The selection of recent horror movies on Netflix is not that impressive. Truth be told, most of them are rubbish. Even so, there are a few films that are really worth your time and, for this list, it’s those ones we’ve tried to select.
If you’re a horror fan, you’ve most likely already seen all of these films – yet there is no such thing as a bad time for rewatching a horror film you’ve enjoyed. However, if you’re new to the genre, this is a great place to start and from home invasion thrills, comedy-horror, alert zombie movies or atmospheric, slow-burns, there is something here for every taste.
Let us know in your comments if we’ve missed any great recent horror films streaming on Netflix.
10. Hush (2016)
Directed by Mike Flanagan (“Oculus”, “The “Haunting Of Hill House”), “Hush” is a home invasion film with a twist.
The movie follows a young woman (played by Flanagan’s wife and frequent collaborator Kate Siegel) who lives in an isolated house near the woods and has to fight for her life when a masked figure tries to break into her house. So what’s the twist? The woman is deaf and mute, so this changes completely the way the film unfolds itself and turns “Hush” a clever refresh for the slasher genre which is worth checking out.
9. The Autopsy Of Jane Doe (2016)
Helmed by André Øvredal (“Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark”, “Trollhunter”), “The Autopsy of Jane Doe” revolves around a father and son team of coroners who comes across the corpse of an unidentified woman found at the scene of a multiple homicide (hence the Jane Doe name). The two coroners find it strange that there are no visible signs of trauma on the woman’s body, yet what they discover inside her while doing the autopsy is disturbing. Soon, they start to suspect that the mysterious Jane Doe might not be dead after all.
“The Autopsy of Jane Doe” has its flaws and fumbles a little towards the ending, but when it does well, it does very well. Its eerie atmosphere can really get under your skin, and for the most part, the mysterious and clever plot will keep your eyes glued to the screen. Overall, despite some shortcomings, there are still a lot of moments to enjoy André Øvredal’s film to make it worth your time.
8. Creep (2014)
This first entry in a couple of found-footage movies directed by Patrick Brice is one of the most original, tense, funny, and very, very creepy films on Netflix.
“Creep” stars Mark Duplass as Josef, a disturbed man who hires videographers in order to record his life, but can’t help himself and soon he starts acting strangely, devises all kinds of inappropriate scares, and in the end creeps his employees out of their minds.
“Creep” and its sequel are some of the most unsettling and inventive films of the 2010s and they work as yet another proof that you don’t need a lot of resources in order to make an effective horror. Despite mostly taking place inside a house and its surrounding area and featuring just a couple of characters, the films are more entertaining than many high-budget mainstream horror movies and their mix of campy-fun and thrills makes them a very entertaining watch.
7. Cam (2018)
“Cam” is one of the better entries in the series of thriller/horror movies that revolve around modern technology. The film follows Alice (Madeline Brewer), a webcam girl who discovers that her account has been stolen by an exact replica of herself. Perplexed, Alice tries to regain control of her online identity and to find out who is behind the mysterious happening.
Working out as an extended episode of “Black Mirror”, the film is much better than you would expect from its premise. Its tight and suspenseful plot, creepy atmosphere and an impressive lead performance make “Cam” one of the best modern techno-horrors we’ve seen.
6. The Ritual (2017)
This British horror film about four friends who find themselves hunted by a malevolent deity deep in the Scandinavian forests is not a masterpiece or something you’ve never seen before. However, it is a solid horror film, easily one of the best of 2017 and, if you’re a fan of “Midsommar” or “The Blair Witch Project”, you might enjoy it a lot.
That is because “The Ritual” is really entertaining, has great special effects, and for most of the time, scary enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. Moreover, what makes it even better is that it doesn’t over-rely on jumpscares, yet still manages to be very atmospheric and unnerving – so much that there are even daylight scenes that feel creepy.
As for its flaws, there are a bunch of horror clichés, the performances aren’t really spectacular (Rafe Spall is the better of the four main actors), and the ending – although surprising – is a little abrupt. However, these shortcomings don’t ruin the film and, if you’re into slow, atmospheric horror, you should definitely give “The Ritual” a watch.