The ’90s. What a glorious time to live through. I started the decade in pre-school and ended it just before high school so while I didn’t full experience everything it had to offer say like I did the aughts, I certainly enjoyed the hell out of the back half. What I love most about the decade that brought us Nirvana, the Internet, my beloved New York Knicks last trip to the NBA Finals, and, you guessed it, the horror movies.
This is particularly true of the explosion of teen focused slasher flicks that brought a freshness and modern take on the state of the horror genre. And listen pal, these movies came fast & furious. Not like the literal “Fast & Furious,” no the high octane flicks in that trash ass franchise are far scarier than anything I’m about to speak of. But you get the gist. And like all things, when it comes to these teen-focused horror films, there is a hierarchy. Some are good, some are bad, some even forgettable but regardless, in my book, they’re all glorious. So with that, take a trip down memory lane with me as I give you my unofficial and subject to change ranking of seven teen horror films of the ’90s.
7. ‘Disturbing Behavior’ (1998, Dir. David Nutter)
I’m not going to lie, I never really got into the whole CW thing back in the day. “Buffy,” “The Creek,” “Felicity,” any of those shows constituted a form of torture akin to Alex DeLarge’s rehabilitation in “A Clockwork Orange.“ But one thing is for sure—the CW knew how to churn out young stars and serve them on a platter to low budget horror flicks. Take 1998’s “Disturbing Behavior.” Is the premise original? No. Is the movie actually good? Not really. Does it matter? Nope!
Katie Holmes’ gothic bare adrift steals the show in this “Invasion Of the Body Snatchers” knock off. There’s definitely a social commentary running underneath this paper-thin plot regarding the pressures kids in high school face to fit in and be normal or accepted. I never had any issues with that, though, so I can’t really relate. Frankenstein, my best friend/cat, he accepts me for who I am and together we accept “Disturbing Behavior” for what it is; a mediocre meh-fest that you should add to your Halloween watch list this year!
6. ‘The Craft’ (1996, Dir. Andrew Flemming)
When I was you know, ten years old or so, I actually considered this a scary move. What with the witches, the curses, the lightning, and overall spookiness of a teenage coven of witches. Nowadays, the only thing that really makes me turn my head in shock is the acting. Even still, Neve Campbell really just owned this period of time. She ushered in a new generation of scream queens during the mid-’90s and she holds that title proudly to this day. “The Craft” really is a fun movie if you can get past how dated it feels watching now almost 30 years later. But it’s that nostalgia that you’re really watching for. This film more than any other on this list is like a time machine back to the era it’s from. Question: Oh. What happened Fairuza Balk? Between this, “The Waterboy,” and “American History X,” she deserves more credit for just really delivering on that Gen X kind of vibe.
5. Urban Legend (1998, Dir. Jamie Blanks)
“Urban Legend” is sort of like the Wal-Mart brand version of “Scream.” Unoriginal, uninspired, derivative, and worst of all, nowhere near as smart as it thinks it is, “Urban Legend” is a blast! Joshua Jackson and those late ’90s frosted tips, good lord. Also, how has Jared Leto been around for so long? I absolutely love the trope of the student journalist with a moral ethic of gold, determined to get the big story at any and all cost. It’s honestly so dumb I love it. Somewhere I think his performance here may have actually inspired me to study journalism in college. Outside of the 4th best live-action Joker’s performance, Freddy Krueger and Chucky show up in great cameo roles and Tara Reid really delivers. And by delivers, I mean her performance as the shock rock DJ of the campus makes me wish an urban legend would take my life mid-film to prevent me from having to suffer any more at her performance. One last call out—Michael Rosenbaum, another CW alum—the dude kills it.
4. ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ (1997, Dir. Kevin Williamson)
Generally if you asked me to describe this film in one word, I’d enthusiastically say, “Trash.” But having a fresh rewatch last weekend, I’d now describe it as “Fun-Trash.” Kevin Williamson no doubt knows how to write teens as evidenced here and with his other amazing franchise, but the acting here is about as lifeless as the slaughtered characters at the end of the film. Definitely wants to be “Scream;” but it’s not as fun, fresh, or scary. It’s not the ass fire “Urban Legend” is, but come on, what is? Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jennifer Love Hewitt are awesome though, especially the former. I mean, J-Love had a run and a half during this time; and even if she will forever be “Aman-duhhh” to me, this is a really her star making role.
