The Best Horror Movies You Didn’t Know Were Set In New York

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Ignacio Weil

Entertainment - April 27th 2025, 19:00 GMT+2

Cropped Get Out — Get Out (2017)

Okay, we know what you’re thinking: *“Wait, wasn’t this all about suburban mind control and tea-stirring nightmares?”* Yes, it was. But here's the twist – some of the most chilling moments were *technically* set in New York, where Chris (played by Daniel Kaluuya) and Rose (Allison Williams, serving duplicitous charm) start their journey. The Big Apple’s cosmopolitan energy contrasts perfectly with the eerie, Stepford-like vibes of her family’s upstate estate. If anything, it’s the launching pad for a horror story that turns racial tension into psychological terror – and makes you think twice before trusting anyone offering artisanal cupcakes and liberal guilt. | © Blumhouse Productions

Cropped A Quiet Place — A Quiet Place (2018)

While this film is more famously remembered for its post-apocalyptic silence and terrifying monster jump-scares, *A Quiet Place* actually gives a quick nod to New York before all hell breaks loose. The city’s noisy hustle becomes even more ironic when contrasted with the near-total silence of the Abbott family's survival. John Krasinski (yes, Jim from *The Office*) directs and stars alongside real-life wife Emily Blunt, giving us a parental duo that’s as emotionally gripping as they are resourceful with sand paths and soundproof baby cribs. It’s a love letter to family survival instincts – just with way more alien death involved. | © Platinum Dunes

Cropped Black Swan — Black Swan (2010)

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to go absolutely off the rails while chasing artistic perfection in New York City – *Black Swan* is the gorgeous fever dream you need. Set in the high-pressure world of NYC ballet, Natalie Portman gives a tour de force as Nina, a ballerina whose quest for duality in Tchaikovsky’s *Swan Lake* unleashes full-blown psychological horror. Mila Kunis enters the scene like a seductive doppelgänger from Brooklyn, and suddenly it’s all seduction, feathers, and existential dread. With all the cracked mirrors, creepy mothers (shoutout to Barbara Hershey), and hallucinated self-stabbings, it’s a terrifying tale of ambition set against the most cultured backdrop of them all. | © Fox Searchlight Pictures

Cropped Saw — Saw (2004)

Plot twist – you probably never realized that *Saw*’s twisted web of moral torment was spun in the Big Apple. While most of the claustrophobic terror takes place in grimy, nondescript bathrooms and trap-filled dungeons, the city itself lurks in the background like a passive accomplice. Tobin Bell’s now-iconic Jigsaw character kicks off a franchise of ethically-questionable "life lessons" and chain-based problem-solving, and it all begins with two strangers waking up in an NYC-esque underground nightmare. And let’s not forget Cary Elwes, swinging between British charm and absolute panic like a pro. Not bad for a low-budget indie that turned into a full-blown horror empire. | © Twisted Pictures

Cropped American Psycho — American Psycho (2000)

If Wall Street’s golden boys freak you out more than clowns or ghosts, *American Psycho* is your psychological horror soulmate. Set in the glitzy, greedy Manhattan of the 1980s, this cult classic stars Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, a sharply dressed, business card-obsessed investment banker with a little... murder problem. The horror here isn’t just in the blood (though there’s *plenty* of that), but in the sheer emptiness of a culture that worships status over sanity. Jared Leto and Willem Dafoe both drop in, ratcheting up the charisma and paranoia. You'll never look at Huey Lewis and the News – or raincoats – the same way again. | © Lions Gate Films

Cropped Sleepy Hollow — Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Sure, *Sleepy Hollow* conjures images of fog-drenched woods and pumpkin-headed specters, but don’t forget – Ichabod Crane (played with pale-faced flair by Johnny Depp) is dispatched from none other than New York. That’s right, he’s a Big Apple constable with a knack for forensics before CSI made it cool. Tim Burton goes full gothic with this one, turning colonial upstate New York into a spookfest of headless horsemen, sinister secrets, and Christina Ricci’s wide-eyed witchy vibes. It’s got just the right amount of melodrama, mist, and moodiness to make you rethink autumn strolls in the park. | © Paramount Pictures

Cropped Cloverfield — Cloverfield (2008)

Oh, you thought Godzilla had monopoly over giant monster rampages? Enter *Cloverfield*, the found-footage chaos-fest where a creature the size of a skyscraper tears through Manhattan like it’s made of Jenga blocks. Directed by Matt Reeves and produced by J.J. Abrams, this one stars a fresh-faced cast including Lizzy Caplan and T.J. Miller – before they were recognizable, which only adds to the faux-reality vibe. It’s terrifying, disorienting, and occasionally funny in that “oh god this is how we’d all actually react” kind of way. It’s also one of the few horror flicks where NYC feels like both the victim *and* the battlefield. | © Paramount Pictures

