disturbances, they uncover a malevolent force linked to a child’s tragic death. The film is noted for its intense atmosphere and innovative horror elements.