This was Guillermo del Toro’s first feature film, and you can already see the themes and visual styles he’d explore later in his career. The movie puts a twist on the usual vampire trope with its focus on body horror and dark fantasy. 

Interview With the Vampire (1994)

Interview With the Vampire’s story, based on Anne Rice’s book of the same name, spans centuries, and follows Louis (Brad Pitt) as he recounts his life as a vampire to a reporter. During all of this, he also grapples with the loneliness that comes with immortality.

The story is framed as Louis reflecting on his time as a vampire alongside Lestat. Casting Tom Cruise as Lestat was controversial at that time, but he played the character so well: someone charming but also cruel, and someone who enjoys the power that comes with being a vampire. To this day, the film looks great, including scenes of candlelit rooms and detailed costumes.

The Addiction (1995)

The Addiction is one of those films that doesn’t really care if you’re enjoying yourself; it’s about as far from a popcorn horror flick as you can get. It’s a gritty, black-and-white movie that uses vampirism as a metaphor for drug addiction.

The story follows Kathleen (Lili Taylor), a philosophy student who becomes a vampire after an attack. But instead of turning into a traditional horror narrative, the film focuses heavily on ideas about morality and, as the title suggests, addiction.

Scream (1996)

By the mid-‘90s, slasher movies were kind of running on fumes. The movies in A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th franchises weren’t as good anymore. The formulas became predictable and audiences were starting to lose interest. Then, Scream came out and tried something different. 

The basic setup is familiar enough, with a masked killer who targets a group of teenagers. But what makes it work is how self-aware the film is of its own genre, with plenty of meta commentary. 

The opening sequence with Drew Barrymore’s character is also perfect at subverting expectations. By killing off the biggest star so early on, the movie lets you know that nobody is safe.

Event Horizon (1997)

Event Horizon is like a haunted house story set in space. The film follows a rescue crew sent to investigate a spaceship that disappeared years earlier and has suddenly reappeared. Once they board it, though, things start to feel off. 

The design of the ship plays a huge role in that. It’s industrial and almost gothic. Sam Neill’s performance is worth mentioning, too. His character starts out calm and logical, but as things progress, you can see him spiral out. 

Ringu (1998)

Ringu is a good example of how less can actually be more when it comes to horror. It doesn’t rely on jump scares or graphic imagery but rather focuses on a sense of dread. The premise is focused on people watching a videotape that kills you seven days after you watch it. 

But the way the film handles that idea is what makes it effective. The film focuses more on atmosphere than plot explanation. It doesn’t feel the need to spell everything out.

American viewers might be most familiar with the well-made 2002 remake, The Ring, but the original is still a tier above it. 

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Closing out the decade was a horror movie with one of the best marketing campaigns ever. The Blair Witch Project follows three filmmakers who disappeared in the woods while filming a documentary about a local legend.

The found-footage style felt so real that many people actually believed it was a true story. The dialogue also feels real, and the performances don’t feel scripted. A lot of it can be attributed to its low budget in the range of $200,000-$500,000, from which it went on to gross almost $250 million worldwide. 

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