Netflix is home to pretty much every kind of film genre one can think of, but when your cinematic hunger is only satiated by ghost stories and slasher flicks, rest assured that the platform’s collection of horror films is a hellishly delightful curation that we wholeheartedly recommend. The collection is always changing too, with new movies coming to Netflix throughout each month.
If you’re not up for the challenge of sifting through rows of terrifying titles, we’ve already done the hard work for you. Here’s our roundup of the best horror movies on Netflix right now.
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Looking to get your scares elsewhere? We’ve curated guides to the best horror movies on Amazon Prime Video and the best horror movies on Hulu.
Recently added to Netflix
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The Boy2016 -
Old People2022
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The Munsters2022
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Veronica2017
83m
Genre
Horror
Stars
Sandra Oh, Fivel Stewart, Dermot Mulroney
Directed by
Iris K. Shim
Umma stars television icon Sandra Oh alongside Fivel Stewart and Dermot Mulroney. The plot centers on a single mother leading a quiet and uneventful life with her homeschooled daughter on a secluded American farm. Things get complicated when her mother’s cremated remains arrive from Korea, and she soon finds herself dealing with a vicious supernatural presence.
104m
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, Henry Thomas
Directed by
Mike Flanagan
The underrated Carla Gugino stars opposite Bruce Greenwood in Mike Flanagan’s 2017 psychological horror film Gerald’s Game. Based on Stephen King’s 1992 novel, the film follows a married couple at a secluded getaway home. Looking to rekindle their strained relationship, the man handcuffs the woman to the bed; however, he suddenly dies of a heart attack, leaving his wife in a dire situation. With little hope of escaping and a series of demons haunting her mind, the woman must do everything in her power to survive.
99m
Genre
Horror
Stars
Elizabeth Reaser, Lulu Wilson, Annalise Basso
Directed by
Mike Flanagan
A prequel to the 2014 film Ouija, Ouija: Origin of Evil follows a woman and her two daughters who conduct a fraudulent seance business. Looking to improve their act, the woman introduces a Ouija board into her sessions, unknowingly summoning a vengeful spirit looking to possess her youngest daughter. Elizabeth Reaser, Kate Siegel, and Henry Thomas star, with Mike Flanagan directing.
111m
Genre
Horror, Mystery
Stars
David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox
Directed by
Wes Craven
The Scream franchise came back after a decade with Scream 4. The plot centers on Sydney Prescott returning to Woodsboro during the press tour for her self-help book. However, her arrival coincides with the anniversary week of the original Woodsboro murders, prompting the return of the Ghostface serial killer. Neve Campbell, David Arquette, and Courteney Cox reprise their roles as Sydney, Dewey, and Gal, respectively, opposite a younger cast that includes Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, and Rory Culkin.
96m
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Douglas Smith, Lucien Laviscount, Cressida Bonas
Directed by
Stacy Title
Douglas Smith, Carrie-Anne Moss, Lucien Laviscount, and Faye Dunaway star in the 2017 supernatural horror film The Bye Bye Man. The story follows three college friends who unwittingly unleash a supernatural evil known as the Bye Bye Man, who they discover is the cause of many brutal crimes throughout history.
97m
Genre
Horror, Thriller, Mystery
Stars
Lauren Cohan, Rupert Evans, James Russell
Directed by
William Brent Bell
If you’re a fan of the “cursed doll” sub-genre, The Boy will likely satisfy your thirst for all things porcelain, painted, and paranoia-inducing. The story treads familiar grounds, following an American named Greta (Lauren Cohan) living in the U.K. After picking up employment as a babysitter for a reclusive family, Greta’s new job turns out to be quite the unusual gig. As it turns out, the “child” she was hired to sit for is actually a doll in the likeness of the couple’s deceased son, and after violating the family’s strict doll care rules, supernatural events kick into motion. With an atmosphere built upon foreboding visuals, The Boy may not be turning over any new narrative leaves, but it does a decent job of delivering scare after scare (even if we know they’re coming).
101m
Genre
Horror
Stars
Melika Foroutan, Stephan Luca, Bianca Nawrath
Directed by
Andy Fetscher
Fearful of old age? Your terrors aren’t unfounded, friend, especially if your elder years turn out to be anything like the frightening geriatrics in director Andy Fetscher’s Old People. When Ella (Melika Foroutan) and her two children arrive home to attend her sister’s wedding, a legion of blood-hungry old folks descend upon the matrimony, hacking and slashing through anything that gets in their way. With films like Bingo Hell and now Old People, our go-to streaming platforms seem to be suggesting that we should heed the wise words of one Lloyd Christmas: Senior citizens, although slow and dangerous behind the wheel, will murder you the first chance they get.
