Saw, The Grudge, and The Village among 8 scary movies turning 20 this year

Looking back at 2004 makes me a little sad because while it was an era that looks somewhat similar to modern-day cinema, with sequels and franchises aplenty, it also represented a time when Hollywood was making more original, mid-budget movies.

It was the year we got The Grudge remake and the start of the Saw franchise, along with beloved cult classics like Shaun of the Dead. Overall, 2004 was a surprisingly solid year for genre movies.

Here are eight of our favorite scary movies turning 20 this year.

1. Saw

Twenty years later the Saw franchise is still going strong. The 2004 film helmed by Leigh Whannell and James Wan kicked off what would become one of the goriest and most polarizing horror film series of all time.

Given the convoluted traps and extreme bloodshed present in the later Saw films, it's fun to go back to the beginning sometimes and remember how it all began, as a dark serial killer with a grimy bathroom as a centerpiece and a truly shocking final twist.

2. The Grudge

In the early 2000s, Hollywood became obsessed with creating mid-budget American remakes of Japanese horror classics like Ringu and Ju-On. While The Grudge remake is still remembered fondly, the 2002 version of The Ring is real culprit behind the trend, though The Grudge's surprising box office success certainly helped keep it going.

Released in the year following the end of the hit series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, fans were excited to see Sarah Michelle Gellar in a new film, especially one that would terrify millions, particularly with that eerie, croaky death rattle sound.

3. Shaun of the Dead

Many critics and fans praise this Edgar Wright film as one of the greatest comedies ever made and a beloved cult classic. Pegg and Wright penned the script together, along with Hot Fuzz and The World's End. The three movies comprise their Cornetto trilogy.

4. Dawn of the Dead

Zack Snyder gets a lot of flack these days for his polarizing movies like Batman v. Superman, his Justice League, and, most recently, Rebel Moon, but his directorial debut was a surprisingly well-received and excellent remake of George A. Romero's iconic 1978 movie.

5. The Village

Contentious just like the majority of M. Night Shyamalan's films, The Village was my first real foray into the horror genre and folk horror, so it will always have a place in my heart because of that. Set in a 19th-century village where the locals live in fear of the surrounding woods supposedly teeming with horrific creatures dubbed "Those We Don't Speak Of," an inciting event forces someone to venture outside their safe bubble in search of medicine and what they discover could upend everything the townsfolk thought they knew about their home.

6. Seed of Chucky

Like many of the Child's Play films, Seed of Chucky received mixed reviews from critics, but it's still considered the favorite for many fans because it features plenty more Chucky and Tiffany antics, plus the introduction of their offspring, Glen/Glenda. It was also the last film of the main Child's Play series to receive a theatrical release until the 2019 remake.

7. Alien vs. Predator

Alien vs. Predator has been back in conversation lately due to the recent popularity of Alien: Romulus and director Fede Alvarez teasing an idea for a collaboration with Prey director Dan Trachtenberg, suggesting they split directing duties for a new AVP. Considering the actual Predator is dedicated to hunting other species, it makes sense why the Xenomorphs would become a target and Alien vs. Predator is still a pretty fun crossover film worth revisiting alongside your Alien rewatch.

8. Blade: Trinity

Another 2004 movie that's been brought up quite a bit recently is Blade: Trinity. While it marks the third time Wesley Snipes played the popular Marvel character, this film is notable because it co-starred Ryan Reynolds and in 2024, Reynolds got Snipes to reprise his role as Blade in Deadpool vs. Wolverine.

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