Top 30 Ranked

The Best Horror Movies of 2012, Ranked

Scary Classics and Cult Favorites of the Year

Explore the top rated horror films released in late two thousand twelve. From haunted houses to slasher remakes, find your next terrifying movie night.

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About 2012 Horror Movies

Looking back at the landscape of horror in 2012 feels like examining a pivot point where the genre finally decided to stop looking over its shoulder at the torture porn craze of the previous decade and start building something weirder and more enduring. If 2011 was the year horror felt like it was treading water, 2012 was the year the tide came in. It was a twelve month stretch defined by structural deconstruction, a return to atmospheric dread, and the birth of a few modern icons that still haunt the multiplex today.

The most tectonic shift came from Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon with The Cabin in the Woods. Though it had been sitting on a shelf for a few years due to studio delays, its release felt like a lightning strike. It was more than just a scary movie; it was a grand unified theory of why we watch them. By literalizing the tropes of the genre and turning the audience into the architects of the carnage, it effectively closed the door on the lazy slasher era. It challenged every filmmaker who followed to do something smarter than just putting five teenagers in a remote location.

While Cabin in the Woods was dissecting the genre from the inside, Scott Derrickson was introducing a new kind of nihilism with Sinister. It is easy to forget how much of an impact that film had on the communal viewing experience. By blending the then popular found footage aesthetic with a traditional supernatural procedural, Derrickson tapped into a primal fear of the image itself. The Super 8 snuff films discovered in that attic remain some of the most genuinely upsetting sequences in modern studio horror. The film also cemented Ethan Hawke as a reliable prestige lead for the genre, a partnership that would eventually lead to the Blumhouse boom becoming the dominant industry force.

The year also gave us a masterclass in the slow burn with Jennifer Kent’s short film being expanded into what would eventually become a feature, but more immediately, we saw the release of V/H/S. This anthology proved that found footage still had creative life if you handed the camera to hungry, punk rock directors. It traded the slow pacing of Paranormal Activity for a chaotic, frantic energy that felt like a curated nightmare.

On the more artistic end of the spectrum, 2012 was the year of Berberian Sound Studio. Peter Strickland’s psychological descent into the world of 1970s Italian giallo post-production was a love letter to the power of sound. It reminded us that what we hear is often more terrifying than what we see, stripping away the jump scares to focus on the crumbling psyche of a man trapped in a world of simulated violence.

Even the mainstream offerings felt more deliberate. James Wan was preparing to change the world with The Conjuring, but in 2012, the conversation was about the shifting tides. We saw the end of the Twilight era and the beginning of a hunger for something grittier and more grounded. It was a year that respected the history of horror while simultaneously burning the old maps. We weren't just being scared; we were being challenged to think about why we wanted to be scared in the first place. By the time the credits rolled on 2012, the genre had found its voice again.

The Complete Rankings

Based on the top picks in drafts on SnakeDrafts

See Top Ten
30
2012 Horror in Resident Evil: Damnation (2012)
Resident Evil: Damnation
2012

U.S. federal agent Leon S. Kennedy sneaks into the "East Slavic Republic" to verify rumors that Bio-Organic Weapons (BOWs) are being used in the country's civil war, which the U.S. and Russia are making preparations to jointly intervene in. Right after his infiltration, the U.S. government orders him to leave immediately. Determined to uncover the truth, Leon ignores the order and enters the battlefield to end the chain of tragedies caused by the BOWs.

Action
Animation
1h 40m
Makoto Kamiya
Matthew Mercer, Courtenay Taylor, Robin Sachs, Dave Wittenberg
29
2012 Horror in Blood-C: The Last Dark (2012)
Blood-C: The Last Dark
2012

Tokyo, Winter. Despite the use of the Youth Ordinance Bill to enforce curfews for minors and regulate the use of the Internet, young people continue to fight for their own freedom through underground methods. One such group calls themselves Surat. They have decided to take on Fumito Nanahara, a man who has great influence on the political world, and basically controls Tokyo with an iron fist. While using the Internet as a weapon to discover more information about Fumito, they learn about "Tower", the secret organization behind Fumito which engages in human experimentation.

