There are distinct qualities that make a movie a cult: a devoted and niche following, popularity based on word-of-mouth enthusiasm, and a tendency to remain in fans' memories years after release, as well as many other intricacies, often hotly debated by film buffs. Horror: The Essential Cult Movies sifts through the greatest movies of the genre ever made, to bring together a list of the best cult classics that ever graced the cinema screens or didn't, in some cases!

Comprising a niche genre with a core of dedicated fans, horror movies are almost cult by definition. Horror has a particular resonance by allowing us to express and cope with our everyday fears. Often funny, usually unnerving, and sometimes so bad they are good, these movies cover all sub-genres of horror, from the first zombie movie ever made to horror comedy, with pit stops at vampires, werewolves, witches, voodoo and serial killers along the way.