Osgood Perkins has become a distinctive voice in modern horror, steadily delivering a series of atmospheric and unsettling films since his directorial debut. This article, featuring Osgood Perkins horror movies ranked, explores and evaluates each of his six directorial efforts, from his earliest feature to his most recent critical and fan discussions.
Starting in 2015 with The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Perkins introduced his methodical and haunting style, reminiscent of classics like Rosemary’s Baby and The Shining. While his debut did not receive widespread acclaim at first, it established his unique approach to psychological horror, paving the way for a burst of productivity in recent years. Over just eighteen months, Perkins has delivered three new horror films to theaters, highlighting his prolific pace and range of subject matter, from isolated family dramas to supernatural cabin horrors. While audience and critic reactions have varied, Perkins’ films consistently generate substantial conversation among horror enthusiasts and critics alike. His projects showcase not only growth in output but also a consistent effort to innovate within the genre, as shown in breakout titles such as Longlegs, The Monkey, and the latest, Keeper.
6. Gretel & Hansel (2020): A Grim Fairy Tale Reimagined
Gretel & Hansel represents Perkins’ darkest interpretation of the famed Brothers Grimm story, arriving during a period saturated with horror reworkings of public domain tales. At a time when sinister fairy tale adaptations struggled for serious recognition, Perkins gave the archetypal duo a gloom-laden transformation, staking a new claim for their narrative on the big screen. The film is best recognized for its brooding cinematography and intense atmosphere, forming the signature visual and tonal elements present in Perkins’ work.
Though Gretel & Hansel is often labeled his least effective effort, it still demonstrates significant strengths. Perkins crafts the most macabre version of the classic characters to ever appear in theaters, offering a notable contrast to previous adaptations such as Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. Nevertheless, the film’s main weakness lies in its adherence to the formula of the familiar source, preventing it from fully refreshing the underlying story. Still, it stands above previous attempts to reinterpret these characters, cementing Perkins as a director committed to elevating horror through style and tone.
5. I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016): A Ghost Story For the Streaming Age
Perkins’ sophomore film made its debut on Netflix at a time when streaming originals were just beginning to gain traction among viewers. Released without a major promotional push, I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House quietly introduced a new shade to Perkins’ growing horror palette. The cast, including Ruth Wilson and Lucy Boynton, were less familiar faces at the time, making it less likely to stand out amidst a wave of digital releases vying for attention.
Mirroring Perkins’ earlier approach, the story recounts a nurse’s unsettling experiences after moving into the home of an elderly writer, where reality blurs with imagination and ghostly phenomena. The director employs a deliberate, slow burn pace, and infuses the well-worn haunted house narrative with his distinct visual sensibilities. The result is a film that challenges viewers’ patience in an era of constant streaming distractions, but rewards those invested in Perkins’ escalating exploration of dread and unease. Fans deeply invested in Perkins’ style will find this film an essential, if challenging, piece of his filmography.
4. Keeper (2025): Psychological Frights Amidst Isolation
Keeper, filmed in Canada during the 2023 actors’ and writers’ strikes, features Canadian actors and crew and draws viewers into the eerie wilderness. The narrative centers on Liz (Tatiana Maslany) and Malcolm (Rossif Sutherland), whose romantic getaway takes a sinister turn when Malcolm is unexpectedly called away. Liz, left alone in their remote cabin, becomes convinced that she is not alone, encountering a disturbing presence that blurs the lines between psychological distress and supernatural peril.
The film stands out for its intense focus on performance, with Maslany anchoring nearly every scene and Sutherland delivering an ambiguous, unsettling counterpart. Despite logistical and creative challenges due to the strikes, Perkins crafts a twisted and psychedelic experience. The film leans into genre traditions, revisiting the classic
couple at a creepy cabin in the woods
premise, but injects enough fresh tension and oddity that viewers are continually left questioning their own perceptions. The ambiguity around its mythological elements reflect both creative intent and the unique production circumstances, ultimately yielding a film that feels both personal and timely.
3. The Monkey (2025): Dark Humor Meets Stephen King’s Imagination
With The Monkey, Perkins embraces a new direction, infusing his signature dread with unexpected laughs. Adapting Stephen King‘s short story, Perkins finally brings his offbeat humor to the surface, seamlessly combining it with the gruesome, death-filled storyline for which King is best known. The premise revolves around a cursed mechanical monkey whose toy antics inexplicably trigger bizarre and horrifying deaths.
