The Nineties was very hit or miss with the horror genre, however the hits didn’t just hit; they smashed! What was your favourite horror film from the Nineties? Did it make our list?
We have done our best to avoid spoilers just in case you haven’t seen any of the following.
Halloween H20 (1998)
Written By: Robert Zappia, Matt Greenberg
Directed By: Steve Miner
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Josh Hartnett, Janet Leigh, Michelle Williams
20 years after escaping Michael Myers’ attacks, a PTSD ridden Laurie Strode has to take on Michael once again when he escapes his prison and seeks to finish what he started. The first reboot of this franchise latches onto the late 90s slasher hype, and I’m not even mad about it. This often underrated entry to the Halloween series brings back series favourite Laurie Strode, and has some great kills, but it does feature Michael Myers’ worst mask. Overall though, it’s fun, Halloween, slasher goodness.
The craft (1996)
Written By: Andrew Fleming, Peter Filardi
Directed By: Andrew Fleming
Starring: Fairuza Balk, Robin Tunney, Neve Campbell, Rachel True
When Sarah starts a new high school, she befriends three teenage girls who practice witchcraft. The four soon form a coven, but the consequences of their growing power end up being disastrous. I’m just gonna say it, there are not enough films about witches! But honestly, even if there were, they probably wouldn’t live up to this spellbinding flick anyway. Excellently casted, this film is like a chick flick for horror nerds like us. Although it showcases the dark places magic can take you, you will walk away from this wishing you could do magic!
the Blair witch project (1999)
Written By: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez
Directed By: Eduardo Sánchez, Daniel Myrick
Starring: Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, Michael C. Williams, Patricia DeCou
Three students head into the Maryland backwoods hoping to make a documentary covering the mystery behind the Blair Witch incidents. However, when they lose their map, things take an unexpected and sinister turn. This film is equally revered and reviled it seems, but there’s no denying it changed the way movies could be made as we entered a new century. With it’s use of an online marketing campaign, and popularising the found footage sub-genre, The Blair Witch Project paved the way for some of the best films we would later see in the 21st Century.
cube (1997)
Written By: André Bijelic, Graeme Manson, Vincenzo Natali
Directed By: Vincenzo Natali
Starring: Nicole De Boer, Maurice Dean Wint, David Hewlitt, Nicky Guadagni
A group of strangers awaken to find themselves imprisoned in a giant cube filled with deadly traps. They must use their individual skills to work together to find a way to escape. A must watch for any Saw fans out there! This film gives us great characterisation and storytelling, with a dolloping of gore just for fun.
the x files (1998)
Written By: Chris Carter
Directed By: Rob Bowman
Starring: Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, Mitch Pileggi, William B. Davis
Two FBI agents attempt to unravel a government conspiracy concerning the alien colonisation of Earth. A TV show so popular it warrants a film is rare; that film actually being any good is rarer. In this film we get to follow Mulder and Scully for an extended duration as they look deeper into the ongoing conspiracy storyline that runs throughout the series. I want to believe the truth is out there!
the mummy (1999)
Written By: Stephen Sommers
Directed By: Stephen Sommers
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, Arnold Vosloo, John Hannah
When an Adventurer, an Egyptologist, and some Archaeologists team up for an archaeological excavation of the lost city of Hamunaptra, they inadvertently awaken an evil mummy. Equal parts funny, terrifying, and romantic, and one of my absolute favourite films! Such a CGI reliant film from the 90’s wouldn’t normally hold up so well, but this film surprisingly does. Brendan Fraser was just born to play the role of Rick O’Connell, and John Hannah as Jonathan is amazing too! This film has a great story too; it could have easily become very cheesy, but they expertly mix in some comedy in order to make The Mummy actually frightening.
sleepy hollow (1999)
Written By: Andrew Kevin Walker
Directed By: Tim Burton
Starring: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Christopher Walken, Miranda Richardson
New York police detective, Ichabod Crane, is sent to the strange town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of murders seemingly committed by the town’s urban legend – the Headless Horseman. The beautiful Gothic aesthetic of this film is just one of the things I love about it. There’s also the excellent story, which is a mix of supernatural and whodunnit. All performances are also top notch, especially Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane.
bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Written By: James V. Hart
Directed By: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves, Anthony Hopkins
After losing the love of his life, Vlad Dracula swears to avenge her death. Many years later he travels to London to meet Mina, a woman he believes to be the reincarnation of his lost love. Based on the original novel by Bram Stoker, the classic vampire gets his best film yet with this one! Gary Oldman gives an excellent performance as the titular Dracula; with some equally excellent supporting performances by Anthony Hopkins and Richard E. Grant.
