As we already know, Paramount+ houses some of the most successful and best movies you can watch now. The streaming service's obvious draw is its ability to present films that viewers can't seem to find on other streaming networks, thanks to the rich archives of Paramount Pictures dating back a century. For fellow horror fanatics, the fact that Paramount+ tends to stream a wide variety of projects, going back to the '50s and earlier, is an apparent pro in paying for the monthly subscription.
It's not just the fact that Paramount+ has released earlier films, but it's also the mixture of both new and exclusive releases (including original TV shows on Paramount), along with the incorporation of cult classics, that makes the membership worthwhile. This means that horror fans have a wide variety of films to choose from on Paramount+; here are the best.
19 Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
- Release Date
- August 5, 2022
- Director
- Halina Reijn
One of A24's better films thus far (which is no small compliment), Bodies Bodies Bodies has a couple of things working strongly in its favor, not least its casting. The narrative gives the viewer a glimpse into the lives of a group of very different 20-somethings as they play a party game in a mansion on a dark, rainy night. But the game was never supposed to take a life, and now it has.
Perfect Casting Choices Elevate this Horror-Comedy
The film helped bolster Maria Bakalova's clout in the states after Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm got the ball rolling, greatly expanded Rachel Sennott's profile, and gave Lee Pace an against-type character to play. Not to mention, as far as twists go, Bodies Bodies Bodies' is pretty darn good. In other words, its list of accomplishments is extensive.
18 Scream VI (2023)
- Release Date
- March 10, 2023
From the Ghostface reveal in the opening to the close, Scream VI announces itself as another step away from Wes Craven's four installments. But, the spirit is as present as it was in 2022's legitimately superb reboot, with or without Neve Campbell (surprisingly enough). The plot follows the 2022 film's Carpenter sisters (Melissa Barrera and Ortega), who have moved to the Big Apple only to have another murderer put on the Ghostface mask.
A Worthy Continuation of the Scream Franchise
Both Scream and Scream VI are so good that there's a legitimate reason to worry about the conclusion of this second trilogy, now that Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are out of their shared directors' chair. One just hopes history doesn't repeat itself in the form of Scream 3 Version 2.0. Even still, at least there are two modern Scream films that understand what makes the IP click.
17 Rosemary's Baby (1968)
- Release Date
- June 12, 1968
Rosemary's Baby is a religion-infused horror film with a lot on its mind. The plot follows a young woman whose life is seemingly going as she always hoped. A new massive apartment, an actor husband, and a baby on the way. Unfortunately, when it comes to the child, her husband has made a deal with some cultists and a horned third party.
A Timeless Horror Classic
Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer's performances as two Satanists make the film outright terrifying, along with the music and what Farrow can do with her eyes and face in one particular third-act scene. But, the film's ace in the hole is its casting. Mia Farrow is an absolute dynamo as the title character, with a range that few other performers would have been able to pull off.
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16 Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
- Release Date
- August 5, 1998
Steve Miner, director of Friday the 13th Part 2 and Friday the 13th Part III, returned to mainstream slasher territory with Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, and thank goodness he did. After the mixed reaction to Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends, 2018's Halloween has started to look a bit inferior to H20. But, that's not quite fair to either film, nor is it fair to either one of Jamie Lee Curtis' takes on Laurie Strode. H20's version has her running a private school, where her son is an attendee and Michael Myers is a new arrival.
One of the Halloween Saga's Best Installments
Halloween is a saga of parallel realities and, were it not for Halloween: Resurrection, the line of Halloween, Halloween II, and Halloween H20 would make for the franchise's must-watch trilogy of sorts. Either way, no fan of the IP wants to remember Resurrection, which should be ashamed to have the same director as 1981's first sequel. This is especially true considering H20 has the absolute best final scene for Michael outside the original. Though, the blinded, scalpal-waving Michael of Halloween II ain't so shabby himself.
15 Annihilation (2018)
- Release Date
- February 23, 2018
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
A great mix of sci-fi and psychological horror, Annihilation saw Natalie Portman play cellular biology professor Lena, also a former soldier. When a mysterious alien presence crashes on Earth and terraforms a large area, the place becomes known as a quarantined zone called "the Shimmer." Expeditions into the Shimmer have never returned. When Lena's fellow soldier husband returns but collapses and is taken into the ICU, she joins an all-female team of scientists and soldiers who enter the Shimmer to investigate it. Once inside, it's soon apparent that it's been transformed into a beautiful but deadly hellscape of alien mutation.