Animation
Action
1h 46m
Naoyoshi Shiotani
Atsushi Abe, Masumi Asano, Keiji Fujiwara, Misato Fukuen
28
2012 Horror in Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I - The Egg of the King (2012)
Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I - The Egg of the King
2012

Guts, an immensely strong sword-for-hire, has little direction in his life, simply fighting one battle after the next. However, this all changes suddenly when he meets and is bested by Griffith, a beautiful and charismatic young man who leads the Band of the Hawk mercenary army. After Guts joins the Band and the relationship between the two men begins to blossom, Casca, the tough, lone swordswoman in the Band of the Hawk, struggles to accept Guts and the influence he has on the world around her. While the two men begin to fight together, Griffith continues to rise to power, all seemingly in order to reach his mysterious, prophesied goals. What lengths will Guts and Griffith go to in order to reach these goals, and where will fate take the two men?

Animation
Action
1h 16m
Toshiyuki Kubooka
Hiroaki Iwanaga, Takahiro Sakurai, Yuki Kaji, Takahiro Fujiwara

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27
2012 Horror in Blue Exorcist: The Movie (2012)
Blue Exorcist: The Movie
2012

The atmosphere in True Cross Academy is lively and boisterous in the days leading up to the grand festival held once every 11 years. During this time, Okumura Rin is entrusted with the responsibility of suppressing the berserk Phantom Train. In the midst of his mission, he meets a devil whose appearance is that of a young boy.

Animation
Fantasy
1h 28m
Atsushi Takahashi
Jun Fukuyama, Kana Hanazawa, Kazuya Nakai, Koji Yusa
26
2012 Horror in Excision (2012)
Excision
2012

A disturbed, delusional high-school student with aspirations of a career in medicine goes to extremes to earn the approval of her controlling mother.

Drama
Horror
1h 21m
Richard Bates Jr.
AnnaLynne McCord, Traci Lords, Ariel Winter, Roger Bart
25
2012 Horror in Don't Hug Me I'm Scared (2012)
Don't Hug Me I'm Scared
2012

A disturbing puppet short exploring the concept of creativity.

Animation
Comedy
4m
Joseph Pelling
Joseph Pelling, Becky Sloan, Baker Terry
24
2012 Horror in Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter: The Great Calamity (2012)
Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter: The Great Calamity
2012

A motion comic follow-up to a chapter from Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter novel where Abe's friend, Edgar Allan Poe, tells him the tale of historical Hungarian countess Elizabeth Bathory, often tied to vampire legends due to her brutality.

Horror
Animation
7m
Javier Soto
Benjamin Walker, Clifton Collins Jr.
23
2012 Horror in Stitches (2012)
Stitches
2012

The clumsy and unfunny clown Richard "Stitches" Grindle entertains at the 10th birthday party of little Tom, but the boy and his friends play a prank with Stitches, tying his shoelaces. Stitches slips, falls and dies. Six years later, Tom gives a birthday party for his friends at home, but Stitches revives to haunt the teenagers and revenge his death.

Horror
1h 26m
Conor McMahon
Ross Noble, Tommy Knight, Gemma-Leah Devereux, John McDonnell
22
2012 Horror in The Devil Inside (2012)
The Devil Inside
2012

In Italy, a woman becomes involved in a series of unauthorized exorcisms during her mission to discover what happened to her mother, who allegedly murdered three people during her own exorcism.

Horror
Thriller
1h 23m
William Brent Bell
Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman, Evan Helmuth, Ionut Grama
21
2012 Horror in The Apparition (2012)
The Apparition
2012

Plagued by frightening occurrences in their home, Kelly and Ben learn that a university's parapsychology experiment produced an entity that is now haunting them. The malevolent spirit feeds on fear and torments the couple no matter where they run. Desperate, Kelly and Ben turn to a paranormal researcher, but even with his aid, it may already be too late to save themselves from the terrifying presence.

Horror
Thriller
1h 22m
Todd Lincoln
Ashley Greene, Sebastian Stan, Tom Felton, Julianna Guill
20
2012 Horror in Werewolf: The Beast Among Us (2012)
Werewolf: The Beast Among Us
2012

Set in a 19th century village, a young man studying under a local doctor joins a team of hunters on the trail of a wolf-like creature.

