My Recommended Horror Movies on Streaming
Every year around this time I get a lot of people asking me to recommend them horror movies to watch. I do usually recommend movies as I write these blog entries, but very often I watch stuff that is difficult and/or impossible to find digitally, and I know most people aren't nerds about collecting physical media like I am.
With that in mind, I've compiled a short list of recommendations for horror movies that are currently available to stream on either Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. This is by no means a definitive list - there are tons of other worthwhile horror movies available on these services too. If you want some deeper cuts, just ask!
In alphabetical order:
An American Werewolf in London
1981
Director: John Landis
Two college students are touring Britain when they are attacked by a werewolf. David survives, but soon begins having nightmares...
Maybe the best werewolf movie ever made. Darkly funny, scary, and gory.
Available on Amazon Prime Video
The Babadook
2014
Director: Jennifer Kent
A widowed woman, still coping with her grief from her husband's death, struggles to raise her son as a single mother. When a creepy book called "Mister Babadook" appears in her son's room, she starts to believe that their house is haunted by an evil force. Scary as hell, and destined to be a classic.
Available on Netflix
Hush
2016
Director: Mike Flanagan
A deaf writer is home alone at her remote house in the woods when a masked intruder appears at her door. Trapped and unable to call for help, she must fight for her life. With very little dialogue and sometimes even total silence as we share her perspective, this is an interesting and excellent take on the standard home invasion film.
Available on Netflix
It Follows
2014
Director: David Robert Mitchell
After a seemingly innocent sexual encounter with a guy she just met, Jay discovers that he has actually passed on a curse to her - a supernatural entity that will slowly follow her until it reaches and kills her, unless she can pass it on to someone else. One of the best horror movies of this decade.
Available on Netflix
Pumpkinhead
1988
Director: Stan Winston
After his son is accidentally killed by some teenagers, a man (Lance Henrikson) summons a vengeance demon to hunt them down. One of the best "creature features" of the 80's.
Available on Amazon Prime Video
Raw
2016
Director: Julia Ducournau
On her first day of veterinary school, Justine faces a hazing ritual by the upperclassmen. Even though she is a vegetarian, she is forced to eat a raw rabbit kidney, and this first taste of flesh seems to awaken something inside her... This is one of the best films of the year. Not recommended if you have a weak stomach though. (trigger warning: in French with subtitles)
Available on Netflix
The Slumber Party Massacre
1982
Director: Amy Holden Jones
A teenage girls' slumber party is rudely interrupted by a psychopath with a drill. On the surface this is a fairly standard slasher, but on a deeper level it is also an excellent feminist critique of the genre. Plus it's a ton of fun.
Available on Amazon Prime Video
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
1974
Director: Tobe Hooper
A group of friends traveling the back roads of Texas run afoul of a family of cannibals. Just as shocking and scary today as it was over 40 years ago.
Available on Amazon Prime Video
Tucker and Dale vs Evil
2010
Director: Eli Craig
Two friendly hillbillies head to their vacation cabin for a relaxing weekend, but are mistaken for murderers by a group of college kids. This leads to a series of bloody and hilarious misunderstandings. This is one of my all-time favorite comedy horror films
Available on Netflix
V/H/S and V/H/S/2
2012 and 2013
Various Directors
The V/H/S films are some of the best horror anthologies around, and since I think that the first two are equally awesome I decided to just list them both. All the shorts are "found footage" style, but vary wildly in subject matter and style. Great stuff.
Both available on Netflix
What We Do in the Shadows
2014
Directors: Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi
A group of vampires who share a home in New Zealand are followed by a documentary team, who film every mundane detail of their lives. This is much more of a comedy featuring vampires and werewolves than it is a horror movie, but it is definitely seasonally appropriate. Absolutely hilarious, too.
Available on Amazon Prime Video
With that in mind, I've compiled a short list of recommendations for horror movies that are currently available to stream on either Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. This is by no means a definitive list - there are tons of other worthwhile horror movies available on these services too. If you want some deeper cuts, just ask!
In alphabetical order:
An American Werewolf in London1981
Director: John Landis
Two college students are touring Britain when they are attacked by a werewolf. David survives, but soon begins having nightmares...
Maybe the best werewolf movie ever made. Darkly funny, scary, and gory.
Available on Amazon Prime Video
2014
Director: Jennifer Kent
A widowed woman, still coping with her grief from her husband's death, struggles to raise her son as a single mother. When a creepy book called "Mister Babadook" appears in her son's room, she starts to believe that their house is haunted by an evil force. Scary as hell, and destined to be a classic.
Available on Netflix
2016
Director: Mike Flanagan
A deaf writer is home alone at her remote house in the woods when a masked intruder appears at her door. Trapped and unable to call for help, she must fight for her life. With very little dialogue and sometimes even total silence as we share her perspective, this is an interesting and excellent take on the standard home invasion film.
Available on Netflix
It Follows 2014
Director: David Robert Mitchell
After a seemingly innocent sexual encounter with a guy she just met, Jay discovers that he has actually passed on a curse to her - a supernatural entity that will slowly follow her until it reaches and kills her, unless she can pass it on to someone else. One of the best horror movies of this decade.
Available on Netflix
1988
Director: Stan Winston
After his son is accidentally killed by some teenagers, a man (Lance Henrikson) summons a vengeance demon to hunt them down. One of the best "creature features" of the 80's.
Available on Amazon Prime Video
2016
Director: Julia Ducournau
On her first day of veterinary school, Justine faces a hazing ritual by the upperclassmen. Even though she is a vegetarian, she is forced to eat a raw rabbit kidney, and this first taste of flesh seems to awaken something inside her... This is one of the best films of the year. Not recommended if you have a weak stomach though. (trigger warning: in French with subtitles)
Available on Netflix
1982
Director: Amy Holden Jones
A teenage girls' slumber party is rudely interrupted by a psychopath with a drill. On the surface this is a fairly standard slasher, but on a deeper level it is also an excellent feminist critique of the genre. Plus it's a ton of fun.
Available on Amazon Prime Video
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre1974
Director: Tobe Hooper
A group of friends traveling the back roads of Texas run afoul of a family of cannibals. Just as shocking and scary today as it was over 40 years ago.
Available on Amazon Prime Video
2010
Director: Eli Craig
Two friendly hillbillies head to their vacation cabin for a relaxing weekend, but are mistaken for murderers by a group of college kids. This leads to a series of bloody and hilarious misunderstandings. This is one of my all-time favorite comedy horror films
Available on Netflix
2012 and 2013
Various Directors
The V/H/S films are some of the best horror anthologies around, and since I think that the first two are equally awesome I decided to just list them both. All the shorts are "found footage" style, but vary wildly in subject matter and style. Great stuff.
Both available on Netflix
2014
Directors: Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi
A group of vampires who share a home in New Zealand are followed by a documentary team, who film every mundane detail of their lives. This is much more of a comedy featuring vampires and werewolves than it is a horror movie, but it is definitely seasonally appropriate. Absolutely hilarious, too.
Available on Amazon Prime Video
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