35 Best Horror Movies on Netflix to Watch Right Now


Being a horror fan is truly a treat these days. Many streaming services have classics on demand for those who love to get a good scare. Netflix US frequently delivers with their productions or by licensing some of the best classics to add them to their library. It doesn't matter if you like supernatural scares, psychological mind-benders, or blood-curdling slashers; the streaming giant has something for you.







The platform also houses many international films offering significant doses of horror with incredible twists to fuel your nightmares. It doesn't matter if you like to enjoy horror alone or if you'd rather have a night of scares with some friends; Netflix US has the right pick for you. Now, let's find you a cinematic experience to die for.





35 Woman of the Hour (2024)




Woman of the Hour is Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, and it stars her as Sheryl Bradshaw, an aspiring actress in the 1970s Los Angeles. After a series of auditioning for roles and failing, she gets the chance to appear as a guest contestant on the TV show The Dating Game. Unbeknownst to her, Sheryl’s date, Bachelor Number Three, is revealed to be Rodney Alcala, the infamous serial killer who had already murdered several women before appearing on national television.






A Terrifying but Assured Debut


Kendrick’s direction creates a masterful blend of suspicion, tension, and a sense of palpable dread. Before she knows it, she is playing a terrifying game of cat and mouse to survive. Woman of the Hour not only focuses on the real-life story of a serial killer but along the way, takes a clever approach to critiquing society and their perception of women. Critics have hailed Kendrick and Daniel Zovatto’s strong performances and the movie’s added layers of intrigue.





34 No One Gets Out Alive (2021)




Loosely based on Adam Nevill’s novel of the same name, No One Gets Out Alive is a British horror movie that follows Amber, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, who moves to Cleveland in search of a better life following her mother’s death. She finds shady jobs and a rundown boarding house to stay at. However, the house has some plans for her as it haunts her with unsettling sounds and ghostly visions, trapping her in an endless nightmare.




Atmospheric Horror at its Best


Directed by Santiago Menghini, No One Gets Out Alive keeps the viewers on the edge of their seats as they try to guess the true cause of the horror. Cristina Rodlo brings a complex and vulnerable protagonist to vivid life, while the direction and the vivid shots add to the uncanniness and terror of the whole situation. It taps into classic haunted house tropes but infuses them with a creepy, slow-burn, modern twist.





33 His House (2020)




In His House, a young refugee couple manages to escape the harrowing environment of war-torn South Sudan and seek asylum in an English town, which is full of unknown terrors as well. Bol and Rial try to build a little life by getting a house on the outskirts of London, but it’s not just the isolation that unsettles them, but also the evil force that resides within the walls of their home and plagues their nights with traumas of the past.




Explores Trauma and Guilt


Remi Weekes brings a cross-cultural and socially significant aesthetic to this unique chiller. He directs with a careful and steady hand, expertly weaving a narrative that’s both intense and unsetting. The outstanding performances, particularly by Sope Dirisu and Wunmi Mosaku, bring emotional depth to the characters and their struggles. Overall, its visual style, unforgettable score, and original storytelling are what earn His House a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.





32 Cargo (2017)







Set in a viral Australia ridden by a zombie pandemic, Cargo follows Andy Rose, his wife Kay, and their infant daughter, Rosie, traversing the rural land while people suffer from a virus that turns them into zombies in 48 hours. After Kay is infected, he’s forced to eliminate her and direct all his will to live in caring for and protecting his daughter. Andy encounters survivors, hostile humans, and a relentless army of the undead while crossing the Outback.



Tense Tale of Survival


Mild on horror and visceral scares, Cargo thrives because of its emotional core. Under a deft direction from Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke, it infuses heart and fatherly love into a standard zombie premise and maximizes the tension and clever plot twists at every step of the way. Martin Freeman delivered a compelling and determined performance and makes this beautifully shot film a worthy entry into the genre.





31 Velvet Buzzsaw (2019)





Jake Gyllenhaal stars in Velvet Buzzsaw as Morf Vandewalt alongside Rene Russo’s Rhodora Haze as an art critic and gallery owner. The movie is set in the competitive world of Los Angeles art galleries, where a series of paintings by a mysterious artist are discovered after his death. The paintings unleash supernatural forces that exact revenge on those who make profits from art and Morf and Rhondora are the next victims.