Drama
Horror
1h 33m
Louis Morneau
Ed Quinn, Guy Wilson, Stephen Rea, Rachel DiPillo
19
2012 Horror in Smiley (2012)
Smiley
2012

After learning of an urban legend in which a demented serial killer named SMILEY can be summoned through the internet, mentally fragile Ashley must decide whether she is losing her mind or becoming Smiley's next victim.

Horror
1h 35m
Michael J. Gallagher
Caitlin Gerard, Melanie Papalia, Shane Dawson, Andrew James Allen
18
2012 Horror in Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines (2012)
Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines
2012

A small West Virginia town is hosting the legendary Mountain Man Festival on Halloween, where throngs of costumed party goers gather for a wild night of music and mischief. But an inbred family of hillbilly cannibals kill the fun when they trick and treat themselves to a group of visiting college students.

Horror
Thriller
1h 31m
Declan O'Brien
Camilla Arfwedson, Doug Bradley, Borisa Tyutyundzhieva, Roxanne McKee
17
2012 Horror in Underworld: Awakening (2012)
Underworld: Awakening
2012

Having escaped years of imprisonment, vampire warrioress Selene finds herself in a changed world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species. Now Selene must battle the humans and a frightening new breed of super Lycans to ensure the death dealers' survival.

Fantasy
Action
1h 28m
Måns Mårlind
Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, Theo James
16
2012 Horror in The Tall Man (2012)
The Tall Man
2012

When her child goes missing, a mother looks to unravel the legend of the Tall Man, an entity who allegedly abducts children.

Horror
Mystery
1h 46m
Pascal Laugier
Jessica Biel, Jodelle Ferland, Stephen McHattie, William B. Davis
15
2012 Horror in Truth or Dare (2012)
Truth or Dare
2012

A group of friends are lured to an isolated cabin by a promise of heavy partying, only to find themselves in a nightmarish game of truth or dare.

Horror
Thriller
1h 35m
Robert Heath
Liam Boyle, Jack Gordon, Florence Hall, David Oakes
14
2012 Horror in House at the End of the Street (2012)
House at the End of the Street
2012

A mother and daughter move to a new town and find themselves living next door to a house where a young girl murdered her parents. When the daughter befriends the surviving son, she learns the story is far from over.

Horror
Thriller
1h 41m
Mark Tonderai
Jennifer Lawrence, Max Thieriot, Nolan Gerard Funk, Elisabeth Shue
13
2012 Horror in Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)
Resident Evil: Retribution
2012

The Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh eating Undead. The human race’s last and only hope, Alice, awakens in the heart of Umbrella’s most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her mysterious past as she delves further into the complex. Without a safe haven, Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C. and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true. Aided by new found allies and familiar friends, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. The countdown has begun.

Action
Horror
1h 35m
Paul W. S. Anderson
Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory, Michelle Rodriguez, Aryana Engineer
12
2012 Horror in The Bay (2012)
The Bay
2012

Two million fish washed ashore. One thousand blackbirds dropped from the sky. On July 4, 2009 a deadly menace swept through the quaint seaside town of Claridge, Maryland, but the harrowing story of what happened that Independence Day has never been told—until now. The authorities believed they had buried the truth about the tragedy that claimed over 700 human lives. Now, three years later, a reporter has emerged with footage revealing the cover-up and an unimaginable killer: a mysterious parasitic outbreak. Told from the perspective of those who were there and saw what happened, The Bay unfolds over 24 hours through people's iPhones, Androids, 911 calls, webcams, and whatever else could be used to document the nightmare in Claridge. What follows is a nerve-shredding tale of a small town plunged into absolute terror.

Horror
Science Fiction
Kristen Connolly, Will Rogers, Michael Beasley, Christopher Denham
11
2012 Horror in [REC]³ Genesis (2012)
[REC]³ Genesis
2012

A pair of newlyweds must fight to survive when their wedding reception descends into chaos and carnage when their guests become infected by a virus that turns them into hungry zombies.

Horror
1h 20m
Paco Plaza
Leticia Dolera, Diego Martín, Ismael Martínez, Àlex Monner
10
2012 Horror in Maniac (2012)
Maniac
2012

As he helps a young artist with her upcoming exhibition, the owner of a mannequin shop's deadly, suppressed desires come to the surface.