The Monkey is arguably Perkins’ most eccentric project. While drawing on the tradition of shocking sequences reminiscent of the Final Destination franchise, it never feels derivative. The film’s peculiar charm is amplified by Perkins’ personal involvement; he has discussed in interviews how his own family tragedy informed the tone and approach to the source material. For both King aficionados and horror fans seeking a blend of carnage and darkly comic energy, The Monkey emerges as one of the most entertaining of recent adaptations, toggling expertly between terror and the absurd.
2. Longlegs (2024): A Haunting Pursuit by the FBI
Longlegs is propelled not only by Perkins’ distinctive style but also by an ingenious marketing campaign from NEON. The studio’s carefully calibrated teasers amplified intrigue without overexposing the film’s most memorable horrors, allowing Perkins’ creativity to take center stage when audiences finally encountered the story. The film itself doubles down on atmospherics: chilling cinematography and a dread-soaked tone that have become trademarks of Perkins’ work.
At its core, Longlegs presents a straightforward thriller — an FBI agent, played by Maika Monroe, races to catch a serial killer, portrayed by Nicolas Cage, before another victim falls. The film draws inspiration from legacy titles like The Silence of the Lambs and Se7en, yet it’s the layering of traditional horror elements — Satanic worship, uncanny dolls, and moments suggestive of telepathy — that gives Longlegs its edge. The visual experience is further heightened by erratic aspect ratio changes and subliminal glimpses of the Devil. The only critique keeping Longlegs from the foremost spot is its relative lack of originality in comparison to Perkins’ most personal work, but its atmosphere and craftsmanship set it apart among contemporary horror films.
1. The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015): Perkins’ Unrivaled Debut
The Blackcoat’s Daughter not only marked Perkins’ emergence as a fearless new talent in horror but stands as his most accomplished film thus far. The story interweaves the fates of two boarding school students, Katherine (Kiernan Shipka) and Rose (Lucy Boynton), separated from their classmates over February break, with a parallel narrative following Joan (Emma Roberts) on a disquieting journey. As Katherine’s increasingly erratic actions alarm Rose and Joan’s purpose becomes ever less clear, their fates collide in a climax revealing the terrifying depths to which the characters — and the audience — are drawn.
Perkins achieves a distinctive chill, making the wintry setting a force in itself; nearly every frame is steeped in cold and quiet tension, from empty fields to foggy breaths even within interiors. Casting actors celebrated for their warmth and charm, then stripping them to isolated, emotionless husks, Perkins heightens the film’s sense of unease. Achieving a striking slow-burn effect in just 93 minutes, The Blackcoat’s Daughter is considered by many horror fans and critics to be one of the sharpest, most atmospheric entries of the 2010s. To date, Perkins has yet to eclipse the haunting impact of his debut, which remains the benchmark for his subsequent work.
Details on Keeper: Cast and Story
Keeper features Tatiana Maslany in the lead role of Liz and Rossif Sutherland as Malcolm. In this psychological thriller, Liz spends an anniversary weekend at a solitary cabin, but after Malcolm leaves unexpectedly, she is left to confront isolation and a disturbing, possibly supernatural force lurking in their remote hideaway. The unfolding events gradually expose the sinister history of the cabin and test Liz’s grip on reality, maintaining the unnerving sense of dread that is now a hallmark of Perkins’ directorial style.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Perkins’ Horror Legacy
With six horror features already directed, and four scripts also penned by him, Osgood Perkins stands out as one of the most productive and adventurous horror filmmakers of his generation. His versatility ensures that whether viewers are drawn to stories involving haunted houses, mysterious forests, or tormented families, fresh experiences await with each release. Perkin’s next project, The Young People, is currently in production and slated for a 2026 debut, suggesting that his contribution to horror cinema is far from over.
The range and evolution of Osgood Perkins horror movies ranked here reflect an artist unafraid to experiment, and one who continues to generate conversation and anticipation with every unsettling new entry into the genre. As he explores fresh creative challenges and subgenres, horror fans and critics alike will be eager to see what chilling stories he chooses to tell next.
