These aren’t just your standard scary flicks—they’re the ones that linger long after the credits roll, burrow into your mind, and, most importantly, raise the bar for what horror can be.

With the gory body horror The Substance and musicals Emilia Perez and Wicked competing for top Oscars, this marks the biggest year for both genres in over 50 years.

earning both a Best Picture nomination and an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Its smart mix of horror and thriller elements made it one of the most talked-about films of its year. A classic in ...