Halloween is just around the corner, and we’ve prepared a list of movies streaming on Netflix that are perfect for the season.
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If some of the titles look unfamiliar, we’ve got you covered. Here are some thoughts on the films listed above.
The 1996 film Scream was such a success that it has produced three sequels, and a fifth movie is still possibly in the pipeline. Almost 20 years later, Scream remains the highest grossing slasher film in the U.S.
Silence of the Lambs is one of the greatest horror films of all time. A testament to the film’s quality, Silence of the Lambs won five Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film is an intense and psychological character study, and it includes one of the scariest performances ever from Anthony Hopkins.
Many wondered if Max Brooks’ novel World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War would be able to be adapted into a good movie, and the jury was never unanimous on whether Marc Forster’s World War Z was a great adaptation or not. It was, however, an exciting zombie movie, and that will make it a perfect choice for your Halloween watching.
Bong Joon-Ho directed one of the best movies of the year so far in Snowpiercer, but before that he had directed a number of Korean films including the great The Host (Gwoemul). This monster movie features a creature that emerges from Seoul’s Han River and proceeds to attack people.
The slasher film You’re Next hit theaters last year and proved itself to be one of the most fun horror films in years. The film is intensely creepy, yet hysterical at times.
Let the Right One In (Låt den Rätte Komma In) is a Swedish romantic horror film. Released in 2008, this film tells the story of a young boy who befriends a young vampire. The film works well due to director Tomas Alfredson’s decision to make it such a character driven story.
Though The Nightmare Before Christmas has Christmas in the title, it’s just as tied to Halloween. Though Tim Burton didn’t direct the film, The Nightmare Before Christmas is very much a product of his vision as he was involved in the writing and producing of the humorous, creepy film.
One of the best adaptations of Bram Stoker’s Dracula is the silent film Nosferatu, and it’s also one of the scariest. According to Rotten Tomatoes, it is the second best reviewed horror film of all time.
The Addams Family is an adaptation of the cartoon of the same name, and it was well received. Maintaining the same tone as the 1960s TV series was a key element in its positive reception.
There’s nothing like a good, unique monster movie, and Big Ass Spider! certainly fits the bill. With a title like that, you pretty much know what you’re getting out of this comedy horror film.
The 1979 film Carrie is one of the most iconic horror films of all time. This adaptation of Stephen King’s novel of the same name features Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie in two iconic, Oscar nominated roles.
A month before The Avengers was released in 2012 Joss Whedon had another film hit theaters: The Cabin in the Woods. Whedon wrote this film with Drew Goddard, who directed the film. As expected, the film is very smart addition to the horror genre.
Vincent Price is a staple in the horror genre, and House on Haunted Hill is one of his better ones, as is The Fly.
V/H/S and its sequel V/H/S 2 are collections of found-footage horror short films, each written and directed by different filmmakers. The collections vary in quality, but there are certainly plenty of good ones in each film.
Another classic horror film that is streaming on Netflix is Rosemary’s Baby. Based on Ira Levin’s novel, the film is bolstered by performances from Mia Farrow and Ruth Gordon and is very creepy.
Zombie films are numerous today, and much of that is owed to George A. Romero and Night of the Living Dead. Romero’s Living Dead films redefined zombies and horror films.
Fright Night is the story of a young man who discovers that he is living next door to a vampire, and, when nobody believe him, he gets a Vampire Hunter TV show host to help him.
Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino are good friends, and From Dusk Till Dawn is one of their best collaborations. With Rodriguez helming a script from Tarantino, this action black comedy horror thriller is a cult classic.
Based on the H. P. Lovecraft story “Herbert West–Reanimator,” Re-Animator is a gory, funny, cult horror film.
Based on Thomas Harris’ novel Red Dragon, Manhunter was the first film to use the famous Hannibal Lecter (respelled Lecktor in Manhunter) character. Fans of NBC’s Hannibal will certainly enjoy seeing a prior version of the character.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a remake of a film of the same name, but it’s by no means a lesser film. Quite the opposite is true in fact as reviews have cited the fact that it “expands upon themes and ideas only lightly explored in the original.”
Cockneys vs. Zombies. Horror films sure do have the best names, don’t they? This film is centered around the terrific premise of a group of Cockneys who have to save their grandfather and his friends from a retirement home as a zombie apocalypse dawns.
Guillermo Del Toro’s Hellboy is a great iteration of the comic book character, and a great performance from Ron Perlman aids in that. This supernatural and paranormal superhero tale will be a perfect Halloween watch.