One of many enjoyable issues about horror is that it may be paired with just about any style. It may be mixed with components of motion, journey, romance, or comedy. Generally, it even tumbles all of them collectively.
The films right here all begin off as heist motion pictures. There’s a thief, or group of thieves, and loads on the road. What begins off as a heist or kidnapping in these tales, nevertheless, rapidly morphs right into a nightmare. There are monsters, serial killers, and issues that go bump within the evening.
Listed below are the ten finest heist motion pictures that rapidly turn into blood-soaked horror nightmares.
10
‘Wait Till Darkish’ (1967)
Wait Till Darkish is a tense sport of cat and mouse between a thief and a blind girl. It might sound tame to modern audiences, however within the Sixties, this was a horror film. Primarily based on the 1966 play by Frederick Knott, this taut thriller is directed by Terence Younger (From Russia with Love) with a screenplay by Robert Carrington (Concern is the Key) and Jane-Howard Carrington (Summer time of My German Soldier).
Audrey Hepburn’s Scariest Film
Audrey Hepburn (Breakfast at Tiffany’s) stars as Susy Hendrix, who misplaced her sight in a automobile crash the 12 months prior. When her husband, Sam (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.), is unknowingly handed a doll filled with heroin on the airport, he brings the doll dwelling with him. The following day, Sam goes out and the harmful Harry Roat, performed by Alan Arkin (Argo), comes in search of the heroin. Wait Till Darkish stays Hepburn’s most horrifying movie to this point, and she or he acquired an Academy Award nomination for the efficiency. The movie holds a 96% ranking from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
9
‘The Folks Below the Stairs’ (1991)
Written and directed by Wes Craven (Scream), The Folks Below the Stairs stars Brandon Adams (The Sandlot) as 13-year-old Poindexter “Idiot” Williams. Idiot’s household is about to be evicted from their Los Angeles house by a budget and merciless Robesons, who personal the constructing. Unable to afford his mom’s most cancers therapy, Idiot agrees to assist a person named Leroy (Ving Rhames) rob the Robesons. When Idiot will get into the home, nevertheless, he discovers that the Robesons have kids locked up of their basement.
Wes Craven’s Curveball
The Folks Below the Stairs did effectively on the field workplace. Critics famous the way it differs vastly from the kinds of horror motion pictures Craven often made, however agreed that it was a singular and fascinating film. The movie acquired six Fangoria Chainsaw Award nominations, together with Greatest Screenplay. It stays a low-key basic within the horror style in the present day, with a 70% ranking from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
8
‘From Nightfall Until Daybreak’ (1996)
Directed by Robert Rodriguez (As soon as Upon a Time in Mexico) with a screenplay by Quentin Tarantino (As soon as Upon a Time… in Hollywood), From Nightfall Until Daybreak is a criminal offense thriller that turns right into a vampire horror film. After killing a Texas Ranger, financial institution robber Seth Gecko (George Clooney) and his unstable brother, Richie (Tarantino), take widowed pastor Jacob Fuller (Harvey Keitel) and his kids hostage as they flee to Mexico. The group stops to cover out at an all-night strip membership, solely to find that the place is stuffed with vampires.
A Pulpy B-Film
The film did effectively in theaters, with critics recognizing the pulpy B-movie vibe Robert Rodriguez and Tarantino have been going for. Clooney received an MTV Film Award for Greatest Breakthrough Efficiency, whereas Tarantino went within the different route and acquired a Razzie nomination for Worst Supporting Actor. Clooney hasn’t appeared in lots of horror motion pictures all through his profession, and From Nightfall Until Daybreak positively stays his hottest. The film has since impressed a prequel, a sequel, and an El Rey tv collection starring D. J. Cotrona (Shazam!) and Zane Holtz (Riverdale).
7
‘Panic Room’ (2002)
Panic Room is a thriller written by David Koepp (Jurassic Park) and directed by David Fincher (Struggle Membership). Jodie Foster (Taxi Driver) stars because the lately divorced Meg Altman, who strikes right into a four-story brownstone in New York together with her diabetic 11-year-old daughter, Sarah, who’s performed by Kristen Stewart (Spencer). The mom and daughter are compelled to take shelter of their new panic room after three burglars (performed by Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto, and Dwight Yoakam) break in to steal bearer bonds which might be hidden in the home.
A Taut Thriller
Whereas the film may have performed off as the common thriller, the claustrophobia, sinister pressure, and Fincher’s gritty type add to the movie’s sense of horror and dread. Like Fincher’s Se7en or Foster’s The Silence of the Lambs, the film holds footing in each the thriller and horror genres. Foster was nominated for a Saturn Award for her efficiency, whereas Stewart earned a Younger Artist Award nomination for Main Younger Actress in a Characteristic Movie.
6
‘Lifeless Heist’ (2007)
Lifeless Heist is an motion thriller directed by Bo Webb in his directorial function debut. The screenplay was written by Webb, Anghus Houvouras (Fearsome), and Eric Tomosunas (California Dreaming). 4 buddies (performed by Massive Daddy Kane, E-40, Brandon Xavier, and Dominic L. Santana) plan a financial institution theft however are completely unprepared for zombies to descend in town that very same day. Now trapped contained in the financial institution, the lads should battle the undead with the intention to survive.
Financial institution Jobs and Zombies
The movie was launched instantly on DVD and acquired combined evaluations. It does, nevertheless, preserve a small however loyal following that offers it an 88% ranking from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences think about it to be a enjoyable crime-horror mash-up that is higher than one may anticipate for a straight-to-DVD launch of this period.
