Gen Z refers to those adults out there who were born between 1997 and 2013 (some might argue 1996 to 2010). It’s a decent range, and the same could be said of thehorrorfilms released during that period of time.
So what defines Gen Z, outside its range in years? The growing importance of digital tech, difficulty gaining affordable housing, and what is finally an increasing level of worry about the climate crisis. In other words, these are things that the horror movies released in 1997 to 2013 avoided discussing…because why bring scary stuff from the real world into entertainment? Yet, still, these are the horror films that Gen Z’s grew up with…and at least the characters in them are safer than those of us real folks who have to contend with global warming.
20Scream 2 (1997)
Given the production troubles and script leaks, it’s truly amazing thatScream 2ended up being not only good, but great. Not one step is missed in either Wes Craven’s direction or Kevin Williamson’s screenwriting, and while it has a few moments that are lazier than anything in the first film (why would Sidney’s roommate, Hallie, walk away from a totaled car and stand just by a dumpster where the killer could, and does, jump from behind?).
But there’s far more good than lackluster. From Laurie Metcalf and Timothy Olyphant’s wonderfully unhinged antagonistic performances to the Gale-Ghostface audio room chase. Then there’s its further embrace ofScream’s meta nature, e.g. by having the opening scene literally take place at a movie theater where a particularly ill-fated couple is watching a film based on the “real-world events” that constituted the original Ghostface spree. It all could have been overwhelmingly self-aware, yetScream 2never is.
RELATED:Why Scream 2 Is the Best Horror Sequel Ever
19Event Horizon (1997)
One ofMortal KombatandResident Evil’s Paul W. S. Anderson’s earliest is still his best. In short,Event Horizonis one ofthe most terrifying sci-fi horror movies of the ’90s, and its cast is ridiculously stacked with actors perfectly tailored to their respective role.
The sci-fi horror film takes place aboard a spaceship, seeking out the distress signal of a similar vessel. But, after finding and boarding the missing vessel, they learn what the previous occupants learned (brutally): It’s less of a ship and more of an entryway to Hell.
18Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later (1998)
Steve Miner has always been an underrated director, but that’s bound to happen when your best work is in the Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees sagas. Specifically, Miner was heavily involved in the first film as producer before going on to directFriday the 13th Part 2andFriday the 13th Part III. Then, 16 years after he was done with Jason (and one year shy of the mixed bag that isLake Placid) he was hired to breathe new life into not only Jason’s cinematic cousin, Michael, but Michael’s main target, Laurie Strode, in the self-awareHalloween H20: Twenty Years Later.
Of course, Jamie Lee Curtis has since rebooted that character in David Gordon Green’s trilogy, but there’s asincere argument to be made thatH20Laurie feels more canon.H20also stands as quite possibly the best film to emulate Wes Craven’sScreamin the wake of that film’s success. It also has a pretty terrific cast, with Curtis, Adam Arkin, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, Michelle Williams, LL Cool J (who is hilarious in both this andDeep Blue Sea) and Josh Hartnett all bringing their A-game.
17Bride of Chucky (1998)
Ronny Yu (also the director ofFreddy vs. Jason) gave horror fans a delectable treat withBride of Chucky, a franchise film that’s only flaw is that it’s just too short. On one hand, that’s a testament to its entertainment value, yet on the other it indicates a film where all the pieces seemingly aren’t there. In other words,Bride of Chuckydid need some more room to breathe.
But the good outweighs the bad by a country mile. For one, the film’s self-aware tone works like a charm. Two, it gives the late John Ritter a pretty decent (if also short-lived) role. Three, it’s co-lead by a young Katherine Heigl, though she does seem as uncomfortable as she was inKnocked Up. But, mostly, there’sJennifer Tilly’s performance as Tiffany Valentine. It’s no small feat to be (arguably) as memorable as Brad Dourif’s Chucky, but Tilly sure knocks it out of the park.
16The Mummy (1999)
One year after directing the underrated Treat Williams-starring creature featureDeep Rising, he was helming his biggest success to date:The Mummy. One part rollercoaster ride and one part Universal Monsters throwback,The Mummyis also a sublime star vehicle for the particular talents in Brendan Fraser’s repertoire.
And the good news is that Gen Z (not to mention every other Gen) may have more time with Fraser’s Rick O’Connell coming down the line. Theactor has expressed interest in a return, and given the fact that his andThe Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’s Michelle Yeoh’s stars have never shown brighter, it’d be a legacy sequel worth making.
15Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Even over 20 years later,Deep Blue Seais a blast. The CGI effects, however, are sure to yank viewers out of the film.
But, when an action-horror film is as well-paced and well-directed (byCliffhanger’s Renny Harlin) asDeep Blue Sea, it’s impossible not to find oneself wrapped up in it more often than not. Furthermore, the practical effects utilized for many shark shots hold up, as do the performances from the all-star cast (the majority of whom, particularly Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Jane, and LL Cool J, seem to know exactly what movie they’re in).
14American Psycho (2000)
American Psychofeatures about as great a showcase for Christian Bale’s ability to command the screen as there is. His Patrick Bateman is one of the 2000s' best cinematic villains, with an icy demeanor and murderous thoughts.
Yet, by the movie’s end, doubt is cast whether Bateman ever acted on these murderous thoughts. In that lies the brilliance of Bret Easton Ellis' novel and Mary Harron’s film: They beg to be read and watched more than once, if even to just come to full terms with both Bateman and his story.
13Final Destination (2000)
This entry could start and end with “Stiffler’s in it” and that would be more than enough to cementFinal Destinationas a Gen Z-defining horror film. But it’s so much more, including one ofthe scariest movies of the 2000s.
The novel concept of it being literally Death that’s coming for the group of protagonists lends itself very well to the production of sequels. You can’t beat death, and even those who manage to do so in the first film either die in the second or in-between the first and second.
12Jeepers Creepers (2001)
While the person behindJeepers Creepersis a little too similar to that latter world in real life to be allowed to keep making movies, one must still give credit to the creativity shown in the Justin Long and Gina Philips-starring film.Jeepers Creepers 2isn’t half bad, either.
That said, the original film peaks in the drawn out first act, which features one of the more horrifying vehicle chase scenes there’s ever been. But it’s not as if the film plummets from there, considering it ends on a particularly startling note for Long’s character.
11Donnie Darko (2001)
Richard Kelly broke onto the scene in a big way with hisDonnie Darko, an intricate indie darling containing many horror elements (mostly revolving around the terrifying Frank the Bunny) that only got better with a director’s cut three years later. But hisSouthland TalesandThe Boxfailed to meet its critical reception by a country mile.
That said, it took people a while to really latch ontoDonnie Darko. Perhaps, had it not been a plane-related tragedy released one month after 9/11, it would have immediately brought Jake Gyllenhaal further into the public spotlight the wayOctober Skydid.
