Chun Woo-hee stars as "the woman in white" in the South Korean horror-mystery film 'The Wailing.'
Two of my three favorite genres are film noirs and Westerns—neither of which are prominently featured on Netflix (or most streaming services, for that matter). Luckily, my third-favorite and most treasured genre is ripe with options. Hundreds of options, in fact. Which makes choosing which one to watch incredibly tough. Of the myriad horror flicks available on the world’s most popular streaming platform, however, I was able to narrow down ten films I believe are the best. In fact, a couple of these rank among my most cherished movies ever. And, as someone who explains the movies and confuse and amaze us for a living, it’s my absolute pleasure to write about them here, to expose their greatness to a wider audience.
So without further ado, let’s get into it. Below are the ten horror movies I believe stand above the rest on Netflix. Here, you’ll find a wide array of options that will appeal to any horror fan’s tastes, from satirical slashers to vampire thrillers, from quiet Korean demon stories to loud American zombie epics, from noteworthy franchise installments to one-and-done gems. This list has it all—and it’s only the tip of the iceberg for Netflix’s horror library. Hopefully you find your next favorite flick right here in this grouping.
The 10 Best Horror Movies On Netflix
It Follows (2014)
Back when I saw It Follows when the horror film made its U.S. debut at the Sundance Film Festival, I knew I had witnessed something like never before. In this cult-beloved film from David Robert Mitchell that is now getting a sequel, a supernatural curse that is passed from victim to victim like an STD haunts Jay (played by the fabulous Maika Monroe), a young woman whose life spirals into terror after an intimate encounter. In order to save her own life, Jay must unravel the mystery of the relentless entity that pursues her. Mike Gioulakis’s cinematography stands out in this film that will inevitably become a horror classic, using wide-angle lenses and 360-degree panning shots to create a daunting sense of space and isolation. Armed with a minimalist sound design and a synth-heavy score by Disasterpeace, along with a retro aesthetic that employs technology that feels like its from a different era, Mitchell brings a brand new kind of style and narrative to the genre with It Follows that doesn’t feel like its aged one bit in ten years.
The Wailing (2016)
As the founder of a website that explains confusing movies, few of the films we’ve ever covered have been as popular as The Wailing—and for good reason. This thematically complex film anchored by a constantly-leaving-you-guessing narrative plays with questions of spirituality and faith that plague us all, especially in the face of constant uncertainty and legitimate evil. The story centers on a quiet, rural village in South Korea, where a series of mysterious illness and incredibly violent deaths leave the police department baffled. We follow Jong-goo, a hapless policeman who gets drawn into the mystery as he tries to protect his family—but, trust me, he has no idea what he’s in store for. Deciphering this endlessly layered narrative is part of the fun, but along the way you’ll enjoy a genre-bending approach from director Na Hong-jin, who fills the natural landscapes and adverse weather conditions with a haunting and foreboding atmosphere. The mix of traditional Korean music, ambient textures and moments of eerie silence perfectly suits this film that explores the complexities of belief, highlighting how no single faith or entity has all the answers.
Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)
I wouldn’t recommend the fifth movie in a six-part series if...well, I thought it mattered even a little bit. Because it really doesn’t. You can review the plot details of the series if you’d like, but the best part of Resident Evil: Retribution is that its eye-popping colors, its gravity-defying action sequences, its otherworldly cinematography can be enjoyed free of context. Its themes are pretty discernible as well, enlivened by director Paul W.S. Anderson’s electrifying aesthetic. The film follows our trusted hero, Alice—humanity's last hope against the undead. Trapped in the heart of the Umbrella Corporation's most elaborate testing facility, Alice (played by Milla Jovovich) battles through a series of deadly simulations and confronts old foes, including the ruthless Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory). Backed by a cast that features Michelle Rodriguez, Kevin Durand and Li Bingbing, Resident Evil: Retribution delivers some of the most stylized fight sequences ever put on film, with Anderson using immersive 3D technology to traverse his futuristic environments, monstrous creatures and explosive set pieces. Drawing much influence from The Matrix, Retribution highlights the struggle against the surveillance state, against the war economy, against the myriad digital influences that consume our modern world, emphasizing interiority and empathy over capitalistic desires.
Jigsaw (2017)
No, none of the other entries into the Saw franchise touched James Wan’s original 2004 classic, which embraced the raw, brutal nature of the Jigsaw killer (always played by the indomitable Tobin Bell) in an unparalleled merciless manner. But I cannot deny that Michael and Peter Spierig did an admirable job recreating that original formula with the eighth film in the series, Jigsaw. The film follows two detectives (played by Callum Keith Rennie and Clé Bennett) a series of gruesome murders that bear the signature of John Kramer, a.k.a. Jigsaw, even though he’s been “dead” for over a decade (they always come back, don’t they?). As always, to the horror fan’s delight, a series of deadly traps ensue. The Spierig brothers sprinkle their intricate traps amongst a complex, non-linear narrative filled with multiple timelines and plot twists, with each and every set piece feeling meticulously blueprinted and claustrophobically realized. All in all, Jigsaw combines the franchise’s hallmark gore with plenty of fresh twists that reignite this ten-part (and soon to be 11-part) saga with new life.
Forgotten (2017)
The past decade has gifted us dozens of great and underrated South Korean horror-thrillers. From (as already mentioned) The Wailing to The Handmaiden, from The Call to Unlocked, these often terrifying meditations on spirituality and modern society offer a distinctly different point of view than American horror—which is why you don’t want to skip on the 2017 scary flick Forgotten. The movie follows a boy named Jin-seok (played by Kang Ha-neul), who, after moving with his family into a new home, is desperate to uncover the truth behind the sudden and inexplicable behavior of his brother, Yoo-seok (Kim Mu-yeol). As Jin-seok delves deeper into the mystery, he uncovers shocking secrets that blur the lines between reality and illusion. Directed by Jang Hang-jun, Forgotten offers a twisted and complex narrative that weaves together multiple storylines and timelines, gradually revealing the layers of the mystery, all bolstered by some great performances that emboldened the emotional bonds between Jin-seok and his family.
Killer Book Club (2023)
To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of modern horror flicks that own the “teens stuck in a situation” narrative, many of which were inspired by but pale in comparison to classics like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer. But there have been a few standouts in recent years—including the next two movies featured on this list. Let’s start with Killer Book Club, in which a group of eight university students who share a love of horror literature are targeted by a masked killer after their innocent-turned-deadly prank goes awry. They desperately try to reveal the culprit as they are offed one by one. What stands out to me in this Spanish thriller is the character-driven narrative (filled with actors like Veki Velilla, Álvaro Mel and María de Nati), as the students’ shared fear and paranoia is enhanced by the legitimately interesting dynamics between them. Plus, Ojea playfully pays close attention to detail, offering a suspenseful story that, given the university setting in a narrative-driven class, constantly blurs the line between fantasy and reality, creating for a meta experience. This one will keep you guessing up until the very end.
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
While I certainly enjoy Killer Book Club for superficial, entertaining reasons, it’s practically child’s play compared to one of 2022’s very best movies: Bodies Bodies Bodies. In a world where satire and black humor is a secondary consideration for self-serious horror films, Halina Reijn’s biting critique on Generation Z’s dependence on technology and modern social dynamics absolutely pulsates with energy and punch. When a group of friends gathers at a remote mansion during a hurricane, their game of "Bodies Bodies Bodies,” a murder-in-the-dark game where you must decide who committed the “crime,” spirals out of control as real bodies start to pile up. Featuring an all-star cast of up-and-coming actors, including Rachel Sennott, Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, and Pete Davidson (and let us not forget the always fantastic Lee Pace), Bodies Bodies Bodies offers a fresh take on the slasher formula with its claustrophobic tenor and always-tense atmosphere, using its sense of isolation and impending danger to comment upon the insecurity and anxiety fostered by social media and modern pressures.
Blood Red Sky (2021)
As a huge fan of vampire movies, it’s a little depressing that modern movies can rarely seem to bring a refreshing perspective on the storied creature, and often settle into a languid, overtly weighty rhythm. That’s what sets apart a film like Blood Red Sky, which employs a multifaceted narrative that smoothly transitions between intense action, horrific moments and genuine emotional drama as it maintains high-stakes tension throughout its runtime. Directed by Peter Thorwarth, this German-English horror-thriller stars Peri Baumeister as Nadja, a mother traveling with her son who harbors a dark secret: she’s a vampire, of course. So as unwelcome hijackers threaten her child's life, she is forced to unleash her monstrous side to protect him. Strong performances are what carry this underrated film, with Baumeister leading the pack. Plus, Blood Red Sky features some of the most terrifying and gripping transformation scenes in recent memory, embracing a gruesome, unsettling aesthetic that most modern movie shy away from.
Ouija (2014)
In the same year I saw It Follows at the Sundance Film Festival, I had the pleasure of seeing another fantastic-yet-under-appreciated horror gem at the Toronto International Film Festival. While jump scares can sometimes be annoying and conventional, Stiles White’s Ouija proved that legitimate scares done creatively not only enhance the viewing experience, but allow the movie’s deeper thematic explorations to properly take shape. When Laine Morris (Olivia Cooke) and her friends agree to employ a Ouija board to contact their deceased friend Debbie, they inadvertently awaken a malevolent spirit. As the friends delve deeper into the board’s dark history, they uncover some horrifying secrets and face a series of deadly ethereal attacks. White uses his haunted house setting and all of its dark, confined spaces to maximum terrifying effect, as his characters navigate the treacherous, mentally trying realm of grief and loss in the wake of their friend’s death. Communicating with the dead has rarely feels as visceral, as realized as it does in Ouija.
The Babadook (2014)
I’m only now realizing what an amazing year 2014 was for horror, as the last film on this list is one of the absolute best movies available on Netflix, period. Offering yet another psychologically gripping examination of how the grieving process tries and tests our will to care for both ourselves and others, The Babadook delivers an emotional punch to the gut that few modern horror flicks are capable of matching. When Samuel (played by Noah Wiseman) discovers a mysterious book titled "Mister Babadook," their home is invaded by a malevolent presence. As the entity grows stronger, Amelia (Essie Davis), who recently lost her husband, must confront her deepest fears and the darkness within. The psychological horror induced by this film’s mysterious creature is about as unsettling as it gets, as director Jennifer Kent ratchets up the anxiety with a pervasive sense of tension and unknowing dread throughout the film, allowing the story’s core exploration of depression and mental illness to take shape and remain relevant ten years after its debut.