Seven (1995)
Written By: Andrew Kevin Walker
Directed By: David Fincher
Starring: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, Gwyneth Paltrow
Two detectives are tasked with apprehending a serial killer who is murdering people according to the seven deadly sins. More of a thriller than a horror, but the graphicness of the murders in this film are what make me class it as a horror. It’s good though, so who really cares what genre it falls under anyway?
scream (1996)
Written By: Kevin Williamson
Directed By: Wes Craven
Starring: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard
After the brutal murder of her schoolmates, Sidney begins to suspect her and her friends could be next, especially with the 1 year anniversary of her mother’s murder fast approaching. As she tries to find the killer, everyone seems to be a suspect. This meta slasher somehow mocks the genre’s tropes whilst also using every single one effectively. The opening is easily one of the best openings of horror film history – tense, gory, and full of fun horror trivia.
the Crow (1994)
Written By: David J Schow, John Shirley
Directed By: Alex Proyas
Starring: Brandon Lee, James O’Barr, Rochelle Davis, Michael Massee
After Eric Draven and his girlfriend are brutally murdered, he is resurrected back to life by a crow. The crow leads Eric to his killers, and he decides to get some much deserved revenge. Watching Brandon Lee’s excellent performance in this emotionally charged flick is bittersweet, but absolutely a must-see. If you somehow haven’t got round to watching this cult classic, what are you waiting for? I also highly recommend checking out the comic it’s based upon if you dig comics at all.
the sixth sense (1999)
Written By: M. Night Shyamalan
Directed By: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Haley Joel Osment, Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Donnie Wahlberg
A child psychologist starts to treat a troubled young boy who can communicate with the dead, together they attempt to help some unhappy spirits find peace. Arguably M. Night Shyamalan’s best work, this is one of those films you wish you could forget so that you enjoy the infamous twist for the first time all over again. Although I’ve re-watched it several times and it’s still enjoyable regardless.
the silence of the lambs (1991)
Written By: Ted Tally
Directed By: Jonathan Demme
Starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Ted Levine, Scott Glenn
A young FBI agent seeks helps from Hannibal Lecter, a psychiatrist turned cannibalistic serial killer, to find and apprehend another serial killer who has been claiming female victims. I like that this film gives us two brilliant bad guys – cause really, in a horror film, it’s all about the bad guy. Buffalo Bill is an interesting character who sadly does get a little overshadowed by Hopkins’ brilliant performance as the eerie Hannibal Lecter, but here at Dead In The Web, we love ’em both. Jodie Foster is also amazing in this film!
Dead In The Web 
The greatest horror movie of the nineties is without a doubt Tremors! It’s always on tv just like Shawshank Redemption and just like Shawshank Redemption, it is one of those movies that people always watch because it secretly is one of the most well written films.
I would also include 1992’s Candyman. It was a movie that didn’t get much praise mainly because it was made at the end of the slasher genre. So you can say it is poor timing on its part. I remember this movie being released the same year (and I think month) as Dr. Giggles. Both did poorly in theaters and both are awesome. Different… but great films. Candyman needs more recognition though.
LikeLike
I sadly haven’t seen those films 🙊 That’s why they’re not on the list, they are high on my list of horror films to watch though! Always great to hear other people’s opinions 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yea there are a good amount of 90s horror films that stand out. The Relic is a great monster film that has gone under the radar for so long. The 90s was kind of a difficult time for horror meaning it didnt know what to be. The 80s or the bronze age was full of so much character with the slasher films like Elm Street, creature features like Gremlins and Critters, supernatural films like Hellraiser and then scifi horror like Alien and The Thing. Just so much stuff and then it all kind of… stopped
LikeLike