Netflix remains a top destination for horror fans, offering a diverse range of films from psychological thrillers to gory slashers. This guide highlights 15 standout titles currently available, covering both modern favorites and established classics. The platform’s rotating selection means some titles may leave soon, so viewers should act fast.
Psychological and Supernatural Terror
Several films on Netflix excel at building suspense through psychological torment. Smile, starring Sosie Bacon, presents a particularly unnerving experience with its juxtaposition of sinister smiles and brutal deaths. The film taps into a primal fear of unseen forces, leaving viewers shaken long after the credits roll.
Florence Pugh delivers a chilling performance in Malevolent, where she plays a con artist exploiting vulnerable people before encountering actual supernatural horrors. The film blurs the lines between deception and reality, raising questions about the true nature of evil.
Host, a unique lockdown-era horror, leverages the Zoom format to deliver claustrophobic tension. The film’s premise—a virtual séance gone wrong—feels disturbingly relevant, turning everyday technology into a source of terror.
Zombie and Action Horror
For fans of fast-paced horror, 28 Days Later and Train to Busan offer unrelenting thrills. The former revitalized the zombie genre with its rage-infected creatures, while the latter confines its outbreak to a speeding train, creating a relentless survival scenario. Both films emphasize the chaos and brutality of a world overrun by the undead.
Slasher and Cult Horror
Netflix’s slasher selection includes Heart Eyes, a darkly comedic take on the genre. The film satirizes the trope of mistaken identity, pitting two coworkers against a serial killer obsessed with couples. The meta-humor adds a layer of absurdity to the violence, making it both entertaining and unsettling.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (both the 1974 original and the 2022 reboot) is a brutal classic inspired by real-life serial killer Ed Gein. The film’s low-budget aesthetic enhances its gritty realism, making Leatherface’s carnage even more disturbing.
Apostle, directed by Gareth Evans, plunges viewers into a bloody folk horror nightmare. The film’s remote island setting and religious cult backdrop create a sense of isolation and dread, culminating in visceral violence.
Stephen King Adaptations and Thrillers
Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of Gerald’s Game delivers a claustrophobic psychological horror. Carla Gugino’s performance as a woman handcuffed to a bed after her husband’s death is harrowing, exploring themes of isolation, trauma, and survival.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (and its sequel) offers classic teen slasher thrills, with a modern cast alongside returning stars Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. The film’s premise—a group covering up a crime and being hunted in return—is a staple of the genre.
Nuanced Horror
His House stands out for its grounded approach to horror. The film follows a refugee couple in England who discover a sinister presence in their new home, forcing them to confront both external threats and their own buried trauma. The film blends supernatural elements with real-world anxieties, making it particularly resonant.
Conclusion:
Netflix’s horror catalog provides a spectrum of terrifying experiences, from psychological suspense to visceral gore. Whether you prefer slow-burn dread or adrenaline-fueled action, these films offer a chilling escape. With selections rotating regularly, viewers should check availability before settling in for a scare.