5
‘The Collector’ (2009)
Marcus Dunstan (Unhuman) directed The Collector. He additionally wrote the screenplay with Patrick Melton (Noticed V). Josh Stewart (Manhunt) stars as handyman and former legal, Arkin O’Brien. Determined for quick money to pay again a debt, Arkin plans to steal a worthwhile jewel from his new employer’s nation dwelling. What he would not know is that another person has focused the property, and this assailant has extra than simply theft in thoughts.
Advisable by Horror Followers
Many viewers and critics have been delay by the extreme violence in The Collector, calling it “torture porn.” This is not stunning, provided that it got here out throughout a interval when “torture porn” horror motion pictures have been on the rise. Critics and audiences give The Collector low scores on Rotten Tomatoes, however the movie has gained recognition by way of word-of-mouth. If you’re a horror fan, chances are high one other horror fan has beneficial this film to you at one level or one other.
4
‘Don’t Breathe’ (2016)
Do not Breathe is directed by Fede Álvarez (Evil Lifeless), who additionally wrote the screenplay with Rodo Sayagues (Alien: Romulus). Three younger thieves (Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, and Daniel Zovatto) make a residing in Detroit by breaking into homes. Nonetheless struggling financially, the trio get phrase that Gulf Struggle veteran Norman Nordstrom (Stephen Lang) retains lots of money in his home. The home is in an deserted neighborhood, and it looks like a straightforward job, till their mark seems to be extra harmful than they’d anticipated.
An ‘Evil Lifeless’ Reunion
Just a few Twenty first-century horror motion pictures have used one of these premise over time, however Do not Breathe is taken into account to be among the finest with this setup. Álvarez, Sayagues, and Levy — who had all labored collectively on the Evil Lifeless remake in 2013 — re-teamed for this film. This time round, they wished to focus extra on suspense than shock and blood. Do not Breathe was well-received when it got here out. It received a Saturn Award for Greatest Horror Movie and Lang received Greatest Supporting Actor on the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. The movie holds a licensed contemporary 88% ranking from critics and 79% ranking from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
3
‘Villains’ (2019)
Villains is a psychological thriller, darkish comedy, and horror film all wrapped up into one. The movie was written and directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, the workforce behind Novocaine. Maika Monroe (It Follows) and Invoice Skarsgård (Locked) star as Jules and Mickey, two criminals who rob a fuel station solely to expire of fuel in the course of nowhere.
Darkish and Twisted Irony
Once they discover an remoted home, the pair resolve to interrupt in and verify the storage, however find yourself discovering somebody chained up within the basement. Subsequent, they run into the owners, George (Jeffrey Donovan) and Gloria (Kyra Sedgwick), and issues solely worsen and weirder from there. Villains did not get as a lot press protection as Do not Breathe when it got here out, and the tone is completely totally different, however evaluations have been equally constructive. Villains is licensed contemporary with an 84% ranking from critics and a 77% ranking from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
2
‘Blood Crimson Sky’ (2021)
Blood Crimson Sky goes a lot more durable than you could possibly think about, particularly given how issues begin out. The movie is directed by Peter Thorwarth (The Wave), who additionally wrote the screenplay with Stefan Holt (The Ibiza Affair). Peri Baumeister (Neuland) stars as Nadja, a widow in want of medical therapy who’s touring by aircraft together with her youngster to fulfill with a physician in New York. Issues go horribly incorrect, nevertheless, when the aircraft is hijacked for ransom. What they do not know is that Nadja’s medical situation is vampirism — and vampirism might be tough to handle.
A Daring, Bloody Imaginative and prescient
The film is fast-paced with twists and turns which might be actually disturbing. It acquired a Greatest Make-up FX nomination on the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. In 2025, Indiewire known as Blood Crimson Sky one among “the 25 scariest motion pictures on Netflix” alongside movies like The Perfection and Apostle. It has an 81% ranking from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, however solely a 58% ranking from audiences.
1
‘Abigail’ (2024)
Abigail is a comedic horror thriller directed by Prepared or Not‘s Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett with a screenplay by Stephen Shields (The Gap within the Floor) and Man Busick (Closing Vacation spot Bloodlines). The movie begins with an extremely skilled kidnapping. Every member of the crew performs their half to perfection. There’s the previous police detective (Dan Stevens), the medic (Melissa Barrera), the marine sniper (Will Catlett), the hacker (Kathryn Newton), the muscle (Kevin Durand), and the getaway driver (Angus Cloud). After efficiently taking a younger ballerina (Alisha Weir) hostage for ransom, the crew is instructed to attend issues out in a giant, secluded home. The issue is that the little woman they’ve kidnapped is not slightly woman. She’s a centuries-old vampire.
One of many Greatest Performances of the Yr
This film is aware of how one can be bloody and spooky whereas on the identical time sustaining a quick-witted tempo. Alisha Weir has garnered explicit reward for portraying the bloodthirsty ballerina and was nominated for Greatest Younger Actor on the Critics’ Alternative Awards. Weir, Stevens, and Newton all acquired nominations on the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. Viewers are likely to agree that Abigail is a stable horror film and a enjoyable motion flick. It’s licensed contemporary with an 83% ranking from each critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
Abigail
3.5
/5
- Launch Date
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April 19, 2024
- Runtime
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109 Minutes