For extreme fans of a film genre, sometimes, finding out the facts and the processes that went into creating a film is just as enjoyable as watching the movie itself.
What self-respecting horror nerd doesn’t love going on a tangent about what disgusting concoction was created to get a movie’s perfectly goopy gore effects or what three actors were almost cast in a movie’s most iconic role? We geeks live to be annoying info dumps for our favorite horror movies, and ingesting devoted documentaries about these films helps us achieve the status of self-proclaimed experts, whether we’re insufferable to casual viewers or otherwise.
The following list of horror documentaries may not be universally known as the “highest-rated” or the “best” out there, but I do believe they are some of the most important, most interesting, and most suitable for an all-around horror lover regarding a variety of genres, focuses, and intents.
In no particular order, here are the 12 essential horror documentaries that every fan of the genre should check out.
1. Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th (2013)
This 2013 documentary is one for the ‘80s slasher fans. Daniel Farrands (writer of Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers) puts together a complete run-through of every Friday the 13th movie, starting with the 1980 original and continuing through the 2009 remake.
The film covers an in-depth analysis of the character of Jason Voorhees, theater release footage, decades of merchandise, and interviews with more than 200 members of the franchise’s cast and crew.
This six-hour, 40-minute compendium is a long haul, but there’s no better glimpse into the Friday the 13th world than Crystal Lake Memories. You can rent it for $3.99 USD on Amazon or AppleTV.
2. Wolfman’s Got Nards (2018)
This tribute to one of horror’s most beloved ‘80s films, The Monster Squad, was written and directed by Andre Gower, who starred in the lead role of Sean in the film. Wolfman’s Got Nards details the surprising cult status that The Monster Squad has received over the last three decades and how important the film has been to young fans of the genre.
Touching personal experiences are revealed, behind-the-scenes stories are told, and many familiar faces from the horror genre appear for interviews, including Heather Langenkamp (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Adam Green (Hatchet), and the director of The Monster Squad himself, Fred Dekker.
Wolfman’s Got Nards is available to stream for free on Tubi and is a brisk one hour, 31 minutes long.
Related: Exclusive: ‘The Monster Squad’ at 35 – Slaying Monsters with Andre Gower
3. Best Worst Movie (2009)
Much like Wolfman’s Got Nards, Best Worst Movie was created by Michael Paul Stephenson, who played the lead role of Joshua in one of the most popular (and “worst”) B-horror movies of all time, Troll 2. This documentary looks into the lives of the actors post-Troll 2, as most have moved on to other careers and catches up with the film’s director, Claudio Fragasso, and his reaction to the film reaching cult status throughout the horror community after 20 years.
The film goes into the confusing and trying script preparation and shooting schedule, and several members of the cast and crew appear in interviews. You don’t have to devote too much time to this one, as it has a quick runtime of one hour, 33 minutes.
It is available to stream for free on Vudu.
4. Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (2010)
Moving back to the big guns in horror, Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy serves as a four-hour definitive exploration of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise and its impact on not only the horror genre but also cinema and pop culture as a whole.
This documentary shows exclusive B-roll footage, behind-the-scenes photos and shots, and interviews with horror legends, including Wes Craven, Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, and musician Alice Cooper, who wrote the theme song to A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.
Another Daniel Farrands-directed film, Never Sleep Again also dives into the presumed gay allegory in A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (more on that later) and how the franchise affected New Line Cinema, the production company behind the Nightmare films.
This documentary can currently be streamed for free on Tubi.
5. Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street (2019)
This 99-minute documentary goes hand-in-hand with Never Sleep Again, as it details the life of actor Mark Patton after the horrible impact that A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge had on his life throughout the 1980s. Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street puts focus on Patton’s essential blacklisting from Hollywood after his sexual orientation was outed and how the horror community helped bring him back into the spotlight after decades of isolation.
The film shows how Freddy’s Revenge has been accepted into queer horror, and a face-to-face meeting is shown between Patton and the film’s writer in an attempt to clear the air. It’s a bit of a heartbreaking watch but one of the most essential horror documentaries for those interested in some historical issues regarding queer history in the horror genre.
Scream, Queen! is currently available to stream for free on Tubi.
6. Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist (2019)
The first Shudder Original on this list, Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist, dives deep into the directing processes of filmmaker William Friedkin as he created one of the scariest movies of all time, The Exorcist. Alexandre O. Philippe’s one-hour, 44-minute retrospective details every nook and cranny behind the masterpiece that Friedkin created and the positive and negative impacts it had on the filmmaker’s life and career.