Horror
Thriller
1h 29m
Franck Khalfoun
Elijah Wood, Nora Arnezeder, America Olivo, Zoe Aggeliki
Why it ranks

Warping the perspective of the audience through a continuous first-person POV, this remake is an unflinching immersion into a fractured mind. The shimmering, synth-heavy score and Elijah Wood’s frantic performance create a nauseatingly intimate experience that redefines the slasher archetype.

9
2012 Horror in The Collection (2012)
The Collection
2012

Arkin escapes with his life from the vicious grips of "The Collector" during an entrapment party where he adds beautiful Elena to his "Collection." Instead of recovering from the trauma, Arkin is suddenly abducted from the hospital by mercenaries hired by Elena's wealthy father. Arkin is blackmailed to team up with the mercenaries and track down The Collector's booby trapped warehouse and save Elena.

Horror
Thriller
1h 22m
Marcus Dunstan
Josh Stewart, Emma Fitzpatrick, Christopher McDonald, Johanna Braddy
Why it ranks

A high-octane exercise in grand guignol spectacle that elevates the 'trap' subgenre into a vibrant, neon-lit gallery of horrors. Its relentlessly aggressive pacing and intricate mechanical cruelty cater to those who view cinematic violence as an elaborate, choreographed art form.

8
2012 Horror in The Possession (2012)
The Possession
2012

A young girl buys an antique box at a yard sale, unaware that inside the collectible lives a malicious ancient spirit. The girl's father teams with his ex-wife to find a way to end the curse upon their child.

Horror
Thriller
1h 32m
Ole Bornedal
Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kyra Sedgwick, Natasha Calis, Madison Davenport
Why it ranks

This exorcism tale distinguishes itself by pivoting from Catholic dogma toward Jewish mysticism and the unsettling folklore of the Dybbuk box. The result is a culturally specific nightmare that favors physical, body-horror manifestations over traditional religious theatrics.

7
2012 Horror in Chernobyl Diaries (2012)
Chernobyl Diaries
2012

A group of six tourists looking to go off the beaten path, hire an 'extreme tour guide' who, ignoring warnings, takes them into the city of Pripyat, the former home to the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, but now a deserted town since the disaster more than 25 years earlier. After a brief exploration of the abandoned city, the group members find themselves stranded, only to discover that they are not alone.

Horror
Thriller
1h 28m
Bradley Parker
Olivia Taylor Dudley, Jesse McCartney, Devin Kelley, Jonathan Sadowski
Why it ranks

Utilizing the haunting, real-world skeletal remains of Pripyat, this film thrives on location-based authenticity and a looming sense of radioactive claustrophobia. It eschews typical jump scares in favor of an oppressive, wide-open emptiness that makes the inevitable hunt feel terrifyingly plausible.

6
2012 Horror in V/H/S (2012)
V/H/S
2012

When a group of misfits is hired by an unknown third party to burglarize a desolate house and acquire one rare VHS tape, they discover more found footage than they had bargained for.

Thriller
Horror
1h 56m
David Bruckner
Calvin Lee Reeder, Lane Hughes, Kentucker Audley, Adam Wingard
Why it ranks

This gritty anthology revitalized the found-footage subgenre through its raw, lo-fi energy and diverse directorial voices. Each segment pushes technical boundaries, creating a claustrophobic patchwork of vignettes that feel like forbidden, voyeuristic glimpses into the macabre.

5
2012 Horror in Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)
Paranormal Activity 4
2012

It has been five years since the disappearance of Katie and Hunter, and a suburban family witness strange events in their neighborhood when a woman and a mysterious child move in.

Horror
1h 27m
Henry Joost
Katie Featherston, Kathryn Newton, Matt Shively, Aiden Lovekamp
Why it ranks

By integrating modern technology like Xbox Kinect sensors into its found-footage DNA, this entry finds inventive ways to visualize the unseen. It manages to squeeze fresh anxiety out of the domestic space, proving the franchise still possessed the ability to weaponize silence and household geometry.

4
2012 Horror in Silent Hill: Revelation 3D (2012)
Silent Hill: Revelation 3D
2012

Heather Mason and her father have been on the run, always one step ahead of dangerous forces that she doesn't fully understand. Now on the eve of her 18th birthday, plagued by horrific nightmares and the disappearance of her father, Heather discovers she's not who she thinks she is. The revelation leads her deeper into a demonic world that threatens to trap her forever.

