Horror films have never been held to a specific “one size fits all” approach when it comes to the types of scary narratives they wish to show their audiences. One format that is often used in all genres of fiction — but most notably in horror movies and television shows — is the anthology format. This is a collection of short story segments compiled together into one final product. A classic example like Creepshow or a more modern version of a horror anthology movie like V/H/S are effective in combining creepy tales and connecting them in a compelling manner.
Creepshow and V/H/S are just two examples of the many horror anthology movies that are out there for horror fans to enjoy. What makes an awesome anthology horror experience is the consistency of all the segments, as well as a terrifying throughline connecting them all together for a cohesive story, and most of these movies manage to do just that. Whether looking for something more seamless in its storytelling like Ghost Stories and Southbound, or something a bit more experimental and absurd like The ABCs of Death and Holidays, these must-see horror movie anthologies — consistent or not — are worth the watch.
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10 Books of Blood (2020)
A Hulu original horror movie, Books of Blood is made up of three segments, each one named after the protagonist of their respective story. From a creepy older couple to a fake psychic to a bookseller looking for the “Book of Blood,” Books of Blood weaves these three seemingly unrelated tales together with a rather gruesome conclusion.
Loosely based on the Clive Barker book of the same name and the second movie adaptation of Barker’s anthology novel, Books of Blood takes a slow-burn approach with its storytelling, and may feel a little too long when watching. Each segment, however, has plenty of horror in store for those willing to see this horror anthology movie through.
9 Holidays (2016)
While Halloween is supposed to be the scariest holiday of the year, 2016’s Holidays shows that every holiday has the potential to be horrific. Holidays has eight segments in its collection, all based on national holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, Mother’s/Father’s Day and, of course, Halloween.
Holidays is not just an anthology, but a collaboration of different directors, including Kevin Smith and Gary Shore, with each taking an iconic holiday and giving it a dark and deadly twist. While some segments may not be as effective as others, as is generally the case in many anthology movies, this must-see horror anthology movie will have viewers looking at something as benign as the Easter Bunny in a completely new way.
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8 Southbound (2015)
When it comes to cohesion of the segments in horror movie anthologies, Southbound is one of the better examples of interwoven storytelling with each story’s characters appearing in multiple segments. Southbound contains five segments, with each story taking place on the open road and the horrors that may come along for the ride.
A hidden gem that deserves more attention in the horror movie community, Southbound is a film that at first appears to function like a straightforward horror story, but upon rewatch, there are some small details hidden through the film that have led fans to speculate the true fate of the characters in the movie. Although the ending does not come to a definitive conclusion, its ambiguity and cause for speculation make it a must-see horror anthology movie.
7 All Hallows’ Eve (2013)
Art the Clown has become the latest in a line of horrifying clowns thanks to the two Terrifier movies, but some fans may be surprised to find him appearing in the horror anthology movie All Hallows’ Eve. The movie showcases three segments in the form of VHS tapes with its frame story being about the two children and their babysitter watching said tapes on Halloween night.
All Hallows’ Eve is one of the more uneven horror movie anthologies with its three gory stories not offering more than grotesque imagery, but what makes it worth watching is the feature film debut of Art the Clown and his terrifying presence in each segment. As its tone and violence are on par with Terrifier and Terrifier 2, this horror anthology movie will be a hit or miss depending on what the viewers think of Art the Clown.
6 Trick ‘r Treat (2007)
Halloween and horror movies often go hand-in-hand, and Trick ‘r Treat is just the right combination of the two that can be enjoyed during the spookiest season or on a regular movie-watching night. Trick ‘r Treat tells four scary stories involving monsters and massacres with a prologue and epilogue that are all connected by the recurring appearance of the costume-wearing Sam.
Lauded as a criminally underrated horror movie, all of Trick ‘r Treat’s segments are effective not only as hallowed tributes to Halloween but as actual horror movie segments that efficiently tell stories riddled with suspense and shocking twists. During the Halloween season, this must-see horror anthology movie is a reminder for all to follow the rules of Halloween, as Sam will be watching.
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5 The ABCs of Death (2012)
While some horror movie anthologies are ambitious with their segments and the overall theme of the narrative they want to tell, The ABCs of Death is truly an endeavor at a mass collaboration. The ABCs of Death has 26 segments — one for each letter of the alphabet — created by 26 different directors from around the world who were allowed creative liberty with their assigned letters.
Popular horror movie directors like Ti West and Kaare Andrews and horror actor Angela Bettis were part of this film experiment, and despite having some good entries in the mix, The ABCs of Death is incredibly inconsistent and not all the letters are going to land with viewers — especially with some segments beings more silly than scary. Although it is one of the most inconsistent horror movie anthologies, it warrants a watch to see what a director could possibly do with letters like “Q” and “X.”
4 Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990)
A spinoff of a horror anthology television series by the same name, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie leans a little more into its comedy than horror, but is still a solid horror anthology movie. Tales from the Darkside: The Movie focuses on a frame story involving a suburban witch with intentions of cooking up a little boy named Timmy for a dinner party, but he distracts her with three scary stories that are the segments of this film anthology.
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie is not the first horror anthology movie to have both Stephen King (author of the original short story “The Cat from Hell”) and George A. Romero (screenplay writer and creator of the original TV series) take part, with the more popular horror anthology Creepshow having that claim to fame. However, this horror anthology movie is still a must-see for its delightfully disturbing stories and the fun framework narrative telling them.
3 Ghost Stories (2017)
Based on a 2010 stage play of the same name, Ghost Stories takes the tropes of the ghost horror genre and twists them in a creepy and crafty way. Ghost Stories is a horror anthology movie that has three segments in the form of unexplained paranormal experiences that supernatural skeptic Phillip Goodman sets out to debunk, only to realize that things are far more terrifying than he could have ever imagined.
Ghost Stories is a genuinely eerie take on ghostly tales and never lets its viewers know where the story is going to go until the very end with its shocking — and divisive — ending. While it feels less like an anthology with the seamlessness it uses going through each segment, this ghost story is a must-see horror anthology movie for believers and skeptics alike.
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2 The Mortuary Collection (2019)
One aspect of horror movies that is not talked about enough is the presentation of the film’s atmosphere and a perfect example is Shudder’sThe Mortuary Collection, a beautifully shot horror anthology movie with an aesthetic that rivals its stories. The Mortuary Collection has four segments that are told by the frame story’s mortician Montgomery Dark to a young woman looking for a job at his mortuary.
Although the segments are not as scary as other horror anthologies, The Mortuary Collection is one of the more modern movies that does not get talked about often, despite being more than deserving with the presentation of its storytelling. This phenomenal flick has immaculate designs with both its characters and settings, and a frame story that will keep viewers guessing until the very end.
1 Tales From the Crypt (1972)
Although the 1950s comics and television series from 1989 are far more familiar, the movie version of Tales From the Crypt is a collection that is equally entertaining and horrifying as its counterparts. Tales From the Crypt is made up of five segments that foretell the deaths of five strangers who have been traversing through a crypt and come across the mysterious Crypt Keeper.
Tales From the Crypt is one of the most well-made horror movie anthologies that uses its comic book source material to create a series of suspenseful stories that will frighten and fascinate those who are unfamiliar with the vintage comics, as well as please avid comic readers seeing the stories brought to the big screen. Although it does not star the iconic skeletal Cryptkeeper as seen in the television series, it is still a must-see horror anthology movie for horror fans of any age.
