The Best Horror Movies of 2012

Updated September 21, 2019 4.8k votes 594 voters 28.0k views39 items

List RulesHorror films released between January and December, 2012

The best horror movies of 2012 managed to scare the daylights out of movie goers and keep them enthralled with tales of terror and mayhem. The 2012 horror films listed here each provided a unique and often disturbing angle on frightful stories. Some are straight up ghost stories ('The Woman in Black') and others are sequels to already successful horror franchises ('Paranormal Activity 4'). Which 2012 horror movie scared you the most, and which left you completely flat? Vote for your favorites, and feel free to add any great horror films from 2012 that are missing.

Some of the best 2012 horror movies weren't sequels at all: The horror thriller 'Sinister,' starring Ethan Hawke, drew fright fans to theaters in droves, and the Joss Whedon/Drew Goddard penned 'The Cabin in the Woods' got rave reviews from critics and movie goers alike. Is 'Cabin' the best horror film of the year? The voting will be the final determiner, but it's hard to argue that it wasn't a super clever horror movie.

Looking for more great "best of" movie lists? Check out these lists for the best action movies of 2012, the best comedy movies of 2012, the creepiest kids in horror movies and of course, some of the best old horror movies ever made.

And yes, some of the horror movies on this list might also wind up on the worst movies of 2012 list, too. It all depends: What scares some people to death might not phase someone else. Horror fans: It's up to you to decide!

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Sinister
Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio
Released: 2012
Directed by: Scott Derrickson
Sinister is a 2012 supernatural horror film directed by Scott Derrickson and written by... more
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The Cabin in the Woods
Chris Hemsworth, Sigourney Weaver
Released: 2012
Directed by: Drew Goddard
The Cabin in the Woods is a 2012 American horror comedy film directed by Drew Goddard in his... more
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Silent Hill: Revelation
Sean Bean, Carrie-Anne Moss
Released: 2012
Directed by: Michael J. Bassett
Silent Hill: Revelation is a 2012 Canadian-French 3D horror film directed and written by... more
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Resident Evil: Retribution
Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter
Released: 2012
Directed by: Paul W. S. Anderson
Resident Evil: Retribution is a 2012 American-Canadian-German science fiction action horror... more
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Dark Shadows
Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer
Released: 2012
Directed by: Tim Burton
Dark Shadows is a 2012 American horror comedy film loosely based on the gothic television soap... more
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The Woman in Black
Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds
Released: 2012
Directed by: James Watkins
The Woman in Black is a 2012 British horror film directed by James Watkins and written by Jane... more
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The Raven
Alice Eve, John Cusack
Released: 2012
Directed by: James McTeigue
The Raven is a 2012 American mystery thriller film directed by James McTeigue and based on a... more
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Paranormal Activity 4
Sprague Grayden, Kathryn Newton
Released: 2012
Directed by: Ariel Schulman, Henry Joost
Paranormal Activity 4 is a 2012 American supernatural horror film, directed by Ariel Schulman... more
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The Apparition
Ashley Greene, Tom Felton
Released: 2012
Directed by: Todd Lincoln
The Apparition is a supernatural thriller film directed and written by Todd Lincoln, and... more
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77
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V/H/S
Joe Swanberg, Adam Wingard
Released: 2012
Directed by: Joe Swanberg, Adam Wingard, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett, Justin Martinez
V/H/S is a 2012 American anthology horror film. It features a series of found-footage shorts... more
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The Possession
Kyra Sedgwick, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Released: 2012
Directed by: Ole Bornedal
The Possession is a 2012 supernatural horror film directed by Ole Bornedal and produced by Sam... more
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The Collection
Navi Rawat, Christopher McDonald
Released: 2012
Directed by: Marcus Dunstan
The Collection is a 2012 American action horror-thriller film, a sequel to the 2009 film, The... more
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Prometheus
Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender
Released: 2012
Directed by: Ridley Scott
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Piranha 3DD
Katrina Bowden, David Hasselhoff
Released: 2012
Directed by: John Gulager
Piranha 3DD is a 2012 American 3D comedy horror film and sequel to the 2010 film Piranha 3D.... more
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Underworld: Awakening
Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman
Released: 2012
Directed by: Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein
Underworld: Awakening is a 2012 American 3D action horror film directed by Måns Mårlind and... more
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Chernobyl Diaries
Jesse McCartney, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal
Released: 2012
Directed by: Bradley Parker
Chernobyl Diaries is a 2012 American disaster horror film directed by Brad Parker and produced... more
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The Pact
Jewel Staite, Samuel Ball
Released: 2011
Directed by: Nicholas McCarthy
The Pact is a 2011 horror drama short film written and directed by Nicholas McCarthy.... more
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Silent House
Elizabeth Olsen, Eric Sheffer Stevens
Released: 2011
Directed by: Chris Kentis, Laura Lau
Silent House is a 2011 American independent horror film directed by Chris Kentis and Laura... more
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The Innkeepers
Lena Dunham, Sara Paxton
Released: 2011
Directed by: Ti West
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House at the End of the Street
Jennifer Lawrence, Elisabeth Shue
Released: 2012
Directed by: Mark Tonderai
House at the End of the Street is a 2012 horror film directed by Mark Tonderai and written by... more
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Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Alan Tudyk
Released: 2012
Directed by: Timur Bekmambetov
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is a 2012 American dark fantasy action horror film directed by... more
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The Devil Inside
Lelia Goldoni, John Prosky
Released: 2012
Directed by: William Brent Bell
The Devil Inside is a 2012 American supernatural horror film directed by William Brent Bell,... more
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The Divide
Rosanna Arquette, Milo Ventimiglia
Released: 2011
Directed by: Xavier Gens
The Divide is a post-apocalyptic horror film directed by Xavier Gens and written by Karl... more

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Absentia
Doug Jones, Ian Gregory
Released: 2011
Directed by: Mike Flanagan
Absentia is a 2011 horror film written and directed by Mike Flanagan and produced by FallBack... more
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The Tall Man
Jessica Biel, Jodelle Ferland
Released: 2012
Directed by: Pascal Laugier
The Tall Man is a 2012 Canadian and French mystery-thriller film written and directed by... more