Once it’s getting dark and you’re ready to test your nerves, try out Katie Parker’s spooky recommendations for the greatest horror movies to stream on NEON.
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* Best new movies & TV series on NEON
* All new streaming movies & series
Blade (1998)
Watch on NeonWith a Marvel reboot on the way, there’s never been a better time to revisit the cult 1998 film. Starring Wesley Snipes as the titular human-vampire hybrid, this stylish, violent, action packed adaptation of the comic series was the first instalment in a trilogy of Blade films—and if you can’t get enough, all three available to stream on Neon.
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Watch on NeonFeaturing some of the hottest young up-and-comers in Hollywood, Halina Reijn’s comedy-slasher film was one of the freshest and funniest releases of 2022. Starring Amandla Stenberg, Rachel Sennott, Lee Pace, and Pete Davidson among others, this Gen Z send-up follows a group of 20 somethings whose hurricane party goes badly wrong when they realise a killer is in their midst. The blackest of black comedy ensues, culminating in one of the best twists in recent movie history.
Christine (1983)
Watch on NEONThere’s something about evil inanimate objects in movies that is so silly it just works. Based on the novel by Steven King, John Carpenter’s supernatural 1983 horror film about a classic 1950s car with a mind of its own is one such film. Taking hold of a nerdy teen (Keith Gordon) this pulpy, macabre treasure is a cult classic for a good reason.
Dracula: Voyage of the Demeter (2023)
Watch on NEONAdapted from a chapter in Bram Stoker’s classic 1897 novel, this gleefully gory take on literature’s OG vampire is a satisfyingly bloodthirsty affair. Telling the story of Dracula’s passage from Bulgaria to England, and the various ill-fated crew members who he met along the way, Voyage Of The Demeter is a surprisingly nasty affair—and has plenty of surprises up its sleeve for a story that is over 100 years old.
Evil Dead Rise (2023)
Watch on NEONFilmed right here in Aotearoa, Lee Cronin’s 2023 addition to the Evil Dead universe—the fifth in the franchise—was widely agreed to be far better than it had any right to be. Featuring one of modern horror’s best and most brutal opening sequences, Evil Dead Rise’s tale of family besieged by an ancient curse proves that even the most done-to-death ideas can still have life breathed back into them.
Fall (2022)
Watch on NEONA survival horror for the influencer age, Fall follows a pair of daredevil best friends (one of whom is a Youtube star) whose latest stunt is climbing 2,000 feet to the top of a remote, abandoned and very rickety radio tower. What could go wrong? With an uncanny knack for capturing just how stomach turning it feels to be at the top of something very, very high, Scott Mann’s 2022 thriller milks its terrifying premise for all it’s worth.
Infinity Pool (2023)
Watch on NEONBrandon Cronenberg’s follow up to his stunning 2020 debut Possessor, Infinity Pool proves that while he may share his father’s penchant for perversion, David’s son has a style all his own. Following a struggling novelist (Alexander Skarsgard) whose vacation in a mysterious, fictional foreign land takes a dark turn when he is involved in an accident—and must face the country’s unorthodox justice system. Weird, wild and deeply depraved, Infinity Pool is a satire that feels entirely unique.
Insidious: The Red Door (2023)
Watch on NEONMaking his directorial debut with the latest—and perhaps last—instalment of the Insidious franchise, Patrick Wilson’s 2023 film joins the Lambert family nine years after their last brush with the bizarro realm known as ‘The Further’, as they discover that it is not done with them just yet. Nailing the original films’ silly-yet-scary tone, Wilson’s knack for suspense and set pieces make The Red Door a fun, popcorny horror flick.
Knock At The Cabin (2023)
Watch on NEONLove him or hate him, it is hard to deny that modern Hollywood horror would not be the same without M. Night Shyamalan. His latest, 2023’s apocalyptic nightmare Knock At The Cabin, is a perfect example: who else could bring something equal parts bleak and silly to the table, and, in amongst it all, get such an amazing performance out of wrestling star Dave Bautista? Featuring all of Shyamalan signature schlocky flourishes, fans and critics alike should give this one a go.
M3GAN (2023)
Watch on NEONIf you thought the rise of AI seemed scary, just wait until you meet M3GAN. Created as a friend for a girl struggling with the loss of her parents, at first the life size, artificially intelligent doll seems like a marvel of technology—that is until her programming sends her on an unhinged murder spree. From Kiwi director Gerard Johnstone, this campy, creepy, incredibly fun horror-comedy is the most fun horror has had in years.
