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
Annabelle (2014)
WATCH ON NEONTelling the origin story of the horrific haunted doll from The Conjuring, Annabelle follows an expecting couple terrorised by a satanist cult—and a very creepy doll. It may not have quite the same chill factors as its source material, but it’s a worthy watch for anyone who likes a good jump scare.
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.
The Conjuring (2013)
WATCH ON NEONDirected by horror maestro James Wan, the original movie in this massively successful franchise is a masterclass in old-school scares and pure entertainment. The story follows paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) as they assist a family who’s newly acquired farmhouse appears to be haunted.
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.
Five Nights At Freddy’s (2023)
WATCH ON NEONStarring Josh Hutcherson as a troubled security guard on his first night shift at Freddy Fazbear & Pizzeria, things take a turn for the bloody when animatronic mascots come to life. Based on the video game series of the same name, Five Nights at Freddy’s may be packed full of lore and easter eggs for fans, but still contains plenty of thrills and chills for the uninitiated.
Friday the 13th (1980)
WATCH ON NEONHorny teens, lakeside cabins and hockey masks have never been the same since the arrival of this cult classic, which remains the blueprint for slasher films to this day. It’s an endlessly rewatchable, deliciously nasty nostalgic gem that more than deserves its place in the horror pantheon.
Get Out (2017)
WATCH ON NEONFew films have changed the game for the horror genre like Jordan Peele’s 2017 directorial debut. This terrifyingly astute critique of cynical white liberalism remains as potent, and chilling as ever, anchored by a star-making lead performance from Daniel Kaluuya and sprinkled with Peele’s signature wry humour.
Gremlins (1984)
WATCH ON NEONJoe Dante’s cult classic is perhaps the defining creature feature of contemporary genre cinema. Set in a small town under siege by mysterious and mischievous hard-partying critters, there’s a deliciously dark streak to Dante’s sense of humour that makes the film equal parts funny and horrifying.
Immaculate (2024)
WATCH ON NEONSydney Sweeney leads this deliciously audacious 2024 horror set in a claustrophobic and remote Italian convent. Following a devout young nun who inexplicably falls pregnant, this provocative, bloody meditation on female bodily autonomy walks a fine line between smart and silly, building to an ending that will stay with you.
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.
Night Swim (2024)
WATCH ON NEONProving that even the silliest plots can be chilling in the right hands, Night Swim’s tale of a family who discover their new home’s backyard pool might be evil is the kind of popcorny genre fare that’s become rare in the age of elevated horror. It might not be the smartest film, but it’s an undeniably fun watch.
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.
Salem’s Lot (2024)
WATCH ON NEONBased on horror maestro Stephen King’s 1975 novel, Salem’s Lot follows an author returning to his hometown for inspiration, but instead finds that his friends and neighbours are being gradually turned into blood-thirsty vampires. This effective, crowd-pleasing little chiller harks back to the classic spookfests of yore.
Saw X (2023)
WATCH ON NEONThere may not be many surprises left in this seemingly never-ending franchise, but Saw X still packs an incredibly gruesome punch. It chronicles John “Jigsaw” Kramer’s trip to a Mexican treatment centre that goes awry, resulting in—you guessed it—diabolical traps.
Thanksgiving (2023)
WATCH ON NEONEli Roth’s gleefully silly slasher perfectly revives the tropes of the genre while adding plenty of fresh twists for a new generation. Set in the aftermath of a Black Friday sale gone horribly wrong, a masked killer picks off those responsible one-by-one—in ways so nasty and inventive they must be seen to be believed.
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.
Titles are added and removed from his page to reflect changes to Netflix’s catalogue. The reviews no longer available on this page can be read here.
