The 40 Best Horror Movies on Shudder – Vulture

The original Halloween, available to stream on Shudder. Photo: Aquarius Releasing

Yes, there are plenty of good horror movies on Netflix (including a sturdy selection of originals). Amazon and Hulu certainly have some great titles as well. But the real horror heads know the truth: Shudder is the best streaming service for them.

If youre new to the service and wondering where to start, dont fret: Weve dug into Shudders increasingly impressive catalogue to find the best films worth your time, from classics like Halloween to newer entries like Mandy. Watch them all.

AuditionTakashi Miike may have made over 100 movies, but this ones the best of them all. His 1999 thriller/horror adaptation of Ryu Murakamis book is not only terrifying, but it proved that the Miike known more for unbridled insanity could also work in a more psychological, terrifying register. Its the story of a widower who finds himself dating the wrong person, and its a masterful slow burn as the film builds to one of the most unsettling climaxes of all time.

BeastWith Wild Rose and Chernobyl, people are starting to realize how talented Jessie Buckley is. Shes gonna be a huge star. Check out her breakthrough in this 2017 thriller about a bored twentysomething who lives at home and hates her job. She meets a charismatic drifter at the same time that an unsolved series of murders has the town on edge. Are the two connected? Buckley nails the blend of fear and attraction in her character, someone so desperate to escape the tedium of her life that she puts herself in danger.

Black Christmas45 years after the release of the original, a remake of Black Christmas is about to hit theaters, so its a great time to catch up with the influential 1974 film. Something to keep in mind is that this slasher classic about a group of sorority sisters hunted on Christmas (including Margot Kidder and Olivia Hussey) predates Halloween and Friday the 13th. In other words, its really one of the first slasher pics, a movie that shaped dozens of films to come.

The ChangelingPeter Medaks 1980 ghost story was promoted largely for its scares, but its a bit tame now in that department; now its more valuable as an example of how great George C. Scott was every single time he got in front of a camera. Scott plays a man grieving the loss of his wife and daughter who moves to Seattle and discovers his new house is haunted. Its interesting to watch this movie now and consider how much it visually influenced the world of films like The Conjuring and Annabelle. Its a clear inspiration.

Cheap ThrillsE.L. Katzs indie darling is really more pitch-black comedy than straight horror, anchored by a quartet of great performances from Pat Healy, Sara Paxton, Ethan Embry, and David Koechner. Healy plays an ordinary guy who runs into an old friend, played by Embry, at a bar after a really bad day. As the two reminisce and drink, they run into a rich couple looking for a bit of entertainment in their lives. They keep challenging their new friends to greater and greater risks for money. How far would you go?

Childs PlayIts Chuckys world, we just live in it. Seriously, the little doll with an attitude has outlasted contemporaries like Jason and Freddy, even getting a reboot in 2019. See where it all began with this classic horror-comedy, a movie that made an entire generation lock up their dolls at night.

Dark WaterHideo Nakatas Ringu is widely recognized as an essential modern horror film, but this 2002 ghost story feels a bit more underrated. Sure, it plays with some of the same visuals and ideas, but theres an emotional resonance to the story of a single mother who moves into a haunted apartment that adds to the haunting nature of the flick. The 2005 remake starring Jennifer Connelly was underrated too.

Deep RedTheres a reason that so many horror directors bow at the altar of Dario Argento, the king of the giallo film. Also known as The Hatchet Murders, this is one of his masterpieces, a great starting point if youre just getting into Argentos career. The story of a pianist (David Hemmings) who gets caught up in the investigation into a serial killer contains some of Argentos most unforgettable set pieces. The superb score by Goblin doesnt hurt.

DemonMarcin Wrona directed this unforgettable Polish film about a possible possession at a wedding. A man finds a skeleton and has increasingly terrifying visions as the night goes on in what is basically Wronas take on the classic Dybbuk story. Culturally rich and daring, Wronas film was acclaimed worldwide, which he sadly never saw, committing suicide just before its release. The tragedy makes his film all the more haunting.

