Halloween is nigh upon us, and ’tis the season for ghoulish celebrations. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a handy list of well-reviewed movies and TV shows you can stream on Netflix right now, in case you want to get a head start on the spooky festivities. Whether you’re looking for a classic slasher flick, a pyschological thriller, a horror comedy, or even something you can watch with the kids, we’ve got you covered. See below for all of the selections.
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This follow-up to the 2013 omnibus film features 26 horror segments — one for each letter of the alphabet — helmed by 26 different directors.
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Ryan Murphy’s horror anthology series boasts spooky environs, provocative themes, and top-notch acting from Jessica Lange, Dylan McDermott, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Zachary Quinto, and Frances Conroy. Seasons 1-6 are available to stream.
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Writer-director Jennifer Kent’s Golden Tomato Award-winning horror film tells the deeply unnerving story a widow and her six-year-old who are bedeviled by a storybook monster.
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This Turkish horror film tells the terrifying tale of a group of cops who stumble into an otherworldly realm.
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Vera Farmiga, Freddie Highmore, Max Thieriot, and Olivia Cooke star in this reimagining of Norman Bates’ teenage years — those carefree days before he took over the family business and had to deal with constant nagging from Mother. Seasons 1-4 are available.
Arguably considered the first true horror film, this silent era classic tells the story of a traveling hypnotist with a murderous secret.
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A film archivist discovers that the home he shares with his family was the site of a brutal murder and soon finds himself terrorized by evil visions and a dark presence in this Irish import.
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This Netflix animated series based on the classic video game franchise centers on the last in a long line of monster hunters, who attempts to keep his country safe from a vengeful vampire.
(Photo by Warner Brothers courtesy Everett Collection)
Tim Burton’s first foray into stop-motion animation follows a young groom-to-be named Victor (voiced by Johnny Depp) who unwittingly marries an undead woman (Helena Bonham-Carter) while practicing his wedding vows.
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Mark Duplass and director Patrick Brice star in Brice’s psychological thriller about an amateur videographer who agrees to film a man who lives in the woods for a day, only to discover the man may not be all that he seems.
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The latest installment of the long-running horror franchise finds the demonic doll terrorizing a woman in an asylum, while his old nemesis attempts to save her.
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This horror-tinged drama centers on two people who travel to a remote house to experiment with occult rituals.
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While trying to escape their restrictive lives, two teens in a heavy metal band perform a piece of forbidden music that unlocks the gates of hell.
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After witnessing what she believes is a murder on an internet video chat site, a young grad student decides to investigate it herself and becomes the next victim.
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Ethan Embry and Shiri Appleby star as a couple who move with their daughter into a new home, where the husband — and a deranged former resident who returns to terrorize them — is haunted by mysterious voices.
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Edgar Allan Poe’s dark words come to life in this animated anthology including stories such as “The Pit and the Pendulum” and “The Tell-Tale Heart,” narrated by the likes of Christopher Lee and Guillermo Del Toro.
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This indie horror film centers on the immensely disturbing life led by a young woman after a shattering act of violence.
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Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood star in Mike Flanagan’s Netflix original adaptation of the Stephen King novel about a woman who is left chained to a bed when a sex game with her husband goes tragically wrong.
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Jack Black stars in this fantasy adventure as author R.L. Stine, whose various Goosebumps creations come to life and terrorize his town. He must team up with his daughter and next door neighbor to stop the madness.
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In this thriller from the UK, a young family moves in to a secluded house, disturbing an ancient evil that resides in the woods nearby.
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Henry Rollins stars in this horror comedy about a grizzled depressive who literally cannot expire.
(Photo by New World Releasing courtesy Everett Collection)
Clive Barker’s 1987 feature debut is a grisly affair that takes full advantage of his twisted imagination and births a memorable villain.
(Photo by Magnolia Pictures courtesy Everett Collection)
South Korea’s highest grossing film ever at the time of its release, The Host is director Bong Joon-ho’s breakout film, a sci-fi monster flick that combines scares, laughs, and satire in service of a popcorn flick as entertaining as it is intellectually satisfying.