Cropped Rosemarys Baby — Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Before there was “elevated horror,” there was *Rosemary’s Baby*, haunting its way through the upper-class apartments of Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Mia Farrow is absolutely magnetic (and heartbreakingly fragile) as Rosemary, the sweet young wife who slowly realizes that her pregnancy might involve, um, Satan. Set almost entirely in the ominously elegant Dakota building – yes, that Dakota – the film oozes dread from every perfectly decorated corner. With John Cassavetes playing the sketchy husband and Ruth Gordon as the nosiest neighbor from hell, it’s a masterclass in paranoia. Warning: may cause irrational fear of herbal drinks and old people. | © Paramount Pictures

Cropped The Devils Advocate — The Devil’s Advocate (1997)

You want devilish horror with a side of glossy legal drama? *The Devil’s Advocate* is your slightly unhinged, totally over-the-top NYC nightmare. Keanu Reeves trades in surfboards for subpoenas as a hotshot Florida lawyer lured to a swanky New York firm. The catch? His boss is literally the devil, played with Shakespearean flair by Al Pacino in one of his most delightfully unhinged performances. Charlize Theron brings the emotional depth, slowly unraveling as the city’s demonic energy closes in. Think high-rise hauntings, apocalyptic art, and a lot of luxurious tension. It’s horror in Armani. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

Cropped Jacobs Ladder — Jacob’s Ladder (1990)

If you like your horror cerebral, hallucinatory, and laced with metaphysical dread, *Jacob’s Ladder* is your twisted ticket. Tim Robbins plays a Vietnam vet navigating a surreal, nightmarish version of New York where demons wear business suits and subway platforms feel like gateways to hell. The city isn’t just a backdrop – it’s a manifestation of Jacob’s trauma, spiraling into a psychological horror that keeps you questioning what’s real. It’s like a fever dream version of NYC, and it somehow makes rush hour seem… quaint? Prepare for existential angst with a side of 90s grit. | © TriStar Pictures

Cropped Wait Until Dark — Wait Until Dark (1967)

Audrey Hepburn in a horror movie? Yes, darling – and she’s not just holding her own, she’s making you clutch your pearls. In *Wait Until Dark*, Hepburn plays a blind woman in a New York apartment who unwittingly becomes the target of a heroin-smuggling scheme gone wrong. What follows is a slow-burn thriller that erupts into a heart-pounding game of cat and mouse… in the dark. Alan Arkin plays the world’s most unsettling home invader, and the final act might just have you yelling at your screen like you're watching a slasher. It's a masterclass in suspense, and NYC’s cozy interiors have never felt so claustrophobic. | © Warner Bros.-Seven Arts

Cropped Seconds — Seconds (1966)

What happens when your midlife crisis leads you to literally become someone else? In *Seconds*, Rock Hudson delivers a hauntingly introspective performance in a film that’s way ahead of its time. This creepy sci-fi horror dives into the sinister underworld of identity-swapping, where a secretive organization gives you a new face and a fresh start – in New York, naturally. Director John Frankenheimer turns Grand Central Station and Manhattan lofts into eerie liminal spaces, dripping with paranoia. It’s trippy, existential, and proof that even 1960s NYC had serious body horror vibes before Cronenberg made it cool. | © Paramount Pictures

Cropped Sisters — Sisters (1972)

Before *Carrie* made her prom night unforgettable, Brian De Palma was out here perfecting his Hitchcock homage with *Sisters*. Set in Staten Island and the darker corners of NYC, this psychological thriller stars Margot Kidder as a sweet model with a very twisted twin – and we’ll leave it at that. There’s voyeurism, murder, a wild use of split-screen, and even a reporter-turned-detective subplot that feels oddly cozy. It’s a cult classic with a giallo flavor and a New York sense of grime that’s just deliciously seedy. Who knew split personalities and city living could mix so well? | © American International Pictures

Cropped The Addiction — The Addiction (1995)

Vampires go full philosophy major in *The Addiction*, a black-and-white indie horror film set in the grungy streets of '90s New York. Lili Taylor stars as a grad student who gets bitten by a seductive vampire (played by Annabella Sciorra) and suddenly finds herself balancing bloodlust with Nietzsche. It’s moody, artsy, and full of existential dread, and you’ll never look at a downtown alleyway or a smoky lecture hall the same way again. Oh, and guess who shows up as a rogue vampire philosopher? Christopher Walken, because of course. This one’s less “boo!” and more *brooding in black*. | © October Films

