Best Horror Movies to Watch on Netflix this Halloween

Halloween has just rung in and we can’t wait for things to turn all spooky and even eerier than last year. This one celebration encompasses lively parties, walks down to the costume store and perhaps even some real supernatural experiences. Halloween isn’t merely another day on the calendar but an intense mix of fun and terror. The best part is how everyone tries to top their Halloween festivities every year. Better costumes, scarier locations and of course more frightening entertainment is the order of the day when the end of October is on the horizon.

And so, let’s put some variety in those Halloween scares. What do you say? After a long day (or night!) of partying with your friends, why not take a little “me time” and scare yourself witless in the privacy if your home? We have a stupendous plan to you shaking in your boots on this very special day of the year. All you have to do is ditch your buddies, lock the doors and turn down the lights. Leave the rest to us!

To make your Halloween a memorable one, you just need to add a little of that “Netflix awesomeness” to the mix. So, spice up your Halloween by watching the best horror cinema on Netflix. Don’t worry, we’ve picked out the best examples of the streaming channel’s Halloween fare. Forget about Netflix and “chill”, this is Netflix and thrill!

1. The Exorcist (1973)

Creator: Jeremy Slater

Stars: Ben Daniels, Alfonso Herrera, Kurt Egyiawan

This 1973 supernatural film is the complete horror package. William Friedkin directed the film. It’s replete with terror, anxiety, and trepidation. Ellen Burstyn, Max Von Sydow, and Lee J. Cobb brings the now-classic plot line to life. If somehow you don’t know the basic plot of the film, it deals with the attempts of two priests to release a young girl from demonic possession.

Despite its age, the film still has awe-inspiring practical special effects and surreal locations. The movie isn’t only a scary movie with supernatural aspects. It also deals with serious dramatic themes such as maternal faith and love.

The Exorcist is one of the best horror films of all time. Anyone who claims to love the genre has to see it at least once. Notably, it’s credited for being the first horror movie to be nominated for the Academy Award in the category “Best Picture”. It garnered so much love from audiences that the makers decided to develop a TV series inspired by the movie.

2. Train to Busan (2016)

Director: Sang-ho Yeon

Writers: Joo-Suk Park, Sang-ho Yeon (screenplay)

Stars: Yoo Gong, Yu-mi Jung, Dong-Seok Ma

Train to Busan is a 2016 South Korean zombie apocalypse saga. It's touted as one of the best horror films ever made. The film is based on a unique reconception of the tired zombie trope. It’s since gained worldwide appreciation. Yeon Sang-Ho directs the film with style. Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, and Ma Dong-Seok bring the plot to life. They transcend any cultural differences with the audience through strong acting and vivid portrayals.The film deals with a sudden zombie apocalypse and how regular people deal with the situation in their quest for survival.

The film has a strong and humanistic plot that centers on the agony and struggle of a father fulfilling his daughter’s wish to catch one last glimpse of her mother. The central zombie disaster of the film frustrates that simple goal.

Seen through the lens of Korean cinema, the film is a breath of fresh air for the zombie genre, which ironically has been shuffling towards its end for years now. If you’re a fan of these not-so-fresh movie monsters then you owe it to yourself to give it a try.

3. Wrong Turn (2003)

Director: Rob Schmidt

Writer: Alan B. McElroy

Stars: Eliza Dushku, Jeremy Sisto, Emmanuelle Chriqui

Don't miss the Wrong Turn at any cost. The story of deranged West-Virginian cannibals is one of the most stomach-churning tales ever committed to film.

This franchise of films is directed by Rob Schmidt, Joe Lynch, Declan O’Brien and Valeri Milev. The first film of this series was released in 2003 and stars Desmond Harrington and Eliza Dushku. The three cannibals (One Eye, Saw Tooth, and Three Finger) are without a doubt the real stars. They cut, slice and eat their way throughout Wrong Turn’s runtime. Throwing away human leftovers like trash. Feeling sick already?

Every film of the franchise shares the same theme but the storylines differ in each. None of them could be described as “boring” and even for fans of gore the killing scenes are almost too real to watch.

4. I Saw the Devil (2010)

Director: Jee-Woon Kim

Writers: Jee-Woon Kim, Hoon-Jung Park

Stars: Byung-hun Lee, Min-Sik Choi, Joon-hyeok Lee

South Korean cinema is really hitting it out of the park these days. I blame the excellent Snowpiercer, which everyone should also see.

