The Best Horror Movie In Each Year Of The 1970s

The 1970s was a big decade for the horror genre. Filmmakers took risks and created movies that made audiences feel uncomfortable and think about what they saw on the screen. A few horror movies became classic films that are still loved today.

It is the decade where Stephen King arrived in the public eye, the formula for slasher movies was created, and one film practically launched what became known as the “summer blockbuster.” There are so many fantastic films in the genre, and this decade allowed horror movies to get the respect they deserved.

10 1970: House Of Dark Shadows

This movie is a continuation of the famous Dark Shadows TV series. It involves Barnabas Collins, a vampire, as he pursues a woman named Maggie, who resembles his long-lost fiance. Barnabas believes she really is the reincarnation of his lost love.

This film is a great continuation of the beloved TV show, and fans were not disappointed when this film came out. The movie still had the charm and the eeriness of the series, but having a bigger budget allowed the film to shine and stand out, compared to what was able to be done in a single episode of the series.

9 1971: Willard

This revenge tale involves Willard, a social misfit with pet rats, who gets revenge on those who torment him, using his rats to attack them. This movie is strange, but it is a lot of fun. A remake of the film was released in 2003, starring Crispin Glover of Back To The Future fame, and it is just as well received.

It is a weird, morbid tale, perfect for any horror fan. It may not be the most recognized horror movie in the world, but it certainly is memorable to all who have seen it.

8 1972: The Last House On The Left 

This morbid, twisted movie is the directorial debut of horror movie master, Wes Craven. A group of convicts kidnap, rape, and murder two young women. They then seek refuge in a couple’s home. Little did they know, the couple is the parents of one of their victims. When the parents discover what they did, they exact revenge.

It is a horrifying tale, and it sticks with viewers after they see it. The movie’s tagline, “To avoid fainting, keep repeating, it’s only a movie … only a movie …only a movie …” perfectly captures how terrifying the film was to audiences in the early 1970s.

7 1973: The Exorcist

This movie will always go down in history as one of the best horror movies of all time and a masterpiece in film history. The movie is about a 12-year-old girl, played by Linda Blair, who is possessed, and her mother seeks help from two priests.

The movie is horrifying, and its depiction of an exorcism will always go down in history as one of the scariest moments on film. It was nominated for multiple Oscars, becoming one of the few horror movies recognized by the Academy.

6 1974: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Tobe Hooper directed this horror classic about a family of cannibals in Texas as they terrorize a group of friends. This movie paved the way for future horror films, and Sally, one of the leads of the film, is one of the first well-known final girls in horror movie history.

This movie was able to gross out audiences upon release without a lot of blood. The creepy atmosphere, the camera work, and the great performances made the film scary. The movie also brought the terrifying villain, Leatherface, into the world.

5 1975: Jaws

Steven Spielberg directed this blockbuster hit about a great white shark that terrorizes the residents and tourists of Amity. Based on the novel by Peter Benchley, this film strikes the perfect balance between being an action-adventure tale and a scary movie, all at the same time.

The performances are great, and the movie is visually stunning, letting audiences know that the new director, Steven Spielberg, was going to play a big role in modern cinema. The famous John Williams score alone will give shivers down the spine and make people think twice before getting into the water.

4 1976: Carrie

Stephen King made it big in the 1970s, and it all started with the novel, Carrie. This is the very first adaptation of a book by Stephen King, and it is one of the very best. A teenage girl with telekinetic powers is humiliated on prom night, leading to her getting revenge on everyone.

This movie is an absolute classic, elevating Stephen King to celebrity status, as well as introducing John Travolta to the feature film world. The other actors are also great, with Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie being nominated for Oscars for their performances.

3 1977: The Hills Have Eyes

A few years after The Last House On The Left was released, Wes Craven directed this horror cult classic. A family travels in a trailer through the desert. They take a shortcut through a nuclear testing site, and the trialer breaks down. They end up being terrorized by a group of psychotic cannibals.

This is a disturbing movie that impacted audiences upon its initial release. It may not be one of Wes Craven’s most well-known works, like A Nightmare On Elm Street and Scream, but it definitely has a cult following.

2 1978: Halloween

John Carpenter directed this horror film classic about Michael Myers, who goes back to his hometown on Halloween and stalks Laurie Strode, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, and her friends. This film started the slasher trend that became popular after the film’s release.

Without Halloween, we would not have other famous horror franchises, like Friday The 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Scream. The film is always a favorite to watch on the holiday it is named after, and it is still popular today, due to Blumhouse’s latest reboot.

1 1979: Alien

Sigourney Weaver stars in this terrifying sci-fi horror film about a crew on a spaceship who is stalked and killed by an alien, known as the Xenomorph. This film is definitely more horror than science fiction and the creepy atmosphere, the wonderful performances, and the look of the alien creature make it an absolute classic.

It also has one of the best taglines of any horror movie: “In space, no one can hear you scream.” The film led to many sequels, but none of them can match the scariness and imagery of this original film.

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