Before I move on, I’d just like to say that the follow up, “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer,” makes this film look like “Chinatown” by comparison. And not only because that film also has a notoriously bad sequel. Stop me! This isn’t about Jack Nicholson. That’ll be my next article!
3. ‘Final Destination’ (2000, Dir. James Wong)
I absolutely love “Final Destination.” Let me just say from here out, I love all of these. What a fresh take, right? I mean in a world of carbon copies and generic formulaic rip-offs of prior successes, “Final Destination” is a breath of fresh air. The first 20 minutes here with all of the plane shenanigans, that plays in my mind every time before I go on a plane trip. Devon Sawa and Ali Larter are fantastic. I mean, they are so enjoyable to watch in these roles and really drive the story. Sawa in particular—his half frantic, half mad genius depiction of Alex is among the best performances during this era.
Sean William Scott will always be Stifler to me and a whole generation. But he does a nice job here. I’d say this is his second best role. Maybe third if you like “Role Models,” but again, I’m off topic. If I could type as fast as I can think, who knows what this might end up being about. Might get into a discussion about how “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” made me cry or how for Halloween my cat Frankenstein is going as a dog named Dracula. I gotta move on or this is never going to end. Let’s move on.
2. ‘The Faculty’ (1998, Dir. Robert Rodriguez)
As a youngster and continuing to this day, Salma Hayek and Famke Janssen were among my all-time celebrity crushes. That’s why this is at number 2. Also, because of the alternative rock supergroup Class of ’99 who never did anything except record a cover of Pink Floyd’s classic, “Another Brick In the Wall Part 2” for this film. Alice In Chains front man Layne Staley and Rage Against the Machine guitar virtuoso Tom Morello joined forces for an absolute killer take on the prog-rock classic. Outside that, Josh Hartnett, Elijah Wood, and Jordanna Brewster portray great opposite ends of the high school experience, and Clea DuVall should be a bigger star. I feel like now I’m just name-dropping cast members without saying anything about the film, but also Robert Patrick is as menacing as a T-1000 and pre-“Daily Show” Jon Stewart has a goatee. Wild, wild times. This is a must-watch every Halloween season and my personal favorite Robert Rodriguez film. If you haven’t seen it in a while, go watch now!
1. ‘Scream’ (1996, Dir. Wes Craven)
What’s your favorite scary movie you ask? Well of course it’s “Scream.” Not only my favorite straight horror film, but among my favorite films ever. I love everything about it: Ghostface, the voice, the kills, the cast, the characters, the razor sharp writing ,and the fantastic directing of Wes Craven. It’s gold Jerry, gold! Instead of telling you about in the form of reviewing it quick, let me just rant, okay. Actually, let me give you a ranking inside of a ranking because, like the “Scream” franchise, this article is going meta on your ass!
6. “Scream 3:” Trying to be too funny for its own good. People may die from laughing, but who has ever laughed from dying? Make that make sense.
5. “Scream 5:” Or is it Scream again. I don’t know, but I love what they did here. My big issue was always that new cast members didn’t stick around enough, but finally my prayers were answered!
4. “Scream 4:” Guess who’s back? Back again. Ghostface’s back. Slaying friends.
3. “Scream 6:” Sing the following to the melody of Reindeer and become try to claim this isn’t your favorite article of the year: We’ve got sequels and requels and prequels for Ghostface. New cast and old cast but Neve Campbell replaced. But can you recall…Kirby’s not dead after all.
2. “Scream 2:” Among the greatest sequals ever made, horror film or not. Look at the cast through the lense of 2024 and it’s a true WTF!
1. “Scream:” In a word, glorious. The Nirvana of ’90s slasher movies. Often replicated, never duplicated.
That’s all folks. Hope you enjoyed. What did I miss? Are you upset “Cursed” isn’t here? Well so am I. I forgot about it until the final moment, so I will just say the behind the scenes chaos of that one might be better than the actual film, but whatever. Guilty pleasure for sure. Whatever you’re doing this spooky season, hope it involves watching these fun and dumb ’90s slasher films!
