5 Must-Watch Horror Movies Streaming on Netflix!

Netflix’s latest rounds of new additions include some genre powerhouses. Here are five horror films you must have under your belt!

Netflix has gained some points in my book with this newest round of horror films added to their library. From industry-shattering classics to Internet-era hits, here are five must-watch films to catch on the platform before they’re gone in the next rotation!

Psycho

Psycho (1960) is Alfred Hitchcock’s most iconic film, lauded by horror fans and film critics alike for its twists, sinister performances, and eerie atmosphere. It was nominated for four Oscars back in the days of separate categories for black-and-white movies and still stands as one of the most influential films in Hollywood’s history.

In case you somehow don’t know what it’s about, Psycho follows a young woman who shelters for the night in a motel run by a charming but off-putting young man named Norman Bates. Her stay takes a dark turn when Bates’ mother enters the picture. Full of signature Hitchcock suspense and a score heard around the world, any film lover needs to enjoy this mid-century classic. Have fun visiting the original set on your next Backlot Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood!

Lights Out

Lights Out (2016) began as a short film uploaded to Swedish filmmaker David F. Sandberg’s active YouTube channel for a competition in 2013. It follows a young mother plagued by a dark entity she recognizes from her traumatic childhood. This ghostlike figure is only visible when the lights are turned on, filling every shadow and instance of darkness with a sense of impending dread.

The film is a haunting allegory for mental illness and its resulting isolation. Produced by master of horror James Wan, Lights Out ties effectively creepy visuals with an impactful story for a short, gut-wrenching experience. Sandberg has gone on to direct Annabelle: Creation (2017) and Shazam! (2019), so take this as your sign to take a leap of faith and publish your short films online!

Zombieland

Zombieland (2009) is a modern classic horror-comedy following a ragtag group of survivors after the world succumbs to a zombie apocalypse. Unfortunately, these particular undead are incredibly fast, cutting the chances of making it out alive quite slim.

Despite the humor that earned this film its stardom, the zombies are nothing to scoff at; everything is definitely worse when a zombie is also dressed as a clown.

Featuring an all-star cast (i.e., Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone), clever self-referential humor, spectacular settings, and surprisingly tender relationships, Zombieland is a perfect opportunity to have some fun as a horror fan.

The Birds

Another stunner from Hitchcock, The Birds (1963) is a monster movie if I’ve ever seen one. Set in the stunning Bodega Bay, the film is a two-hour meditation on the question, “What if nature fought back?”

There’s a general misunderstanding that older films aren’t scary to contemporary audiences, but Hitchcock’s masterpiece throws a wrench in that assumption. The growing flock of malevolent birds matches our steadily rising anxiety as gruesome signs of their brutality begin to appear; meanwhile, a group of schoolchildren are nearby. Great! If you’re looking for a well-paced, good old-fashioned suspense fest, this classic is for you.

Unfriended

Unfriended (2014) takes found footage to a new level, using a teenage girl’s computer screen as our eyes into her private life, unsteady relationships, and the weird hacker that won’t seem to leave her Skype group with friends. To make things even more invasive, the infiltrator claims to be a classmate of theirs who died by suicide exactly one year ago that day.

The film is a cautionary tale about cyberbullying, featuring underrated performances from its ensemble cast, uncomfortably creative kills, and a steadily devolving friend group willing to do and say anything to survive (except tell the truth, it seems). It’s also full of Internet references from the early 2010s that any Millennial or Gen Z can appreciate (and cringe at in hindsight).

I’m happy to see these horror gems alongside Netflix’s stellar originals like Black Mirror and Mike Flanagan’s many projects that fit snugly into the genre. I can’t wait to see what graces my subscription next!

About the Author

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Christopher Ikonomou

Christopher Ikonomou is a 4th year at the University of California, Los Angeles pursuing Communication and Disability Studies. He has a particular interest in the entertainment industry and representation of marginalized people in film and TV. On campus, he is the Editor-in-Chief at OutWrite Newsmagazine, the oldest queer college publication in the United States, and an activist with the Disabled Student Union. He’s a horror superfan and has been featured by Buzzfeed, UCLA College, Bored Panda, and Teen Vogue for his vocal involvement in the fight for better representation of the disabled community on screen and in the genre, particularly those with Marfan syndrome like himself.