I Saw the Devil centers on a brutal killing by a psychopathic murderer and the thrilling pursuit by our protagonist that follows.

Kim Jee-Woon directed this relentless movie with the star pair of Lee Byung-Hun and Choi Min-Sik. It’s highly-engaging and no one will want to budge even an inch from the screen. It’s a one-of-a-kind film that guarantees countless goosebumps.

5. The Devil's Backbone (2001)

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Writers: Guillermo del Toro, Antonio Trashorras

Stars: Marisa Paredes, Eduardo Noriega, Federico Luppi

Prepare for a few sleepless nights with The Devil’s Backbone. Released in 2001, directed by horror master Guillermo Del Toro, it features Marisa Paredes and Eduardo Noriega as its star duo. Falling into the gothic horror genre, it artfully communicates dreadfulness in its purest form. The film opened to fawning reviews, mainly thanks to its jaw-dropping paranormal scenes.

The film is set during the Spanish Civil War and introduces us to a boy who has a history of witnessing supernatural creatures. The performances show great bravura and the mise en scène sets a new benchmark for horror. In fact, one scene was featured on a list of the 100 scariest movie moments.

What story does this boy have to tell? Was he also involved in some sort of paranormal activity or is he entirely innocent? Unravel the mystery, but make sure you keep your eyes wide open.

Sleep well, folks!

6. The Conjuring (2013)

Director: James Wan

Writers: Chad Hayes, Carey Hayes

Stars: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ron Livingston

Twists, turn and non-stop drama-fueled horror. These are the key ingredients used to make The Conjuring. Doesn’t that sound like the ultimate viewing experience for Halloween? The movie has two installments with the first one featuring in 2013. Directed by James Wan and starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, it has attained cult classic status over the years.

The film centers around the life of two paranormal experts, Ed and Lorraine Warren. They come to the rescue of families disturbed by supernatural experiences. The Conjuring 2 was released in June 2016 and delivered the same brand of entertainment. Cited as a creepy yet well-crafted movie, it delivers some of the best performances by these artists.

The investigations led by the Warren couple expose them to a series of horrifying experiences. Loud shrieks and nail-biting scenes turn the movie into one of the finest horror films to watch this Halloween.

7. SAW (2004)

Director: Darren Lynn Bousman, David Hackl, Kevin Greutert.

Writers: Leigh Whannell, James Wan

Stars: Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover

A bloody scene unfolds. A severed leg lies on the ground as if discarded in a fit of absentmindedness. One person is brutally electrocuted. The other one appears tortured to death.

Scared already?

That’s the SAW franchise for you. These eight films perfectly tuned to induce insomnia. Your Halloween cannot possibly get more blood-curdling than it will after a SAW marathon.

Insanely frightening, the plot revolves around the Jigsaw killer. Someone (or something) that kills his targets by duping them into “fun games” to test their psychological willpower. Jigsaw is nothing if not creative and it shows in how far he’ll take his tortures. Some scenes are so vomit-inducing that you’ll your own psychological willpower is tested too!

The plot of all the eight movies differ from each other but the crux remains basically the same. Jigsaw ropes ‘em in and strings ‘em up. Do they deserve what’s coming to them? We’ll leave that up to you.

8.The Ring (2002)

Director: Gore Verbinski

Writers: Ehren Kruger (screenplay), Kôji Suzuki (novel)

Stars: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, Brian Cox

Japan has become famous for its unique and unsettling brand of horror. The Ring is based on an original property from the Land of the Rising Sun. It exemplifies what makes Japanese horror so special.

Released in 2002 and directed by Gore Verbinski, the star cast includes Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, and David Dorfman.

Two girls witnessed a deadly videotape leading to a series of deaths and abnormalities happening around them. The dialogue in The Ring sets a near-perfect in tone. The director crafts terror scenes, unlike anything American audiences know. The movie delves under your skin and stays there long past its welcome.

The Ring is the quintessential 21^st-century ghost story. Grounded and believable effects and a lack of typical over-acting compared to US horror, in general, raise the bar for the entire genre. If you think you’re immune to modern horror movies, think again.

Happy binge watching! Happy Halloween!

If you have a craving for even more scary films (you monster!) then check out our other list of creepy cinema for more of the same.

By the way, did you hear something?