110m
Genre
Comedy, Fantasy
Stars
Jeff Daniel Phillips, Sheri Moon Zombie, Daniel Roebuck
Directed by
Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie may have made quite the name for himself with his traditional backwoods horror fare, including films like 31 and House of 1,000 Corpses. But in a refreshing change of pace, the maestro of terror takes his genre chops into a more family-friendly kind of playing field with his cinematic reimagining of The Munsters. Starring Jeff Daniel Philips, Sheri Moon Zombie, and Daniel Roebuck as Herman, Lily, and Grandpa Munster, respectively, our story follows Lily and Herman’s ghoulish wooing of one another, serving as a fun-filled prequel to the mid-1960s TV series that we know and love.
105m
Genre
Horror
Stars
Sandra Escacena, Bruna González, Claudia Placer
Directed by
Paco Plaza
When will the world learn that using ouija boards is a surefire way to get yourself mixed up with supernatural forces that won’t leave, even when you ask them nicely? In director Paco Plaza’s Veronica, the latest victim of the ghoulish phenomena turns out to be the film’s titular character, a 15-year-old girl who begins experiencing paranormal events after going a round with the infamous ouija. Veronica is an unsettling film for sure, effectively relying on tone and atmosphere more than one would expect in crafting what could have been just another possession film.
93m
Genre
Drama, Horror, Thriller
Stars
Juli Fàbregas, Ximena Romo, Héctor Illanes
Directed by
Santiago Alvarado
In The Day of the Lord, past demons simply won’t cease the constant plaguing of Menédez (Juli Fàbregas), a retired priest who has opted to live his remaining years in exile, as far away from his memories as possible. But an old friend comes calling with a request that would send chills down anyone’s spine: exorcise a supposed demon lurking inside the mind and body of the man’s daughter. Packed with terrifying visuals and emotive performances from the core cast, The Day of the Lord is a stellar addition to Netflix’s genre library.
85m
Genre
Horror, Thriller, Science Fiction
Stars
Iola Evans, Asa Butterfield, Robert Englund
Directed by
Toby Meakins
Co-written and directed by Toby Meakins, Choose or Die stars Iola Evans as Kayla, a window-cleaning college dropout who stumbles into a world of digitized doom when she accidentally enters herself and her pal, Issac (Asa Butterfield), into the wicked world of CURS>R, an ‘80s survival horror game that meshes into reality, forcing its “players” to make life or death decisions to reach the end of the terrifying campaign. Poking a lot of fun at the gaming subculture, Choose or Die delivers a Pandora’s box of twisted tropes, and while it may be a bit much for some viewers, it’s hard not to at least appreciate the imaginative world-building of Meakins and his fellow creatives.
80m
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Elise Berggreen, Kellan Rhude, Dylan Pierce
Directed by
Eric Gibson
Here’s a solid blast of found-footage madness for you and yours to enjoy. Incantation is co-written and directed by Kevin Ko and stars Tsai Hsuan-yen as Li Ronan, a desperate mother who is suffering the consequences of accidental desecration. Years before, Li violated a sacred Chen ritual, leading her newborn daughter to be cursed by an ancient deity. With time running out, Li must now do everything in her power to lift the hex from her child before the deity consumes the innocent girl. While the narrative veers off course here and there, as a whole, Incantation is a mostly cohesive and kinetic bit of shaky-camera scariness that we bet most viewers will thoroughly enjoy.
113m
Genre
Thriller, Mystery, Horror
From the writer/director of Nightcrawler, Dan Gilroy brings us another otherworldly Jake Gyllenhaal vehicle in the form of Velvet Buzzsaw, an elevated horror flick with wily, satirical undertones. Gyllenhaal plays Morf Vandewalt, an infamously discerning art critic. When Josephina (Zawe Ashton), Mort’s assistant, stumbles upon a collection of revered paintings by a deceased artist known as Vetril Dease (Alan Mandell), she brings the works to the attention of her employer and an art gallery owner (Rene Russo). But it turns out that Vetril’s paintings have a sinister “life after death” agenda, and they unleash supernatural mayhem onto all those who come into contact with the artisan’s inspired creations. A funny and gory deep dive into the world of elitist and high-browed art, Velvet Buzzsaw runs off the rails one or two times. But the end result is an ultimately original narrative and an ensemble of excitable roles honed by arresting talents.