Cropped Cruising — Cruising (1980)

Al Pacino goes deep undercover – and we mean *deep –* in *Cruising*, a controversial horror-thriller that explores the leather bars and underground subcultures of NYC’s gay scene in the '70s. Directed by William Friedkin (of *The Exorcist* fame), it’s gritty, unsettling, and stylishly sleazy in a way that only pre-Giuliani New York could pull off. Pacino plays a detective chasing a serial killer targeting gay men, but the real horror is in the blurred lines between identity, obsession, and violence. It’s part murder mystery, part fever dream, and 100% wrapped in leather. | © United Artists

Cropped Maniac — Maniac (1980)

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if Travis Bickle went full slasher, *Maniac* is your answer – except dirtier, bloodier, and somehow even *more* unhinged. Set in the seediest corners of 1980s New York, this cult shocker follows Frank Zito (played with terrifying commitment by Joe Spinell), a scalp-collecting loner who’s every bit as disturbed as his mannequin collection. Caroline Munro drops in as a suspiciously trusting photographer, and let’s just say: things don’t end with a polite headshot. It’s grimy, uncomfortable, and a wild snapshot of pre-gentrification NYC horror at its most raw. | © Analysis Film Releasing Corporation

Cropped god told me to — God Told Me To (1976)

When random New Yorkers start committing murder and calmly saying, “God told me to,” you know you’re not in Kansas anymore. You’re in *God Told Me To*, a surreal blend of police procedural, religious horror, and alien conspiracy – yes, it goes there. Directed by Larry Cohen, this delightfully bizarre flick stars Tony Lo Bianco as a cop whose investigation into a string of unholy crimes leads him straight into metaphysical chaos. Also, Andy Kaufman appears in one of the weirdest cameos ever, dressed as a police officer and somehow still confusing audiences. Divine intervention? More like divine WTF. | © New World Pictures

The new york ripper msn — The New York Ripper (1982)

Lucio Fulci, Italy’s godfather of gore, came to New York with *The New York Ripper* and said, “Let’s make it sleazy.” And boy, did he deliver. This is arguably one of the most notorious horror films to ever stain the city’s cinematic legacy. The killer? A psycho with a Donald Duck voice. The vibe? A mix of grimy erotica and slasher sleaze, all painted against the neon-lit sleaze of 42nd Street. Sure, it’s wildly problematic – but Fulci’s signature blend of gore and griminess has carved it a permanent place in horror history. Definitely not one for date night. | © Medusa Distribuzione

Cropped Habitat — Habit (1995)

Writer-director-star Larry Fessenden basically made the ultimate NYC indie vampire flick with *Habit*. It's the '90s East Village, grungy and artistic, and Fessenden plays Sam – a down-on-his-luck guy who meets a mysterious woman (Meredith Snaider) who might just be a bloodsucker. But the genius is in the ambiguity: is she really a vampire, or is Sam just spiraling in grief and alcoholism? It’s part romance, part descent into madness, all soaked in cheap wine and emotional decay. You can practically smell the dive bar floor – and that’s what makes it work. | © Glass Eye Pix

Cropped the driller killer — The Driller Killer (1979)

Few titles wear their horror on their sleeve like *The Driller Killer*. Yes, it's about a guy. With a drill. Killing people. But wait – there’s art! Sort of. Abel Ferrara (who also stars under a pseudonym) directs this grimy urban nightmare about a struggling artist in NYC who completely loses it and starts drilling homeless people in back alleys. Shot guerrilla-style with zero permits, it’s punk, raw, and just this side of a mental breakdown. It's also the reason VHS stores used to slap “BANNED IN THE UK” stickers on the cover. Underground horror, literally and figuratively. | © Rochelle Films

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New York might be known for its dazzling skyline, bustling streets, and iconic landmarks – but beneath the surface lies a darker, more sinister side that horror fans might not expect. While many horror films are set in remote cabins or eerie small towns, some of the most chilling stories unfold right in the heart of the Big Apple. In this article, we’re diving into the best horror movies set in New York that you probably didn’t realize took place there. From haunted brownstones to urban legends lurking in subway tunnels, these spine-tingling films use the state as the perfect backdrop for fear. Whether you’re a horror aficionado or a curious cinephile, this list will give you a whole new perspective on the city that never sleeps.