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In this horror comedy from New Zealand, a woman sentenced to home confinement discovers her house is occupied by a malevolent spirit.
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Kate Siegel plays a young deaf author living alone who is terrorized by a masked killer (John Gallagher Jr.)… who then turns the tables on her attacker.
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A man accepts an invitation to a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife, an unsettling affair that reopens old wounds and creates new tensions.
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Maika Monroe stars as a suburban Michigan teen who becomes infected with a malevolent spirit after a sexual encounter, and it won’t stop pursuing her until she gives it to someone else — or dies.
(Photo by Diyah Pera/The CW)
In this CW series loosely based on the DC comic, Rose McIver stars as Liv, a zombie who helps police solve murders by eating dead victims’ brains and absorbing their memories. Seasons 1-3 are available.
(Photo by Magnet Releasing courtesy Everett Collection)
Scoot McNairy stars in this a low-budget sci-fi thriller about an attempt by the millitary to contain quarantined alien life.
(Photo by Jonathan Hession/Showtime)
Eva Green and Timothy Dalton lead an ensemble cast in Showtime’s gothic supernatural drama, which draws characters from classic literature like Victor Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and Dracula. All three seasons are available.
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This unusual horror/dark comedy/coming-of-age film centers on a lifelong vegetarian who discovers a taste for raw meat during her first year of veterinary school.
(Photo by Haut Et Court/Canal +/Sundance Channel)
This French series, which aired in the US on SundanceTV and was subsequently remade in English, follows a small mountain community where the deceased begin reappearing, accompanied by unexplained supernatural phenomena. Both seasons are available.
(Photo by Erica Parise/Netflix)
Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant star in this Netflix original horror-comedy about a suburban couple dealing with the wife’s sudden appetite for human flesh.
Tara Reid, Ian Ziering, and John Heard star in this eerily plausible sci-fi adventure about a devastating storm that facilitates a shark attack on Los Angeles.
Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, and Christopher Walken star in Tim Burton’s take on the classic tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman.
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Directed by Jim Mickle, Stake Land is a post-apocalyptic indie horror road movie about vampire hunters that’s brimming with atmosphere.
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This sci-fi horror hybrid tells the tale of an ambitious actress who is unwittingly enlisted by a sinister organization for a strange performance.
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This wildly popular Netflix original series follows a group of precocious teens in a small Indiana town in 1983 as they attempt to make sense of the supernatural phenomena happening around them. Season 1 is available now, and season 2 is set to drop on October 27.
(Photo by Warner Bros. courtesy Everett Collection)
The demon-hunting Winchester brothers (played by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles) continue their quest to fight evil wherever they find it in this long-running CW horror series. Seasons 1-12 are available to stream.
(Photo by Weinstein Company courtesy Everett Collection)
Jess Weixler stars in this tongue-in-cheek horror comedy about a teenager who discovers she has teeth in her vagina. Yes, you read that correctly.
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This psychological thriller centers on a man who is convinced the world is on the verge of being overtaken by demons and attempts to hide his fear from a friend. Is he going mad, or is it real?
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This apocalyptic action-horror film from South Korea follows a group of passengers on a commuter train fighting to survive a zombie outbreak.
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This thriller follows a trouble teen fascinated by vampires who meets another outcast and forms a potentially fraught bond with her.
(Photo by Magnet Releasing courtesy Everett Collection)
This Norwegian found footage horror comedy follows a group of college students in pursuit of a suspected bear poacher who instead stumble upon an unexpected discovery.
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This acclaimed horror hybrid from debuting writer-director Babak Anvari is set in war-torn Tehran and centers on a mother and daughter who may or may not be suffering from the presence of a Djinn.
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This horror film centers on the supernatural chaos that erupts after a policeman discovers a dying man and rushes him to treatment at a nearby hospital.
