Australia, here are some screams you can stream this Halloween!
Spooks, frights, and devilish delights. Horror movies have been a fixture of the big screen for decades. Whether it be an extra-terrestrial menace or ghouls that live in our very own neighbourhoods, a good horror film should creep in your mind and never let go.
But rather than going out to the movies, sometimes we want to watch these flicks from the comfort of our living rooms. So, to celebrate Halloween 2022, we have complied a list of the 10 best horror movies to stream on Netflix right now. So grab some popcorn, get comfortable on the couch, and prepare for some twisted tales.
The Exorcist, 1973
Regarded as one of the greatest horror movies of all time, The Exorcist took the world by storm when it was released in 1973. Directed by William Friedkin (The French Connection), the film is about the 12-year-old Reagan becoming possessed by a demon, and the desperate attempts to rid the evil spirit through an exorcism. The film was so beloved it became the first horror movie nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Not even an exorcism could get this film’s grotesque scenes out of your head.
Interview With The Vampire, 1994
Based on Anne Rice’s gothic horror novel, Interview With The Vampire was released in 1994 to critical acclaim. The film follows the three vampires over 300 years, chronicling their tumultuous lives and relationships. While the vampires themselves don’t sparkle, the cast certainly does: Tom Cruise (Top Gun), Brad Pitt (Fight Club) and Kirsten Dunst (Marie Antoinette) play bloodsuckers that are as sensual as they are scary. Beyond the all-star cast, the movie also features gorgeous production design, capturing colonial New Orleans and late 19th century Europe with haunting detail. If you’re in the mood for a chilling vampire tale, few are as startling or glamorous as this.
The Babadook, 2014
Day of the Dead, 1985
The third film in George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead series, Day of the Dead is considered one of the best zombie films to grace the silver screen. Set in a post-apocalyptic United States, the film follows a group of survivors hiding in underground bunkers, struggling with growing tensions among the group, ethical quagmires and, of course, hordes of zombies. While Day of the Dead was a cult hit when it was first released in 1985, the film has since become recognised for its slow burning terror that few films since can match.
Don’t Breathe, 2016
A low-budget horror film that took the world by surprise, Don’t Breathe will do just that: make you hold your breath in sheer tension. The film focuses on three friends who, after breaking into a blind man’s house, discover they are trapped and are slowly being hunted down. Starring Jane Levy (Shameless), Dylan Minnette (13 Reasons Why), and Stephen Lang (Avatar), the film goes from one bloodcurdling set piece to the next, constantly building up and never letting the viewer go. Don’t hold your breath, this is one horror movie you must watch in 2021!
Final Destination, 2000
Alex Browning is about to get on board a plane to Paris for a school trip when he gets a premonition: the plane is going to explode. After leaving the flight with a few of his friends, they soon realise that Alex’s vision was correct. After cheating death, a series of unfortunate events take place to ensure no one survives. A tense thriller, Final Destination went on to become one of the biggest horror franchises of the century, featuring elaborate death sequences that are sure to make you squirm in your seat. There are four films that follow in the mould set by this film, with another Final Destination set to be released in 2022.
Bone Tomahawk, 2015
A bone-crunching mash-up of the horror and western genres, Bone Tomahawk features Kurt Russell (Escape from New York) as an Old West sheriff tracking down a band of cannibals who have kidnapped several settlers. If the twist and turns of the plot do not keep you on your toes, then the spine-tingling atmosphere will. The more squeamish type should definitely look away from this pick.
Zombieland, 2009
A horror-comedy smash hit from 2009, Zombieland offers a comedic take on the deadly serious zombie tale. Taking place in a zombie-filled United States, four survivors – played by Jesse Eisenberg (Social Network), Woody Harrelson (Now You See Me), Emma Stone (Cruella) and Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) – must trek through the continent in search of a rumoured safe haven in Los Angeles. With witty banter, great chemistry, and a supertanker of zombie bodies, Zombieland is one ride you won’t want to miss. Ready to watch on Netflix right now!
Annihilation, 2018
From Alien to The Thing, to Cloverfield, horror and science-fiction make a wicked combination that’s scared the daylights out of a fair few people over the years. One of the best recent examples of that tradition is Annihilation. Directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina) and starring Natalie Portman (The Black Swan), the film is a Lovecraftian nightmare of hauntingly beautiful imagery. The film follows Lena as she tries to uncover what happened to her husband inside Area X – a mysterious phenomenon that is terraforming parts of the United States. Lena however quickly learns the true nature of what lives inside Area X, threatening her life and her sanity.
The Lighthouse, 2019
Starring Willem Dafoe (Spiderman) and Robert Pattinson (Twilight), The Lighthouse is a black and white triumph of horror filmmaking. Released in 2019, the film focuses on two lightkeepers stuck on a remote island in a lighthouse, isolated from the world as they slowly question their sanity. This is a stark experience that will leave the audience unnerved, confused and straining for answers that never materialise. While certainly an acquired taste, the sea air of The Lighthouse is one you will not forget.
Gone through the list and still need your horror movie fix? Check out the 10 Best Horror Movies Of All Time. Or, if you’re looking for something else to watch on Netflix, be sure to add these 7 Anticipated Netflix Releases of 2021 to your list.
If you’re needing a horror movie to watch on Netflix right now, Australia this is it. 2014 psychological horror follows a single mother struggling to deal with her erratic six-year-old son and his fear of a top hatted monster, Mister Babadook. While initially dismissive, strange events lead her to suspecting something sinister may be going on. The debut feature for director Jennifer Kent (The Nightingale), The Babadook has become the poster child for the Australian horror movie renaissance. And it’s not hard to see why: an instantly iconic monster and wonderful performances sum up a sickening time for anyone watching.