New York City is a pinnacle of entertainment and a landmark of success, bringing together all kinds of people and their endless supplies of stories and life experiences. As the most heavily populated city in the United States, its iconic status has made it the setting for so many amazing movies and shows throughout the decades. Transforming a location that so many people recognize right away into something scary emphasizes its vast nature and hidden horrors.
New York's identity gives more nuance to the average horror movie setup in a city so expansive. What's really hiding in the depths of the subway system; what happens when a disaster strikes so many people at once, and can certain people actually be trusted? Without further ado, here are the best horror movies based in New York City, ranked.
10 1408 (2007)
1408 is a less famous Stephen King tale about a haunted hotel, but its atmosphere is just as spine-tingling. Author Mike Enslin arrives at the Dolphin Hotel for his stay, finally ending up in room 1408, which is allegedly filled with paranormal activity. Of course, once he enters, he gets up close and personal with those who have stayed there in the past. It's not a surprise that New York is home to hundreds of dark secrets. This story's example is found in the hallways of a stately old building, uncovered by a storyteller whose goal to get the truth leads him into the darkness as well.
9 Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan brings the beloved character to the city that never sleeps, giving him a whole new playing field on which he can wreak havoc. As the eighth entry into the famous film series, it fully takes advantage of young people running for their lives again. Jason trails a group of high school seniors on a celebratory cruise en route to New York, giving himself plenty of work to do before they reach the shore. By positioning this icon of horror in one of the most iconic cities in the world, the story becomes visually recognizable and an essential inclusion to the series right off the bat.
8 C.H.U.D. (1984)
As another example of New York City's underground world revealed, C.H.U.D. proposes that the sewer system houses slimy monster-like beings. Citizens start to vanish, and a team of investigators sets out to uncover what's really going on, coming into contact with the realities of C.H.U.D. in the process. This movie can definitely be considered a work of eco-horror, and its lessons on environmental stewardship hit home, especially in the setting of such a large city. Some fans seem to think it could benefit from another sequel.
7 The Midnight Meat Train (2008)
Despite its somewhat goofy name, The Midnight Meat Train is a genuinely gory horror flick filled with entrails and dangling body parts. Leon, a photographer who aims to elevate his craft, seeks out inspiration in the city's darkness. As a woman he noticed disappears, becoming one of several instances, Leon believes that Mahogany the butcher is behind all of that bloodshed. The story takes Leon into the exposé of his career, emphasizing the old mysteries that the city hides and the depth of its underground systems.
6 Panic Room (2002)
Panic Room introduces viewers to mother-daughter pair Meg (Jodie Foster) and Sarah (Kirsten Stewart) in what becomes a life-or-death situation. The two move into a beautiful New York City house with a built-in panic room, which a sudden break-in forces them to use. But to their horror, the objective of the intruders lies exactly where they are. Odds keep stacking against them, including Sarah's diabetes management and the fear that director David Fincher expertly communicates through the film's progression. Crime can be rampant in a place as big as New York, showcasing how it can strike even the pockets that appear to be safest.
5 Cloverfield (2008)
Cloverfield sees the Big Apple in absolute peril, relying on handheld and found-footage camera work to capture the desperation of people engulfed by chaos. An exciting evening in New York City appears normal at first, as a party setting soon dissolves into darkness and fear when the film's creepy and gigantic creature makes its entrance. This film scares its viewers by emphasizing a universal sense of confusion that comes as a result of catastrophe unfolding in a city setting. The jolting camera movements make it appear more vague yet genuine, to give audiences the sense that maybe, it could happen in their downtown area, too.
4 They Look Like People (2015)
They Look Like People is a genuinely unsung story set in New York that looks closely at mental illness, trust, and the depth of friendship. Christian and Wyatt cross paths again in early adulthood, and Wyatt ends up staying at Christian's place, where he becomes stuck with the feeling of impending disaster. He begins to grapple with the looming belief about an imminent conflict between body-snatching beings and the humans left over. With excellent camera angle choices, viewers get glimpses of what Wyatt could be seeing from his perspective as things get scarier. A Los Angeles Times review stated, "What terrifies most...is the threat inside rather than anything external."
3 Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
The darkness of the real world and the tormented psyche of its main character are sometimes indistinguishable in Jacob's Ladder. Jacob's service in the Vietnam War is over, but the horrors he experienced are still following him around. As he transitions back into normal life in New York City, his brain betrays him as the haunting feeling intensifies around him, no matter where he finds himself. Alongside Jacob, viewers wonder whether what they see is all real, or just the work of his own mind. This film emphasizes the grip of trauma, the lasting impact of war, and the confusion that mental illness can create, making a familiar place into Jacob's personal hell.
2 American Psycho (2000)
You can't always trust the well-adjusted exterior of a person, because they could turn out to be an American Psycho. This freaky film revolves around Christian Bale's Patrick Bateman, who looks to be a picture of Wall Street excellence. In reality, his murderous ways have become his favorite pastime, as he maneuvers his everyday activities to keep his bloody pleasures going. The Hollywood Reporter characterized Bateman as "the worst aspects of American culture, greed, commercialism, addiction, hedonism and bloodlust" – when personified, viewers notice the darkness within the slow normalization of those attitudes.
1 Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Rosemary's Baby is truly horrific in several senses, transforming a family's plans for their future into an utterly hellish happening. Rosemary and her husband Guy move into a New York City apartment to start a new life chapter together as potential parents, which places poor Rosemary into an inescapable new reality. This film covers the terror of assault, new motherhood, and not being able to trust those around you. Even in a setting that appears to ooze success and status, horror can happen. The reveal in the film's final few scenes sees Rosemary's character devolve as a result of what she is put through.