For those of us with jam-packed schedules and precious little free time, the idea of a good old nail-bitinghorrormovie that is under 90 minutes is to die for. These shorter movies can provide a hair-raising, goosebump-inducing experience without demanding significant time commitment that can’t be made. They cater to our craving for suspense and scares, fitting neatly into the pockets of our busy lives.
Historically, a lot of the most acclaimed movies tend to be longer and more epic in scale, but that shouldn’t lead us to underplay the merits of a good, succinct horror movie so long as this brevity doesn’t compromise the quality. Below we’re looking at the greatest horror movies of all time that are less than 90 minutes long, ranging fromblack and white classicsto blood soaked slashers.
82 Minutes
Creepfollows a videographer who answers a mysterious Craigslist ad and is hired to document the life of a terminally ill man. What begins as a seemingly innocent assignment quickly descends into a nightmarish ordeal as Josef’s behavior becomes increasingly unsettling and disturbing. The movie is known for its intense psychological horror, building tension through a single location and a minimal cast, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats.
What Makes It Great
The decision to keep the movie runtime at just 82 minutes was wise because it maintains a high level of tension and suspense, matching the real-time experience of the protagonist and the minimalist approach in terms of location and characters.
Stream on Netflix
9Don’t Breathe
88 Minutes
Don’t Breatherevolves around a group of young burglars who break into the home of a blind war veteran in search of an easy score. However, their plans take a terrifying turn as they discover that the blind man is not as helpless as he seems, turning the tables on them in a deadly game of cat and mouse and giving the home invasion genre the twist it needed by this point of market saturation.
Its relatively short runtime means that instead of being lumped with large exposition dumps, viewers, like the characters themselves, learn things on the fly as they do, making it a more immersive experience.
Stream on AMC+
8The Loved Ones
84 Minutes
The Loved Ones
Twisted and darkare two words that spring to mind when describing 2009’s Australian horror flickThe Loved Ones, a story about love, torture, and revenge, all told with a slight undercurrent of black humor and its tongue placed slightly in its cheek. Despite the graphic nature of the movie, it was a huge hit at the festivals and has received widespread critical acclaim, scoring 98% in the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes.
While it does have enough ultra-violence to keep even the most avid gore hounds entertained, it was more than just the average torture porn affair that was prevalent at the time of its release.The Loved Oneshas enough twists and turns to keep even the more casual viewer at the edge of their seats for its fleeting 84-minute duration.
Stream on Paramount+
7The Blair Witch Project
81 Minutes
Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Projectis a landmark in thefound-footage horror genre. This low-budget film employed a unique and innovative approach to storytelling as it follows a group of student filmmakers who venture into the Black Hills Forest to document the legend of the Blair Witch. It taps into our primal fear of the unknown and leaves audiences questioning the lines between reality and fiction.
Whilst not the first horror movie to dabble in the idea of found footage, it was among the first, to really embrace the format and have the entire movie shot on standard consumer level camera equipment, making it more immersive, believable and frightening.
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6Eraserhead
89 Minutes
Eraserhead
Eraserheadis a surrealist, psychological horror film directed by David Lynch, released in 1977. Viewers are plunged into the nightmarish world of Henry Spencer, as he navigates a bleak and disturbing industrial landscape. The film is known for its haunting and enigmatic atmosphere, marked by its unsettling black-and-white cinematography and an eerie industrial soundtrack. Through its imagery, symbolism and unconventional storytelling,Eraserheadexplores themes of isolation, parenthood, and the anxieties of modern life.
Lynch’s approach to filmmaking often prioritizes creating a certain mood and atmosphere over traditional storytelling, which would have influenced the film’s concise 89-minute length. Had the movie lasted much longer, Lynch’s abrasive style may have become overkill and diluted the impact. The film’s minimalist narrative and abstract themes didn’t require any more screen time for it to be permanently etched into the minds of the viewers.
Stream on Max
5The House on Haunted Hill (1959)
75 Minutes
The House on Haunted Hill
The 1959 classic,The House on Haunted Hill, revolves around an eccentric millionaire, Frederick Loren (memorably played bythe late Vincent Price), who invites five strangers to spend the night in a supposedly haunted mansion with a dark history. To make the night more chilling, Loren offers a monetary reward to anyone who can survive until morning. The film is known for its atmospheric setting and eerie special effects, keeping viewers on edge as they try to unravel the mysteries of the house, with Price’s performance utilizing his trademark sinister charm.
At approximately 75 minutes long, it wasn’t actually particularly short for a horror movie of its era, but nowadays, it’s rare to see a movie so short, especially one that can successfully create such a palpable sense of suspense and fear.TheHouse on Haunted Hillnever feels rushed and perfectly demonstrates how a concise, yet impactful narrative can leave a lasting impression in the world of horror cinema.
Stream on Tubi
In just one and a half hours,Cubeimpressively weaves a compelling premise with well-developed characters. Audiences are invited to witness a group of individuals trapped in a deadly labyrinth of interlocking cubes, which not only creates an intense and mysterious atmosphere but also serves as a thought-provoking allegory. Each character represents a different facet of human nature, and their interactions reflect the complexities of human relationships.
Cubebecame a cult classic and has inspired a plethora of movies since its release, includingSaw,Escape RoomandThe Platform.
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3The Evil Dead
85 Minutes
The Evil Dead
Made on a shoestring budget of just $375,000,The Evil Deadsimply couldn’t afford to be a lengthy epic. These limitations, however, proved to be a catalyst for resourceful making from director Sam Raimi and as a result audiences were treated to some of the most gloriously schlocky practical effects ever committed to film.
The Evil Deadwent on to gross millions and has certainly withstood the test of time, having spawned a legacy of sequels, reboots, TV shows, video games, and everything between, and still ranking amongst the best in the genre.
2The Wicker Man
Even 50 years after its release,The Wicker Manis celebrated for its unique and unsettling take on horror, blending religious and folkloric themes into an utterly hauntingmovie about cults, and influencing generations of filmmakers to follow.
The film follows the investigation of a missing child by a devout Christian police sergeant (Edward Woodward). As he delves deeper into the island’s pagan community led by Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee), he uncovers a disturbing and ritualistic way of life.
The film is known for its eerie atmosphere, folk music soundtrack, and its shocking climax involving the iconic towering wicker effigy. It feels like so much is going on and such a clever tale is being spun, it may be surprising for many to learn that all this was delivered in a mere 84 minutes.
1The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
83 Minutes
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Texas Chain Saw Massacreis regarded by many as one of the greatest and most influential horror films ever made. In just 83 minutes, it pretty much established the blueprint for the entire slasher genre that would follow. The film’s gritty, raw, and intense portrayal of terror was unlike anything seen before. Its violent and suspenseful scenes shocked and horrified audiences.
The use of visceral, in-your-face horror and a relentless, chainsaw-wielding antagonist, Leatherface, set a precedent for the slasher genre’s future, influencing countless filmmakers and shaping the way horror movies would be made for years to come.