Friedkin recently passed away at the age of 87, so watching Leap of Faith would be a great tribute to both him and one of history’s most iconic horror films. Watch it now on Shudder.
7. Pennywise: The Story of IT (2021)
Stephen King’s IT is not only one of the most popular horror novels of all time, but the 1990 made-for-TV two-part miniseries adaptation was one of the most-watched specials of the ‘90s. Another documentary that focuses on a single film, Pennywise: The Story of IT details the adaptation’s massive success with never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with the cast and crew, and tons of lesser-known trivia about the filming process.
The film takes deep dives into each of the major characters, the actors’ experiences during the filmmaking process, and how Tim Curry’s perfect portrayal of the dancing clown affected them as children.
It’s not too long, at just over two hours, and can be found on Prime Video and Screambox with a subscription or on Tubi for free.
8. Dark Star: H.R. Giger’s World (2014)
This Swiss documentary takes us slightly out of the horror movie realm and lets us see the world from the eyes of H.R. Giger, the Swiss painter, sculptor, and visual artist behind some of the most incredible designs in the horror and sci-fi genres, most notably, the world and creature design in Ridley Scott’s Alien.
The film follows Giger in her personal life, and he discusses how the designs of the Xenomorphs were inspired by his painting, Necronom IV, and how his collaboration with Ridley Scott created an entire nightmarish set design for the franchise. Though he is a little reluctant to talk about his artistic processes, there are some extremely great glimpses into the artist’s visual universe. Unfortunately, Giger died shortly after the documentary was finished, so this was the last time he appeared on film.
Dark Star: H.R. Giger’s World is a short one hour and 35 minutes and is available for free to stream on Roku, Plex, and Tubi.
9. Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film (2009)
Scoring a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue is one of the essential horror documentaries that puts the spotlight on American horror films, starting in the 1920s and ending in the mid-2000s. It’s a little short at just one hour, 36 minutes, but it has a plethora of amazing interviewees, including legendary American filmmakers like John Carpenter, George A. Romero, and Joe Dante.
Silent films, slashers, social commentary movies, and creature features, this documentary showcases them all and their impact on the genre throughout horror history. The film is narrated by Lance Henriksen (Aliens, Pumpkinhead) and can be currently streamed on Prime Video, Roku, and Tubi.
Related: The Best Horror Movie of Each Decade from the Last Century
10. Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan (2011)
Again, focusing more on the artist than the horror genre as a whole, Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan puts a spotlight on the greatest stop-motion special effects artist of all time, Ray Harryhausen. Harryhausen was responsible for some of the most well-known movie monsters from the 1940s through the 1970s, including films like Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, It Came from Beneath the Sea, and The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms.
The documentary shows the ins and outs of the rigorous stop-motion process and has amazing interviews with A-list directors inspired by Harryhausen, including Guillermo del Toro, Peter Jackson, James Cameron, Tim Burton, and Steven Spielberg.
This one can be rented on Amazon for $3.99 USD.
11. In Search of Darkness (2019)
Never has there been a more in-depth look at ‘80s horror than In Search of Darkness. This four-hour, 24-minute horror fan feast travels through the decade, dissecting film after film and measuring their importance to the genre. It’s a massive time commitment, especially if you include the film’s four-and-a-half and five-hour sequels.
Interview-wise, it pretty much has the who’s who in horror, with names like John Carpenter, Doug Bradley, Sean S. Cunningham, Robert Englund, Mick Garris, and many, many others. If the 1980s are your favorite decade for horror, then these three films are a must-watch, as no documentary is more definitive.
Currently, the only way to watch the first film is with a DirecTV subscription or to buy physical versions. Part II and III can be streamed on Shudder.
12. Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019)
Lastly, possibly one of the most important and eye-opening horror documentaries ever made, Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror. This Shudder original details the impact of Black characters, actors, and filmmakers in the horror genre and the struggles throughout its history.
The documentary has heartfelt and incredible interviews with several Black staples in the genre, including Keith David, Tony Todd, Ken Foree, and Jordan Peele. The film details the history of white actors being put in blackface to portray Black villains, being reduced to nothing but side characters, and the importance of films like Get Out and Night of the Living Dead.
Horror Noire is an hour and 23 minutes and should absolutely be on your watchlist.
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Terror In The Aisles is a very good documentary. 1984 and hosted by Donald Pleasance and Nancy Allen.