124m
Genre
Thriller, Drama, Science Fiction
Stars
Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, John Malkovich
Directed by
Susanne Bier
Director Susanne Bier’s 2018 genre film Bird Box was released the same year as Jon Krasinski’s A Quiet Place, and both films deal with similar narrative threads — primarily, a reliance on humanity’s keen senses as a means for survival on a near-apocalyptic Planet Earth. In Bird Box, the story is about a world devastated by an omnipotently horrific presence that, if witnessed, renders a person insane and forces them into suicide. Five years after the presence first emerges, Malorie Hayes (Sandra Bullock), who’s caring for two children (one of which is her own), seeks salvation with the two kids, played by Vivien Lyra Blair and Julian Edwards. But in order to live, the trio must traverse a destroyed world without their ability to see. Based on the 2014 Josh Malerman novel of the same name, Bird Box presents an engaging concept that branches off into many exciting directions, and Sandra Bullock commands a relatable lead role. It’s not a perfect film by any means, but it’s definitely immersive and entertaining.
90m
Genre
Horror, Thriller, Drama
Stars
Allison Williams, Logan Browning, Steven Weber
Directed by
Richard Shepard
In co-writer/director Richard Shepard’s The Perfection, the pursuit of music is the burning heart of the story, an artistic perdition that the film’s cast of characters is forced to reckon with. Allison Williams stars as Charlotte, an esteemed cellist who had to leave a prestigious music school in Boston to care for her dying mother. Upon returning, she becomes envious of a new student named Lizzie (Logan Browning), and the deep-seated jealousy leads to a loss of vital limbs, among other things. Bold in its visual execution and narrative beats, The Perfection has a wicked agenda, and as audience members, all we can do is attempt to enjoy the onslaught — a fairly easy feat considering the great tone, pacing, and performances.
126m
Genre
Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller
Stars
Thomas Jane, Laurie Holden, Toby Jones
Directed by
Frank Darabont
Nothing says Stephen King like a small town in Maine sinking into the depths of hell. In the 2007 film The Mist, Thomas Jane stars as David Drayton, an artist, husband, and father who sits through a powerful summer thunderstorm with his wife Stephanie (Kelly Collins Lintz) and son Billy (Nathan Gamble). Surveying damages the morning after, David and members of the community take note of a thick mist overspreading their idyllic town. After venturing to the grocery store with Billy and a neighbor, Lovecraftian terrors begin emerging from the ensnaring fog, destroying every human the creatures come in contact with. Forced to barricade inside the cramped store, David and the rest of the civilians must do battle with the otherworldly foes while contending with the religious fervor of a town zealot (Marcia Gay Harden). While it’s not the best King adaptation out there, The Mist scores big by delivering some fairly epic thrills and a deeper exploration of the darkest parts of humanity, where sacrifice and survival go hand in hand.
135m
Genre
Horror, Fantasy
Stars
Jaeden Martell, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis
Directed by
Andy Muschietti
On the surface, the town of Derry is just your typical suburban stretch of heaven, but lurking underneath the streets is something far more sinister. In director Andrés Muschietti’s 2017 film It, the first of a two-part adaptation of the thousand-plus-page Stephen King novel, a collective of outcast pre-teens, referred to as “The Loser’s Club,” are forced to live out the summer of their nightmares when a cosmic, shape shifting clown begins picking off Derry’s children. When Georgie Denbrough (Jackson Robert Scott), the younger brother of The Loser’s Club self-appointed leader, Bill (played by Jaeden Martell), is one of Pennywise the Clown’s many victims, Bill and his pals take vengeance into their own hands. Transposing an ’80s backdrop over the book’s original ’50s setting, It stands as one of the strongest Stephen King adaptations to date, complete with incredible performances, excellent camerawork and editing, and some truly unnerving sequences centered around the horrifying Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård).
101m
Genre
Horror, Mystery
Stars
Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Daniel Zovatto
Directed by
David Robert Mitchell
It Follows came along in 2015 to prove to genre fanatics that with a little ingenuity and the employment of some trusted genre tropes, horror films can still be very original. Our story follows Jay (Maika Monroe), your typical suburban teen with not a care in the world. That is until a supernatural, sexually transmitted curse befalls her and her group of friends. The only way to ward off inevitable death? You have to pass the plague onto someone else by having sex with them. Packed with disturbing visuals, an amazing score, and an excellent roundtable of performances, It Follows will stand as a modern horror-classic for years to come.
