The Horror Movie Iceberg: Trigger Warning Included

With the Spooky Season nearing its peak, we've prepared a deep dive into the Horror Movie Iceberg for you to enjoy, ranging from good fun to trauma inducing nightmare fuel!

When it comes to horror movies, they really come in all kinds of forms, ranging from a good time, no screaming required, to the most messed up story, that not even Satan himself would have produced.

With Halloween approaching fast, we've taken it upon ourselves to make a tier of the most messed up movies the twisted minds of the film industry could provide, so enjoy!

The Horror Movie Iceberg: Above Surface Level Horror

Obviously, we're gotta start off easy, with the surface level horror movies that provide you with just enough adrenaline fueled anxiety to still be able to sleep.

We're gonna fill this category with a few classics as well as some more horror movies that are still safe for your sanity.

To kick things off, how about some classics?, as well as some more popular entries.

1. The Grudge

The Grudge is a horror movie that originated in Japan and has since been adapted in the US. It tells the story of a gruesome curse that spreads among those who come in contact with a certain place. The victims get haunted by the terrifying spirit of Kayako, a woman that was killed by her husband.

Although there have been several remakes and sequels of the story, the Japanese original reigns supreme. It doesn't rely all that much on cheap jump scares and instead builds a tense atmosphere that will haunt you in your dreams, and maybe while taking a shower as well.

2. Hereditary

If we're talking about recent horror movies, probably one of the best to come out in the last couple of years has got to be Hereditary . The film centers around a family after the passing of the family matriarch. From there, things continue to spiral out of control as they unravel the cryptic and horrifying circumstances behind her death.

When it comes to actors really selling you on a good movie, Hereditary takes the cake and eats it too. Alex Wolff and Toni Collette especially hammer home the dread and despair of their characters as the madness slowly seeps into their minds. Paired with a couple of serious jump scares and a tense atmosphere, this one's a must-see if you're into horror movies.

The Conjuring

Alright, alright, we know what you're thinking! This one has got to be the most popular movie on the list (maybe barring The Grudge, but that''s an absolute classic). There's a reason, though, this movie is on the list, actually we're kind of including the sequel for this as well .

The Conjuring is the reason jump scares have gotten out of control recently, because this movie was using them so god-damn effectively.

The movie is “based on the true story” of Ed and Lorraine Warren, who work as paranormal investigators. When they're summoned to help a family tormented by a dark presence in their farmhouse (later just a normal house), they are dragged into a harrowing tale of terror and exorcism.

Sure the movie might be targeted to a more mainstream audience, but if you want to go down the horror movie rabbit hole, it's a great starting point!

The Horror Movie Iceberg: Not Everyone Is Safe

Okay, from here on out things will just continue to become more and more messed up, so tread with caution, we're entering the more snuff film section where tense atmosphere gets paired with gruesome visuals!

1. The House That Jack Built

If you like You, but wished instead of charming Joe Goldberg you could follow the footsteps of an actual serial killer who doesn't need his victims to f*ck around for them to find out, The House That Jack Built is perfect for you!

The movie follows Jack, a highly intelligent serial killer, detailing his murders that develop his "inner madman" over the course of 12 years. Pairing Jack's gruesome and oddly creative murders with dark, philosophical dialogue makes for an intriguing combination that perfectly prepares you for whats to come further down the line.

2. Terrifier

First up on our list, we got Terrifier. Never heard of this one? Well let's just say if the Joker and Stephen King had a baby, it still wouldn't be as messed up as the main antagonist for this movie.

Terrifier tells the story of two girls that are stranded with a flat tire after a party. As they encounter a weird looking clown feller, things escalate when it turns out he's got that gutsy type of humor and is pretty much evil incarnate with a smile to die for.

The movie is a pretty perfect example why you should tell your overly drunk friend to shut the f*ck up and not get too cozy with the creepy mime who walks around with a trash bag full of murder-tools.

3. The Poughkeepsie Tapes

Found Footage horror movies deserve a special place in hell for how they manage to draw you into the story and make you feel the terror you see unfold on your screen. The Poughkeepsie Tapes is probably one of the most disturbing Found Footage movies ever made, compensating a somewhat weak plot with bizarre shock sequences.

The story showcases the recordings of a fictional serial killer. Through the more than 800 recovered videotapes, investigators and viewers alike are dragged into a gruesome world of abductions, tortures, and murders, capturing the lowest depths of the human psyche and the lingering terror of unsolved crimes.

The Horror Movie Iceberg: Straight Down To Hell & Still Going

We've reached the bottom of the barrel, the worst of the worst and the movies that gave us recurring nightmares that we'd love to share with y'all. Some movies on this list will probably be hard to track down to watch, but it wouldn't be a good Horror movie Iceberg without some absolutely f*cked in the head entries. Well, here goes nothing.

Here's another Trigger Warning, as the following movies include scenes of animal cruelty, rape and graphic depictions of physical violence!

1. Cannibal Holocaust

This film is hard to stomach. Not only was Cannibal Holocaust banned in over 40 countries, it also led to the filmmakers being prosecuted for obscenity, animal cruelty and even murder charges!

The movie portrays a documentary crew's demise in the Amazon rainforest, as they are investigating cannibal tribes, ending up as part of the menu in the process.

Cannibal Holocaust is a controversial movie for a reason, as the producer apparently killed several animals for real, to get the right shots for his movie. There's also the fact that the director was charged with murder, because the deaths shown on screen look too authentic.

Obviously, those charges turned out to be false, but it's kind of crazy that they were raised to begin with!

2. A Serbian Film

If you haven't lost all hope in humanity yet (props to you) this one might do the trick. A Serbian Film is another controversial horror-thriller that showcases the darkest corners of the human mind, delving into the dark recesses of human depravity.

The movie follows a retired porn star who gets lured back for one last film. From there, he descends into an abyss of unspeakable horror, violence, and exploitation.

If you watch this movie and actually enjoy it, congratulations, you probably need therapy! It is truly incredible what kind of messed up sh*t people can actually come up with. You really got to be f*cked in the head to come up with this kinda movie!

3. August Underground

Okay, we made it, we finally reached the bottom of the Iceberg, which consists of a disturbing amount of Snuff films.

August Underground is another one of those and is especially graphic in portraying realistic, gratuitous violence, even among the already mentioned movies.

Following a serial killer's home video footage, viewers are subjected to an unrelenting display of torture, murder, and psychological torment, pushing the boundaries of extreme cinema.

There is a reason this movie is at the bottom of the iceberg, and it should stay well out of sight for most people that just want to watch their casual spooky film.

If you want to read some more enjoyable content, now that you're done with the most messed up stories the movie industry can tell, here's a list of good fun shows and movies: