Ruth Mia Davis
While we do not normally invite fear into our lives, we know we cannot resist a good horror movie every now and then. All right, maybe more than that – especially among horror enthusiasts. Sometimes horror films are overlooked as quality masterpieces because of the very prevalent cheap jump scares we can see in so many of them. But finding a good one comes easy, thanks to all the streaming content at our disposal.
With Halloween just around the corner, it makes it more the perfect time to binge on some excellent content in the horror genre, and Netflix happens to be one of the best places where you can find your next favorite horror flick. To make sure these films are worth your while, we’ve compiled some of the best according to IMDB.
15. Annabelle: Creation (2017) – 6.5
The fourth movie in the Conjuring film series, Annabelle: Creation delves into the beginning of the Annabelle saga. Critics consider this prequel better than its 2014 predecessor. The chilling atmosphere, the acting, and the film’s direction were all praised, while the well-executed fright tactics alone are more than enough to attract the attention of those with a penchant for impressive jump scares.
14. Hush (2016) – 6.6
To be targeted and taunted by a deranged killer in the middle of nowhere is one thing, to not hear him coming and be completely helpless about it is another. When a deaf writer settled in the woods, fighting for her life with everything she’s got was probably the last thing on her mind when she chose to live a solitary life. This edge-of-the-seat thriller exacerbates your feelings of terror and helplessness because of the protagonist’s seemingly impossible plight.
13. 28 Weeks Later (2007) – 7.0
A sequel to 2002’s 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later is as violent and gory as the first film. Six months after the Rage virus transformed all of Britain into mindless flesh-eating zombies, the survivors’ attempt at hope and normalcy is threatened when a carrier of the virus enters a safe zone. You can only imagine what that means: staggering chaos and horror.
12. The Platform (2019) – 7.0
As we already know, impressive filmmaking is not exclusive to Hollywood. There’s always something great to see regardless of the continent you’re in. And justifying this fact is the 2019 Spanish film, The Platform. In a dystopian world, prisoners in vertical cells are set up for a brutal battle for survival. Humanity’s presence is bleak and non-existent as inmates are too far gone, stopping at nothing to survive.
11. Shutter (2004) – 7.1
Asian horror films are contenders in the horror genre nowadays and this Thai movie is proof. Shutter tells the story of a photographer who can’t seem to have good photos. Strange, creepy images constantly appear in every picture he’s in. But what makes Shutter both terrifying and revolting is the underlying message that terror does not only come from the world of the supernatural, it also comes from the twistedness that is human nature.
10. The Ring (2002) – 7.1
The Ring is Hollywood’s remake of the 1998 Japanese horror film Ring. Naomi Watts stars as Rachel, a journalist who takes up on the investigation of a mysterious videotape who ends up killing those who watch it. With plenty of harrowing visuals and Watts’ imposing performance, The Ring should easily be any horror fan’s go-to entertainment. To add, The Ring introduces audiences to one of the most terrifying paranormal entities there is.
9. Don’t Breathe (2016) – 7.1
The title itself is pretty much an indication of what you’ll feel the entire time you’re watching this suspenseful flick about a group of teenage delinquents robbing the wrong house. Filled with petrifying moments in the dark, Don’t Breathe’s horror tricks hinge on the corruption and brutality that’s inherently human. The only time you’ll be able to breathe here is when you need to voice out your shock.
8. Scream (1996) – 7.2
The highest-grossing slasher movie that has since achieved cult status, Scream incorporates black comedy and the mystery of the whole whodunit scenario, with a twist of slasher violence. Highly effective in providing the viewers both horror and gore, Slasher also poked fun at the cliches of the horror genre, which perhaps contributed to its appeal during its release. If nothing else, Scream also revitalized all things horror in the 1990s.
7. It (2017) – 7.3
An adaptation of Stephen King’s 1986 novel, It is disturbing and downright gives you the creeps. It follows seven bullied children who must face unimaginable terror with an evil, menacing clown pursuing and terrorizing them. In the process, the kids are forced to confront their own demons in order to break free from the “fear”. Children and horror-driven violence may be an uneasy combination, but It managed to be the highest-grossing horror film of all time.
6. A Quiet Place (2018) – 7.5
The horror genre is also all about exploiting the senses in order to capitalize on the viewers’ feelings of dread. When the plot forces the characters to deliberately eliminate many of these senses to survive, that makes it more effective. Enter A Quiet Place, which follows a family who tries to survive in a world inhabited by blind monster-aliens with an indomitable sense of hearing. Both a critical and commercial success, this movie also showcases lead actor John Krasinski’s knack for directing.
5. Train to Busan (2016) – 7. 6
Horror courtesy of zombie hordes – check. Jam-packed action courtesy of zombie hordes – check. Train to Busan follows a father and his daughter aboard a train only for their journey to be filled with the horrors of a zombie-infested nation. There’s also subtle moral polarization at play, which makes Train to Busan not just wildly entertaining but also thought-provoking.
4. Night of the Living Dead (1968) – 7.9
The OG in the zombie genre, Night of the Living Dead is a cult classic that delivers original gore and grotesqueness. When radiation from a fallen satellite causes the dead to awaken and turn into vicious, flesh-eating zombies, seven people become trapped in a farmhouse. While initially criticized for its very graphic carnage, it has since become a cult classic and was selected by the Library of Congress to be preserved in the National Film Registry.
3. Rosemary’s Baby (1968) – 8.0
Rosemary’s Baby is a horror masterpiece that delves into Christianity and the occult. It follows a pregnant woman who struggles with paranoia, believing that an evil cult is conspiring to abduct her child. Rosemary’s Baby is a tale focusing on Satan worship but what makes it more chilling and sickening is people’s psychological journey into darkness.
2. The Shining (1980) – 8.4
Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s 1977 novel is a visually stunning wonder. With a mere haunted house story as its foundation, The Shining successfully hunts through an intricate story of madness and violence, instigated by paranormal elements. The deviations from the book it was based from were substantial. Hence, the film was heavily laced with symbolisms and vagueness which generated some criticisms. Still, The Shining has since become a staple of popular culture, and for good reason.
1. Psycho (1960) – 8.5
Alfred Hitchcock’s timeless classic starts with something as mundane as a secretary going through financial setbacks. The burden proved too strong that she decided to run away with her employer’s money, only to come across the now infamous Bates Motel while on the run. The rest, as they say, is history. With its unsettling atmosphere, remarkable musical score, noteworthy performances, and Hitchcock’s solid direction, it’s hard to imagine the horror landscape without Psycho as one of the main attractions.
There’s always something scary and gory to watch on Netflix, and these are just some of the best ones you can find. If you don’t scare easily and quality filmmaking is also a top priority when hunting for the next horror movie to experience, try any of the movies above and you’ll find out what the fuss is all about.