102m
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Julia Wieniawa-Narkiewicz, Wiktoria Gąsiewska, Stanisław Cywka
Directed by
Bartosz M. Kowalski
In Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight, B-movie chills meet modern-day, reality-driven horrors when a group of unsuspecting teenagers arrive at a wilderness retreat where ditching phones, tablets, and laptops is the name of the game. Settling into this temporary way of life, it just so happens that an inventive serial killer is stalking the campground, forcing the tech-less heroes to do battle without the aid of their treasured devices. Writer-director Bartosz M. Kowalski serves up some familiar genre fare with Nobody Sleeps, creating enough of a stir in the horror community to warrant a sequel to the original tale.
102m
Genre
Horror, Crime, Drama
Stars
Thomas Jane, Molly Parker, Dylan Schmid
Directed by
Zak Hilditch
Based on the Stephen King novella of the same name, 1922 stars Thomas Jane as Wilfred James, a Nebraskan farmer at odds with his wife, Arlette (Molly Parker), over the land he considers their livelihood. Things get real when Arlette wants to sell the acreage and move to the city, but Wilfred wants no part of his spouse’s plans, so he instead decides to murder her with the assistance of his teenage son (Dylan Schmid). With the crime in the bag, local authorities become suspicious of Mrs. James’ disappearance, forcing the guilty son into a state of hysteria as the psychological weight of his misdeed weighs heavy on him. Powered by a compelling story and strong performances from its core cast, 1922 may not have the dazzle and clout of heavyweight Stephen King adaptations like It or The Shining, but it’s an excellent book-to-screen entry you won’t want to miss.
88m
Genre
Horror
Stars
Dan Stevens, Alison Brie, Sheila Vand
Directed by
Dave Franco
The directorial debut of actor Dave Franco, The Rental stars Dan Stevens, Alison Brie, Sheila Vand, and Jeremy Allen White as two couples who journey to a remote oceanic home for a romantic retreat. What begins as the idyllic trip soon devolves into a nightmare as the couples soon realize that they’re being vicariously observed by the property owner. A film that lives and breathes by its tension and incredible cast, The Rental promises a solid filmmaking career for the youngest Franco brother.
90m
Genre
Horror, Fantasy
Stars
Brigitte Kali Canales, Andrea Cortés, Julian Lerma
Directed by
Christopher Alender
In The Old Ways, Brigitte Kali Canales stars as Cristina, a journalist operating in the deep rainforests of Veracruz. When the reporter is captured by a suspecting witch doctor and forced into a number of sacred rituals to exorcise the evils inside her, Cristina must fight against her captor with everything she’s got in order to stay alive. A unique take on the typical “exorcism” sub-genre, The Old Ways delivers solid chills and surprises by effectively leaning on its close-quartered jungle environments and primitive religious practices.
121m
Genre
Horror, Thriller, Action
Stars
Peri Baumeister, Carl Anton Koch, Kais Setti
Directed by
Peter Thorwarth
After a band of terrorists hijack a transatlantic flight, their goal is to collect a handsome ransom. What they weren’t expecting was that two of the onboard passengers possess a dark gift that could spell big trouble for both the travelers and their captors. If you can imagine the claustrophobic thrills of Red Eye crossing paths with the vampire sub-genre, you’re halfway home to unpacking the tantalizing horrors of Blood Red Sky, a great horror film set in the sky.
81m
Genre
Horror
Stars
Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham
Directed by
David Blue Garcia
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a franchise that has seen many peaks and valleys through its near-50-year saga. The latest entry, 2022’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre, is a direct sequel to the 1974 original film, ignoring all the other titles in the franchise. Our story follows Dante (Jacob Latimore), a social media influencer, and his close-knit band of friends. Arriving in a small Texas town that they plan to gentrify (much to the chagrin of the remaining locals), what the posse of pals doesn’t plan for is the emergence of a chainsaw-wielding brute that isn’t ready to vacate a dilapidated orphanage. While it lacks some of the tension-building and sensible character motivations of other Chainsaw flicks, this straight-to-Netflix iteration brings bold slasher sensibilities, exciting camera work, and an inventive (if not challenged) storyline to the fold.
85m
Genre
Horror, Thriller, Mystery
Stars
Cristina Rodlo, Marc Menchaca, David Figlioli
Directed by
Santiago Menghini
When Ambar (Cristina Rodlo) takes up residence at at a boardinghouse in Cleveland, her new living quarters prove troublesome. Encountering unplanned money issues, Ambar has no choice but to confront her landlord, a mysterious man named Red (Marc Menchaca) — a confrontation that plummets Ambar down a rabbit hole of ancient, sacrificial terrors. A stunning feature debut from director Santiago Menghini, No One Gets Out Alive is a visceral and haunting film that effectively leans on genre tropes to tell its story of a single fish in a big, terrifying new city.
