The world’s still a terrifying place, but hopefully you haven’t lost your appetite for horror movies (or maybe you wouldn’t be reading this?). Katie Parker selects the best now playing on Netflix.
See also
* Best new movies & TV series on Netflix
* All new streaming movies & series
Annihilation (2018)
Watch on NetflixThe story of all-female military scientists on an expedition to the mysterious Area X, Annihilation isn’t your typical horror—but with its unnerving imagery and amazing ensemble cast (Natalie Portman, Oscar Isaac and Jennifer Jason Leigh all star), Alex Garland’s sophomore outing as a director is a chilling addition to the genre. Based on the novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer and with strong similarities to Andrej Tarkovsky’s Stalker, Annihilation is one of Garland’s best.
Barbarian (2022)
WATCH ON NETFLIXZach Cregger’s solo directorial debut wowed both critics and audiences—and for good reason. It begins as a stranger-danger story about a man and a woman double-booked into the same Airbnb, but turns into something much more interesting—and horrifying. The less you know going in the better; this sharp and darkly humorous film has plenty of surprises.
Bird Box (2018)
Watch on NetflixIn some ways the quintessential Netflix movie, Bird Box’s silly but diverting tale of monsters that make you see suicide-provoking visions is occasionally genuinely thrilling. Starring Sandra Bullock as a woman who must hole up in a house of strangers and wear a blindfold at all times to protect herself, Bird Box is reportedly one of Netflix’s most successful ever films—and the perfect combination of corny, creepy and completely, fabulously stupid.
Cam (2018)
Watch on NetflixAs horror tropes go, doppelgängers are one of the most inexplicably chilling—and Cam is a great entry to the canon. Drawing from writer Isa Mazzei’s own experience, we join budding camgirl Alice as her online alter ego Lola_Lola begins to climb in popularity. But then Alice’s video persona seems to be taking on a life of its own—and crossing lines that she herself had firmly drawn. Reminiscent of Perfect Blue, Cam is a provocative look at what it means to lose your online identity.
The Conjuring (2013)
WATCH ON NETFLIXThe Conjuring films are perhaps the most critically and commercially successful modern horror franchise we have. The first 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. Directed by horror maestro James Wan, it’s a masterclass in old school scares and pure entertainment.
Creep (2014)
Watch on NetflixCamera op Aaron meets Josef (co-writer Mark Duplass), a total weirdo who says he wants Aaron to spend the day filming him for a video that can be shown to his unborn child after he dies from an apparent terminal illness. But as Josef’s on-camera confessions become more and more disturbing, Aaron’s hopes that his host is just a harmless eccentric slowly slip away. Found-footage gold and an instant cult classic, Creep is followed by an equally chilling sequel, also available on Netflix.
Eli (2019)
Watch on NetflixThe story of a young boy trapped in a seemingly haunted house while being treated for a rare and mysterious illness that makes him allergic to basically everything, on the surface Eli seems more or less like The Boy in the Plastic Bubble with ghosts. Yet there is more going on than meets the eye, and a somewhat slow buildup is paid off in full with a fabulous twist ending. Fun, spooky and, best of all, satisfying, Eli is a underrated gem.
Fall (2022)
Watch on NetflixA 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.
Fear Street Trilogy (2021)
Watch on NetflixRemember RL Stine? For a certain generation, the author of more than 300 YA horror novels was all but ubiquitous, and now this same generation is one of Netflix’s most lucrative demographics, leading to the release of not one, not two, but three movies based on Stine’s much loved Fear Street series. Following three generations of teens tormented by a seemingly inescapable curse, the trilogy’s chapters are actually pretty frightening for a series based on kids’ books.
Gerald’s Game (2017)
Watch on NetflixMike Flanagan: so hot right now! Based on the Steven King novel of the same name, Gerald’s Game is one of the few near-perfect Netflix Originals. Following married couple Jesse (Carla Gugino) and Gerald (Bruce Greenwood) on a romantic yet isolated getaway, things turn sour when Gerald dies suddenly of a heart attack, leaving Jessie handcuffed to the bed with little hope of escape. Gugino carries the suspense all the way to the deliciously gruesome end.
