10 Horror Movies Where The Killer Is A Friend Or Family Member


Summary

  • Horror movies often feature killers who are connected to the main characters, adding twists that stick with audiences long after the credits roll.
  • Classic slashers like My Bloody Valentine and Halloween II showcase how familial relations can drive killers to seek vengeance and terrorize those closest to them.
  • Movies like Psycho and Scream have cemented iconic twists in horror history, exploring the dark depths of the human psyche and redefining the genre with self-aware storytelling.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead!A horror movie is only as good as its villain, and in some cases, they turn out to be someone close to the protagonist. Whether that’s a friend or family member, killers in movies of the horror and slasher variety often turn out to be related to the main characters. This often makes for a satisfying twist that keeps audiences engaged whilst still providing them with plenty of scares along the way.

From a roommate, a father, or even an unknown sister, horror movies where the killer turns out to be a friend or family member have become some of the most endearing of the entire genre. Twists such as these often stick with audiences long after the credits roll. Some of these killers may have been more predictable than others, but there is no denying the impact that they have had on the horror movie genre and the way that they have worked their way into cinematic history.

10

My Bloody Valentine (1981)

A Cult Classic

My Bloody Valentine is a classic horror slasher movie set in a small mining town called Valentine Bluffs. 20 years before the movie is set, two mining supervisors leave a mine shaft unattended to go to the annual Valentine’s Day dance, causing an explosion that traps five miners. The only survivor, Harry Warden (Peter Cowper), did so by resorting to cannibalism, and killed the two supervisors out of revenge. Warden vowed that if the town ever reinstated the dance, he would kill again. 20 years later, the dance is reinstated, and people begin to die.

A movie full of red herrings to keep the audience guessing, My Bloody Valentine’s killer isn’t actually Warden. It is Axel (Neil Affleck), a member of the friend group, who is targeted by the slasher. Axel’s dad was one of the supervisors murdered by Warden, traumatizing him for life and turning him into the bloodthirsty killer we see on screen. It’s a classic twist that makes My Bloody Valentine one of the most endearing horror movies of the 1980s.

9

Halloween II (1981)

A Bizarre Twist

Michael Myers (Dick Warlock) holds his mask as his eyes are bleeding in Halloween II

As the sequel to John Carpenter’s iconic 1978 slasher, Halloween II had a lot riding on its shoulders when it was released. Halloween II picks up immediately after the first movie ends, with Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) continuing to be pursued by the villainous Michael Myers. However, the horror movie also reveals that Michael’s killing spree is not just random, indiscriminate killing, but rather a method of him trying to reach Laurie. It turns out that Laurie is Michael’s younger sister, put up for adoption after the death of their parents.

Yes, it is certainly a random twist to throw into the movie, but it nonetheless makes Halloween II‘s plot that bit more compelling. Twisted familial bonds anchor the horror movie to a narrative that is murderous, yet with a hint of emotion thrown in. The horror element is elevated by Laurie’s realization that she is related to the evil of Michael, and serves as a plot device to propel her to evade his murderous pursuit.

8

Psycho (1960)

Hitchcock’s Masterpiece

Psycho trailer (1960)

Arguably the most iconic horror movie of all time, Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho tells the story of Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), a mild-mannered motel manager. After discovering that one of his guests has been murdered by a shadowy figure in the motel shower, Norman hides the body in a swamp. It eventually transpires that Norman himself was the killer, under the influence of his alter-ego inspired by his Mother, whom he had poisoned and mummified ten years earlier.

A twist as iconic as Psycho itself, the story of Norman Bates has cemented itself in horror movie history. From its rich thematic narrative about psychological trauma and familial influence, Psycho‘s twist was ahead of its time in exploring the human psyche. Groundbreaking in its messaging and the explicit violence and sexuality it depicted, Psycho is arguably the most famous example of a horror movie where the killer turns out to be somebody close to the protagonists.

Collage of Janet Leigh as Marion Crane and the Psycho House.

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7

Happy Death Day (2017)

Groundhog Day Meets Halloween

The Babyface Killer in a parking garage in Happy Death Day

Happy Death Day provides viewers with a refreshing take on the horror/slasher genre, fusing comedy with a unique premise that sees college student Tree Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) constantly reliving the same day. There’s just one small problem – she keeps on being murdered by someone with a mask. Happy Death Day focuses on Tree’s mission to discover who the killer is, misleading the audience while she does it.

While the audience initially believes John Tombs (Rob Mello) is the main killer, it turns out that Tree’s roommate, Lori (Ruby Modine) was also planning on poisoning her with a cupcake. Happy Death Day’s twist killer may not be the most impactful in horror movie history, but it nonetheless takes you by surprise on the first watch. The layer of betrayal added here is also a nice touch, adding an extra layer of nuance and subtlety to Happy Death Day that is unique to the genre.

Happy Death Day

Happy Death Day is a horror comedy where college student Theresa “Tree” Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) is trapped in a time loop on the day of her murder, like a gorier version of Groundhog Day. Like Bill Murray’s Phil Connors, Theresa begins to change and grow as a person after countless deaths.

Director

Christopher Landon

Release Date

October 13, 2017

Writers

Christopher Landon
, Scott Lobdell

Cast

Jessica Rothe
, Donna DuPlantier
, Rachel Matthews
, Phi Vu
, Ruby Modine
, Jason Bayle
, Israel Broussard
, Charles Aitken

Runtime

96 minutes

6

The Omen (1976)

A Titan Of Supernatural Horror

Damien in The Omen 1976

Unknowable evil meets familial relations in The Omen, which tells the story of US diplomat Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck), who adopts a baby (whom they name Damien) immediately after his wife gives birth to a stillborn, but never tells her. A series of chilling events begin to transpire – Damien’s nanny publicly hangs herself, and he violently resists entering a church. Robert is told that Damien is the Antichrist, and is advised to kill him with a special dagger on hallowed ground.

