Netflix's Top 10 Horror Films
Netflix has such a diverse selection of horror films that this introduction will be a list of titles that did not make the main recommendations. Consider Blood Red Sky (2021), a British-German action horror; Forgotten (2017), a South Korean psychological thriller; or The Ritual, a British horror film (2017). There’s also It (2017), based on Stephen King’s novel; The Rental (2020), directed by Dave Franco and starring Alison Brie; the Fear Street Trilogy (2021); supernatural Western The Wind (2018); Spanish supernatural horror Veronica (2017); and South Korean zombie horror #Alive (2020).
The Platform (2019)
The Platform is a Spanish sci-fi horror film from Netflix’s amazing international film library. Its high-concept plot revolves around a tower that uses a platform to distribute meals to individuals on each of its many floors. Those at the top are rewarded with the greatest and most plentiful spread, which is consumed as the platform descends the tiers. Social criticism pervades this dystopian thriller, which takes unexpected, at times brutal turns all the way to the end.
The Nightingale (2018)
A word of caution: The Nightingale contains extremely violent images of violence and rape. With that in mind, continue reading this tragic account to view an essential piece of history rarely shown on TV. The Nightingale follows a young female inmate out for vengeance in the Australian wilderness in 1825. Jennifer Kent’s second picture, following the massive The Babadook, is a force to be reckoned with.
Creep (2014)
If you need further proof that the Duplass brothers are indeed nasty, here’s an easy sell. Patrick Brice (also the director and co-writer) is a videographer who responds to a Craigslist post for Josef (Mark Duplass), who wants to produce a film for his fictitious unborn kid. Because they’re so tough to pull off, I usually appreciate horror films that rely on performances to frighten you. And it has to go to Mark Duplass. He is, in fact, really creepy.
Gerald’s Game (2017)
Mike Flanagan’s brilliant adaptation of Stephen King’s novel Gerald’s Game came before the great The Haunting of Hill House series. Carla Gugino is magnificent as Jessie, a woman who spends her vacation with her husband at a remote lake cabin in Alabama. When Jessie is shackled to the bed and has no one to assist her escape, it becomes a question of survival as well as freedom. Another instalment of Flanagan’s melancholy-tinged horror that culminates in quiet success for its haunting protagonists.
The Call (2020)
In 2020, two films titled The Call will be released. Watch the South Korean one, a time travel thriller centred on, you guessed it, a phone conversation. Seo-yeon, 28, discovers a phone concealed in a cupboard in her childhood house. It rings, and the caller turns out to be someone who lived in the same house 20 years before. Twists right up to the end, as well as a chaotic cat-and-mouse pursuit that changes the past and present, making this a must-see.
Under The Shadow (2016)
Our outstanding psychological thriller, like a few other movies on this list, quietly acts as a metaphor for larger societal topics such as injustice. Set in 1980s Tehran during the War of the Cities, it follows a mother and daughter who are terrorised in their house by a strange evil. Under The Shadow is a terrific horror entry, with elements of The Babadook as well as its own unique themes.
1922 (2017)
This horror drama based on Stephen King’s novella 1922 is a slow-burner with a fascinating performance at its centre. It’s one of the more successful Stephen King adaptations. Thomas Jane, best known for his roles in Boogie Nights and The Punisher, provides one of his greatest performances as the ever-proud Wilfred James, a farmer who murders his wife with the aid of their adolescent son. The implications are horrifying on numerous levels (if you don’t like rats, you will after this).
Cam (2018)
This clever psychological horror is inspired in part by co-writer Isa Mazzei’s experiences as a camgirl (or webcam model). Cam, on the other hand, is not a documentary, following Alice Ackerman, a young camgirl who learns an exact clone of herself has taken over her show one day. This one-of-a-kind thriller glowing red with the menace of technology is a must-see.
Vampires vs. the Bronx (2020)
Vampires vs. the Bronx is a one-of-a-kind comedy-horror film in more ways than one. It follows little Miguel Martinez, a big-hearted boy working to collect money for his failing neighbourhood bodega in the New York district of the Bronx. Not only are new fashionable clothes businesses threatening to move in, but creepy pale neck-chompers are devouring individuals and their houses as well. Vampires vs. the Bronx is a unique, engaging take on the genre, a reflection on gentrification with funny charm, twists, and thrills.
Calibre (2018)
This gripping thriller set in the rugged Scottish Highlands is everything from pleasant. Prepare for a full-fledged nightmare from which its protagonists are trying to awaken. Vaughn and Marcus head off on a guys’ weekend hunting expedition, but after a night of drinking, they find themselves in the middle of circumstances they could never have predicted. Calibre delivers a sleek bundle of bleak, riveting drama that lives up to its name. Allow the full power of this one to hit you.
It Follows (2014)
The brilliantly made horror picture that also serves as a subtle metaphor for STDs. You read it correctly: It Follows focuses on a supernatural monster that lurks on the outskirts, relentlessly chasing its targets at a sluggish, zombie-like pace. Our protagonist Jay (played by current Scream Queen Maika Monroe) is imprisoned in the midst of this anxiety pool, confronted by a terrible stalker. A modern classic with a fantastic original score influenced by John Carpenter.
Berlin Syndrome (2017)
Cate Shortland built her reputation directing superb independent films before Black Widow, notably Berlin Syndrome. Teresa Palmer plays Clare Havel, a young Australian who travels backpacking in Berlin only to meet a guy who takes her hostage in his flat. A cat-and-mouse game occurs between the captor and the hostage. While the pacing is sluggish at times due to the restricted environment, Berlin Syndrome is an engrossing thriller.
His House (2020)
A nightmare that hits… close to home. His House follows Bol and Rial, a refugee couple from Sudan, as they try to adjust to their new existence in an English village, revealing its otherworldly perils via a heartbreaking human narrative. Expect more hallways of pain than jump scares. His House plays into the psychological spectres of the past, adding even more corridors of torment. A moving and powerful work.
The Exorcist (1973)
Have you seen what is largely regarded as the finest horror film of all time? The Exorcist, released in 1973, stars Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil, a wealthy actress whose daughter becomes possessed by a demonic force. Who are they going to call? A couple of Catholic priests will perform an exorcism. The Exorcist was so amazing that it became the first horror picture to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
Raw (2016)
Julia Ducournau may become your new favourite female filmmaker after seeing this film. Justine, a vegetarian in her first year of veterinary school, succumbs to peer pressure and consumes raw meat, resulting in a rash all over her body. The film addresses issues of identity in a viscerally strong and symbolic manner, and it is a must-see from Netflix’s independent bench.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
What could be more appropriate for a horror list than one of the finest horror films ever made? The 1984 film A Nightmare on Elm Street launched the franchise, as well as Johnny Depp’s career. Depp made his film debut in the supernatural slasher about a little girl who finds she must stay awake in order to prevent a killer from slaughtering her pals in her nightmares. The terrifying genre work inspired sequels, a remake, and more. See where it all started in this smart classic that is still relevant today.
