Best Bollywood horror movies
If you’re a horror movie buff and want to watch the best Bollywood horror movies, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we have compiled a list of ten movies that will leave you with chills.
Ram Gopal Verma, who is known for his brilliant work in the Horror genre, has once again delivered a masterpiece in Raat. The film is a must-watch and will definitely scare you.
1920
Featuring debutant artistes Rajneesh Duggal and Adah Sharma, 1920 was directed by Vikram Bhatt. It was loosely inspired by The Exorcist, though it also had elements of classic Bollywood.
When Arjun (Rajneesh Duggal) and Lisa (Adah Sharma) move to a new house, it doesn't take long for them to feel uneasy and start experiencing paranormal activity. Later on, Lisa gets possessed by a demonic spirit.
The film was released in 2008 and despite not making many headlines, it managed to become a huge hit at the box office. It is regarded as one of the best horror movies in India.
However, it's not without fault. The movie is cliched and predictable, with generic dialogues and songs that do nothing more than distract you from the main story. It's a good example of what happens when a director tries to recreate a period setting and does not have the right actors to pull off a decent performance.
Darna Mana Hai
In a film with a name that sounds like a gangster thriller, Bollywood attempts something never before done in a Hindi film. Darna Mana Hai is an anthology that interweaves six stories into one movie.
The idea is that seven friends get stuck in the middle of a forest, and to pass the time they tell each other scary stories over a bonfire. But they soon discover that these stories are based on their own experiences and can be terrifying.
Despite this, the stories are surprisingly good and have some dark humour added to them. There are some hysterical moments and it has a good cast with Saif Ali Khan, Sohail Khan, Vivek Oberoi, Shilpa Shetty, Sameera Reddy, and Isha Koppikar.
The best part of the movie is when the cast interacts with each other and their characters. It really makes it worth watching. It has some pretty cheesy music and dialogues at times but the stories make up for it. You can watch this movie multiple times and it’s well worth it.
Ek Thi Daayan
Ek Thi Daayan is a genuinely scary movie that does not weight heavily on the visuals and sound effects for cheap thrills. Instead, it relies on good acting and a spooky storyline to keep you at the edge of your seat.
The film stars Emraan Hashmi as Bobo, a magician who lives a comfortable life with his sweet girlfriend Tamara and their young son Zubin. However, he is plagued by hallucinations and cannot rid himself of the evil spirit that haunts him.
He seeks help from Dr. Palit (Rajatava Dutta) who dismisses his visions as fantasy and suggests that he should be happy with what he has. But when Lisa Dutt enters their lives and Bobo starts believing that she is the witch who had promised to return, he begins to wonder if the ghost is real or just a product of his imagination.
Despite its flaws, Ek Thi Daayan is worth watching for its novel approach to telling a story about witchcraft. It also has some great performances from Konkona Sen Sharma, Huma Qureshi and Kalki Koechlin.
Haunted 3D
Bollywood has a rich history of making great horror movies. The genre requires a combination of visuals, sound effects, and special effects to evoke fright and fear in the audience.
In the recent past, several production houses and directors have rekindled the interest in Bollywood horror. These films have been successful at the box office and are widely acclaimed as some of the best Indian horror movies.
Among them, Haunted 3D is one of the most memorable. It was a commercial success, but it also received mixed reviews from critics.
Directed by Vikram Bhatt, the film stars Mahaakshay Chakraborty and Twinkle Bajpai in lead roles. It was India's first stereoscopic 3D movie.
This film tells the story of Rehan (Mahakshay Chakraborty) and his quest to discover the truth behind a mysterious haunting that occurred years ago. Along the way, he comes across two ghosts who have a secret to reveal. They send Rehan back in time to prevent a horrific event that has haunted the mansion.
Phoonk
If you're looking for a way to get your scare fix during the winter months, you can always turn to Bollywood horror movies. This genre is known for its ability to evoke fear and fright through visuals, sound effects and special effects.
It's no secret that horror isn't easy to make, but many of these films have gotten their share of awards and box office success. Some of these films also come with a great story that has been adapted from other sources, which makes them even more appealing to audiences.
Ram Gopal Varma is one of India's most popular directors, and he has made some really scary films in his career. His most recent film, Phoonk, is a good example of this.
Essentially, it's about a family that's affected by black magic. It's a subject that's rarely dealt with in Hindi cinema and it's interesting to see how Varma tackles it here.
He manages to get a grip on it, though the pace can be slow at times. The characters' reactions are a little clunky and there's a climax that gets bloody and ghastly instead of scarey, but overall, it's a watchable film.
Raaz
Horror movies are not that popular in India, but they have managed to earn a strong cult following. Bollywood horror movies are a mix of suspense, thrills, and horror. These films are known for their slow camera movement, use of extended silences and sudden noises, and a lot of spooky and thrilling moments.
If you're looking for a great Bollywood horror movie to watch, consider Raaz. This cult classic features an iconic cast (Bipasha Basu, Dino Morea, Ashutosh Rana), eerie music, and a spine-chilling narrative.
The film revolves around a married couple who go to Ooty to rekindle their romance. However, they are soon disturbed by a haunting spirit and hear screams that can't be heard by anyone else.
This is a supernatural thriller and if you're a fan of Hitchcock's classics, you'll definitely enjoy this film. It is one of the best bollywood horror movies ever made, and the spooky and suspenseful scenes will give you a chill down your spine.
Bhool Bhulaiya
It's the season to get cozy with heavy blankets and a bowl of soup, but it's also a perfect time to switch things up and watch some scary movies. If you're looking for a movie to frighten you, Bollywood has plenty of options to choose from.
Ram Gopal Varma's Factory is famous for their creepy films, and this one definitely fits the bill. The film centers around a young man who meets a woman at a cemetery and starts getting visions of her.
The story takes some surprising twists and turns. The film is filled with mystery, and the whole thing is genuinely a work of art. In fact, it even prompted RGV to offer five lakhs to anyone who would watch it alone in the theater.
Stree
Bollywood hasn’t made many horror comedies, but Stree does a great job of blending hysteria with glib comedy. Even when the story teeters, Kaushik and his cast deliver punchlines with aplomb.
In Chanderi, the town is ablaze with fear over an evil spirit named Stree who calls men by their name and abducts them. The villagers shiver at her appearance and fear that she will kidnap them too.
When Vicky (Rajkummar Rao), a tailor in the town, comes across the unnamed woman during the annual Pooja season, he falls in love with her. His close friends Bittu (Aparshakti Khurana) and Jana (Abhishek Banerjee) also get concerned about her.
Vicky meets Rudra (Pankaj Tripathi), a self-appointed local expert who learns about Stree’s existence and helps him and his friends. The group soon realizes that she has been searching for her true love and has sought revenge on the town by abducting all men.