The horror genre has long been used as a means of amplifying and exposing the everyday horrors that exist within our society.
After all, nothing is more terrifying than a scare rooted in truth and reality, terror that hits close to home or reveals something about our world.
These eight social horror films all center on themes of prevalent societal ills that continuously plague America and other countries around the world.
Whether focused on racism, class divisions, abuse, or social media obsession, these movies use the horror film as a vehicle for bringing issues into the public eye and making people think about the complicit role they may play in these terrors.
If you're looking for an insightful, provocative, and still really, really scary film to watch tonight, look no further than these social horror movies.
Get Out (2017)
When young black photographer Chris Washington embarks on a weekend getaway to meet his white girlfriend's parents, he walks right into the trap of the dark secrets and scheme of the parents and their white peers.
Get Out is a searing exposé of the exploitation of black Americans and how the racist foundations of our country remain prevalent even in liberal, “colorblind,” circles.
Parasite (2019)
Parasite follows the poor Kim family as they infiltrate the lives and home of the wealthy Park family, by posing as unrelated and qualified domestic help.
The film explores the gaping wealth disparity in modern South Korea and the economic inequality and class conflicts that have resulted from what director Bong Joon Ho considers late-stage capitalism in the country.
Candyman (1992)
Candyman is about a white graduate student who discovers the legend of “The Candyman,” the ghost of the son of a slave who was lynched by a mob in the late 1800s after impregnating a white woman.
The film, set in Chicago's Cabrini-Green public housing development, touches on themes of racism and social inequality in American cities.
The Invisible Man (2020)
Starring Elizabeth Moss, this film focuses on the story of a woman who believes she is being stalked and terrorized by her abusive ex-boyfriend, who has become invisible, despite everyone else being convinced that he is dead.
The Invisible Man highlights issues of domestic abuse and the gaslighting of women's fears and issues.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
A ragtag group of strangers stuck in a rural Pennsylvania farmhouse must fend off a horde of flesh-eating, recently dead, reanimated corpses.
The film captured the chaos of the moment in late 1960s America, where the country seemed to be in a battle against itself, invoking the cultural and social changes of the decade. It is also credited with establishing the modern depiction of zombies!
The People Under the Stairs (1991)
A boy and two burglars break into the home of a manipulating landlord couple to steal their collection of gold coins and instead find a horrific secret and get themselves trapped inside.
The film holds a satirical light to issues of gentrification and capitalism, as relating to class and racial divides.
The Platform (2019)
The Platform is set in a "Vertical Self-Management Center" where people are imprisoned for past crimes.
Each day, a platform full of food descends from the top floor down through many levels. The people at the top gorge themselves, leaving little for those below.
This dark comedy shows humans pushed to the absolute brink in an unequal system, a poignant allegory for systems of inequality around the world.
Spree (2020)
Spree follows a young rideshare app driver, played by Joe Keery, who will do anything for likes and attention on social media, as he livestreams himself killing his passengers in an attempt to go viral.
The film is an all-too-possible satire of the dangers of social media obsession and seeking validation from apps, as well as an indictment of all who view and engage with the dark corners and do nothing.
Featured still from “Get Out” via Universal Pictures