95m
Genre
Drama, Horror, Mystery, Comedy
Stars
Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Francesco Russo, Peppino Mazzotta
Directed by
Roberto De Feo, Paolo Strippoli
Elisa (Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz) isn’t having the greatest days of late. On her way to Calabria with folks she’s never met before (her travels are arranged through a rideshare app), the RV ends up getting wrecked and one of the passengers injured. What’s more peculiar is that when Elisa awakens the next morning, she discovers that she and her fellow travelers are stranded in the woods. Soon after, the members of a mysterious cult descend on the wayward companions, forcing everyone to fight for their lives.
96m
Genre
Thriller, Horror, Mystery
Stars
Sydney Park, Théodore Pellerin, Asjha Cooper
Directed by
Patrick Brice
Makani (Sydney Park) relocates from Hawaii to rural Nebraska, moving in with her grandmother to finish high school. All is normal until a sadistic killer emerges from the woodwork, terrorizing his victims with masks identical to their faces. It’s only a matter of time before the psychopath reaches Makani and those surrounding her. A decent slasher with enough scares to keep us all watching, There’s Someone Inside Your House owes plenty to genre kingpins like Scream and even Happy Death Day — although these other two films are a notch or two better in a few ways.
89m
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Megan Fox, Eoin Macken, Aml Ameen
Directed by
SK Dale
Nothing says “travesty” like waking up chained to a dead man. In S.K. Dale’s tantalizing genre pic Till Death, Megan Fox stars as Emma, the wife of a prominent New York attorney. When a retreat to the couple’s isolated cabin goes haywire, Emma is left stranded in the woodlands as a band of hired killers descend on the terrorized woman. In order to stay alive, Emma will have to think fast to evade the wicked fate that, beyond her knowledge, was already awaiting her. Till Death does more than its fair share to shine as an imaginative horror-thriller, combining plenty of tight action sequences and dedicated performances to deliver a top-shelf film.
93m
Genre
Thriller, Horror
Stars
Daniel Gillies, Erik Thomson, Miriama McDowell
Directed by
James Ashcroft
From first-time writer-director James Ashcroft comes Coming Home in the Dark. When Alan, his wife, and two stepsons opt for a coastline retreat, their weekend of paradise becomes a masterful nightmare when two men known as Mandrake (Daniel Gillies) and Tubs (Matthias Luafutu) crash their little vacation. A seemingly innocuous encounter with the drifters soon turns malevolent, especially as the family realizes that this chance encounter may have been in the works for over two decades. A powerful debut with standout performances, particularly from Gillies, Coming Home in the Dark is sure to make us all think twice about hitting the beaches.
98m
Genre
Drama, Horror, Thriller
Stars
Rodolfo Sancho, Ramón Barea, Nerea Barros
Directed by
Ángel Gómez Hernández
Don’t Listen stars Rodolfo Sancho as Daniel, a husband and father that is moving into a new home with his family. In the wake of an unforeseen tragedy, a grieving Daniel begins to experience paranormal events in his new home. Seeking out a paranormal expert to get to the root of the supernatural occurrences, what Daniel will discover will change his life forever. A creepy and foreboding haunted house chiller, Don’t Listen will have listening for every creak in your home a little extra carefully.
115m
Genre
Mystery, Thriller, Horror
Stars
Lee Sung-min, Nam Da-reum, Park Hae-jun
Directed by
Kim Tae-hyoung
Nothing says “tantalizing fear” like the laid-on-thick stylings of a Korean horror film, and director Tae-Hyung Kim’s The 8th Night is no exception to this frightful formula. Following a once-exorcist-turned-monk named Park Jin-soo, the man is called upon by the Buddhist faith to do battle against a horrific ancient-evil — a centuries-old demon that is possessing humans and wreaking havoc. Filled with unusual shocks and beholden to an ultra-haunting atmosphere, The 8th Night is a spine-tingler for sure and a film you don’t want to miss.
91m
Genre
Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Stars
Crystal Reed, Mylène Farmer, Anastasia Phillips
Directed by
Pascal Laugier
Ghostland (also known as Incident in a Ghostland) plays by its own rules. An amalgamation of slasher, camp, and “grindhouse” brutality, our story follows a mother and her two teenage daughters on their way to a secluded estate they’ve inherited from the mom’s aunt (sound familiar?). Little does the family know they’re being stalked. Arriving at the house, the women are attacked and held captive by a pair of psychopaths. Events transpire, and many years pass. And even though there are more survivors than victims, the trauma from the inciting incident still holds strong over the sisters — or so it seems. Ghostland is on a path of misdirection from the moment the film begins, so be prepared to pay close attention.