(Photo by Well Go USA)
This South Korean horror drama centers on a small town reeling from a series of brutal murders after the arrival of a mysterious stranger.
(Photo by Frank Ockenfels/AMC)
Thoughtful and gory in equal measure, AMC’s wildly popular action drama follows the lives of a handful of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. Seasons 1-7 are available.
(Photo by Dark Sky Films)
Writer/director Ted Geoghegan makes a strong, stylish feature debut with this horror story about a grieving couple who move to a secluded home after the tragic death of their son; little do they know that their new home has a bloody past.
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Wes Craven’s New Nightmare is a self-conscious meta deconstruction of horror films that also happens to be one of the strongest entries in the Freddy Krueger saga.
As usual, the first of the month brings a wealth of great movies to watch online. This week, Netflix and Amazon Prime have added some bona fide classics, a few Oscar-winners, a pair of animated Disney favorites, and even an acclaimed film from this year. Read on for the full list of Certified Fresh picks.
Steven Spielberg’s influential thriller stars Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw as an unlikely trio who set out to sea to take down a giant great white shark terrorizing a New England resort town. All of its sequels are also available on Netflix.
Available now on Netflix: Jaws, Jaws 2, Jaws 3, Jaws: The Revenge
Acclaimed Romanian director Cristian Mungiu’s latest drama centers on a father’s progressively more complicated efforts to ensure a bright academic future for his daughter.
Available now on: Netflix
Casey Affleck and Morgan Freeman star in Ben Affleck’s directorial debut, an adaptation of the Dennis Lehane novel about a private detective whose investigation into the kidnapping of a local girl uncovers a web of corruption.
Available now on: Netflix
John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, Harvey Keitel and many more star in Quentin Tarantino’s celebrated second film, a series of vignettes about various criminals in Los Angeles.
Available now on: Netflix
Noah Baumbach’s dysfunctional family dramedy follows a feuding married couple (Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney) whose impending divorce takes a toll on their two sons.
Available now on: Netflix
Gael García Bernal stars in Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu’s Oscar-nominated drama that follows the stories of three very different people who are connected by a terrible car crash.
Available now on: Netflix
Fernando Meirelles’ explosive coming-of-age drama set in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro centers on a pair of friends who grow up together, enter the criminal world, and face the consequences of their lifestyle.
Available now on: Netflix
Ming-Na Wen and Eddie Murphy lend their voices to Disney’s animated retelling of a Chinese folk tale about a brave young girl who dresses like a man to join the emperor’s army.
Available now on: Netflix
In one of his most memorable roles, Robin Williams stars in this drama as an English teacher at a private academy who inspires his students with his unconventional methods.
Available now on: Netflix
Kate Maberly stars in Agnieszka Holland’s adaptation of the Frances Hodgson Burnett novel about a young girl who discovers a magical garden on her uncle’s estate.
Available now on: Netflix
Ben Whishaw and Abbie Cornish star in Jane Campion’s biopic focusing on the romance between poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne during the last years of Keats’ life.
Available now on: Netflix
Tate Donovan, Danny DeVito, and James Woods provided memorable voices for Disney’s take on the Greek demi-god, who struggles against the forces of Hades to protect those around him.
Available now on: Netflix
Jared Leto, Marlon Wayans, Jennifer Connelly, and Ellen Burstyn star in Darren Aronofsky’s bleak exploration of the nature and consequences of addiction.
Available now on: Netflix
Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis headline an all-star cast in Martin Scorsese’s stylized portrayal of the rise of criminal power in New York’s Five Points neighborhood during the mid-1800s.
Available now on: Netflix
Ben Stiller and Greta Gerwig star in Noah Baumbach’s dramedy about a New Yorker who agrees to housesit in Los Angeles for his brother and ends up falling for his brother’s assistant.
Available now on: Netflix
Ryan Gosling and Anthony Hopkins star in this thriller about a man on trail for shooting his unfaithful wife who duels with a young, hot-shot district attorney in court.
