Best Horror Movies Of 2012: The Top Slashers, Monster Movies, and Chillers of The Year

Halloween is the best time of the year to check out the best horror movies of the year. 2012 had a remarkable crop of slashers, ghost stories, and thrillers. Ranging from classic Hammer horror to sleeper success to devil possession, the best horror movies of 2012 run the gamut of genres and styles.

Whether you're looking for a scary slasher for a creepy night at home or something fun to watch with your friends, check out the top horror films of 2012 and let us know what you think. And don't worry: no one here will judge you if you need to close your eyes during the scary parts.

It really doesn't get much better than this. Created by Avengers director Joss Whedon and Cloverfield scribe Drew Goddard, The Cabin in the Woods is simultaneously the most original and most traditional horror movie on the list. In traditional horror movie fashion a group of college co-eds heads off to an abandoned cabin in a dark forest to drink, party, and have some pre-marital relations. People start dying, naturally, but all is not what it seems...

Whedon and Goddard worked together previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel and their shared voice really shines through in this quirky horror-comedy. Long time horror fans will be inundated with inside jokes about the genre and callbacks to the classic slashers and monster movies of the 80s.

This uniquely ambitious horror movie has so many twists and turns it's almost impossible to talk about the plot without spoiling one type of big reveal or another. If you haven't seen Cabin in the Woods, pick it up now. It makes the perfect way to cap off a horror movie marathon.

This anthology of "found footage" style horror movies features five unique stories each told using hand held video recorders, security cam footage, or webcams. Each segment was directed by a different rising star of the horror world.

The framing story features a group of young criminals who've made the mistake of robbing a creepy old man. A mysterious VHS tape is in the recorder and when played, shows each of the individual stories featured in the film.

Slasher killers, ghosts, and creepy stalkers all terrorize the audience. Be sure to check out Ti West (House of the Devil) especially creepy entry. With so many different types of scares, the odds are high you're going to walk away from V/H/S with at least one favorite horror flick of 2012.

This low-budget horror film is still being played in theaters right now. If you're interested in checking out one of the best horror movies of 2012 without heading out, you can rent it cheap on Amazon.com and stream it on your television or computer.

A traditional English ghost story from Hammer Films, The Woman in Black was the highest grossing horror film of 2012 and one of the best to boot! Featuring Daniel Radcliffe in one of his first post-Harry Potter, this ghost story features all of the classic tropes of the genre: a creepy mansion, children in danger, and the mournful dead forever terrorizing the living.

This is a great new horror movie for anyone who isn't into blood or guts. The scares come from the suspense of not knowing what's happening, the eerie soundtrack, and that off-putting feeling you get when something about a situation just isn't right.

Talk of a sequel is already being bandied about, so be sure to check The Woman in Black Out ASAP! This film proves that Hammer Films, once the home of Vincent Price, is still going strong in the new millennium.

This indie-horror flick is one of the most interesting new horror films of the year. Starring Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene) whose career is skyrocketing at the moment, Silent House gained notoriety for its unique directing and cinematography alongside its grade-A acting.

A remake of a European film of the same name, Silent House has gained notoriety for being filmed in such as way as to appear to have taken place using only one long, continuous shot. A few editing tricks here and there hide any cuts (similar to Hitchcock's Rope), but for the most part we're seeing actors perform long, sustained shots without any breaks.

In Silent House, the ghost story at the center of everything is anything but traditional. Filled with a melancholy tone, the devastating story and nerve-wreaking scares make it the perfect film to watch this year at Halloween when you're looking for something a little more cerebral than slashers and giant aliens.

The latest in the new yearly Halloween tradition, Paranormal Activity 4 promise to be one of the best Halloween movies of 2012. Continuing the ongoing story of the previous films, PA4 finds another family terrorized by a mysterious demonic presence. What's going to happen? WHO KNOWS! Probably some pots are going to fall down and doors will slam. Maybe ghost footprints near a bed. I don't care, it scares the crap out of me.

Be sure to check out the previous titles in the series to catch up.

Got any personal favorite horror movies of 2012? Leave 'em in the comments! Be sure to check out some other great horror movie content while you're here.