The Devils RejectsRob Zombies best movie is still this gritty, brutal 2005 flick, technically a sequel to House of 1000 Corpses, but so different in tone and execution that it almost feels from another filmmaker. Sid Haig, Bill Moseley and Sheri Moon Zombie play a trio of sociopaths on the run in a movie that pulls no punches and really contains Zombies best visual compositions and use of tension. Those of us who still give Zombie a chance do so because of how good this is (and Lords of Salem).

DogtoothLong before he directed Olivia Colman to an Oscar with The Favourite, Yorgos Lanthimos helmed this 2009 drama that doesnt exactly qualify as horror but is just creepy and strange enough that someone at Shudder thinks it counts. Its kind of a riff on M. Night Shyamalans The Village in that its the story of a couple who keep their children away from the rest of society, developing their own bizarre rules. Of course, thats bound to fall apart, but it does so here in ways you could never imagine.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at NightSometimes when you see a new film, you know you are in the hands of a daring debut director. Such was the case when this black-and-white vampire western yes, another one of those premiered at Sundance. Ana Lily Amirpour has a style that is distinctly her own, blending her background and interests into something daring and new.

HalloweenMaybe youve heard of it? It seems unlikely that anyone subscribing to a service called Shudder hasnt seen John Carpenters game-changing masterpiece, but maybe its been a few years for you and youre considering a revisit. You really should go back to Haddonfield and see where the saga of Michael Myers began. Its the rare horror movie that can send chills up your spine every time you see it.

HeathersMore comedy than horror, this 1989 cult hit with Winona Ryder and Christian Slater now looks to be ahead of its time in so many ways. Consider the way Michael Lehmann captures the clique culture of youth in a manner that feels like its still relevant today. On top of that, its a film that predicted the tragic way in which violence would become a hazard for people just trying to get an education. A box-office flop when it was released, this is a movie that seems to grow in popularity every year for a reason.

HellraiserClive Barkers debut directorial effort, working from his own screenplay, may be the best cinematic example of a writer translating his vision from the page to the screen. Shakespearean in its examination of family betrayals and unchecked evil, this is a movie that works just as well today as it did 30 years ago. Note: You can also check out the underrated Hellbound: Hellraiser II on Shudder and make it a double feature. Lock the doors first.

Henry: Portrait of a Serial KillerHorror films typically have an exaggerated style that makes them easier to watch. Whether theyre the slasher pics of the 1980s or the elevated horror of today, we can feel comfortable that these films dont reflect real life. What was (and is) so startling about this drama is how genuine it feels, capturing the grimy, dirty life of a pair of sociopaths who feed each others penchant for violence.

The House of the DevilTi West is the kind of the slow burn, horror movies that simmer their way to explosive final acts. His best to date remains this 2009 genre flick starring Jocelin Donahue as a college student hired to babysit by a creepy couple. Clearly, theres something wrong, but West delays the payoff until the very end, allowing tension to build with each passing scene. Greta Gerwig co-stars in a small role.

Ichi the KillerOne of Takashi Miikes breakthrough films internationally, this 2001 action flick is still banned in several countries around the world. There is naturally a lot of violence on Shudder, but Ichi is its own special category of crazy. When it was released, it was the kind of film that one had to special order from online companies, and now it can be streamed directly to your phone while youre on the bus. Isnt technology wonderful?

InfernoThe midsection of what is sometimes referred to as Dario Argentos Three Mothers Trilogy, this 1980 giallo often gets ignored when people discuss the career of one of Italys best directors. It may not be Suspiria, the first film in the trilogy, but theres still so much flair and craftsmanship on display here that you owe it to yourself to take a look, especially if you like Argentos more popular films.

LuzTilman Singer writes and directs this film that feels more like a lost flick from the 70s era of European horror than something that came out in 2019. Its truly impossible to describe a film that plays out like a hallucination more than a literal story. Theres a police station, a possession, and then a deconstruction of the very genre. You wont forget it.

