Escape from the present horrors of the pandemic with the help of some of the most terrifying films ever made stream-able on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Netflix — there are aliens, ghouls, demons, and of course, horrible humans to keep you up all night with the lights on. You’ve been warned.
Could the very same genre of film that prevented you from sleeping all night, or from going out of the room for a glass of water at midnight, actually help bring some respite from all the chaos that’s going on? According to a study published in the Journal of Media Psychology, it might! It was found that people watch scary movies for a myriad of reasons, but “relevance” is a huge one — if you are somehow going through a situation that’s literally or figuratively similar, it helps to know that you’re not alone. Of course, others watch horror movies for their “un-realism”. Whereby the horrors being played out on film become entertaining in comparison to the terrifying aspect of real life, i.e. COVID-19, because, well, the stuff happening on-screen “is all fake anyway”.
In the words of Alex DeLarge from Clockwork Orange, perhaps life’s the “real horrorshow” and maybe we do need to “viddy them on the screen” every once in a while to see “the colours of the real world”. To help you do just that, we’ve put together a list of the best horror movies to stream for an ultimate screamfest!
Best Horror Movies To Stream
1. 10 Cloverfield Lane
2. A Quiet Place Part II
3. Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum
4. Hereditary
5. His House
6. Host
7. Insidious
8. Stephen King, IT!
9. Pan’s Labyrinth
10. PontyPool
11. Rosemary’s Baby
12. Scary Stories to Tell in The Dark
13. The Autopsy of Jane Doe
14. The Babadook
15. The Descent
16. The Devil’s Candy
17. The Eye
18. The House of the Devil
19. The Invisible Man
20. The Wailing
1. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: That all-too-close-to-home pandemic scenario that takes place in the movie.
To survive, everyone needs to stay indoors. Sound familiar? We also adored the heavy and tense atmosphere that John Goodman effortlessly creates — not to mention the question of dangers that may or may not lurk out there. Oh, in case you were wondering, 10 Cloverfield Lane is associated with 2008’s Cloverfield — but it’s definitely not a sequel, so going in blind would be perfectly fine too!
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 90%
Movie Duration: 1 Hour 43 Minutes
Watch 10 Cloverfield Lane on Amazon Prime Video here.
2. A Quiet Place Part II (2021)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: Silence. Silence scares us. But also, the monsters that prey on anything that moves or makes a sound.
I would definitely recommend catching the first movie before getting to Part II. If you liked the first, you’ll love the second — there’s double the tension, double the adventure, and double the action. John Krasinki took everything the audience loved about Part I and simply did an extension. If the first one was a love letter to his family and a promise of protection to his children, the second is all about power and strength should that promise be broken.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
Movie Duration: 1 Hour 37 Minutes
Watch A Quiet Place Part II on Amazon Prime Video here.
3. Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: The last 45 minutes of the film. Especially that scene in the forbidden room.
Don’t worry, no spoilers here — but you’ll definitely know it when you see it. We went into this movie blind and apprehensive but came out thoroughly impressed. If you’re able to get past that pretty gimmicky first 20 minutes, you’ll be rewarded with a layered film full of twists and fresh scares. Pro-tip: Prep some Korean noodles as your movie snack (you’ll thank us later).
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
Movie Duration: 1 Hour 33 Minutes
Watch Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum on Amazon Prime Video here.
4. Hereditary (2018)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: Toni Collette — and every tongue-click henceforth.
Watch this one for beautifully smart cinematography (you’ll have a lot of fun dissecting the hidden clues after), brilliant acting, ominous vibes and well, family drama. Expect some slow-burn emotional torment, shocking twists and ingenious scares.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 89%
Movie Duration: 2 Hours 7 Minutes
Watch Hereditary on Amazon Prime Video here.
5. His House (2020)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: Dilapidated walls and discrimination.
This chilling tale also warns about the dangers concerning apathy when it comes to refugee situations around the world. The film follows a South Sudanese refugee couple as they arrive in the United Kingdom after losing their only daughter to a bad storm on the way over — and their dealings with their indifferent surroundings, grief and ghosts.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
Movie Duration: 1 Hour 33 Minutes
Watch His House on Netflix here.
