15 Best Horror Movies on Netflix Right Now

When the mood strikes for something spooky, unsettling, or downright terrifying, many of us turn to the vast library of streaming services. If you’re looking for your next horror fix on Netflix, you’re in luck. The platform hosts a diverse collection of chilling tales, from supernatural scares and psychological thrillers to creature features and folk horror.

We’ve delved into the current offerings to bring you a curated list of 15 excellent horror movies that are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. These films, presented in an order that builds towards some of the most highly-regarded experiences available, offer a range of frights perfect for a terrifying movie night.

15. ‘Apostle’ (2018)

In the early 20th century, a man travels to a remote Welsh island to rescue his sister, who has been kidnapped by a mysterious religious cult. As he infiltrates the isolated community, he uncovers a dark secret and disturbing practices that are far more sinister than he could have imagined.

This film, directed by Gareth Evans, is a brutal and atmospheric folk horror piece. It slowly builds a sense of dread before erupting into visceral and unsettling sequences, exploring themes of faith, fanaticism, and ancient powers.

14. ‘The Platform’ (2019)

In a dystopian vertical prison, inmates are housed in stacked cells. Once a day, a platform laden with food descends from the top, stopping briefly at each level. Those at the top feast, while those below are left with scraps or nothing at all, leading to desperation and horrific acts of survival.

This Spanish sci-fi horror is a stark and compelling allegory for social hierarchy and resource inequality. It’s a grim and thought-provoking film that uses its claustrophobic setting and desperate characters to explore the darkest aspects of human nature.

13. ‘Incantation’ (2022)

This Taiwanese found-footage horror film follows a mother who, six years prior, broke a religious taboo. Now, she must protect her young daughter from the terrifying consequences of her actions as a malevolent curse takes hold.

Using a direct-address style, the film attempts to involve the viewer in its unsettling narrative. It draws on elements of folk religion and ritual to create a deeply creepy and unnerving experience, building suspense through its intimate and often disturbing visuals.

12. ‘Creep’ (2014)

A freelance videographer answers an online ad to film the final messages of a man who claims to be dying of cancer. He travels to a remote cabin to meet his client, an eccentric and increasingly unsettling individual whose behavior becomes more bizarre and threatening as the day progresses.

This found-footage film is a masterclass in minimalist horror, relying on strong performances and a creeping sense of unease rather than jump scares. It’s an uncomfortable and effective psychological thriller that will make you think twice about answering online ads.

11. ‘Gerald’s Game’ (2017)

When a married couple retreats to an isolated lake house for a romantic getaway, a kinky game goes horrifically wrong. Jessie finds herself handcuffed to the bed with her husband dead on the floor, forcing her to confront her deepest fears and past traumas in a desperate fight for survival.

Based on Stephen King’s novel, this film is a tense psychological horror driven by a powerful central performance. It masterfully blends suspense, survival elements, and a deeply personal journey of confronting inner demons.

10. ‘Ouija: Origin of Evil’ (2016)

In 1960s Los Angeles, a widowed mother and her two daughters run a séance scam business. When they add a Ouija board to their act to spice things up, they unwittingly invite an authentic evil into their home, particularly affecting the youngest daughter.

This prequel surprisingly surpasses its predecessor, offering genuine scares, strong character development, and a well-crafted period atmosphere. It’s a suspenseful and often frightening tale of demonic possession.

9. ‘It Follows’ (2014)

After a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, a young woman finds herself pursued by a relentless supernatural entity that can take the form of any person. Passed from victim to victim through sexual contact, this curse brings a slow but inescapable dread.

This film is celebrated for its unsettling atmosphere, stylish direction, and a pervasive sense of paranoia. It creates a unique and terrifying monster that taps into primal fears of being watched and followed.

8. ‘The Ritual’ (2017)

Four college friends reunite for a hiking trip in the Swedish wilderness to honor their deceased friend. After taking a shortcut through an ancient forest, they become lost and find themselves stalked by a malevolent presence tied to Norse mythology.

This atmospheric horror film effectively blends survival elements with folk horror. It builds suspense through its eerie setting and the psychological toll on the characters before revealing its terrifying creature.

7. ‘The Invisible Man’ (2020)

After escaping an abusive relationship with a wealthy and brilliant scientist, Cecilia Kass tries to rebuild her life. However, when her ex supposedly commits suicide and leaves her a fortune, she suspects his death was a hoax and that he is now using his expertise to torment her as an unseen force.

This modern take on a classic horror trope is a tense and gripping psychological thriller. Elisabeth Moss gives a powerful performance as a woman gaslighted and terrorized by an enemy no one else can see, exploring themes of trauma and belief.

6. ‘A Dark Song’ (2016)

A grieving woman, determined to contact her deceased young son, hires an occultist to guide her through a dangerous and demanding months-long ritual. Isolated in a remote house in rural Wales, they delve into dark magic, but the process takes a heavy toll and risks unleashing more than they bargained for.

This Irish-British film is a slow-burn, atmospheric horror that focuses on character and ritualistic detail. It’s a compelling and often unsettling exploration of grief, faith, and the terrifying potential of the unknown.

5. ‘His House’ (2020)

A refugee couple from war-torn South Sudan struggles to adjust to their new life in a small English town. They are assigned a shabby house, but soon discover a malevolent entity lurking within its walls, seemingly connected to the horrors they endured and the difficult choices they made to survive.

This powerful and frightening film masterfully blends supernatural horror with a poignant social commentary on the refugee experience. It explores themes of trauma, guilt, and cultural displacement, delivering both genuine scares and emotional depth.

4. ‘The Babadook’ (2014)

A widowed mother, still grieving the violent death of her husband, struggles to cope with her young son’s fear of a monster lurking in their house. When a disturbing children’s pop-up book called ‘Mister Babadook’ mysteriously appears, the sinister creature from its pages begins to manifest in their lives.

This Australian psychological horror film is a deeply unsettling exploration of grief, motherhood, and mental illness. It creates a truly terrifying and iconic monster while delivering a powerful emotional narrative.

3. ‘Talk to Me’ (2022)

A group of friends discovers how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand. They become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces that blur the line between the living and the dead.

This Australian horror film was a breakout hit, praised for its intense scares, practical effects, and compelling performances. It’s a modern and visceral take on possession and the dangers of dabbling with the unknown.

2. ‘Hereditary’ (2018)

When the matriarch of the Graham family passes away, her daughter’s family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry. They try to outrun the sinister fate they seem to have inherited, but malevolent forces have other plans.

Ari Aster’s feature debut is a deeply disturbing and masterfully crafted horror film. It builds an almost unbearable sense of dread, punctuated by shocking moments of terror, and features powerful performances that explore grief and inherited trauma.

1. ‘Train to Busan’ (2016)

A workaholic father and his estranged young daughter are on a speeding train to Busan when a zombie apocalypse suddenly breaks out in South Korea. As the infection spreads rapidly through the train, the passengers must fight for their survival against the fast-moving undead.

This South Korean action horror film is a thrilling and emotionally resonant ride from start to finish. It delivers incredible zombie action, well-developed characters you care about, and poignant commentary on social responsibility and sacrifice.