The 30 Scariest Movies to Watch on Netflix Right Now – menshealth.com

A24

Watching horror movies can make for a bit of a trade off: either you get popcorn-tossing jump scares alongside eye-rolling lines of dialogue and character stupidity, or you get a movie with great narrative and character and is actually well-crafted and original, but is also, just, not scary. Every once in a while you get both; you get a film that feels like the uncorrupted vision of its director and one that's also really fricken' scary. Many of these are so-called "art house" horror, independent movies like Midsommar and Hereditary which are both good horror films and just good films in general.

But we know not every horror movie can do both, and we don't expect them to. There's nothing wrong with a dumb movie that makes you discover a new personal octave or reveals your jumpiest friend.

So here are 30 films streaming on Netflix right now that at least accomplish this latter feat. Some are better stories than horror tales. Some do it all.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

1Silence of the Lambs

Start with a classic and one of the works that helped turn serial killing into an American cultural obsession. It's maybe not "scary" in the jumping-from-your-seat way, but, boy, does it make your skin crawl.

2It Comes At Night

By "It," the title likely means nightmares. But if those nightmares aren't actually fake, well, then what are they? A24's art house horror flick is a must-see.

3The Vvitch

The Vvitch ("witch" in Jacobean era spelling ) works because it digs into the origins of American horror: folktale and paranoia from a God-worshipping, Satan-fearing people. Every frame looks like a beautiful and ominous oil painting.

4The Evil Dead

See the blurb? Stephen King called the movie "the most ferociously original horror film of the year." What more convincing do you need?

5Green Room

This super low-budget horror flick features a punk rock band hunted down by neo-Nazis. Don't mistake "low budget" for not scary. Plus: Patrick Stewart.

6Hush

A home invasion thriller that's all about sound. Or rather: the lack of sound.

7Train to Busan

Just when we thought the zombie genre had pulled all the lumbering, brain-groaning tricks, Train To Busan comes along to remind us just how terrifying human mad cow disease actually would be.

8Shutter

Shutter is one of Thailand's best known horror flicks and utilizes a classic horror tropefaces showing up in polaroidsto chilling effect.

9The Ring

Before you die, you see the ring. Also, before you die, you should totally go see The Ring. It's a classic by now.

10The Ritual

Based on the novel by Adam Nevill, The Ritual is a wilderness survival horror you probably recognize, but never get tired of.

11Coraline

If Coraline terrified you as a child, don't worry; it will still terrify you as an adult.

12Under the Shadow

A mother and daughter are haunted in Tehran by an unknown evil. Both horror movie and commentary on post-revolution Iran, the film satisfyingly twists the horror genre.

131922

Based on the Stephen King novella, 1922 may not be the best of the King adaptations, but it's one of the most satisfying in a while.

14Apostle

From The Raid director, Gareth Evans, Apostle follows a man a remote island cult.

15The Invitation

More psychological thriller than straight horror, The Invitation offers up maybe (maybe) the worst yuppy suburban dinner you can imagine. It also features one of the creepiest final shots of any film on this list.

16Creep

Another found footage horror installment from the Paranormal Activity producers, Creep is a smarter and more rewarding take on the genre. This is not the Mark Duplass you've seen in The League.

17Creep 2

And another one. And maybe even better.

18Candyman

Say his name five times in front of a mirror and he appears, the murdered son of a former slave. Watch now and get ready for the reboot/remake/sequel coming soon from Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions.

19Insidious

You'll recognize director James Wan's style from The Conjuring films. The jump scares are predictable but still terrifying.

20Bulbbul

While maybe not the scariest of scary movies (not that it's exactly marketed as such), Bulbbul is just a visual feast and one of the more imaginative of Netflix's original films.

21Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

Another entry in great visuals. Just, without a lot of terror behind them.

22The Autopsy of Jane Doe

Dead bodies, supernatural events, a pair of coroners, this film offers up all the horror ingredients for a solid pay off.

23Backcountry

A wilderness survival tale where the terror walks on four legs and is a bear.

24Gerald's Game

Stuck in a house and handcuffed to a bed beside her dead husband, the psychological thriller begins. Another Stephen King adaptation.

25Les Affams

A Canadian zombie flick with more things to say than just braiiins.

26XX

This anthology horror film is directed by four separate filmmakers, each with a horror style her own.

27Velvet Buzzsaw

While more satire than horror, Velvet Buzzsaw still retains many tropes of its genre, while also bending and twisting them to make grander statements about art. Yeah, it's one of those movies.

28Tusk

For more art house-like horror, there's Tusk, a story about a man transformed into a walrus. Directed by Kevin Smith. This movie is...bizarre! Fair warning!

29The Golem

Based on the Jewish legend similar to Frankenstein, but featuring a creepy child.

30Emelie

A tale of babysitting and demonic child possession that's familiar but worth a few good scares.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

This commenting section is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page. You may be able to find more information on their web site.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

View post:
The 30 Scariest Movies to Watch on Netflix Right Now - menshealth.com

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero