5 Horror Movies About Circus to Feel The Terror Under Tent

The scariest horror movies about circus. (Photo: House of 1000 Corpses (2003) - © 2003 Lions Gate)

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, as we take a spine-chilling journey into the world of horror movies set in the creepy and haunting atmosphere of the circus. These films will leave you feeling the terror under the big top. From twisted clowns to malevolent ringmasters, these movies will send shivers down your spine and leave you terrified until you can't fall asleep tonight.

Let's grab some popcorn, turn down the lights, and get ready for a scare with these five horror movies about the circus.

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1. House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

Genre: Horror/Comedy

IMDb: 6/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 22%

Where to Watch: HBO Max, Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home

First up on our list is "House of 1000 Corpses" (2003), directed by Rob Zombie. This film follows a group of friends who stumble upon the terrifying Firefly family and their sadistic ways. The story begins when Jerry, Denise, Bill, and Mary meet Captain Spaulding, played by Sid Haig, at a strange roadside museum. Their road trip turns into a nightmare as they are captured and tortured by the violent Firefly family, who enjoy pain, fear, and chaos in their isolated home.

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2. Vampire Circus (1972)

Genre: Horror/Vampire

IMDb: 6,3/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 80%

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, AMC Plus, The Roku Channel, Mometu

Next, we have "Vampire Circus" (1972). This British horror film is about a traveling circus. They bring a plague of vampires to a small village. The story takes place after a powerful vampire is killed, but his curse remains. Years later, a mysterious circus arrives, hiding vampires among acrobats and performers. As villagers start dying, they slowly learn the circus is feeding on them to survive.

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3. Circus of the Dead (2014)

Genre: Horror/Action

IMDb: 5/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 79%

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, The Roku Channel, Fandango at Home Free, Pluto TV, Plex

For our third pick, we have "Circus of the Dead" (2014). It's film that follows a group of clowns who terrorize a small town after dark. By day, the clowns perform in a traveling circus, but at night they become violent killers. The story focuses on a teenage girl named Zoe, who becomes their target. The movie shows how the town slowly falls into fear as the body count rises.

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4. The Last Circus (2010)

Genre: Comedy/Thriller

IMDb: 6,5/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 76%

Where to Watch: Philo, The Roku Channel, Fandango at Home, Amazon Video, Apple TV

Moving on, "The Last Circus" (2010) is a Spanish horror film. This movie follows the twisted love triangle between two clowns and a beautiful trapeze artist. Javier is a sad clown, while Sergio is a violent funnyman. Both men fall in love with Natalia, a trapeze artist with her own dark past. Their rivalry becomes brutal and bloody, set against Spain’s troubled political history.

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5. Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival (2016)

Genre: Musical/Horror

IMDb: 6,4/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

Where to Watch: fuboTV, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Kanopy

Last but not least, we have "Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival" (2016). This musical horror film takes place in a twisted carnival where sins are punished. The story continues the journey of lost souls who must face their personal flaws. Guided by the Devil and his helpers, each character is tempted and tested. Through dark songs and strange performances, the film shows the price of pride, greed, and betrayal.

Bimo Bagas Basworo
Author