Get Out (2017)
Watch on NetflixAn instant modern classic on its 2017 release, Jordan Peele’s directorial debut was a critical and commercial sensation, and remains one of the best horrors of modern cinema. Turning the universally chilling experience of a weekend spent with one’s in-laws into a terrifyingly astute critique of an insincere and cynical brand of white liberalism, Peele’s film changed the game for the genre—and is as potent today as ever.
His House (2020)
WATCH ON NETFLIXFollowing young couple Bol (Sope Dirisu) and Rial (Wunmi Mosaku) as they struggle to adjust to life in a small English town after escaping South Sudan, the claustrophobic conditions of their probational asylum are matched only by the dread lurking within their government assigned housing. Haunting and harrowing in equal measure, Remi Weekes’ debut feature fearlessly evokes the horrors of the refugee experience with the tropes of haunted house movies.
Infinity Pool (2023)
Watch on NetflixBrandon 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.
In the Tall Grass (2019)
Watch on NetflixOk, hear me out: A bunch of people get lured into some very tall grass and can’t find their way out. But it’s not just any tall grass. It’s mysterious, time-bending tall grass with something evil lurking within! Based on Stephen King and Joe Hill’s novella of the same name, In the Tall Grass may have a silly premise, but it’s one that director Vincenzo Natali (Cube) commits to admirably, turning it into a wonderfully weird little horror.
Jaws (1975)
WATCH ON NETFLIXNearly 50 years since Steven Spielberg filmed a fake shark thrashing around in a pool, people are still afraid of going in the water. That’s the power of cinema, baby! This true classic remains a blueprint for the horror genre, spawning a legacy (along with several ill advised sequels) that endures only because that shark really was pretty freakin’ scary.
Knock At The Cabin (2023)
WATCH ON NETFLIXLove him or hate him, modern Hollywood horror wouldn’t the same without M. Night Shyamalan. This apocalyptic nightmare is a perfect example: who else could bring something equal parts bleak and silly to the table, and 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 NetflixFilmed right here in little old Aotearoa, M3GAN set the world alight with its story of a lifesize AI doll gone rogue. Kiwi director Gerard Johnstone’s follow-up to 2014’s excellent Housebound is a creepy, campy, completely irresistible film that takes the haunted doll trope to the next level. It’s a horror-comedy as silly as it is sinister.
The Mist (2007)
Watch on NetflixFeaturing perhaps one of the most brilliantly bleak endings of any film ever, Frank Darabont’s 2007 adaptation of Stephen King’s 1980 novella imagines a deliciously dark vision of the end of the world. Set in a supermarket where nervous locals stock up for a storm, when the titular mist rolls it brings with it unimaginable horrors. Trapped together, a Lord of the Flies situation unfolds amongst the shoppers that raises the question of whether things are safer inside or out.
Nope (2022)
Watch on NetflixJordan Peele is fast becoming one of the most interesting and unpredictable horror auteurs of modern cinema, and his latest outing, Nope, confirms that he remains unafraid to experiment with the genre. A sci-fi film crossed with a western, the 2022 film has all the humour Peele is known for while taking its subject matter seriously—resulting in a complex, compelling and completely entertaining foray into the UFO genre.
Orphan (2009)
Watch on NetflixWhile Orphan’s central twist may have been spoiled for you by now, there is still so much to enjoy about this deliciously deranged film. Following a recently bereaved couple who get more than they bargain for when they adopt a creepy 9-year-old Russian girl (a fantastic Isabelle Fuhrman) from an orphanage, this campy, cult-worthy delight is some of the most fun horror has had in years.
Pearl (2022)
WATCH ON NeTFLIXThis prequel to 2022’s X explains the backstory of the elderly woman who wrought havoc on an ill-fated group of adult-movie makers. Again starring the excellent Mia Goth, it’s thanks to her eerie, endlessly entertaining performance that this tale of wartime woe became an instant cult hit. A gleefully deranged little chiller.
