The Horror genre has seen massive changes over the years, with all sorts of subgenres taking center stage as directors, writers, and visionaries continue to push the envelope to terrify audiences. Modern Horror continues to pave its own paths but the industry itself saw a lot of growth during the 1970s. This decade, arguably, houses some of the most influential and beloved Horror films ever created. A slew of great franchises got their start during the Disco Decade.
Some of these Horror films were so good that they're still watched on a yearly basis today. Others generated so much hype and fear that they quickly spawned massive franchises that would go on to develop a variety of sequels and prequels. To celebrate one of the best eras in all of Horror, here's a look at some of the best Horror films from the 70s.
8 Halloween (1978)
Many fans recognize the name John Carpenter for his visceral and downright terrifying 1982 Sci-Fi Horror classic, The Thing. Although that particular film helped to reshape the Sci-Fi Horror genre, Halloween is arguably Carpenter's most iconic horror movie. The 1978 slasher created the legend of Michael Myers, a mask-wearing killing machine that is still terrorizing teenagers and adults alike in the modern age. In fact, 2022 saw the release of Halloween Ends, another scary outing in one of the longest-running Horror franchises to date.
Although many will argue that the quality of the Halloween franchise has seen a dip in recent years, the original is considered a cinematic Horror masterpiece. The pacing, the tension, the scares, and the music all culminate to create one of the most engrossing and thrilling Horror titles ever made.
7 Jaws (1975)
Many Horror films in the 70s and 80s focused on the creation of terrifying monsters and sadistic killers. Many of these titles were fantastical in design, featuring otherworldly entities that broke the boundaries of reality. This is just one of the reasons that Jaws was such a gripping experience. Released smack dab in the middle of the 70s, Jaws sprung into theaters with a fairly realistic premise in which a bloodthirsty shark terrorized beachgoers and fishermen alike.
Although the creature itself was embellished for the big screen, it had many moviegoers questioning any future trips to the Ocean.
6 Alien (1979)
Although The Thing is one of the most terrifying Sci-Fi Horror films ever made, Alien is one of the most iconic. This 1979 gem from Ridley Scott is held in high regard as one of the most influential and horrifying experiences to ever hit theaters. Sigourney Weaver gives one of her best performances as a tough-as-nails Warrant Officer that finds themselves attempting to escape the clutches of a space-born killing machine.
Aliens saw the creation of the Xenomorph, a sinister, sharp, and animalistic predator that could quickly lay waste to any human it came in contact with. These creatures became so celebrated by the film industry that they would eventually make their way into other media, including comics and video games.
5 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The 70s and 80s saw a lot of "slasher" films pop up. Characters like Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th) and Michael Myers (Halloween) became Horror icons. Although imposing, these hulking "monsters" were stoic in their pursuit of their victims. They used silence and tension to scare audiences, seen as looming and inevitable dangers that could pop up at any time and strike without warning.
Perhaps that's why Leatherface was such a refreshing (and terrifying) change of pace for most viewers. The monstrous main villain of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was loud, unhinged, and wielded an unruly Chainsaw as his weapon of choice. This film was gory, grotesque, and pretty shocking for its time. Thanks to the acts of Leatherface and his villainous family, the film would spawn an array of exciting and horrifying sequels.
4 Dawn Of The Dead (1978)
In 1968, Horror legend George A. Romero would direct Night of the Living Dead, a black-and-white cinematic thrill ride that would better introduce the public to the idea of zombies. Although Night of the Living Dead was a masterpiece in its own right, it (arguably) pales in comparison to Romero's Dawn of the Dead. Although it's loosely based on the same concepts as the 1968 release, it features none of the same characters or storyline.
A decade later and Romero had perfected the "zombie genre," providing moviegoers with one of the most shocking, tense, and emotionally troubling zombie epics ever made. Dawn of the Dead helped to set the stage for the future of zombie-based films as a whole.
3 The Exorcist (1973)
Ghosts have been a main theme in Horror since far before the first proper Horror film was introduced. The idea that something is prowling the confines of a home or specific location, unseen by the living, is enough to make viewers' hair stand on end. But this concept was amped up when movie directors began to implement the idea of possession, in which a ghostly presence is capable of taking over a living form.
The Exorcist took this idea even further and played on the idea of an innocent person being conscripted by a demonic force. The end result is one of the most visceral, disgusting, and tense horror films ever made. It helped to redefine the "possession" genre and is a must-watch for fans of the genre.
2 Carrie (1976)
Oftentimes, Horror movies feature creepy creatures and maniacal monsters that are unleashed upon a seemingly unsuspecting town or city for no other reason than bad luck or unfortunate circumstances. But there are many stories out there that feature revenge-style evils that are unleashed through poor decisions from other people. Some of Stephen King's stories are great examples, with titles like Pet Sematary, Thinner, and Needful Things focusing on the darker side of humans and their emotions.
But Carrie may be King's most impressive "revenge-style" Horror story and the film adaptation was a boon for 70s Horror movies.
1 House (1977)
Many Western Audiences have come to see modern Japanese Horror as some of the most serious and spine-chilling films to ever grace the genre. Titles like Ringu and Noroi: The Curse have had audiences covering their eyes and fidgeting anxiously in their seats just to make it past each terrifying scene. But Japanese Horror wasn't always this "serious," and one of the most impressive additions to the genre comes from the late 70s.
House managed to inspire two Western Adaptations in House and House II (both USA-based films by the same name) but there is something so charming and entertaining about the original spectacle. This Japanese gem follows a girl as she pays a visit to her aunt's mansion, which is nothing like it seems from the outside. A paranormal spectacle, House sees all kinds of wacky events, like flying heads, possessed appliances, and evil pictures coming to life.