6. Host (2020)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: How we completely missed the chance to invest in Zoom. Also, flying chairs, filters and isolation from loved ones.
This film took a small budget and cast, and turned an extremely current mode of communication into a tormenting nightmare. This was everything we loved about found footage horror — but technologically smart and appropriate. Pro-tip: this is one of those movies we would 100% recommend watching on the laptop.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
Movie Duration: 1 Hour 5 Minutes
Watch Host on Amazon Prime Video here.
7. Insidious (2010)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: Every single demon in this movie (even that Darth Maul look alike). You’ll also never be able to listen to ‘Tip Toe Thru’ the Tulips with Me’ by Tiny Tim ever again without getting the chills.
Nevertheless, James Wan proves his directing prowess in this slow-burn horror movie about astral projection and bodysnatchers. It’s layered like a haunted house, and when you think that things might take a turn for the better…you’re wrong.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 66%
Movie Duration: 1 Hour 41 Minutes
Watch Insidious on Amazon Prime Video here.
8. Stephen King, IT! (1990)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: Creepy clowns waving from under freshly hung laundry, sharp objects wielded by bullies, blood gushing out from pipes, and the terrors of…adulting.
This cult classic was a reminder that there’s power in numbers, even if you’re just a bunch of ‘uncool’ eleven or twelve-year-olds. It’s a true celebration of the underdog and friendship.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 67%
Movie Duration: 3 Hours 12 Minutes
Watch Stephen King, IT! on Amazon Prime Video here.
9. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Image credits: IMDB
What scares us: You might think that it was the gorgeously gothic (albeit creepy) creatures that terrified us. Yet, that got trumped by the truly dark nature of evil power-hungry dictators.
If you’re a fan of fairy tales, but you’re also into horror — this masterpiece by Guillermo Del Toro is for you, princess and strange sidekick included.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 95%
Movie Duration: 2 Hours
Watch Pan’s Labyrinth on Amazon Prime Video here.
10. Pontypool (2008)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: Not knowing what the heck is going — or why.
But don’t worry, talk radio DJ Grant Mazzy (the main character) doesn’t either. And that’s the terrifying essence of this film. As proclaimed by film critic Jose Teodoro, “true terror flourishes in the baleful absence of explanation”. Yet, we watch in horror and bewilderment as Grant barricades himself in the radio booth because of the ongoing virus outbreak that turns people into zombies. All too soon he figures out that the mode of transmission collides with his only way to warn others: the English language.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 84%
Movie Duration: 1 Hour 36 Minutes
Watch Pontypool on Apple TV here.
11. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: Betrayal, odd neighbours, paranoia, and how we don’t all dress like Mia Farrow in this 60s cult classic.
Add on some devil worship to that, plus the weird feeling that the fetus in your belly isn’t quite human, and you’ve got yourself a hellish sequence. I do have to warn you that this movie definitely takes its time — but if you’re willing to wait it out, you’ll be rewarded for your patience.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 96%
Movie Duration: 2 Hours 16 Minutes
Watch Rosemary’s Baby on Amazon Prime Video here.
12. Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark (2019)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: All of our deepest fears and childhood nightmares coming to life and then promptly chasing us down the hallway.
This horror anthology is based on a series of short stories by Alvin Schwartz — a bunch of scary cautionary tales you’d usually tell around a campfire now morphs into larger-than-life Guillermo Del Toro-esque monsters on the big screen. Still, if there’s one thing you need to take home from the movie, it should be to never ever provoke a pimple.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 78%
Movie Duration: 1 Hour 51 Minutes
Watch Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark on Amazon Prime Video here.