103m
Genre
Fantasy, Family
Stars
Winslow Fegley, Lidya Jewett, Krysten Ritter
Directed by
David Yarovesky
Based on the horror-fantasy children’s book of the same name by J.A. White, Nightbooks stars Winslow Fegley as Alex, a creative kid with a penchant for coming up with scary stories. When captured by a witch (Krysten Ritter), the malevolent woman demands that Alex tell her a new spooky tale every night in order to stay alive. Can Alex’s ambitious ideas keep him from being destroyed? Nightbooks leans more toward a younger audience, and that’s OK in our book. After all, horror movies should be for everyone (well, not all horror movies). Delivering a dread-laced tone and immersive performances from the main cast, Nightbooks is a great horror flick for the whole family to take in.
99m
Genre
Drama, Horror, Mystery
Stars
Garance Marillier, Ella Rumpf, Rabah Nait Oufella
Directed by
Julia Ducournau
Justine (Garance Marillier) is entering her first year of veterinary school. A devoted vegetarian for years, a hazing ritual involving animal entrails introduces Justine to a newfound taste for meat. Struggling to contend with her new appetite, a hunger for meat soon evolves into a sinister longing for human flesh. Writer-director Julia Ducournau’s feature debut is a brutally bold vision of the coming-of-age genre, albeit flipped on its head and splattered with blood.
87m
Genre
Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Science Fiction
Stars
Mena Suvari, Ema Horvath, Trey Tucker
Directed by
Braden R. Duemmler
Welcoming a parent’s new romantic partner is never an easy feat — especially when there’s something rather otherworldly about the new lover. In director Brandon R. Duemmler’s What Lies Below, Libby (Ema Horvath) is introduced to her mother’s new boyfriend, John (Trey Tucker). Though he’s an endearing man on the surface, Libby begins to sense there’s something very off about mom’s new squeeze — predictions that prove to be all too true. A blast of genre-camp, What Lies Below owes its narrative and performances to a number of sci-fi mashups that came before it. That being said, Duemmler’s unique vision is strong enough to raise this aquatic terror-flick to the top of the Netflix-original-horror trove.
Digital Trends streaming roundup
Genre
Horror
Cast
Florence Pugh, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Celia Imrie
Perusing the annals of the top streaming platforms, there’s a number of documentaries that chronicle the rise and fall of major startups — scam-artists that finally pay their penance. Such a premise is at play in the 2018 Netflix original, Malevolent. Starring Florence Pugh (Midsommar, Black Widow) and Ben Lloyd-Hughes as a fraudulent paranormal-investigation duo, the brother-sister team is called to a supposedly haunted estate to carry out their con-artist workflow — a job that takes a wicked turn when the decrepit homestead has plans of its own. A chilling haunted-house flick that doesn’t break the mold but lives comfortably in the confines of the tropes that laid its foundation, Malevolent is a fun plunge into a world of creepy whispers, slamming doors, and disturbed psyches turning on our main characters.
Genre
Science Fiction, Thriller, Horror
Cast
Mélanie Laurent, Mathieu Amalric, Malik Zidi
The director of The Hills Have Eyes (2006), Horns, and Crawl, Alexandra Aja takes a deep plunge into the popular crossover world of horror-meets-sci-fi with 2021’s Oxygen. The film stars Mélanie Laurent as Elizabeth Hansen, a woman who wakes up in a cryogenic pod with depleting oxygen levels, with no clue about how she got there. As the air pours out of her cell, Liz must fight to reclaim any semblance of who she is and why she’s been in a cryo-induced slumber. While the narrative may not be entirely fresh, you’ll want to watch Oxygen for the breathtaking lead performance from Mélanie Laurent, an actor who brings mighty chops to a role that a run-of-the-mill talent could easily phone in.
107m
Genre
Horror, Mystery
Stars
Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr.
Directed by
Leigh Janiak
Based on the R.L. Stine book series of the same name, the Netflix adaptation encompasses three films, kicking off with Part One: 1994. Our story follows Deena Johnson (Kiana Madeira) of Shadyside, a community plagued by a history of horrific murders. Many locals believe this to be the result of a hex from an ancient witch named Sarah Fier, but Deena doesn’t buy into the mythos. That is until several of Shadyside’s most wicked begin enacting savage acts upon the small town, thrusting Deena and her friends into an all-out fight for survival. An effective slasher and faithful homage to its source material, you can enjoy all three legs of the Fear Street chronology on Netflix.
