Spooky season is creeping up again, and every year around late August I find myself leaning hard into scary movies. It’s one of my favorite rituals—settling in with a stack of horror films as the nights get longer. And the more I watch, the more I’m reminded that horror isn’t just one flavor—it’s a whole haunted buffet. Whether you’re into creeping dread, monster mayhem, or psychological unraveling, there’s a subgenre for every kind of scare. That’s what inspired this guide to horror movie subgenres: a tour through horror’s most iconic flavors, complete with my personal picks and candle scent pairings—because if you’re going to watch horror, you might as well set the mood.
Slasher Horror
Masked killers stalk their victims one by one, often with elaborate weapons and inventive kills. Slashers are known for their high body counts, iconic villains, and the enduring “Final Girl” who faces the monster last.
Examples: Halloween (1978), Friday the 13th (1980), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
My Pick: Scream (1996)
Honorable Mention: Happy Death Day (2017) + TV bonus Scream Queens (2015)
Scent Vibe: Damp woods, deserted cabins, and smoky embers. Try Mythologie – Dark Forest Cabin
Psychological Horror
This is the horror of the mind—where paranoia, delusions, and inner demons create as much fear as anything external. These stories blur reality and madness, often leaving you unsettled long after the credits roll.
Examples: Black Swan (2010), Repulsion (1965), The Shining (1980)
My Pick: Gothika (2003)
Scent Vibe: Stale vanilla, decay, and thunderstorms. Try layering Demeter Fragrance Thunderstorm Candle with Plant Therapy Vanilla Amber Candle
Ghosts & Haunted Houses
Ghost stories thrive on atmosphere and suggestion, using creaks, shadows, and whispers to unsettle the imagination. Haunted house films often hinge on restless spirits, cursed locations, or sinister objects that refuse to stay quiet.
Examples: Poltergeist (1982), The Haunting (1963), The Conjuring (2013), The Others (2001)
My Picks: Oddity (2024) and The Pact (2012)
Scent Vibe: Dusty wood floors, aged paper, and clove incense. Try Homesick Book Club
Demonic Possession & Occult Horror
Evil forces take control of people, objects, or spaces, creating terror through loss of agency and twisted rituals. These films often blur the line between faith and fear, confronting characters with ancient evils and blasphemous rites.
Examples: The Exorcist (1973), The Omen (1976), The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)
My Pick: Heretic (2024)
Scent Vibe: Frankincense, burning wax, and myrrh. Try DW Home Sage Smoke/Smoked Sage
Witchcraft & Cult Horror
Here the horror comes from communities and covens, bound by rituals, sacrifice, and secret traditions. Whether it’s a group of witches or a rural cult, the menace lies in being surrounded by people who all believe in something dark.
Examples: Suspiria (1977), Rosemary’s Baby (1968), The Witch (2015)
My Pick: Midsommar (2019)
Scent Vibe: Wildflowers, honey wine, and smoke from a midsummer bonfire. Try layering Harmony Aromatherapy Honey & Wildflower with Firebird Candles – Firebird
Supernatural Horror
When the terror comes from entities or curses that don’t fit into neat categories of ghosts, demons, or witches. These films often invent their own mysterious rules, blending modern fears with the uncanny presence of something otherworldly.
Examples: Talk to Me (2022), Smile (2022), The Ring (2002)
My Pick: It Follows (2014)
Scent Vibe: Rain-soaked stone, cool air, and damp earth. Try Paddywax Library Edgar Allan Poe
Home-Invasion Horror
Strangers break into safe spaces, turning homes into traps and forcing characters to fight for survival. These films are often grounded and visceral, drawing their terror from the violation of domestic safety.
Examples: The Strangers (2008), You’re Next (2011), Funny Games (1997)
My Pick: Barbarian (2022)
Honorable Mention: Hush (2016)
Scent Vibe: Burnt wood, leather, and candle smoke. Try Yankee Candle Fireside
Serial Killer Horror
Grounded in terrifying realism, these films center on human monsters whose violence is all too plausible. Unlike slashers with masked killers, serial killer horror digs into psychological obsession, ritualistic murder, and investigative dread.
Examples: Se7en (1995), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
My Picks: Zodiac (2007) and Longlegs (2024)
Scent Vibe: Cold stone, worn leather, and bitter coffee. Try Homesick Dark Roast
Zombie Horror
The dead walk again, overwhelming survivors in relentless hordes. Zombie films are as much about societal collapse and survival ethics as they are about flesh-eating monsters.
Examples: Night of the Living Dead (1968), Dawn of the Dead (1978), 28 Days Later (2002)
My Pick: Train to Busan (2016)
Scent Vibe: Decay, iron-rich earth, and smoky ash. Try Solstice Scents Foxcroft
Vampire Horror
Elegant and terrifying, vampires embody both seduction and predation. These films often explore themes of immortality, temptation, and what lurks in the shadows of night.
Examples: Dracula (1931), The Lost Boys (1987), Interview with the Vampire (1994)
My Pick: Abigail (2024)
Scent Vibe: Red wine, black rose, and aged velvet. Try Bath & Body Works Vampire Blood
Werewolf Horror
Werewolf tales are about transformation, rage, and the beast within. They mix primal fear with tragedy, as characters often struggle against a curse they can’t control.