The Offering (2022)
Watch on NEONHarking back to the horror stylings of the early 2000s, The Offering’s atmospheric take on demonic entities flew under the radar on its 2022 release. Following a Hasidic family’s emotional reunion in the funeral home that they own—unaware of the evil lurking in the morgue below—this underrated little chiller pairs dread-drenched moodiness with gasp inducing jump scares, creating a solid horror gem that deserves to be seen.
Orphan: First Kill (2022)
Though it doesn’t have the element of surprise of its predecessor’s iconic twist, the prequel to 2009’s deliciously bizarre Orphan is arguably just as good (if not better) as it delves into the origin story of the unhinged Esther. With Isabelle Fuhrman returning to the role of the iconic Estonian woman capitalising on a genetic disorder to masquerade as a 10-year-old, Orphan: First Kill is a lesson in campy, cult-worthy fun.
The Pope’s Exorcist (2023)
Watch on NEONHowever much you love exorcism movies, they can get a little bit repetitive. The blaspheming child; the mischievous demon; and the pious, harried priest putting his own soul on the line to save someone else’s. The Pope’s Exorcist may not deviate from most of these tried and true tropes, save one—and Russell Crowe’s shotgun toting, Vespa riding priest is the secret sauce that makes it an undeniable pleasure, however many times you may have seen similar ground covered before.
A Quiet Place (2018)
Watch on NEONThe first instalment of John Krasinski’s planned trilogy, A Quiet Place part one turns a somewhat silly premise—big blind spider monsters take over the earth, hunting by sound and forcing all survivors to be very quiet—into one of the most suspenseful, exhilarating horrors in years. With a stunning knack for the art of the jump scare, Krasinski’s film is a big budget horror film that actually delivers.
Renfield (2023)
Watch on NEONHorror-comedy can be hit and miss but 2023’s Renfield, following Dracula’s long suffering henchman’s attempts to free himself of his narcissistic boss, has all the gore (and all the gags) to make it work. Anchored by stars Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult, this buoyant, bloody blast puts an irreverent twist on the traditional vampire narrative—brushing off the cobwebs and breaking the mould in hilarious horror style.
Resident Evil (2002)
Watch on NEONBased on the video game franchise, 2002’s film adaptation spawned one of its own—and with all six films in the series available to stream on Neon, the best place to start is the beginning. Starring Milla Jovovich as amnesiac heroine Alice who, along with a team of commandos, must attempt to contain the outbreak of the genetically engineered T-virus at a secret underground facility. Packed with violence and zombies, Resident Evil is full of big, dumb blockbuster fun.
Scream VI (2023)
Watch on NEONThe first Scream film not to feature the perpetually unlucky Sidney Prescott, the 6th entry into the franchise seemed the most unlikely to work yet—set in New York City rather than the traditional Woodsborough, and missing stars Neve Campbell and David Arquette, could Ghostface still have the same impact on audiences? Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett return once more to prove that yes he can, with a fast paced, highly entertaining film that more than satisfies fans.
Smile (2022)
Watch on NEONHinging almost entirely on the fact that there is something really creepy about a slightly distorted smile, Parker Finn’s 2022’s supernatural horror signalled a welcome return to the jump-scare heavy, slightly silly scary movies of the early 2000s. Following a therapist who begins to suspect she is cursed after witnessing the horrific death of a patient—one that sees her haunted by demonically smiling visions—Smile taps into the kind of primal fear that need not be overthought.
There’s Something Wrong With The Children (2023)
Watch on NEONIf you thought something was a bit off about your friend’s kid, would you tell them? A childless couple face this awkward dilemma when they go on a camping trip with some buddies and their children—who after a visit to a mysterious cave, start acting pretty weird. Social niceties soon go out the window as the situation escalates and the adults are forced to realise that, actually, there is something really wrong with the children.
Zombieland (2009)
Watch on NEONWoody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin lead Ruben Fleischer’s 2009 horror comedy, about a rag-tag team of zombie apocalypse survivors on a road-trip to refuge. Nearly 15 years since it’s release is still one of the most entertaining and enjoyable end-of-the-world films around. Silly rather than scary, Zombieland is nonetheless gruesome enough to satisfy genre fans out for brains.