A Clever Satire of the Art World


In Velvet Buzzsaw, satire meets the supernatural, combining dark humor and chilling scares to a narrative that tries to tap into modern anxieties and the commodification of art. The stacked ensemble also includes Zawe Ashton, Toni Collette, Natalia Dyer, and John Malkovich, each getting picked off by the curse in gruesome but humorous ways. The gore is turned up to the max with an eerie atmosphere enveloping the bold and original movie.








30 Army of the Dead (2021)




An action-horror extravaganza that not only kicked off director Zack Snyder's own Romero-type undeaduniverse (it was followed by the arguably superior but less action-packed Army of Thieves later the same year), Army of the Dead also put into motion Snyder's relationship with Netflix, which he's set to continue with the two-part Rebel Moon epic. Given the commercial success of Army of the Dead (not to mention that it was critically underrated), it's fair to expect that partnership to continue.



For Those Who Need Some Action In their Horror


Even if it isn't high art — and those who take issue with Snyder's perpetual stylistic flourishes will only find more to complain about here — Army of the Dead is solid check-your-brain-at-the-door entertainment. It's also capable of jump scares that actually jolt the viewer. For example, the fate of Ana de la Reguera's character.




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29 Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)


Ouija 2
Release Date
October 20, 2016


Mike Flanagan turned the Ouija franchise into something worthwhile with Ouija: Origin of Evil, a prequel that stands far above the film that preceded it. The narrative follows a widow who starts using an Ouija board in her crock seance routine. Unfortunately for her, this invites a real spirit into the younger of her two daughters.






Flanagan Is a Master of the Genre


There are several reasons Origin of Evil is a night-and-day improvement over Ouija. There's an appearance by Lin Shaye of Insidious fame, Twilight's Elizabeth Reaser leads the film well, and even E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial's Henry Thomas pops up. But, along with a tone that actually manages to be creepy (unlike the sillier first film), the prequel's greatest asset is Lulu Wilson, one year shy of starring in another terrific prequel to a lackluster originator. Namely, Annabelle: Creation. Even back in 2016, Wilson was showing the range she'd utilize to carry the terrific one-two punch of Becky and The Wrath of Becky.





28 In the Tall Grass (2019)


in the tall grass
Release Date
September 20, 2019
Cast
Patrick Wilson , Harrison Gilbertson , Rachel Wilson , Will Buie Jr. , Laysla De Oliveira
Runtime
90





While it's not up to par with other Netflix Stephen King adaptations like 1922 and Gerald's Game, there's creepy merit to In the Tall Grass (an adaptation of a work by both King and his son, Joe Hill). The narrative follows a brother and sister who enter a massive expanse of tall grass after hearing a boy's cries for help. But, was it a boy or is there something else in there?



You Can't Go Wrong With Stephen King


The core concept of In the Tall Grass grabs the audience's attention and, for the most part, the film never loses it. There's also a welcome supporting performance from Patrick Wilson to help give the quaint horror film some star power. The only real flaw is tonal inconsistencies, but at least it's suitably faithful to the source material.





27 It Follows (2015)


it follows
Release Date
February 4, 2015





When Jay Height has a normal sexual encounter with her boyfriend, she feels fine. Except, she’s haunted by visions of death. Soon, she learns that she’s been cursed and a strange, indestructible entity is stalking her. With every encounter, the entity draws closer but is invisible to others. Jay takes help from her friends and teams up with past victims of the curse to find a cure.



A Refreshing Modern Horror Installment


It Follows is directed by David Robert Mitchell. The dreamlike slasher is as thought-provoking as it is underrated. It subverts horror genre tropes with the help of layered themes of consent, sexuality, and peer pressure. The practical effects and the hypnotic background score help increase the tension of the overall premise. Moreover, the film breathes fresh life into the idea of an invisible entity haunting society.





26 The Pale Blue Eye (2022)


The Pale Blue Eye
Release Date
January 6, 2023
Director
Scott Cooper





Adapted from the novel of the same name written by Louis Bayard in 2006, The Pale Blue Eye transports its audience to 1830. Veteran detective Augustus Landor is called to investigate the death of cadet Leroy Fry. Once he arrives on campus, he enlists a clumsy young officer named Edgar Allan Poe to help him. Together, they discover the truth behind the hanging and the existence of a secret society.



Delightfully Atmospheric Gothic Horror


Christian Bale and Harry Melling shine as the two main leads in this gothic-infused mystery thriller. They try to please fans with their references while also trying to get to the bottom of a whodunit that is as intelligent as it is gripping. Writer and director Scott Cooper crafts an atmosphere of dread to match the vibe of the author’s source material. The characters, despite being multidimensional, are artful and authentic.






