Top 10 Horror Anthologies

Anthologies are a double-edged blade. Their format is a forgiving one, that allows for satisfying viewers from all walks of horror fandom. But this also means it’s rare that an anthology will satisfy the same viewer the entire way through. They can serve as either a showcase for diverse talent or as a unique way to illustrate a cinematic universe from multiple perspectives. They’re easy to digest and perfect for frequent revisits. The anthology is sort of the equivalent of horror candy: They’re a quick hit of the good stuff, though not always the most gratifying thing you could have watched. And the spectrum of quality is equally wide; this list encompasses the films I would liken to the Snickers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Twix of the bunch. Please note that I have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to the anthologies from Asia — I haven’t seen Three … Extremes or Kwaidan. I hope Jesus forgives me for not having seen Tales from the Hood yet, either. Honorable mentions include Southbound, Trilogy of Terror, and The ABCs of Death.

10. Tales of Halloween (2015; dir: Various)

This is a relatively new entry to the horror anthology pantheon, but it’s one that’s grown on me over the years since its release. This mean flick is packed with 10 relatively short segments that focus primarily on a a quick setup to a darkly comedic punch line, though a few of the stories aim for more serious scares. Like most anthologies, this is super uneven, but segments by Dave Parker (“Sweet Tooth”), Darren Lynn Bousman (“The Night Billy Raised Hell”), Adam Gierasch (“Trick”), and Mike Mendez (“Friday the 31st”) make this a fun movie I like to revisit every October.

9. V/H/S/2 (2013; dir: Various)

The V/H/S series helped revitalize interest in portmanteau films in the 2010s, but the second entry is where it hit the hardest. There’s no denying the bloody shock and awe of Gareth Evans’ “Safe Haven” segment, documenting the final, gore-drenched day of a suicide cult. But all the stories — featuring indie horror talent like Adam Wingard, Eduardo Sánchez, and Jason Eisener — are entertaining in their own way, and the vague wraparound is pretty unsettling.

8. The Mortuary Collection (2020; dir; Ryan Spindell)

And we’re back to new Halloween-centric anthologies with Ryan Spindell’s macabre flick. The Mortuary Collection is remarkably consistent; all of the tales, which are divergent in subject matter and scare “category,” take place in the same town, Raven’s End. This setup allows writer/director Spindell to insert a lot of small details that give the town a lived-in feel that really resonates. Raven’s End seems like a place that really exists, haunted by spirits of all kinds. This film is funny, scary, and well-told, and Clancy Brown is fantastic as the mortician. This is a very old-school movie jazzed up for a modern audience, and it’s wonderful. It’s only this low because I want to see if it holds up over time. I can easily imagine it cracking the top five in the future.

7. Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983; dir: Various)

This may have had the most troubled production of all the movies on this list. It’ll always be haunted by the on-set (and, morbidly, on-camera) deaths of Vic Morrow, Myca Dinh Le, and Renee Shin-Yi Chen, but there were reportedly also creative frustrations abound. Twilight Zone: The Movie earns its place on the list via its absolutely terrifying adaptation of “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” but the wraparound is also very effective and the rest of the stories aren’t too bad, even if they’re not all exactly horror.

6. Creepshow 2 (1987; dir: Michael Gornick)

There’s a lot of hate out there for Creepshow 2, which is unfortunate. Sure, it’s meaner and less fun than George A. Romero’s original, but the wraparound is ‘80s horror nostalgia personified, and “The Raft” and “The Hitchhiker” are morbid classics. (“Hey lady, thanks for the ride!” is a staple of my nightmares.) “Old Chief Wood’nhead” has a lot of problems, but it’s mostly amusing despite its now-cringey casual racism. But you are left wondering why Wood’nhead didn’t do a damn thing to prevent the murders of the kindly old white folks.

5. Tales from the Crypt (1972; dir: Freddie Francis)

This anthology, based on stories from various EC Comics, is peak Amicus Productions. Featuring the considerable talents of Peter Cushing, Joan Collins, Nigel Patrick, and Patrick Magee, this British film feels very old-fashioned, yet with a mean-spirited edge. Though the wraparound segment isn’t particularly effective, each of the stories proper is morbidly satisfying. Cushing’s fantastic, sympathetic performance and a slender, darkened maze with razor blade-embedded walls are immortal.

4. Trick ‘r Treat (2007; dir: Mike Dougherty)

Dougherty’s anthology is basically Halloween in film form. It’s a perfect distillation of all the things you associate with the season (orange, black, pumpkins, falling leaves, ominous breezes, costume parties, candy, mischief, ghosts, ghouls) all in one well-directed package. Trick ‘r Treat is so cohesive that it’s almost not an anthology; all of the segments tie together perfectly and pay off one another nicely as part of one larger story. It’s at once gruesome and innocent, making it a satisfying watch for adults and more adventurous children, or adults forever chasing the Halloweens of their youth.

3. Asylum (1972; dir: Roy Ward Baker)

This is another anthology from Amicus Productions. As with the previous film on this list, Asylum works really well as a cohesive piece, since all of the segments are based on short stories by Robert Bloch, who also wrote the screenplay. There’s a pervasively foreboding and engrossing atmosphere, punctuated by some very unsettling moments. Like Tales from the Crypt, this is old-fashioned horror at its best, again showcasing the wonderful talents of Brits like Peter Cushing, Charlotte Rampling, and Herbert Lom.

2. Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990; dir: John Harrison)

I’m going to be honest: Tales from the Darkside might be this high primarily out of nostalgia: It was my first anthology. As a monster-loving kid, “The Lover’s Vow” made a huge impression on me. It might be my favorite segment in any anthology; it perfectly marries tragedy, horror, gore, atmosphere, and creature spectacle. The other two stories (“Lot 249” and “Cat from Hell”) are great, as well, and easily could be the standout in most other anthology films. The wraparound is mostly perfunctory (but it’s always lovely to see Debbie Harry). This movie is one of the best anthologies at balancing storytelling, special effects, and satisfying twists.

1. Creepshow (1982; dir: George A. Romero)

Is there even another option here? Creepshow is the perfect anthology. It’s visually interesting, with an aesthetic that’s inspired horror films for almost 40 years now. Each story is unique and offers a different sort of horror, whether visceral or psychological, whether you’re afraid of monsters or loneliness or bugs or the horrors behind closed suburban doors. Though it was not my experience as a kid, the wraparound story speaks to many horror fans who grew up with these movies as a refuge from difficult childhoods, and that’s pretty powerful stuff.