82m
Genre
Horror, Thriller, Mystery
Stars
Shelley Hennig, Heather Sossaman, Renee Olstead
Directed by
Levan Gabriadze
Blaire (Shelley Hennig) and her close friends are having a Skype chat when an unknown user joins their conversation, known only as “billie227.” The friends attempt to remove the unknown participant from their chatroom, only to discover that the username belongs to Laura Barns, Blaire’s best friend who committed suicide after a humiliating video of her went viral and is now a spirit seeking revenge against all those who defiled her. Blaire and her friends are forced into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse as the afterlife-incarnate of Laura enacts her wretched plan. It may sound cheesy on the surface, but Unfriended is a horror film that works in more ways than one, with a surprising amount of tension emitting from the tiny confines of the teens’ Skype windows.
Genre
Horror, Mystery, Drama, Thriller
Cast
Amanda Seyfried, James Norton, Natalia Dyer
After relocating to the Hudson Valley from Manhattan, the Clare family takes up residence in an antique farmhouse. Enamored by his new teaching position (the reason for the family’s move), George Clare (James Norton) all but abandons his wife and daughter and begins a lusty affair with one of his students. Catherine (Amanda Seyfried) spends her days at their new home, feeling isolated and increasingly haunted by a presence roaming throughout. As a host of otherworldly apparitions and artifacts begin making themselves known to Catherine, George’s own skeletons begin creeping up on him and his family. A movie less about ghosts than the disintegration of one American household, Things Heard & Seen presents an atmospheric home and the helpless victims doomed to walk its halls forever.
148m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Horror, Crime
Stars
Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick
Directed by
Zack Snyder
Zack Synder’s Army of the Dead finds the DC Comics auteur back in his horror stomping grounds (Synder’s breakout hit was 2004’s Dawn of the Dead remake). Set in a zombie-ravaged present day, the film follows Scott Ward (Dave Bautista), an ex-pat living on the fringes of a desolate Las Vegas. When handed the opportunity of a lifetime by casino magnate Bly Tanaka (Hiroyuki Sanada) — break into the quarantine zone to make off with a large surplus of cash before the city is nuked — the anti-hero assembles a wrecking team of hardened warriors and experts to carry out the heist with. A massively staged amalgamation of action and horror, the carnage is abundant and the story is rich for Synder’s return to the world of the undead.
Genre
Action, Drama, Horror
Cast
Yoo Ah-in, Park Shin-hye
When hordes of the undead have taken over, sometimes the only thing left to do is hole up and pray for better days. In #Alive, Yoo Ah-in stars as Oh Joon-woo, a stranded survivor of a zombie overtaking. Sanctioned off in his apartment and cut off from any kind of communication, all hope seems lost when Joon-woo discovers his family is gone. That is until a red dot from a laser pointer lands in his apartment. With the promise of another survivor nearby, Joon-woo picks himself up and attempts to find a way out of his hell-infested residence. Fast-paced, packed with gore, and gripping performances, #Alive unearths terrors in big and surprising ways through its hour-plus runtime.
119m
Genre
Horror, Thriller, Romance, Mystery
Stars
Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston
Directed by
Guillermo del Toro
Edith (Mia Wasikowska), the American heiress to a mighty family fortune, agrees to marry the elusive but charming Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston). Whipped away to England, the bride spends her days roaming the ruinous halls of Allerdale Hall, her lofty husband’s decaying residence. After a series of horrific apparitions make themselves known to Edith, the young woman learns that her dashing groom may have a closet packed to the brim with skeletons and other horrific revelations. An exciting addition to the haunted house sub-genre, packed with exquisite visuals and terrifying ghosts, Crimson Peak is an unforgettable foray into a nightmarish mansion that only Guillermo del Toro could imagine.
103m
Genre
Horror, Science Fiction
Stars
Michaela McManus, Chris Sheffield, Neville Archambault
Directed by
Kevin McManus, Matthew McManus
When unexplained phenomena begin plaguing the island and surrounding waters of Block Island, Harry (Chris Sheffield), the son of a fisherman, and Audry (Michaela McManus), an Environmental Protection agent and Harry’s sister, are put on the trail of a mysterious and malevolent force. Premiering at the Fantasia International Film Festival, The Block Island Sound spends its time building a lush atmosphere of dread, a moody tone buttressed by believable performances from the main ensemble and tactful directing on the part of Kevin and Matthew McManus.
