Sometimes, the story behind a horror film can be just as enticing as the film itself. Horror documentaries often give us fascinating gateways into classic horror universes; they show us not just how, but why some of our favorite scary movies were made. This can go for classics, likePsychoandNight of the Living Dead, as well as for more obscure horror efforts. Many of these documentaries even take a step back to reflect on the evolution of the genre itself, or the legacy of particular horror actors. For example, just last yearsaw the release ofBoris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster, examining the legend who played Frankenstein’s creation.
A few examples of some particularlynotable horror documentariesincludeRoom 237, In Search of Darkness, The American Scream,andNever Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy.However, while there is a large pool of great horror docs out there, there is also an infinite source of horror films we believe still deserve documentaries made about them. Here are some of our picks.
8The Cabin In The Woods (2012)
Drew Goddard’s 2012 horror-comedy film certainly leaves viewers with as many questions as it answers.The Cabin In the Woodsfollows a group of college students as they “vacation” in the forest and proceed to be picked off one-by-one by various monsters. Despite this generic-sounding plot, Goddard’s film is anything but. The film’s ending is truly one for the books, and throughout the entirety of the picture, Goddard perfectly blends elements of slasher gore, campy atmosphere, and meta-commentary to craft a unique and visually dazzling work. A documentary on the film could go in any number of directions, perhaps focusing on how the film was inspired byGoddard’s own hometownof Los Alamos, or how the vast assortment of monsters were designed throughout the film. Any approach would be equally worth the watch.
7Carrie (1976)
Brian de Palma’s Stephen King adaptation has been remade andturned into a mini-seriesover the years, but it’s the original film that remains a true horror classic. Starring Sissy Spacek as an extremely sheltered teenager with telekinetic abilities,Carriewas the first film to put a horror twist on the high school outcast trope. It captures the utter cruelty of the high school experience with a haunting, beautiful element of supernatural surrealism.Carriewas also the first of Stephen King’s novels to be put to screen, and he has also said that heprefers the film’s ending to his own.A documentary on the film could analyzeCarrie’simportant role within the Stephen King canon, but also how the film served as a gateway, both stylistically and thematically, for other high-school horror films to follow it.
Related:Sissy Spacek and J.K. Simmons Carry a Big Secret in Prime Video’s Night Sky Trailer
6House (1977)
Househas undoubtedly become one of the mosticonic foreign horrorfilms of all time. The 1977 Japanese acid trip follows a group of seven teenage girls on a journey to a relative’s mansion, only to soon discover that the house is haunted. “Haunted” is perhaps an understatement - the country abode is literally alive. In Obayashi’s bizarre universe, pianos and light fixtures are out to eat the girls, and bodies stay trapped in grandfather clocks. Obviously,Houseis no ordinary horror feature. It paved the way for all experimental and comedy horror to come, most notably, Sam Raimi’s classicEvil Dead II,which was directly inspired by it. A documentary onHousecould focus on a number of things, from its mesmerizing visual style, to its cultural influence, to its historical relevance (director Nobuhiko Obayashi has said that the film was heavily inspired by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki).
5The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Twenty years after its initial release, andThe Blair Witch Projectstill continues to be one of thescariest movies of all time.It is also one of the most successful independent films ever made, grossing $250 million worldwide and having been adapted into two sequels (withanother rebootapparently in the works). The film is known for having revolutionized the found-footage technique, having been shot entirely by the cast on handheld cameras. It also revolutionized internet marketing with its own website, well before the internet could be found in every American home. A short TV movie titledCurse of Blair Witchwas released in 1999, but the mockumentary was only a performed exploration of the events that took place in the film. A documentary about the actual filmmakers ofThe Blair Witch Projectand its brilliant conception still awaits us.
4The Ring (2002)
Based on the 1998 Japanese horror film of the same name,The Ring’sinfamous lore has perhaps become as notorious as the film itself. The movie famously follows a journalist investigating an urban legend - the case of a tape that apparently kills those who watch it after seven days.The Ringis remembered for this very original concept as well as its eerie aesthetics and the unforgettable icon of “Samara” (pictured above). It also paved the way for English-language remakes of other Asian horror films, such asThe Grudge, Dark Water, andThe Eye. ARingdocumentary could focus on how its lore has achieved such legendary status, but also how the film fits into and changed the global horror landscape.
3Candyman (1992)
Don’t say his name. Bernard Rose’sCandymanfollows a Chicago graduate student exploring the eponymous urban legend, to soon find herself being stalked by the knife-wielding figure. Although the film never reached mainstream horror audiences, having only grossed $25 million at the US box office,Candymanhas become a horror classic among film circles. A reboot directed by Nia DaCosta and co-written by Jordan Peelewas released just last year,putting a modern spin on the film’s timeless mythology. The film also features a haunting score by Philip Glass, which the composer claims he still makes money from to this day. The legend of Candyman now seems more relevant than ever, and it’s hard to imagine any hits likeGet OutorUShaving been made without its direct inspiration.
2Black Christmas (1974)
Searching for something a bit darker to follow-upElfon Christmas Eve? Look no further than Bob Clark’s classic holiday slasher,Black Christmas. The 1974 film follows a group of sorority sisters who receive threatening phone calls around Christmastime and are stalked by a not-so-jolly killer. The Canadian cult-classic was inspired by real-life events and is known today as one of the earliest slasher films to date, having influenced such films as John Carpenter’sHalloween. An analysis into how it’s affected the slasher and holiday canon - simultaneously - would be deeply interesting to watch.
Related:They/Them Trailer Unleashes a Slasher on a Conversion Camp Led by Kevin Bacon
1Hereditary (2018)
Ari Aster’s directorial debutHereditaryshocked and chilled audiences everywhere - both for its general story and for “that” scene. The film stars Alex Wolff, Toni Collette, and Gabriel Byrne as a family who find themselves haunted by a supernatural presence following the death of their grandmother.Hereditarywas not only one of the most frightening horror feats for its audience members, but for those who made the film, as well -Alex Wolff saidthat it “did as much damage to me as a movie can do.“Hereditaryis now A24’s second highest-grossing film worldwide. With its staggering popularity and impact on the horror genre at large, as well as the incredibly intense nature of the film, it definitely deserves a documentary feature of its own. Yes, we’d love to learn more about “that” scene, too.