Some of Alex Garland's Best Work
The visuals in Annihilation are worthy of streaming alone, but thankfully, it's a film filled with far more. This includes everything from an undead bear beast to a heady finale. While it's woefully underrated, this one will leave your nerves rattled with its monstrous creatures and unknown possibilities that lurk around every corner.
14 Pet Sematary (2019)
- Release Date
- April 4, 2019
- Director
- Kevin Kolsch , Dennis Widmyer
The second adaptation of Stephen King's famous book, Pet Sematary re-imagines the classic film from 1989. It follows the four-member Creed family and their pet cat, Church. When Church is killed by a truck, their neighbor, Judd, shows patriarch Louis, the patriarch, the ancient burial ground and tells him to bury Church there. Louis is shocked when Church later returns. In a tragic event, his daughter, Ellie, is later also killed when she's hit by a tanker. Despite Judd's warnings, Louis resurrects her and soon learns that those who return from the burial ground aren't themselves anymore.
Stephen King Fans Will not Be Disappointed
The revised cinematic take on Pet Sematary is an impressively atmospheric remake that unfortunately didn't do particularly well at the box office. This is odd considering It's massive success just two years prior, but at least it was popular enough to get a Paramount+ exclusive prequel. As a whole, it's a solid remake, with Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, and young Jeté Laurence all giving terrific performances.
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13 The Woman in Black (2012)
- Release Date
- February 3, 2012
- Director
- James Watkins
- Cast
- Emma Shorey , Molly Harmon , Sophie Stuckey , Daniel Radcliffe , Misha Handley , Jessica Raine
Taking place in 1906 England, The Woman in Black has Daniel Radcliffe playing Arthur, a young lawyer who's sent to wrap up the affairs of a woman named Alice Drablow. He soon encounters the strange and haunting figure of a woman dressed in black. As he tries to do his work at the estate, Arthur is haunted by visions and strange occurrences that lend the film a decidedly creepy and gothic edge.
A Distinct Role for Radcliffe
The Woman in Black came at a time when Radcliffe was still fresh off his global fame for playing the boy who lived. Seeking to break away from his boyish reputation as Harry Potter, this one saw him in a much darker role. A commercial success, The Woman in Black has an impressively haunting atmosphere that is eerie without being outright horrifying, making it perfect for those with a low tolerance for gruesome gore.
12 A Quiet Place (2018)
- Release Date
- April 3, 2018
- Runtime
- 90 Minutes
A Quiet Place stars real-life married couple, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski. It follows a family of survivors after the world is plunged into a dystopian reality where even making a single sound can leave you at the mercy of ruthless alien creatures that are drawn to the tiniest noises. Needing to protect their children, which includes finding a way to give birth to their unborn fourth child, Evelyn and Lee resort to some creative means to live a life of silence just to survive.
An Interesting Premise That's Well Executed
With the film's obvious hook and the great suspenseful scenes its premise allows, it also benefits from how well that premise is executed. With John Krasinski doing a terrific job directing the film too, the performances of the likes of Krasinski, Blunt, and deaf actress, Millicent Simmonds, who played their daughter, the couple's actual marriage off-screen translated well into the complex bond they were able to portray in the film. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Editing, the film was a huge commercial success that received rave reviews.
11 Orphan: First Kill (2022)
- Release Date
- August 19, 2022
The prequel tale Orphan: First Kill fills in the audience on the early days of Esther, the main antagonist of the first film, seen here as a 31-year-old Estonian woman living in a psychiatric facility. Originally known as Leena, she suffered from a rare disorder called hypopituitarism, which gave her the appearance of a 9-year-old girl despite being a grown woman. Using her adult mind in despicable ways, Leena seduces and stabs her way to stealing the life she's always wanted.
A Surprisingly Solid Followup
Tracing the backstory of the infamous Esther was an exciting idea after over a decade since the first film. But, outside some obvious and to-be-expected aging on Fuhrman that not even 2020s CGI can undo, it's a solid addition to the first film's mythos. Not to mention, Fuhrman yet again dominates every scene.
