Valentine’s Day has inspired a surprising number of horror films, just like other holidays such as Halloween and Christmas. While the quality varies, there are plenty of scary movies that use the holiday as a backdrop or feature gruesome love stories. Here’s a look at some of those films.
We’re focusing on truly well-made films, so we’re leaving out Lovers Lane. While it’s interesting as an early role for Anna Faris, it doesn’t quite measure up. We’re also skipping Valentine – though Marley Shelton gives a good performance, the movie is a fairly weak slasher film that lacks the cleverness of the Scream series. Plus, the silly Cupid mask doesn’t do it any favors.
7) X-Ray
The movie X-Ray, also known as Hospital Massacre, feels more similar to Prom Night than Halloween. Like Prom Night, its script isn’t particularly strong and relies heavily on familiar tropes. It even includes an obvious nod to other films – a character named Dr. Carpenter, much like how Arnold Schwarzenegger repeatedly said “I’ll be back” in movies that weren’t the original Terminator.
Even though it’s not a masterpiece, X-Ray is surprisingly scary for a low-budget 1980s slasher film. It starts with a fantastic scene and features a score that’s reminiscent of both Friday the 13th and The Omen, with eerie chanting. If you enjoy slasher movies, X-Ray is a genuinely fun and bloody watch. What’s unique is that it’s one of the few slashers actually set on Valentine’s Day, both at the beginning and during the film’s climax, which takes place 19 years later.
Stream X-Ray for free on Tubi.
6) Fresh
Fresh cleverly transforms a story about cannibalism into a thoughtful exploration of contemporary dating. Its satirical humor also makes it a surprisingly enjoyable watch.
What truly makes the Hulu movie work is the excellent casting of its main actors. Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones are both remarkably good, and their complex chemistry keeps you invested in their characters, even when a surprising and unusual secret is revealed.
Stream Fresh on Hulu.
5) Bride of Chucky
Following the rather ordinary Child’s Play 3, the Chucky series was in need of a fresh approach. Bride of Chucky delivered exactly that, thanks to director Ronny Yu and a darkly comedic tone.
Bride perfectly balances its comedic take on a troubled relationship with the thrills of a classic Chucky film. It delivers both clever, self-aware horror and relatable everyday frustrations, like arguments over chores.
4) Bride of Frankenstein
With Maggie Gyllenhaal’s new film, The Bride, coming out soon, it’s a perfect time to revisit Bride of Frankenstein. And with Valentine’s Day approaching, it’s especially fitting, as the movie has a surprising amount of romance, even though the Bride character doesn’t appear until near the end.
The original Frankenstein was great, but Bride of Frankenstein is even better. It’s more emotionally powerful, features incredibly well-developed characters, and surprisingly includes moments of humor.
3) Ready or Not
Ready or Not is a romance that takes a heartbreaking turn on what should have been a perfect night. A simple mistake during a game sets off a chain of events that threatens to destroy everything.
The horror film Radio Silence (directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett) is a smart and thrilling modern classic, comparable to—or even better than—their Scream movies. But the film’s biggest strength is Samara Weaving, who truly establishes herself as today’s leading scream queen. It will be fascinating to see what she and Radio Silence create next in Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.
Stream Ready or Not on fuboTV.
2) Heart Eyes
Similar to many others on this list, Heart Eyes is genuinely funny. In fact, it’s the funniest of the bunch, and it consistently delivers good jokes – even down to the names of its two detectives, Hobbs and Shaw.
The connection between Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding is just as crucial as the movie’s humor. It also cleverly uses familiar elements from slasher films. While it’s not truly scary, it’s good at creating suspense and delivering well-timed surprises.
Stream Heart Eyes on Netflix.
1) My Bloody Valentine (1981)
Though it didn’t immediately launch a series until a strong remake came out 28 years later, My Bloody Valentine is undeniably one of the greatest slasher films ever created, and it easily takes the top spot on our list.
The best way to experience My Bloody Valentine is with the director’s cut, and it’s now much easier to find than it used to be. Its strong sense of place – between the town and the mine – and believable characters make it a reliably enjoyable watch every February.
Stream My Bloody Valentine for free on Tubi.
What are your plans for Valentine’s Day? Share them in the comments below and discuss with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Stephen Colbert Jokes This Could Be Next Job After Late Show Canceled
- DCU Nightwing Contender Addresses Casting Rumors & Reveals His Other Dream DC Role [Exclusive]
- 10 X-Men Batman Could Beat (Ranked By How Hard It’d Be)
- 7 Home Alone Moments That Still Make No Sense (And #2 Is a Plot Hole)
- Is XRP ETF the New Stock Market Rockstar? Find Out Why Everyone’s Obsessed!
- Gwen Stefani Details “Blessing” of Her Holidays With Blake Shelton
- Embracer Group is Divesting Ownership of Arc Games, Cryptic Studios to Project Golden Arc
- 10 Most Brutal Acts Of Revenge In Anime History
- Bitcoin or Bust? 🚀
2026-02-13 01:15