Currently, we’re in peak spooky season since it’s mid-October. If you’re like me, you want to watch horror movies to get you in a creepy mood. Nothing beats a cozy Halloween night when it’s dark and stormy out (like how it currently is in Texas) with the 10 best horror movies on Netflix.
The streaming service has an immense library of different types of horror movies to choose from, and it wasn’t easy to pinpoint which titles to pick, but somehow we managed. Therefore in honor of one of my favorite genres and seasons, we’ve collected a list of movies on Netflix to watch. If you can handle it.
Not for the faint of heart; if you get scared easily, definitely don’t watch this.
Director James Wan delivered in this thrilling paranormal film about a family dealing with malevolent manifestation. The film stars the great Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.
You can’t go wrong with Stephen King, and Carrie is one of the best King adaptations, director Brian De Palma’s approach was simple but very effective.
Even my mother likes this film, which says something considering horror is her least favorite genre.
Sissy Spacek delivers as Carrie White, a bullied girl that discovers she’s a unique talent. De Palma’s repeated use of Bernard Herrmann’s iconic four-note violin theme from Psycho is a brilliant homage.
Set in 1630 New England, which means a lot of archaic dialog of thou and thee’s.
However, Robert Eggers’ Puritan film has become a masterful hit thanks to the genius artistry of utilizing sensory in horror telling a story.
Uniquely, if you don’t like visual horror but still also want the scare factor, The Witch is the film for you.
Horror maestro Wes Craven brought the horror genre back with the best horror satire of the mid-’90s.
Scream‘s charm is self-aware, which is why it worked so well, and thus a franchise was born. It’s meta yet clever aspect was a fresh take on the genre.
Furthermore, it’s not as savage by today’s horror standards but at the time it gave us brutal knife/murder scenes.
Despite it being a children’s film, it’s one of my niece’s and I’s favorite films.
Director Henry Selick brought Neil Gaiman’s book to life with stunningly beautiful and creepy visuals.
The film is centered around Coraline Jones and her family moving into a new house where she goes into an alternate dimension where her “Other” parents live. Lastly, did we mention her “Other” parents have black buttons for eyes and want her never to leave?
A visually striking hybrid of horror and sci-fi/fantasy, it’s riveting and one of the oddest in Jennifer Lopez’s filmography, although we welcome the oddities.
Also starring the brilliant Vincent D’Onofrio as a serial killer, Lopez plays a psychologist who enters his mind to find someone who could become his latest victim.
Still, it’s a bit void and derivative at times nevertheless it’s daring and a must-watch.
Firstly, we have to mention that it’s one of the more disturbing films on the list; it’s a vicious look at humanity’s dark side.
Nicolas Pesce introduces us to Francisca, a young woman who’s lost both her parents and keeps her mother’s murderer locked up in the barn.
Besides, if you’re squeamish or hate movies with sharp objects being prodded into human flesh, then maybe skip this one. On the other hand, if you don’t mind a little prodding, watch this film.
Fantastically thrilling from start to finish, this South Korean film is high-octane and heart-pumping.
Yeon Sang-ho’s film’s the walking dead except on a train and centers around a father attempting to protect his young daughter from zombies. It’s one of the best zombie movies in a long time. Even horror master James Wan has an American remake in the works (not sure we needed a remake, but I digress).
Perhaps M. Night Shyamalan’s best film with great performances all around.
Starring Bruce Willis, Hayley Joel Osment, and Toni Collett. Along with an appearance from an unrecognizable Donnie Wahlberg, the film’s a powerful piece of loss and grief that still holds up today.
A Netflix Original based on another Stephen King novel.
Director Mike Flanagan in his best yet, aside from The Haunting of House Hill.
The film stars Carla Gugino as Jessie, a submissive housewife whose husband, Gerald, whisks her away for a romantic getaway to their isolated country home to reignite their sex life.
Gerald (Bruce Greenwood) springs a (trigger warning) surprise rape fantasy (red flag) only to die atop Jessie while she’s handcuffed to their bed.
Along with Flanagan’s other horror films, Gerald’s Game centers around a strong-willed female lead, which is always a bonus.