MandyPanos Cosmatos gave Nicolas Cage one of the best roles of his career in this 2018 film that already feels like a cult classic. For about an hour, Mandy is a slow burn about a man who goes through a living hell when a cult kidnaps and murders his wife (Andrea Riseborough). And then for the second hour, its a crazy movie thats just washed in blood and features a chainsaw fight. You cant adequately describe it in words, so you just need to see it.

MayhemIn just the short time since this Joe Lynch film premiered at South by Southwest in 2017, its stars have become significantly more popular, which should spark interest in this dark comedyhorror flick. Those stars are Steven Yeun (Burning) and Samara Weaving (Ready or Not), who play two people in an office he works there and shes a client when an inhibition-destroying virus unleashes total havoc. Its like Office Space meets Fury Road.

The Monster SquadFred Dekkers 1987 horror-comedy was a total bomb when it was released, failing to make even $4 million domestically, but it almost instantly became a cult hit when it was released on VHS. The concept is too clever to be ignored the Universal monsters have returned to suburbia and only a group of kids can stop them.

Night of the Living DeadWhen a young man named George A. Romero got some buddies together to make a movie in Pittsburgh that had almost no budget, they couldnt have possibly known that they were about to change movie history. Watching this classic a half-century after its release, one is struck by how much it holds up today, tackling issues and reshaping horror-movie language in a way that will never grow old.

One Cut of the DeadThis Japanese indie is a great example of a true word-of-mouth phenomenon, a movie made for almost nothing (reportedly as little as $25,000) that has made over $30 million worldwide, largely through recommendations. The less you know the better, so try and avoid spoilers. All well say is that what you think this movie is for the first half-hour is not exactly right, and it takes a turn that results in one of the smartest, most heartfelt zombie flicks in years.

Open WindowsIf you dont know Nacho Vigalondo, you should seek out Timecrimes, Colossal, and his Into the Dark installment, Pooka! This actually may be his most underrated flick, a Rear Window riff starring Elijah Wood as the #1 fan of an actress played by Sasha Grey. It makes increasingly less sense as it goes along but if you go for the ride, youll enjoy the glorious B-movie nonsense of it all.

PhantasmAnother low-budget flick that produced an empire, Don Coscarellis totally bonkers 1979 film isnt as much an influential genre classic as it is kind of unlike anything before or since. Who can forget the first time they saw Angus Scrimm as The Tall Man, one of the best horror characters of his era? The crazy plot here is secondary to the unforgettable imagery and style. Theres a reason it spawned four sequels and has a very loyal cult following 40 years later. (Note: Phantasm III, IV, and V are all on Shudder too. Tall Man Marathon!)

Re-AnimatorA lot of filmmakers have tried to incorporate H.P. Lovecraft into their work either as an influence or direct adaptation, but Stuart Gordons 1985 cult hit arguably remains the best. Adapting Lovecrafts Herbert West Reanimator into a feature film, Gordon is fearless, making a movie that contains some of the most memorably twisted images and ideas of its era. Originally X-rated for its overall insanity, this is a riff on the classic tale of medical science gone malevolent as a doctor starts reanimating dead bodies. Never a good idea.

RevengeHorror has too long been a mans game, so we should celebrate when a great film by a female director lands on Shudder. The people behind the company enjoy this movie so much that theyve been using a blood-soaked image of its star, Matilda Lutz, in a lot of their marketing. Lutz plays a woman who is raped and nearly murdered by a trio of monsters. You will cheer her bloody, vicious vengeance.

SpringJustin Benson and Aaron Moorhead are carving a unique niche in which they make genre films that are borne out of a very human dynamic. Last years The Endless and the upcoming Synchronic are about people more than the bizarre circumstances in which they find themselves. Same goes for this phenomenal 2015 film about a young man who travels to Europe after the death of his mother. There, he meets a beautiful young woman, who well, she has a secret. Imagine Before Sunrise written by H.P. Lovecraft and you have some idea where this is going.