Thriller
Horror
1h 34m
MJ Bassett
Adelaide Clemens, Sean Bean, Radha Mitchell, Carrie-Anne Moss
Why it ranks

While narratively chaotic, this sequel stands as a triumph of practical creature design and surrealist industrial rot. Its commitment to the source material's nightmarish visual language provides a sensory assault that captures the unique, grotesque beauty of gaming's most celebrated survival horror series.

3
2012 Horror in The Woman in Black (2012)
The Woman in Black
2012

The story follows a young lawyer, Arthur Kipps, who is ordered to travel to a remote village and sort out a recently deceased client’s papers. As he works alone in the client’s isolated house, Kipps begins to uncover tragic secrets, his unease growing when he glimpses a mysterious woman dressed only in black. Receiving only silence from the locals, Kipps is forced to uncover the true identity of the Woman in Black on his own, leading to a desperate race against time when he discovers her true identity.

Drama
Horror
1h 35m
James Watkins
Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds, Janet McTeer, Liz White
Why it ranks

This Hammer Horror revival succeeds through its rich, gothic textures and an expertly paced mounting of tension. Hammering home the effectiveness of the classical ghost story, it relies on impeccable production design and a pervasive sense of Victorian gloom to unsettle its audience.

2
2012 Horror in Sinister (2012)
Sinister
2012

True-crime writer Ellison Oswalt is in a slump; he hasn't had a best seller in more than 10 years and is becoming increasingly desperate for a hit. So, when he discovers the existence of a snuff film showing the deaths of a family, he vows to solve the mystery. He moves his own family into the victims' home and gets to work. However, when old film footage and other clues hint at the presence of a supernatural force, Ellison learns that living in the house may be fatal.

Horror
Thriller
1h 50m
Scott Derrickson
Ethan Hawke, Juliet Rylance, Vincent D'Onofrio, James Ransone
Why it ranks

Scott Derrickson delivers a masterclass in atmospheric dread, anchored by a haunting Super 8 aesthetic that feels truly transgressive. The film lingers in the psyche because it treats its mythology with a grim, unflinching seriousness that few contemporary chillers dare to attempt.

1
2012 Horror in The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
The Cabin in the Woods
2012

Five friends set out for a weekend at a remote cabin in the woods, expecting nothing more than fun and relaxation. As night falls, they discover that something far more unsettling is at work and that nothing about their getaway is what it seems.

Horror
Mystery
1h 35m
Drew Goddard
Kristen Connolly, Fran Kranz, Chris Hemsworth, Jesse Williams
Why it ranks

A revolutionary deconstruction of the genre that functions as both a bloody celebration and a scathing indictment of horror tropes. Its meta-narrative brilliance and sharp wit transformed the cinematic landscape, proving that a film can be intellectually demanding while remaining visceral.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about this list and SnakeDrafts

The Cabin in the Woods uniquely combines horror, mystery, and comedy, offering a meta-commentary on the genre. Directed by Drew Goddard, it stands out for its clever subversion of horror tropes.

The Woman in Black exemplifies the atmospheric dread that marked many 2012 horror films. Its slow-building suspense and gothic horror style create a haunting and immersive experience.

Yes, Paranormal Activity 4 continues the found footage tradition popularized by its predecessors. Its use of home surveillance-style footage adds a realistic and unsettling dimension to the haunting tale.

Maniac is a standout slasher film from 2012, providing a gritty and psychological take on the genre. Directed by Franck Khalfoun, it uses first-person perspective to intensify the viewer's immersion.

The Possession explores supernatural possession and its terrifying impact on family dynamics. Directed by Ole Bornedal, it draws on folklore to deliver chills and emotional depth.

V/H/S is the anthology featured in the 2012 horror list. It comprises several short horror stories filmed in a found footage style, making it a varied and innovative viewing experience.

Sinister distinguishes itself with its focus on a chilling mystery and supernatural elements, combined with a strong thriller aspect. Scott Derrickson's direction creates a dark, suspenseful atmosphere that lingers after viewing.

Yes, The Bay incorporates science fiction with horror, exploring ecological disaster themes through a found footage lens. Additionally, Resident Evil: Retribution blends action, horror, and sci-fi for a franchise sequel packed with intense visuals.
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