13. The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: The chilling built-up in the first half of the movie.
Cops usually name a corpse Jane Doe when she has yet to be identified — that’s what this father and son duo have been tasked to do in their family-owned mortuary. Still, as they begin their investigation, they begin uncovering more evils than they had imagined was possible.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 87%
Movie Duration: 1 Hour 26 Minutes
Watch The Autopsy of Jane Doe on Amazon Prime Video here.
14. The Babadook (2014)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: Creepy books that conjure up creepy monsters. That, and screaming children. We’re still undecided which one’s worse.
Lucky for you, both those elements are very much present in this deeply unsettling Australian thriller. It also addresses the healing process of grief, the loneliness of single-parenthood and the very real feelings of depression.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 98%
Movie Duration: 1 Hour 33 Minutes
Watch The Babadook on Amazon Prime Video here.
15. The Descent (2005)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: Expeditions that go terribly wrong, leaving you trapped underground with who-knows-what.
Still, we loved that this movie was female-centred and that none of them were your stereotypical screaming beauties. Instead, the cast was made up of bad-ass women who exhibited strength and grit despite the insanely claustrophobic surroundings.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 86%
Movie Duration: 1 Hour 39 Minutes
Watch The Descent on Amazon Prime Video here.
16. The Devil’s Candy (2017)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: That our parents might just be right when they claim evil might be lurking in some of those heavy-metal bangers. We’re, however, not playing Hotel California backwards. Not now, not ever.
Unfortunately for rock fan and artist Jesse, evil begins seeping from those tunes into his paintings, and ultimately his life. You’ll like this one if you’re a fan of dark humour, anything grunge — and Metallica.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 92%
Movie Duration: 1 Hour 20 Minutes
Watch The Devil’s Candy on Amazon Prime Video here.
17. The Eye (2002)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: Anything licking the windows of our char siew auntie’s store. And empty lifts.
Perhaps seeing may not be the best thing — especially when what you see are the same terrifying things that Mun sees following a corneal transplant that was meant to cure her blindness. Just to be extra clear, we’re talking about the original Hong Kong-Singaporean horror film directed by the Pang brothers, not the Jessica Alba remake.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 72%
Movie Duration: 1 Hour 38 Minutes
Watch The Eye on Amazon Prime Video here.
18. The House of The Devil (2009)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: Getting lured into a well-paid babysitting gig, only to find that those four hundred bucks were totally not worth it.
We loved that early 80s vibe, plus the very relatable scenario Sam was put in. She wasn’t clueless about the weirdness going on — she just needed the money. We’ve all been there. Couple that with the ‘Satanic Cult sensationalism’ of the 80s plus Ti West — and you’ve got yourself a creepy slasher film that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 85%
Movie Duration: 1 Hour 33 Minutes
Watch The House of The Devil on Amazon Prime Video here.
19. The Invisible Man (2020)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: When your crazy ex is ruining your life with his abusive mind games, but no one can believe it.
For those who can relate — this movie will be like salt on your wound. Shining the light on gaslighting, the film is a painful and infuriating journey. But then, all of a sudden, you’re greeted with the cathartic release of sweet revenge. Also, Elizabeth Moss’s acting is amazing.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
Movie Duration: 2 Hours 44 Minutes
Watch The Invisible Man on Amazon Prime Video here.
20. The Wailing (2016)
Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes
What scares us: The final conversation between the priest and the stranger.
I’ve saved the best for last. While it’s one of the longest movies on the list, every single second was worth the watch in this unfortunate unravelling of events. You don’t just get horror in this one — there’s drama, there’s mystery, there’s comedy, and there’s a whole lot of suspicion and doubt. Mix all those genres in with a healthy dollop of possession, black magic and the devil, and you get one of the best horror movies ever created.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 99%
Movie Duration: 2 Hours 36 Minutes
Watch The Wailing on Apple TV here.
Get Under The Covers With These Best Horror Movies
Whatever your reasons are for being a horror fan, we hope you’ve found a movie in this list that you’ve yet to discover — and have a load of fun watching it alone or with loved ones. If you’ve any horror movie recommendations, remember to leave them in the comments section below!
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