10 Movies That Would Work Better As Horror

A horror movie is defined by its intent to evoke suspense or dread, often by highlighting a fear of the unknown, psychological torment, supernatural forces, or good old fashioned bloodshed. Of course, there are plenty of movies that evoke similar feelings, yet aren't classified this way.

But they could be. Certain dramas and thrillers could work better if they factored in more scares, especially if they already contain monsters, zombies, aliens, and things that go bump in the night. 

Whether it's psychological tension, dark themes, or eerie visuals, a small shift here and there could turn these non-horrors into bloodcurdling experiences that are sure to haunt anybody. Science fiction and paranormal stories already deal with the unknown, so it wouldn't take much to revise such films into pure nightmare fuel.

Other times, a movie can have such a teeth-chattering premise, it's bewildering why the creators didn't make it into a full-blown frightfest in the first place. (It'd be like if The Fly or The Exorcist were packaged as a whimsical comedy.) 

With some tweaks in tone, visuals, and storytelling, the ten entries on this list could easily become cinematic trauma.

The British crime drama follows a ruthless enforcer called Bull. After being left for dead by his former gang a decade earlier, Bull returns to his old town to exact revenge on them. He picks off each gang member one by one, before ultimately killing their leader, Bull's father-in-law, Norm. 

In the final scene, a priest becomes horrified when Bull enters his church, accusing the gangster of being an abomination in the eyes of God. It's then revealed that Bull has pure black eyes, indicating he harbours demonic power.

Through a series of flashbacks, it's explained that Norm's gang shot Bull dead ten years ago and buried his corpse. With his soul unable to rest, Bull made a deal with the devil, allowing him to return and slaughter his killers.

Even though this is a harrowing revelation, throwing in this spooky element in the last two minutes of a grounded thriller feels out of place. The film could've avoided this by incorporating more grisly kills or referencing devilry and black magic.

If these horror aspects were sprinkled throughout, the last-minute twist wouldn't feel tacked on.