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25 The Platform (2019)


the-platform-2019.jpg
The Platform
Release Date
March 20, 2020
Director
Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia
Cast
Ivan Massagué , Zorion Eguileor , Antonia San Juan , Emilio Buale
Runtime
94 minutes


Set in a prison where prisoners are segregated based on their floor level and fed based on this segregation, the film paints a truly haunting portrait of what lengths people can go to satisfy their most primal cravings. In the film, people on higher floors are served a full set of food for a certain time period, the remains of which are then taken to the floor beneath. By this order of things, the first few floors are well-fed, but by the time the food makes it to the lower floors, there are barely scraps and sometimes bodies too.




A Gruesome Scenario Too Close to Reality


The Platform’sdepiction of evil isn’t a gnarly ghoul that’s terrifying or a shapeshifting vampire, it’s a real-world truth that we can’t escape: hunger. Directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, the science fiction horror tries to comment on something we've all collectively noticed but are too chicken to speak about. The best thing about it is the gnarly depiction of horror and the overall scary production, which works fantastically in elevating the atmospheric horror.





24 Veronica (2017)







Directed by Paco Plaza, the man behind the found footage horror phenomenon REC, Veronica explores new territories for the concept-based director as the film revolves around the theme of summoning spirits through the Ouija board. Belonging to a similar ilk as Witchboard, Veronica follows a 15-year-old who unknowingly invites an evil spirit into her house while conducting a séance with her friends. What then ensues is a whirlpool of chaos and catastrophe, resulting in a terrifying experience that’s bound to keep you spooked for days to come.



A Different Approach to Ouija-Based Horror


Veronica is another great Spanish horror movie on the list after The Platform. There have been several movies in horror history that begin with an Ouija board trope, but this one takes things forward differently. Sandra Escacena, the actress who plays the titular character, is truly talented, portraying emotions like fear, confusion, love, and hurt quite well. The film's imagery is violent and exciting.





23 Rattlesnake (2019)


Rattlesnake
Release Date
October 25, 2019
Director
Zak Hilditch



Rattlesnake follows a mother named Katrina and her young daughter, Clara, as they're stranded in a desert. Clara is bitten by a rattlesnake and, with no cell service, will soon die if she doesn't get help. Katrina desperately looks for help and comes across a strange woman in a trailer. The woman agrees to help and by the time Katrina gets to a hospital, the bite seems to have vanished and Clara is fine. Now, Katrina must repay the mysterious woman.



How Far Would You Go to Save Your Family?


A morbidly unsettling film, it builds up some disturbing tension as it uses psychological horror to creep under the skin. Playing around with a classic deal-with-the-devil scenario, the film introduces several elements like an encounter with a strange man, forms of "payment," trading one soul for another, and facing harrowing choices that would kill the daughter either way. The main protagonist, played by Carmen Ejogo, finds herself racing against time to save a life — though now at an unspeakable cost.






22 Ouija (2014)


ouija
Release Date
October 24, 2014
Runtime
100


As the name suggests, the evil at the center of this one comes from playing with an Ouija board. Debbie and Laine were childhood friends who used to use one as kids. Years later, Debbie recalls their time doing this but hangs herself, leaving Laine distraught and unable to understand why. After her wake, Laine and other friends find the Ouija board and use it to try and contact Laine.



The Price of Curiosity


A properly frightening horror film from 2014, Ouija spawned a sequel and a host of copycat films. The reason for its popularity is the trope, where ​​​​​​a violent and ghostly presence is unleashed by the protagonist, and it lingers well after the ill-fated séance is ended. Soon, you will witness the members of the group begin encountering terrifying hauntings, as the presence they unleashed comes after them.






21 Before I Wake (2016)


Before I Wake
Release Date
April 7, 2016
Runtime
97


Played by the amazing child actor, Jacob Tremblay, Cody Morgan is quiet and reserved, and the social worker explains that he lost his mother to cancer at a young age. Having lost their son, Cody initially brings a great deal of joy to the couple. However, they soon learn that he has an incredible gift. When Cody dreams, his dreams play out like holographic films that can be watched by others and interacted with. The Dobsons soon get to see their son again through Cody's dreams after he sees a picture of their child.






Taking Lucid Dreaming to a Whole New Level


A film with a unique plot and a wonderfully devised twist ending, Before I Wake featured Thomas Jane and Kate Bosworth in the lead as the Dobsons, a married couple who take in a foster child. As amazing as the plot starts, it is the presence of Cody's dreams and nightmares that ratchets up the tension. Plus, with the "recurring nightmare" trope and the overall practical effects, the movie is complete entertainment from start to finish.