10 Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin (2022)
- Release Date
- October 29, 2021
- Cast
- Roland Buck III , Emily Bader , Dan Lippert
- Runtime
- 98 min
Paramount+ successfully resurrected the Paranormal Activity franchise with Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin. The narrative follows Margot, who travels to an Amish community along with a documentary film crew as she searches for answers about her mother. Abandoned by her mother as a newborn, Margot hopes to meet any of her existing relatives, but she's actually in for a rude awakening (a.k.a. demonic spirits).
A Thoroughly Petrifying Franchise
The Paranormal Activity franchise in itself is completely terrifying due to the realism of the filming techniques, the presence of supernatural entities, and the family backstory interconnected to the series of films. You can find the complete franchise of Paranormal Activity films on Paramount+, including Paranormal Activity's 1 through 4, The Marked Ones, and The Ghost Dimension. It would be a worthy, nightmare-inducing binge for newcomers.
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9 Deliver Us from Evil (2014)
- Release Date
- July 1, 2014
- Runtime
- 108minutes
Deliver Us from Evil will be right down your alley if you're into truly unsettling horrors. An NYPD Sergeant with the South Bronx Precinct, Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana) is well accustomed to seeing the worst of people. However, some baffling call-outs get him caught up in a sinister web of something supernatural revolving around a group of soldiers returning from deployment with a dark presence in tow. Teaming up with a priest, nothing could prepare Sarchie for the actual evil he encounters as he investigates the soldiers.
Its Creepy Atmosphere Can Easily Unsettle You
Well-made and well-acted, Deliver Us from Evil gets deeply disturbing at times, with a pervasive atmosphere that creeps under the skin. However, while this film could easily pass for a well-conceived original story, the part that really unsettles you as watch it, is the fact that it's based on a true story. Terrifying and very gritty in its execution, this is a must-see film for fans of religious horror.
8 A Quiet Place Part II (2021)
- Release Date
- May 28, 2021
Following the success of the first film, A Quiet Place: Part II picks up with the Abbott family as they come face to face with the unknowns of the outside world. After the horrific events that took place at their family farmhouse, the group must fight for survival in complete silence as they travel along a sand path. The family quickly realizes there are creatures nearby who pursue their prey by sound.
Creative Use of Sound Makes a Unique Atmosphere
Directed by John Krasinski, the sequel doesn't have the emotional and allegorical resonance of the first film. But, it more than makes up for that by upping the horror ante in some very impressive ways. Even more impressively, it does so with almost no dialogue. The movie was, for many, their first experience back in the theaters following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, though it makes for just as scary of a watch at home.
7 Sleepy Hollow (1999)
- Release Date
- November 19, 1999
Another fantastic horror film for fans of atmospheric movies, Sleepy Hollow stars Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci at a time when both were extremely popular and at the peak of their careers. A period film, it's set in 1799 and follows Depp as Ichabod Crane, an eccentric police Constable in New York. When he's called in to investigate a rash of brutal beheadings, all the evidence points toward the work of a headless horseman.
Another Depp and Burton Collaboration
Sometimes classified as gothic horror, the film was based on Washington Irving's classic tale, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. With some superbly interwoven supernatural horror and fantasy elements, it marked another successful collaboration between Depp and Tim Burton. Nominated for a myriad of awards, including three Oscars (winning one for Best Art Direction), it very successfully draws you into the murky world it inhabits and proceeds to jolt you at every turn. Following the film's success, there's been a series made too and there's now a planned reboot in progress.
6 Smile (2022)
- Release Date
- September 30, 2022
- Director
- Parker Finn
Smile tells the story of Dr. Rose Cotter, whose newest patient, a grad school student, claims to be in a cat-and-mouse game with an unseen entity. One that possesses people with a smile. That is, it gives them a smile and a quickly ticking clock.
A Simple Premise Done Well
The film was the surprise breakout horror of 2022. Originally intended to be a Paramount+ exclusive, it was given a theatrical release after some strong test screenings. With a budget of only $17 million, the film grossed $217.4 million worldwide, making it as much a financial success as it was a critical one, with a sequel out now. One might have skipped it in theaters for being too scary, but now is the perfect time to check out Smile.
