There are a lot of horror movies out there, from monster movies to slashers and ghost stories. However, many of these movies are claustrophobic tales, trapping teens at a campground or families in a haunted house with little room to escape. There is one other arena for horror movies that is a little less mined in the urban landscape.
Urban horror movies are those which take place in urban areas, usually in cities like Chicago or London, where the horrors are not confined to a singular location and can roam the streets, taking victims from all over the town. As many Reddit s point out, when there are fewer places to hide, the horror becomes even more intense.
Candyman (1992) — Rent On Prime Video
The original Candyman from 1992 is the perfect urban horror movie according to Reddit @frederick_tussock. The entire thread started when the original poster said, "I did go see the new Candyman film and I think it scratched an itch because I realized it was the first horror movie I saw take place in a city."
The response was to see the original Candyman. The movie took place in Chicago and was based on an evil spirit who kills anyone who says his name five times in front of a mirror. Much of the action took place in the neighborhoods of Chicago, and there was nowhere a person could hide once they summoned the Candyman.
Se7en (1995) — Stream On Hulu
Se7en is a very different style of horror movie. This David Fincher movie took the form of a detective thriller, with a veteran cop and a young hotshot detective investigating a serial killer who used the seven deadly sins as his motif.
However, this was a pure urban horror movie, and @MediumSpeedEddie recommended it on Reddit. The movie took place in and around an unnamed urban city, where the detectives found victim after victim before the horrifying climax.
The Midnight Meat Train (2008) — Stream On Vudu
One overlooked urban horror movie is Midnight Meat Train, and @BusinessPurge recommended, writing it was "NYC and Urban Horror plus a great cast and kinetic gorefest." This is a movie that was underrated from the start.=
Based on the story by Clive Barker, Midnight Meat Train didn't even get a real theatrical release, with the studio dumping it into a handful of budget theaters before moving it to home video. The horror movie stars Bradley Cooper as a man who comes face to face with a serial killer working for an underground supernatural entity.
Attack The Block (2011) — Stream On Starz
Moving over to the U.K., Finn in the Star Wars prequels.
Redditor @NotARandomNumber wrote, "Attack the Block is more scifi horror, but still fits. Same with Cloverfield." Both were alien invasion movies, but Attack the Block was more horror with the monsters getting up close and personal.
The People Under The Stairs (1991) — Rent On Prime Video
In 1991, Wes Craven made a horror-comedy called Nightmare on Elm Street franchise as he could get. The movie followed a young boy and two thieves who broke into a house and found more than they bargained for.
When asked about urban horror movies, @Mystero1983 suggested The People Under the Stairs, and @Spiritual-Soul5571 agreed, writing, "It does qualify. That's a great movie."
It Follows (2014) — Stream On Netflix
In 2014, the indie horror movie It Follows is a supernatural form that kills anyone after they have a sexual encounter with someone infected with the entity unless they can find someone to it on to.
The movie takes place in one of America's most urban cities in Detroit. The movie was recommended for anyone looking for an urban horror movie, with @roboytherobotboy writing, "Definitely "it follows" !"
Maniac Cop (1988) — Stream On AMC+
Maniac Cop is a cult classic from 1988, directed by Wiliam Lustig and starring Robert Z'Dar as a murderous ex-New York City police officer who returned from the dead and sought revenge on everyone who wronged him. There were three movies in the series.
The movie also starred Tom Atkins and Bruce Campbell to add to its cult flavor. This made it an easy pick for @frederick_tussock, who recommended "the whole Maniac Cop trilogy."
They Live (1988) — Rent On Prime Video
The Thing, which took place at a remote Antarctic outpost. He also directed an urban horror-sci-fi movie that took place in Los Angeles.
They Live starred professional wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper as a drifter who finds a pair of sunglasses that allows him to see that an alien invasion is underway with aliens taking over the bodies of humans. Redditor @frederick-tussock recommended it along with Prince of Darkness, also by Carpenter.
Last Night In Soho (2021) — Rent On Prime Video
A more recent addition to the urban horror movies is the 2021 Edgar Wright movie Last Night in Soho. In this movie, a girl moves to London to study at a design school. It is here that she starts to see visions from the past and the life and death of another girl who moved there to become a singer decades ago.
Redditor @apoplectic-confetti recommended both Last Night in Soho and 28 Days Later as two urban horror movies from the U.K.
Jacob's Ladder (1990) — Stream On Hulu
While there was a recent remake, fans might want to go back and watch the original release of the horror movie Jacob's Ladder from 1990. The movie starred Tim Robbins as a man who returned from the war and ended up seeing visions of monsters pursuing him.
The movie took place in New York City and opened with some terrifying moments in both the NYC subway system. It was enough for Redditor @LongjumpingBox4874 to recommend it to anyone looking for an urban horror movie.
