Let's give credit where it's due: Obsession was a sleeper hit that caught nearly everyone off guard, both audiences and industry insiders alike. Curry Barker had already made a name for himself with YouTube horror shorts, but no one could have predicted that his supernatural thriller debut—made for a modest $750,000—would go on to gross over $500 million worldwide. It's an undeniably fun movie, with darkly comedic beats, a clever if somewhat familiar concept, and well-timed jump scares, all anchored by genuinely impressive performances.
That said, there's a whole host of other scary movies that deliver chills and thrills in ways Obsession could only dream of. Some rely on ghosts and otherworldly forces to shock and disturb, while others explore the gut-wrenching horrors humans inflict on one another. No matter how you slice it, these six films are masterclasses in profound scares—and each offers invaluable lessons that Barker could apply to his next project, which reportedly comes with a $10 million budget.
'It Follows' (2014)
How do you blend nuanced body horror with supernatural evil? Obsession poses the question, but It Follows answered it first with true panache. Writer-director David Robert Mitchell opens with one of the best teasers in recent memory—a long take that instantly fills you with dread. Then comes the shocking aftermath, featuring one of the most disturbing shots in horror history. What follows is a slow-burn descent into a trippy rabbit hole of encroaching anxiety and relentless malice.
Jay Height (Maika Monroe) is a pretty but otherwise ordinary high schooler with a rebellious streak. That leads her to a date with an attractive guy from another town, “Hugh” (Jake Weary), and some promiscuous activity. Apparently, Jay never watched horror movies, because the formula is clear: have sex, and something bad will happen. Indeed, Hugh passes on a kind of STD—only this one doesn't cause a rash; it makes the infected person stalked by a lethal entity that can change shape and will stop at nothing until its victim is dead. Everything about this movie is unsettling to the marrow, from the roving monstrous humans only the infected can see to the sleek 80s synth score.
'Paranormal Activity' (2007)
1999's The Blair Witch Project spawned a wave of found footage films, for better or (more often) worse. Many tried to capture that magic, but few succeeded commercially or artistically. Then came Oren Peli's debut, Paranormal Activity. Made for just $15,000—which makes Obsession's budget look like a Marvel movie—this is peak found footage, exploiting the format for every possible scare.
The seemingly simple story follows a young couple, Katie (Katie Featherston) and Micah (Micah Sloat), in their new home. They document their new place with joy, justifying the POV format. Then eerie things start happening: Katie standing motionless over Micah for hours, non-human footprints in talcum powder, and Katie being flung like a ragdoll by an unseen force. These moments had audiences screaming in theaters. Peli used creative practical effects with just a touch of CGI, and that cleverness is one of the film's most chilling aspects. Its success on such a tiny budget is abnormal—and justly deserved.
'Hereditary' (2018)
Guilt and the fear that one's actions can imperil others are key themes in Obsession, but compared to Hereditary, they're only touched upon. Ari Aster's masterwork on familial trauma and pain takes those motifs to almost unbearable extremes. Luckily for horror fans, he puts them on full, gruesome display in this heady, intellectually complex examination of everything that can go wrong under one roof.
Annie Graham (Toni Collette) is an artist who makes miniature homes—a fitting metaphor, since an invisible force is essentially playing with Annie and her family. When Annie's mentally ill mother dies, unsettling details about her life emerge. Annie tries to focus on her work, but then the unthinkable happens: the loss of her child. Charlie (Milly Shapiro) loses her head, literally, and her brother Peter (Alex Wolff) is left to grapple with the aftermath. The film's slow-burn dread builds to a climax that is both shocking and deeply disturbing, cementing Aster as a modern horror master.
'The Babadook' (2014)
Another film that explores grief and motherhood is The Babadook, Jennifer Kent's debut. Amelia (Essie Davis) is a widow struggling to raise her young son, Samuel (Noah Wiseman), who is terrified of a monster he believes lives in their house. When a mysterious pop-up book appears, the titular Babadook becomes a terrifying presence. The film is a masterclass in psychological horror, using the monster as a metaphor for unresolved grief and trauma. It's a deeply unsettling experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
'The Conjuring' (2013)
James Wan's The Conjuring is a modern classic that proves old-school haunted house scares still work. Based on the real-life case files of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the film follows the Perron family as they move into a farmhouse with a dark history. The Warrens (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) are called in to help, and what follows is a relentless barrage of scares, from clapping hands to a possessed wardrobe. Wan's direction is impeccable, building tension with masterful pacing and practical effects. It's a film that respects the genre's roots while delivering fresh frights.
'Get Out' (2017)
Jordan Peele's Get Out is a social thriller that uses horror to explore racism in America. Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) visits his white girlfriend's family estate, where he encounters increasingly unsettling behavior from the black staff and the white guests. The film is a brilliant blend of satire and horror, with a climax that is both cathartic and chilling. Peele's debut is a cultural touchstone that proves horror can be both entertaining and thought-provoking.
These six films—each in their own way—demonstrate that true horror isn't just about jump scares or gore. It's about tapping into deep-seated fears, whether they're supernatural or all too human. Obsession may have found success, but these movies show what happens when horror is done with real craft and vision. For more on the genre, check out our list of the greatest horror sequels or see how 'From' is taking over Netflix.