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5 Apartment 7A (2024)
- Release Date
- September 20, 2024
- Director
- Natalie Erika James
The prequel to Rosemary's Baby, Apartment 7A, follows struggling dancer Terry Gionoffrio (Julia Garner) as she moves into the famous Bramford after befriending an older couple. After a night with one of the residents goes by in a haze, Terry realizes she has become pregnant. As she unravels the past of the bizarre residents of the Bramford, she begins to expect something sinister going on about her pregnancy.
A Modern Take on a Classic
While hitting many of the same beats as Roman Polanski's classic film, director Natalie Erika James brings her visual flair and knack for crafting strong yet conflicted characters to the legacy of Rosemary's Baby. The movie fully immerses the viewer in the glam of New York while weaving a believable tale of evil lying below the surface. Great cinematography, outstanding performances, and some legitimate moments of terror make Apartment 7A a great addition to Paramount+.
4 30 Days of Night (2007)
- Release Date
- October 19, 2007
Based on the popular comic series of the same name, 30 Days of Night sees a horde of vampires descend on an unexpected town in Alaska, taking advantage of the long night. A small group of survivors must slay the vampires, who treat their community as a hunting vacation without fear of daylight.
A Bloody Good Vampire Movie
David Slade's 30 Days of Night gained some notoriety on release for its combination of action, horror, and a plethora of gore. The production also boasted some fantastic cinematography, with the overhead shot of the town being attacked by vampires an unforgettable vision of chaos. The fight for survival has never been more gripping, with the unsuspected townsfolk showing such determination and grit in the face of horror that it is hard not to cheer for their success. 30 Days of Night is arguably the best vampire movie of the 2000s.
3 American Psycho (2000)
- Release Date
- April 14, 2000
Based on the sensational novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis, American Psycho puts viewers into the mind of materialistic, deranged, serial killer Patrick Bateman. Killing to get ahead in the corporate world, Bateman's desire for violence begins to escalate as it seems the walls are closing in on him. A career-defining performance from Christian Bale, who created a cultural iconoclast with his Patrick Bateman.
I Have to Return Some Videotapes
American Psycho is either one of those movies you love or one that you love to hate. Digging deep into the psychology of a power-hungry nihilist, Bateman's disregard for human life certainly makes for an uncomfortable viewing experience. Yet, with great performances and a dark wit, the exploits of the yuppie serial killer become as entrancing as it is horrifying. With the news of a remake, it is the ideal time to once again dig deep into the disturbed mind of Patrick Bateman.
2 My Bloody Valentine (1981)
- Release Date
- February 11, 1981
- Director
- George Mihalka
- Cast
- Paul Kelman , Lori Hallier , Neil Affleck , Don Francks , Cynthia Dale , Alf Humphreys , Keith Knight , Patricia Hamilton
Coming up on the Valentine's Day celebrations in a small mining town, where they hold an annual party, the residents are unaware that a killer is on the loose. Harry Warden, the lone survivor of a methane explosion in the mines that saw him cannibalizing his friends to stay alive, has just escaped from a mental institution and is looking to ruin the holiday for the young children of Hanniger.
A Slasher for Every Season
One of the least horror-fied holidays has to be Valentine's Day, with the celebration of love not often inspiring filmmakers to bring the terror. However, slasher fans lucked out with the predictable, yet solid, slasher, My Bloody Valentine, taking place in a little mining town. It won't blow your socks off, but it has enough of that grit, violent kills, and campiness to make for a treat for fans of the genre. The movie was remade, but trust us when we say stick to the original, it is much more charming and has that '80s nostalgia going for it.
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1 Overlord (2018)
- Release Date
- November 9, 2018
Following a group of stranded American paratroopers during World War II, Overlord sees the crew navigate the horror of war in order to try to get back safely. However, the troop comes across a Nazi experiment, making zombie-like super-soldiers. Now, with their numbers thinning, they must do their best to keep each other safe and figure out a way to end the horrific experiment before it reaches the Allied forces.
Chaotic Zombie Action
Those looking for an ideal popcorn movie that blends action and horror to great success will want to check out Overlord. At the same time, the movie celebrates the bravery of soldiers during WWII, giving that fist-pumping action as one cheers on America's best. It may lack depth, but sometimes it is best to just tune out and watch some crazy violence unfold.
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