It is autumn now and horror movies like Pearl and Barbarian have recently been released. Since screens are about to show some films by the biggest names in horror, it is a good time to see what Reddit has to say about the genre. Throughout the last decade or so, there have been a few directors who constantly supply viewers with great movies.
Some of these directors just released a project, have one coming up soon, or have not worked in a few years. But horror fans will anticipate and go see anything these directors release.
Jordan Peele
Jordan Peele is arguably the biggest director in horror today. He won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for his directorial debut, Get Out, in 2017, and his next two films, Us and Nope, were both successful critically and financially.
He has been frequently praised for his originality and all three of his directed films were original and felt like a breath of fresh air. Redditor MinsterBlackHoody says about Peele, “Straight up original stories from a director with a singular vision and that’s very rare nowadays.” In a time that has many remakes and reboots, Peele’s films helped remind audiences what horror movies can do.
Ari Aster
Ari Aster’s horror career started with many short films, including The Strange Thing About the Johnsons. He made a major splash in the genre with Hereditary in 2018, undoubtedly one of A24’s best horror films. He worked with A24 again with his next horror hit, Midsommar.
These two films were both disturbing but incredibly well-made. Redditor minos157 says they love Aster, and they will, “watch every movie he makes. Midsommer and Hereditary were fantastic!” He is able to build anticipation and make the viewer’s heart pound by turning mundane things into scary and unsettling symbols of horror. His next film is set to be released in 2023 and is titled Disappointment Blvd.
Robert Eggers
Similar to Aster, Eggers also has a lot of work with A24. He got his start with a few short films, but his first major work, The Witch, was a major hit. He also saw significant success with his next movie, The Lighthouse, which is likely one of the most underrated physiological horror movies from the past decade.
Both of these films were beautifully shot, but also made the viewer have this fatalistic feeling that stays with them long after seeing the movie. He does not just rely solely on the scares, however, as his films’ cinematography is also masterful. Redditor tr0nLenon says Eggers is, “on the top of my list of directors that I anticipate whatever they do next.” He has also been trying to do a Nosferatu remake with The Witch star Anya Taylor-Joy.
James Wan
James Wan has been responsible for directing an original film in three iconic modern horror franchises. He directed the first Saw in 2004, then the first Insidious movie in 2011, and he was also at the helm of the first two Conjuring films.
His latest horror movie, Malignant, saw warm reviews, as well. Wan’s genius is, partly, due to his ability to amplify the horror trope of a jump scare. Redditor FlingaNFZ says, “Jump scares are annoying in most movies but James Wan uses them very well.” Many audiences and fans of horror find the jump scare a cheap method of getting a reaction, but Wan’s ability to take them to the next level has gifted him success.
Mike Flanagan
Mike Flanagan has been involved with horror movies and television series and one Redditor praises his work and calls him “definitely one of the best directors working in the horror space, IMO.” Flanagan’s work spans from supernatural films, like Oculus and Ouija: Origin of Evil, to The Haunting Of Hill House, one of the best horror shows on Netflix.
Flanagan has capitalized on the trends that were popular at the time. In the early 2010s, supernatural films were prevalent, so he directed two that were received well by critics and fans. Both of these films also attacked the psychological realm of horror that was not too tapped into at the time. He also took advantage of the streaming age and took his skills to Netflix.
Jennifer Kent
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Jennifer Kent is an Australian director whose directorial debut, The Babadook, was critically acclaimed as an interesting movie in which its main villain doesn’t have a lot of screen time. Redditor tatonla96 says the film “reminds me a lot of The Shining.” Her next movie, The Nightingale, is a horror thriller and also got rave reviews
Having her first film compared to The Shining is extremely high praise for a director’s first film. The Babadook is a great example of how a director builds suspense, but there is never a huge payoff. She was able to keep the viewer on the edge of their seat the entire time and is brilliant at inducing anxiety. It is certain her name will be one that is around the horror genre for a long time.
Alexandre Aja
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Alexandre Aja has been working in horror for many years and directed the remake of The Hills Have Eyes. His other projects include Horns, Mirrors, and Crawl.
Aja is known for adding a big plot twist in his films, as Redditor patrickularity says, “this dude loves ridiculous twists and zany ideas.” Movies with a big twist are risky because if it does not sit well with the audience, then it could ruin the rest of the film. However, Aja approaches his twists carefully to ensure he does not lose the audience. Big twists may not be for everyone, but they definitely add some spice to the film.
Ti West
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One of Ti West’s first films, The House Of The Devil, got great reviews, including an 85% on Rotten Tomatoes. His recent work has garnered lots of praise as in 2022 he released two films, X and its prequel, Pearl.
A24 has recently announced the X franchise will be getting a third film, and it will be interesting for fans to see West’s full trilogy of slashers. Redditor theoneirologist credits West “for bringing back uncompromised cinema.” West doesn’t drift from his original plan for a film, and he has been rewarded by A24 with a series of horror movies.
Fede Alvarez
Fede Alvarez is an Uruguayan director and writer whose directorial debut was a remake of the horror classic, The Evil Dead. Redditor Mst3Kgf says, “I don’t even consider this a remake…It’s just another entry in the franchise. And a damn good one.” Alvarez then followed that up with the surprise hit, Don’t Breathe, and also worked on the 2022 version of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
This film was also a surprise, as modern remakes sometimes do not perform well. What makes Alvarez special is he is able to perform in many fields of horror, including supernatural in The Evil Dead and a slasher in Texas Chainsaw Massacre. He also created a film that was genre-bending in Don’t Breathe. Fans have confidence that no matter the subject, Alvarez will perform well.
Andy Muschietti
Andy Muschietti has recently made significant waves in the horror industry. His first feature-length horror film, Mama, was based on a previous short film of his. His most popular work, however, is the adaption of Stephen King’s It. . Redditor Davemeddlehed says, “Overall I give the newer film the edge” over the 1990 It adaptation.
These films were huge at the time and prove Muschietti can be a master of horror. What makes him so compelling is that he was able to wrap an effective story around the horror he creates. His work on It brought not just the scary and frightening world of Derry to the big screen but also King’s story to life.
