As the horror genre continues through one of its most creatively robust periods, you might be asking yourself what you need to see and what you can skip. Let’s be honest, horror fans: A lot of the genre we love is garbage. But we patiently combed through the trash to find the hidden gems. We’ve put together a list of the perfect movies to watch this Halloween so you can get your Netflix and chills on!
The Witch (2015)
This 17th century period flick takes a new look at the devil genre by going back to the very origins of religion in America. When a small family moves out into the wilderness to pursue their conservative beliefs, strange happenings begin to occur, all tying back to the family’s mysterious black goat. What follows is 90 minutes of slow-burning terror as the core values of a small Puritan family are tested against the might of the devil himself.
Insidious (2010)
The first in a series of films, but the third chronologically, “Insidious” follows a young couple whose son enters a comatose state and becomes a vessel for ghosts who are trying to inhabit his body — a serious issue made even more serious when the film’s leads realize that it’s not just ghosts trying to take control.
As Above So Below (2014)
While on the hunt for Flamel’s Philosopher’s Stone — and the eternal life that supposedly comes with it — archaeologist Scarlett Marlowe (Perdita Weeks) enters the Parisian catacombs where she encounters some decidedly unscientific phenomena. Crazy cult magic and found footage all combine to make this film a spooky candidate for any horror viewing.
The Ritual (2017)
Fans of the outdoors be wary — this film follows four friends as they embark on a mountainous hike through Sweden where, in typical horror film fashion, they discover that they aren’t the only things hiking in the woods. Based on the 2011 novel of the same name, this horror flick takes a new look at the monster movie with some exciting tinges of Swedish mythology and cultish rituals.
Carrie (1976)
Stephen King has arguably never been bigger than he is in 2019 with films like Pet Sematary and It: Chapter Two, and a new book in the Fall. Use this Brian De Palma masterpiece to flash back to a time when King wasn’t yet a household name. Sissy Spacek gives one of her best performances as the title character, a bullied girl who discovers that she’s not your ordinary teenager. This is still one of the best King adaptations of all time.
Train to Busan (2016)
This South Korean zombie story is truly one of the best movies available to watch on Netflix, regardless of genre. It’s thrilling from start to finish, and the excellent, efficient character development means you feel like you have a stake in everyone involved. Imagine the self-contained maelstrom of Snowpiercer, but with raging undead.