97m
Genre
Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller
Stars
Kate Bosworth, Jacob Tremblay, Thomas Jane
Directed by
Mike Flanagan
Reeling from the death of their young son, Mark and Jessie (Thomas Jane and Kate Bosworth) decide to take in a foster child named Cody (Jacob Tremblay). When Cody tells his adoptees of his nighttime fears, the parents dismiss his terrors as nothing more than childlike wonder at play. But when Cody’s dreams start coming to life before the family’s eyes, what begins as a benign series of projections quickly devolves into horrific nightmare creatures that Mark and Jessie are forced to contend with. We’ve all seen horror flicks about kids dealing with their fears. What sets Before I Wake apart from the flock is its focus on the paternal point of view and emotional complexities of welcoming new love while stomaching grief.
93m
Genre
Drama, Horror, Thriller
Stars
Sope Dirisu, Wunmi Mosaku, Matt Smith
Directed by
Remi Weekes
A powerful debut from director Remi Weekes, His House follows Bol (Sope Dirisu) and Rial (Wunmi Mosaku), a South-Sudan couple fleeing their war-torn confines across the English Channel. Suffering a hardship on their way across the water, the pair are granted probational asylum in Britain. Settling into a shanty tenement unit, Bol does what he can to acclimate to U.K. culture as Rial clings to her Sudanian roots. When a series of haunting entities make themselves known to the couple, Bol and Rial begin to question their own sanity as they grapple with the torments and stigma of refugees. A well-balanced amalgamation of social commentary meets unsettling horror film, His House is an absolute must-see.
130m
Genre
Horror, Mystery, History, Thriller, Drama
Stars
Dan Stevens, Michael Sheen, Lucy Boynton
Directed by
Gareth Evans
It’s 1905, and Thomas Richardson (Dan Stevens) is on a search-and-rescue mission for his own sister, Jennifer. Imprisoned and held for ransom by a religious cult on a remote Welsh island, Thomas journeys to the isle under the guise of a convert. After meeting with several cult members and learning of their less-than-lovely intentions, Thomas is plunged headfirst into a mad world of blood sacrifice and a dark mythos brought to life. Filled with nightmarish imagery, impressive acting, and a hearty story, Apostle is a breathtaking addition to the folk horror sub-genre.
82m
Genre
Thriller, Horror, Mystery
Stars
Christopher Abbott, Mia Wasikowska, Laia Costa
Directed by
Nicolas Pesce
From writer/director Nicholas Pesce (The Eyes of My Mother), Piercing is an adaptation of the Ryü Murikami novel of the same name. Reed (Christopher Abbot) has been having a tough time at home. A husband and father with an urge to do something sinister, the family man hires a call girl so he can do the unthinkable to her. What Reed didn’t expect was Jackie, a cunning and unpredictable sex worker, a woman just as twisted and violent as her wannabe-murderer. What unravels is a wicked game of cat and mouse, with hard bets as to who will come out on top.
89m
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Ruth Wilson, Paula Prentiss, Bob Balaban
Directed by
Oz Perkins
Writer/director Osgood Perkins’ I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House is a chilling ghost story about a live-in nurse named Lily (Ruth Wilson) who is hired to care for an ailing horror author, Iris (Paula Prentiss). Taking residence in Iris’s historic New England manor, Lily starts experiencing paranormal events, leading her to question the elder Iris about the history of the house. Denying any kind of phenomena, Lily begins investigating the domicile herself, leading to a series of shocking discoveries and grim truths about the manor’s past. This is a fantastic piece of horror cinema that really drives home the “less-is-more” mindset of filmmaking. A big slow burn of a movie, I Am the Pretty Thing… relies on eerie sound design, lingering camera-work, and a moody score to effectively sell its scares.
82m
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Kate Siegel, John Gallagher Jr., Samantha Sloyan
Directed by
Mike Flanagan
Mike Flanagan strikes again with the nail-biting Hush, a smart horror film that feels extra uncomfortable because the terror of the film seems like it could easily happen to anyone. Author Maddie Young (Kate Siegel) lives a quiet life in the wilderness with her cat — that is until a masked killer (John Gallagher Jr.) murders Maddie’s closest neighbor, and plans to knife Maddie next. What ensues is a uniquely horrific game of cat-and-mouse, as Maddie must fight for her life against the mysterious madman, a feat made 10 times more difficult because Maddie is deaf. Something the masked invader eventually learns. With Hush, Flanagan flips the killer sub-genre on its head, delivering a film filled with rapid-fire terrors both big and small, and a third act that will have you bound to the edge of your couch.
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