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20 The Pope's Exorcist (2023)


The Pope's Exorcist
Release Date
April 7, 2023





The story of The Pope's Exorcist is set in 1987 Rome and follows Father Gabriele Amorth, who has performed hundreds of exorcisms throughout his decade-long career. However, when he travels to Spain in the hopes of uncovering the mystery behind a peculiar case involving a boy named Henry, who is supposedly possessed by a powerful evil spirit, he begins to crack the centuries-old conspiracy that is far more complicated than the cases he has solved in the past combined.



Reviving the Exorcism Sub-Genre


When The Pope's Exorcist was released in April 2023, many horror fans had minimal expectations of how the film would turn out. But, much to their surprise, Russell Crowe's performance flipped their expectations. An otherwise middling Exorcism film was transformed into something far more exciting, though generic, and despite the film incorporating a few predictable scenarios, it certainly brought a new faith in the genre of Exorcism horrors, which had been declining in quality for the past decade.








19 Fear Street Part One - 1994 (2021)


Release Date
July 2, 2021
Director
Leigh Janiak
Runtime


The story of the Fear Street trilogy takes place in Shadyside, which is known as the murder capital of the United States, due to the seemingly endless brutal massacres that occur every night. While many believe it's a curse from an ancient evil witch named Sarah Fier, who has terrorized the land for centuries, five brave teenage friends decide to uncover the secret, unaware that they would be confronting more than they can handle.



A Powerful and Layered Trilogy


Making Fear Street a trilogy is perhaps one of the best decisions Netflix has ever made because, while the first part was a decent slasher film set in the early 1990s, the subsequent entries play out into the past, steadily unmasking the mystery behind the horrors, making it one of the best trilogies we've ever seen. The movies are based on R. L. Stine's book series and to say they do justice to the source material is fair. From the acting to the world-building, everything is top-notch.






18 Bird Box (2018)




Undercooked metaphors of motherhood aside, Bird Box is buoyed by a string of strong performances. It also plays out well as a survival drama where a group of strangers band together to deal with an unknown force. At the center of it all is Sandra Bullock's Malorie, who tries to make it through with her two children, blindfolded and stuck in the middle of nowhere.



Bird Box Became a Cultural Phenomenon For a Reason


Many armchair critics would say that Bird Box does with vision what A Quiet Place did with sound, going so far as to jokingly dub the film ‘A Blind Place.’ But director Susanne Bier’s film has more in common with Stephen King’s The Mist than it does with A Quiet Place. Bird Box deals with themes of isolation and paranoia, successfully distilling an apocalyptic concept into an emotionally relatable narrative.






17 Apostle (2018)


apostle-2018-poster-1.jpg
Release Date
September 21, 2018
Runtime
130 Minutes


At the center of Apostle is a man named Thomas Richardson, who is bent on getting revenge and seeking the whereabouts of his sister. Apparently, the woman is rumored to have been held captive by a very religious and dangerous cult on a remote Welsh island. In this case, Mr. Richardson has no limits.



Slick and Violent


Despite having a very straightforward plot, Apostle manages to carve out an edge-of-the-seat experience, heavily soaked in suspense and violence. Because Apostle is directed by Gareth Evans (The Raid), violence and butchery seem impending and inevitable. Where the film scores over other period folk horror films is in its integration of violence with occult elements.




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16 1922 (2017)


stephen-king-1922-cover-art.jpg
Release Date
October 20, 2017
Director
Zak Hilditch
Runtime
101minutes


1922 documents a Nebraskan farmer's, Wilfred James (Thomas Jane), descent into madness as he’s consumed by an endless stream of guilt for murdering his wife. Unaligned in their outlook towards their farmland, Wilf’s wife Arlette hates life in the country and wants to sell her half of the land and move on to greener pastures. Vehemently opposed to this, Wilfred soon realizes that the only way he can stop his wife is by killing her, and eventually weaves his son Henry into his murderous conspiracy.




Thick With Terrifying Atmosphere


Adapted from Stephen King’s novel of the same name, Zak Hilditch’s film is a brooding, introspective piece about a man being the cause of his demise. Devoid of any unfamiliar jump scares or horrors that keep you up at night, 1922 triumphs in its ability to create an intense and disturbing vibe for the viewers. The actors, like Thomas James and Molly Parker, deliver amazing performances and make this thriller a must-watch for fans.



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