Available now on: Netflix
This Oscar-winning documentary charts the efforts of animal trainer-turned-activist Richard O’Barry in battling the culture of dolphin hunting in the town of Taiji, Japan.
Available now on: Amazon Prime
This moody horror film from Ti West centers on a pair of amateur ghost hunters who seek to record proof of the ghostly spirits in the hotel where they work before it closes down for good.
Available now on: Amazon Prime
Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn star in this romantic comedy about a pair of cynical divorce attorneys who spend their time crashing weddings until they both meet their match in two very different women.
Available now on: Amazon Prime
Kumail Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan star in this romantic comedy based on the true story of Nanjiani’s unusual and precarious courtship with his wife, Emily.
Available now on: FandangoNOW
Back for its fifth season, the newly branded American Horror Story: Hotel takes place at the fictional and haunted Cortez in Los Angeles, a place where the guests check in but they don’t check out. But at least Lady Gaga’s here! Anyways, it’s inspiring this week’s 24 Frames gallery, a look at some of the bloodiest and crappiest hotels from movie and TV history.
This week at the movies, we’ve got a ghost story (The Woman in Black, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Ciarán Hinds), teenage superheroes (Chronicle, starring Dane DeHaan and Alex Russell), and a whale rescue (Big Miracle, starring John Krasinski and Drew Barrymore). What do the critics have to say?
Daniel Radcliffe tackles his first major post-Harry Potter role in The Woman in Black, and critics say this spooky, atmospheric ghost story conjures up some terrific old-fashioned thrills. Radcliffe stars as Arthur Kipps, a young lawyer who journeys to a small town to settle the estate of a recently-deceased, reclusive widow. However, the locals are reluctant to discuss the matter, and for good reason — a spectral presence casts a dark shadow over the community. The pundits say The Woman in Black sometimes relies too heavily on jump scares, but mostly it does the resurrected Hammer Films imprint proud by harkening back to the company’s Gothic glory days, and Radcliffe is rock-solid in the lead role. (Check out Radcliffe’s Five Favorite Films here.)
A found-footage mockumentary about teenagers with superpowers, Chronicle is also terrifically acted and endlessly imaginative, critics say. Andrew (Dane DeHaan) is a kid who’s being bullied at home and at school when he starts videotaping his daily activities. His footage gets exponentially more interesting when he and two of his friends develop telekinetic powers after visiting a mysterious gulch. The pundits say the Certified Fresh Chronicle is an action-packed sci-fi yarn that doesn’t skimp on character development, and the result is an exciting, emotionally resonant feature debut for director Josh Trank. (Check out this week’s Total Recall, in which we run down some of cinema’s most unconventional superheroes.)
Big Miracle is a mix of romance, realpolitik, and animal rescue that critics say makes for a surprisingly satisfying blend, thanks to excellent performances and an intelligent script. John Krasinski and Drew Barrymore star as a small town news reporter and a Greenpeace volunteer who campaign to save a trio of gray whales trapped by ice at the Arctic Circle; their efforts attract global attention and governmental response, and romance soon follows. The pundits say Big Miracle is smarter and more complex than its synopsis suggests, and if its plotting is occasionally uneven, the film earns its feel-good climax.
Splinters, a documentary about indigenous surfing in Papua New Guinea, is at 83 percent.
The Innkeepers, a horror film about ghost hunters searching for spirits in a haunted hotel, is Certified Fresh at 76 percent.
Kill List, a thriller about a mentally damaged hitman who undertakes a particularly disturbing assignment, is Certified Fresh at 76 percent.
Windfall, a documentary about the impact of a wind farm on an economically depressed small town, is at 58 percent.
W.E., starring Abbie Cornish and James D’Arcy in Madonna‘s biopic of American Duchess of Windsor Wallis Simpson, is at 18 percent.
And finally, mad props to Brian C for coming the closest to guessing One for the Money‘s three percent Tomatometer.