Examples: An American Werewolf in London (1981), The Howling (1981), Ginger Snaps (2000)
My Pick: The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020)
Scent Vibe: Pine needles, damp moss, and winter air. Try Yankee Candle Balsam & Cedar
Monster Horror (Creature Features)
When the terror comes from a beast, mutant, or unknown creature, often lurking in the wild or beneath the surface. Creature features play on primal fears of being hunted, trapped, or devoured by something bigger and more powerful than us.
Examples: Jaws (1975), The Host (2006), Tremors (1990)
My Pick: Cloverfield (2008)
Scent Vibe: Saltwater brine, wet stone, and smoky driftwood. Try P.F. Candle Co. Golden Coast
Body Horror
Flesh and bone are twisted, corrupted, or transformed into grotesque shapes. These films dig into our deepest fears about disease, mutation, and losing control over our own bodies.
Examples: The Fly (1986), The Thing (1982), Titane (2021), Videodrome (1983)
My Pick: The Substance (2024)
Scent Vibe: Rust, damp soil, and bitter herbs. Try Boy Smells Ash
Gore & Splatter Horror
Here, the horror is visual and visceral—blood spraying, limbs flying, and shock value pushed to extremes. Some splatter films lean campy and over-the-top, while others are designed to disturb and unsettle.
Examples: Saw (2004), Hostel (2005), The Evil Dead (1981)
My Pick: High Tension (2003)
Scent Vibe: Spilled wine, smoked wood, and charred leather. Try Homesick Halloween
Found Footage Horror
Told through “recovered” tapes or shaky handheld cameras, these films thrive on realism. The immediacy makes you feel like you’ve stumbled into something you were never meant to see.
Examples: The Blair Witch Project (1999), Paranormal Activity (2007), REC (2007)
My Picks: Lake Mungo (2008) and The Blackwell Ghost (2017)
Scent Vibe: Wet photographs, static-laced ozone, and patchouli. Try Paddywax Apothecary Amber + Smoke or Tobacco + Patchouli
Horror Comedy
Balancing scares with laughs, these films parody tropes while still delivering thrills. They’re perfect for when you want to be scared and entertained in equal measure.
Examples: Zombieland (2009), Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010), What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
My Pick: Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Scent Vibe: Buttered popcorn, fizzy cola, and cotton candy. Try DW Butter Popcorn
Arthouse / Elevated Horror
Stylish, atmospheric, and often slow-burning, these films explore deeper ideas through metaphor and symbolism. They may divide audiences, but they linger in your mind long after you’ve left the theater.
Examples: Hereditary (2018), The Babadook (2014), The Lighthouse (2019)
My Pick: Don’t Look Now (1973)
Scent Vibe: Venetian fog, wet stone, and candlelit basilica air. Try Diptyque Feu de Bois
Science Fiction Horror
Blending futuristic settings with primal fear, sci-fi horror asks what happens when science goes too far. Aliens, experiments, and hostile environments turn imagination into terror.
Examples: Alien (1979), The Thing (1982), Event Horizon (1997)
My Pick: Sphere (1998)
Scent Vibe: Ozone after a storm, sea salt brine, and crisp eucalyptus. Try P.F. Candle Co. Golden Coast
Folk Horror
Rural landscapes, pagan traditions, and rituals that feel older than time define folk horror. The fear comes from isolation, community control, and ancient beliefs resurfacing in the modern world.
Examples: The Wicker Man (1973), Blood on Satan’s Claw (1971), The Ritual (2017)
My Pick: The Village (2004)
Scent Vibe: Fresh hay, herbal sage, and woodsmoke. Try Yankee Candle Harvest
Lovecraftian / Cosmic Horror
These films deal in forces too vast to comprehend, with humans caught in the wake of ancient, uncaring entities. Dread, madness, and insignificance are the hallmarks of cosmic horror.
Examples: In the Mouth of Madness (1994), The Endless (2017), The Colour Out of Space (2019)
My Pick: The Mist (2007)
Scent Vibe: Salty fog, seaweed, and damp stone. Try P.F. Candle Co. Teakwood & Tobacco
Post-Apocalyptic Horror
Civilization has collapsed, and survival is all that matters. These films explore humanity’s fragility, whether the threat is plague, war, or unseen forces.
Examples: The Road (2009), Day of the Dead (1985), A Quiet Place (2018)
My Pick: Bird Box (2018)
Scent Vibe: Ash, smoke, and dry earth. Try Boy Smells Cinderose
Survival & Isolation Horror
Characters are trapped in extreme conditions, where nature and circumstance are as terrifying as any monster. Claustrophobic, bleak, and often painfully realistic, these films prey on primal survival fears.
Examples: The Descent (2005), Open Water (2003), Buried (2010)
My Pick: Frozen (2010)
Scent Vibe: Frostbitten air, pine sap, and cheap hot cocoa gone cold. Try Ranger Station Leather + Pine
Final Thoughts
Horror is endlessly inventive, and each subgenre brings its own flavor of fear. From the folk rituals of Midsommar (2019) to the icy dread of Frozen (2010), these are the movies that stuck with me—and if you light the right candle, you might just feel like you’re there too.
While I’ve grouped these films into neat little boxes, horror is slippery—many of these movies could overlap or be categorized in different ways. That’s part of the fun! Let me know if you would have placed them differently, or if I missed a subgenre that deserves its own spotlight.