The Omen‘s powerful narrative sees Robert grapple between the importance of love and duty, turning him from a loving parent to a man resigned to trying to kill his own son to protect himself.

While not a traditional horror movie killer twist, The Omen is nonetheless a terrifying tale. The fact that Damien, being only five years old, is capable of such pure evil is truly chilling to watch. The Omen‘s powerful narrative sees Robert grapple between the importance of love and duty, turning him from a loving parent to a man resigned to trying to kill his own son to protect himself. Certainly an emotionally heavy watch, The Omen is one of the scariest tales of supernatural horror ever put to film.

5

The Shining (1980)

Here’s Johnny!

jack smiling at the bar in the shining (1980)

Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining is a malevolent thematic blend of isolation, family, and inner darkness. When caretaker Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) takes his wife and son to The Overlook Hotel for the winter period when the hotel is shut, he experiences a slow descent into a murderous monster. By feeding on Jack’s inner turmoil and frustrations about his writer’s block, The Shining sees the previously caring father turn into one of the most iconic villains in movie history.

While he doesn’t actually manage to kill his family, Jack’s story in The Shining remains a haunting tale. As Jack is manipulated by unseen forces, the movie serves as a reminder that our humanity and the emotions that come with it are an especially fragile thing. From the iconic twist in the movie’s final scene, to Jack chasing his family around a maze with an axe, The Shining is undoubtedly one of the more disturbing horror movies on this list.

4

Hereditary (2018)

Inheriting A Demon

Steven is set on fire in Hereditary

Hereditary, besides being one of the more unique horror movies of recent times, serves as a masterful exploration of the impact of grief on a broken family and generational trauma, hence the movie’s title. The movie tells the story of the Graham family’s slow unraveling following the death of Annie’s (Toni Collette) mother, Ellen. Strange occurrences begin to plague the family, particularly Annie and her son, Peter (Alex Wolff), with it eventually being revealed that Ellen had been the leader of a cult that worshiped a demon king named Paimon.

By the movie’s conclusion, the entire family has died, though the spirit of Paimon has reanimated Peter’s body. While Ellen can be understood as the mastermind of the Grahams’ downfall, both Annie and Peter are also unwilling participants in her scheme. Hereditary‘s narrative coalesces around the idea of inherited evil and is a truly nihilistic interpretation of one generation’s actions dooming the next. Hereditary launched Ari Aster to fame, and the director hasn’t looked back since.

3

Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023)

Familial Trauma On Both Sides

Mike and Abby stand in front of Fazbear's with the animatronics in the FNAF movie

Based on the video game franchise of the same name, Five Nights at Freddy’s borrows a lot from its source material but still manages to tell a compelling and entertaining horror story. Five Nights at Freddy’s sees pizzeria security guard Mike (Josh Hutcherson) befriend police officer Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail) as they try and solve the mystery of the pizzeria’s murderous animatronics. Vanessa eventually reveals that her father, William Afton (Matthew Lillard), murdered children, including Mike’s younger brother. The souls of the murdered children are eventually revealed to possess the animatronics.

This is a horror movie that has a unique take on family trauma, uniting Vanessa and Mike, as they confront Afton at the movie’s climax. Grappling with ideas of guilt and grief, Five Nights at Freddy’s becomes more than just a video game adaptation, but a deeply emotional movie that seeks to tell tales of revenge and torment. Lillard’s portrayal of Afton is a highlight of the movie, bringing one of the most iconic video game villains to life in a way that encapsulates the evil of the source material while putting a unique spin on the character.

2

Scream (1996)

A Watershed Moment In Horror

Ghostface in the Garage in Scream 1996

Wes Craven’s 1996 masterpiece reignited the slasher genre for a new generation, and ushered in a revitalized era of horror movies. Scream tells the story of high-school student Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and her group of friends as they find themselves the target of a masked killer known as Ghostface. It eventually transpires that Ghostface is actually two members of the friend group themselves, Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard), and Sidney’s boyfriend, Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich).

Scream is a refreshingly self-aware slasher that rewrote the script of what a horror movie could be, and Ghostface has etched himself into the history books as one of the most influential horror killers of all time.

Ghostface’s motivations as well as the twist reveal add a major level of intrigue to Scream‘s narrative. Billy resents Sidney for her mother (whom they killed a year before the movie was set) having an affair with his father, thus breaking up their family, and has easily manipulated Stu into joining his murderous treachery. Scream is a refreshingly self-aware slasher that rewrote the script of what a horror movie could be, and Ghostface has etched himself into the history books as one of the most influential horror killers of all time.

1

Longlegs (2024)

Rethinking Horror Mysteries

Maika Monroe as Agent Lee Harker in Longlegs

The most recent entry on this list is Longlegs, Osgood Perkins’ tale that follows FBI Agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) as she attempts to track down the titular killer. Longlegs (Nicolas Cage) has been masterminding a series of murder-suicides, each involving a family with a nine-year-old daughter born on the 14th of the month. It turns out that Longlegs had been using Lee’s own mother, Ruth (Alicia Witt), as an accomplice to his murders in exchange for sparing Lee’s life when she was targeted by the killer when she herself was nine.

Longlegs is a horror movie that is as uncomfortable as it is scary. Watching Lee grapple with the revelation that her own mother is a serial killer, and then having to kill her at the movie’s climax, is a cinematic masterclass in how to depict the darkness within a family. With a narrative that chills to the very bone, and with enough jump scares to keep audiences on the edge of their seats, Longlegs is a must-watch for any fans of horror movies, compounding realistic twists with the presence of the supernatural.



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