The Perfection (2018)
Watch on NetflixWhat is there to say about The Perfection that won’t give away the absolutely bonkers, bloody, and trashily brilliant joy that it contains? Very little—but suffice to say, this story of a musical prodigy (Alison Williams) and her rival (Logan Browning) does NOT go in the direction you think it will. With more twists than Wild Things and no particular concern for taste or propriety, The Perfection is a wild ride better left unspoiled.
The Purge (2013)
WATCH ON NETFLIXWith five (and counting) The Purge films now in circulation—plus a TV show—none have been able to live up to the movie that started it all. Following a wealthy suburban family attempting to hunker down during an annual event in which crime becomes legal for 24 hours, James DeMonaco’s deliciously dark vision of a near-future dystopia remains bitingly brilliant.
Renfield (2023)
Watch on NetflixHorror-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.
The Ritual (2017)
Watch on NetflixA beautifully melancholy, mysterious British horror reminiscent of The Blair Witch Project and Midsommar, The Ritual follows a group of lads who travel to the Swedish wilderness to scatter the ashes of a friend lost in tragic circumstances. They decide to take a shortcut through the extremely creepy Scandinavian forest: never a good idea! With an excellent cast led by Rafe Spall, The Ritual is a criminally underrated horror gem.
Roh (2019)
Watch on NetflixSet amidst the eerie, isolated Malaysian rainforest, Roh is an atmospheric folk horror whose simple story belies a complex examination of what it means to keep to your own. Bad things begin to happen to a widow and her children after they help a girl who appears at their door, all alone and caked in clay—but if an outsider brought the curse, can an outsider solve it? Roh is a delightfully dark and stylishly effective little chiller.
Scream (2022)
Watch on NetflixThe first Scream movie not to feature the perpetually unlucky Sidney Prescott, and also the first to be set in NYC rather than Woodsborough, the franchise’s sixth entry seemed the least likely to work. Could Ghostface still have the same impact? Well, yes, prove directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett with a fast-paced, highly entertaining sequel.
The Shallows (2016)
Clocking in at just 86 minutes, The Shallows leaves not a second to spare in its nail-biting story of a young surfer Nancy (Blake Lively) facing off against a giant, angry shark. Spending the bulk of its runtime in a single location, as Nancy clings to a rock, trapped just metres from the shore by the kind of creature that makes Jaws look like a playful kitten, The Shallows plays its pared-back premise for maximum tension.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
WATCH ON NETFLIXEdgar Wright’s cult classic zombie film mastered the art of the horror-comedy, hilariously satirising the sub-genre and perfectly crystalising what’s so unsettling about it. Simon Pegg plays an unambitious electronics salesman who, so used to his own malaise and wrapped up in his own minor problems, barely notices when a zombie apocalypse begins. All the more effective in the wake of COVID, Wright’s film perfectly captures the absurdity that accompanies disaster.
Smile (2022)
Watch on NetflixSingle-handedly resurrecting the jump-scare for a new generation of horror lovers, 2022’s Smile is highly reminiscent of the slightly silly scary movies that dominated 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 grinning visions—Smile taps into the kind of primal fear that need not be overthought.
Spree (2020)
WATCH ON NETFLIXBoasting Drake as an executive-producer and featuring cameos from the likes of Mischa Barton, Franke Grande and Lala Kent, Spree skewers the pitfalls of influencer culture with acidity and gleeful abandon. Following social media obsessed ride-share driver Kurt Kunkle as he attempts to go viral by murdering his passengers, Eugene Kotlyarenko’s film is a scathing and incredibly buzzy satire, elevated by an electric performance from Stranger Things‘ Joe Keery.
Talk To Me (2023)
Watch on NetflixWidely considered one of the best horrors of 2023, Danny and Michael Philippou’s directorial debut is a nasty little chiller that packs maximum dread into its tightly wound 95 minute runtime. The story of a group of high schoolers who discover they can contact spirits using a mysterious embalmed hand, things go horribly wrong when troubled teen Mia gets hooked on the experience. Brutal, bloody and incredibly creepy, Talk To Me is a modern horror must-see.
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.
