Summary
Abstract horror is a unique genre,crafting fear not through traditional monstersor jump scares, but by creating deeply unsettling atmospheres and exploring psychological, surreal, and existential themes. Films in this category often embrace the abstruse, leaving viewers with questions and disturbing impressions that linger long after the credits roll.
From eerie childhood nightmares to descents into isolation-induced madness, these films showcase horror in its most imaginative, boundary-pushing forms. Through symbolic creatures, bizarre settings, and open-ended storytelling, these movies deliver some of the most unforgettable experiences in horror, often holding up a mirror to those watching and asking them to consider what it all means.
1Skinamarink
Childhood Fears Come To Life
Perhaps an example of a film that’s a bit too abstract,Skinamarinkis a Canadian experimental horror film inspired by the strange fears and imaginings of childhood.
This divisive experimental film employs odd camera angles and drawn out shots of door frames to create a dreamlike atmosphere that makes viewers feel disconnected from reality. After their parents disappear, the windows and doors of the house begin to go as well, leaving a young brother and sister with no escape from the monster inside their home.
2It Follows
A Slow But Certain Death
It Followscenters on a terrifying sexually transmitted entity that takes various human forms and relentlessly pursues its target, albeit at a slow pace.
Besides taking the crown for scariest STD known to man, this intentionally ambiguous creature chases the characters through a world full of strange anachronisms that add to the sense of liminality and prevent viewers from ever truly getting their bearings. Its open-ended storytelling and eerie atmosphere contribute to its status as amodern abstract horror classic.
3Babadook
Bedtime Stories Gone Bad
Based on Kent’s short film,Monster,The Babadookis an Australian psychological horror film that centers on a single, bereaved mother and her troubled child, using an unsettling children’s storybook creature as a symbol for deeper psychological themes. Rather than focusing solely on jump scares, the film uses the titular Babadook to delve into the main character’s grief, depression, and repressed emotions.
The creature itself—ambiguous and rarely fully seen—reflects these intense inner struggles, haunting the mother as both a literal and metaphorical presence. This ambiguous presentation lets the film remain open to interpretation, resulting in it being more about the fear of unresolved trauma than a conventional monster.
4Under The Skin
More Than Meets The Eye
An adaptation of Michel Faber’s novel of the same name,this sci-fi horror stars Scarlett Johanssonas an alien masquerading as a woman to lead men in Scotland to their deaths.
Under the Skinshowcases an extraterrestrial’s detached perspective of humanity, divorced from empathy and understanding, to provide a deeper understanding of humankind as a whole. The minimal dialogue, haunting visuals, and pervasive feeling of isolation amplify the sense of alien horror and create a sense of dread that’s both atmospheric and existential.
5House
An Avant-Garde Horror Flick
One of thestrangest horror films to come out of Japan,Houseblends horror, surrealism, and camp in a uniquely abstract way that defies genre conventions. The story follows a schoolgirl and her friends who travel to her aunt’s remote country house, only to encounter supernatural forces that defy any conventional logic.
From a piano that eats people to a demonic cat,Houserevels in absurdity, and its bold, kaleidoscopic visuals make every scene feel like a chaotic nightmare. Its bizarre imagery and unpredictability create a disturbing yet strangely whimsical atmosphere, cementing it as an abstract horror experience like no other.
6The Menu
Eat The Rich
With a performance by the lovely Anya Taylor-Joy ofThe Super Mario Bros. Moviefame,The Menuserves up a chilling satire on class and privilege, following a group of wealthy diners at an exclusive restaurant on a remote island.
As the courses progress, the chef’s intentions turn sinister, forcing guests to confront their secrets and darkest impulses. Balancing horror and dark humor, the film critiques consumerism and elitism in shocking ways, blending high-end dining with a sense of claustrophobic dread that intensifies with each dish, further enhancing the abstract atmosphere.
7The Lighthouse
There Is No Reality
InThe Lighthouse,Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson star as nineteenth-century lighthouse keepers in an extremely remote area who slowly descend into madness, having bizarre hallucinations amidst a lack of contact with others and intense storms.
The black-and-white cinematography and square aspect ratio create an oppressive, claustrophobic atmosphere, which intensifies the psychological horror. With strange visions of mermaids and ominous seagulls, the filmblurs the line between reality and delusion, crafting an unsettling exploration of isolation and human fragility that lingers long after the final scene.
8Midsommar
Fear In Full Sun
With a performance by Florence Pugh,Midsommarfollows a group of friendsvisiting a remote Swedish communefor a midsummer festival, which initially seems harmless but turns increasingly sinister. Unlike typical horror, it unfolds in bright daylight among a multitude of flowers, with disturbing rituals being presented against the backdrop of a picturesque rural setting.
Themes of grief, trauma, and manipulation are woven into the narrative, exploring cultural contrasts and existential dread.Midsommaris as beautiful as it is terrifying, immersing viewers in a nightmare that’s both uncanny and eerily grounded in reality.
9The Killing Of A Sacred Deer
A Cursed Story
The Killing of a Sacred Deeris an anxiety-inducing tale of guilt, revenge, and moral ambiguity. A surgeon’s life spirals when a boy he has befriended begins enacting a curse that affects his family in disturbing ways.
Known for his stark, deadpan style, director Yorgos Lanthimos infuses this story with discomforting precision, where strange dialogue and an eerie score create a freakish, clinical atmosphere. The film’s cold, methodical horror lingers, leaving viewers questioning fate, justice, and the consequences of past sins.
10Beau Is Afraid (2023)
Mommy Issues
Beau Is Afraidexplores the paranoia and anxieties of its protagonist, Beau, as he embarks on an odyssey to visit his mother.Ari Aster’s surreal take on generational traumacombines dark humor with bizarre and often disturbing situations that blur reality and nightmares.
Spanning themes of guilt, fear, and maternal control, the film is a chaotic, introspective journey. Its fragmented structure and absurd visuals craft an unusual horror-comedy, capturing the terrifyingly strange inner world of its protagonist.