A Tale of Two SistersThe wave of Asian horror in the late 90s and early 00s produced a few instant classics of the genre, but this may be the best of the bunch. Kim Jee-woons 2003 South Korean flick is the story of a young woman who returns home after a trip to a mental hospital and faces off with a new stepmother and something possibly supernatural. Its a modern classic.

The Texas Chainsaw MassacreFew films made the same cultural impact as Tobe Hoopers 1974 splatter classic, a movie he shot with his friends and unknown actors in central Texas for almost no money and that would change film history forever. A lot of horror movies, even great ones, come and go, but people are constantly returning to the world of Leatherface and his cannibal family. Its one of the few horror films of its era that feels nearly as terrifying today as it did the day it came out.

Tigers Are Not AfraidThere arent enough films on Shudder that arent from the United States or Asia. This Mexican offering from Issa Lopez is an exception, and its a good one a tender, empathetic tale of the orphans of the Mexican Drug War with stylistic echoes of one of its biggest fans, Guillermo del Toro.

Train to BusanA legitimate phenomenon that has grossed almost $100 million worldwide, this 2016 South Korean movie is one of the best zombie flicks of its era. Its simple zombies on a train but thats one of the reasons it works so well. It has a propulsive, nonstop energy, and it feels like its legacy is just getting started. Theres a reason that James Wan is working on a remake and director Yeon Sang-ho is prepping a sequel to his own hit.

The Vengeance TrilogyA lot of people know and love Park Chan-wooks Oldboy, but you should really take the opportunity to watch it in the context of what he considers a trilogy of films. The beloved middle chapter is even richer when you see how it reflects themes of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Lady Vengeance. All three films are so different in terms of style, but they all play with many of the same ideas about responsibility and, of course, vengeance.

VictoriaLaia Costa rocks in this 2015 thriller most well-known for unfolding in a single take. Costa plays the title character, a Spanish girl in Berlin who has a very bad night when she meets a few guys at a club who have other plans for later that night. Victoria ends up a participant in a crazy crime, but the real draw of the film is how it unfolds in real time, making it easy to imagine yourself getting caught up in a time and place you really shouldnt be.

The VoidSteven Kostanski and Jeremy Gillespies 2016 Canadian film may be the least known on this list, but just trust us: Youre going to dig it. So low budget that a lot of its effects were crowdfunded on Indiegogo, The Void is the story of a small group of people at a hospital at which a portal to the other side just happens to open. It has echoes of Lovecraft with a style thats reminiscent of John Carpenters wonderful single-setting work. And the creature effects are just aces.

The WailingNa Hong-jins 2016 film is not one you should pick to watch casually a date night. It takes a commitment of over 150 minutes, but its worth every one of them. Theres a cumulative power to this story of a policeman who investigates a strange series of events in a small town and basically discovers ancient evil. The Wailing is epic, and it rewards your commitment to it with a final act thats devastating and unforgettable.

Wake in FrightWhats scarier than total isolation? Thats whats at the heart of Ted Kotcheffs 1971 film, an Australian outback drama that was largely unheralded and buried for decades before being reclaimed and recognized as a cult classic with a 2009 rerelease. Based on the 1961 novel of the same name, it tells the story of a schoolteacher who basically descends into madness after being stranded in the middle of nowhere in the Australian outback. Donald Pleasance gives one of his best performances in the leading role.

We Are Still HereTed Geoghegan directs a wonderful cast, including icons Barbara Crampton and Larry Fessenden, in this 2015 film about how grief can open a door to the other side. Crampton and Andrew Sensenig play couple dealing with the loss of their son as they move into an old home in New England in 1979. Clearly influenced by haunting and occult films from the era in which its set, this is an indie gem, one of the best horror flicks of the 2010s.

Visit link:
The 40 Best Horror Movies on Shudder - Vulture

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero