10 horror movies to watch on Netflix this Halloween

Halloween is Dwight Scrute's worst nightmare; it is that glorious time of the year when identity theft is socially acceptable. It is also that time of year when you can slide into your cozy blanket, log into Netflix, and watch the most chilling horror movies. The adrenaline rush of watching these horror movies peaks during Halloween, but the psychological aftermath that follows is often rationalized as just my imagination.

If you are chasing the same rush and want to experience a cocktail of horror and thrill, Netflix has some great recommendations. And because it's Halloween, your screen will be bombarded with some excellent ones that will be enough to build your own haunted house marathon.

Horror is the only genre that has no rational explanation; it tosses a viewer into weird corners, and everything just makes sense. And Netflix's Halloween cocktail has everything from ghostly horror to psychological horror, slashers, and thrillers. You can enjoy the holiday watching every sub-genre.

Here are 10 horror films to watch this Halloween.

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10 horror movies to watch on Netflix this Halloween

October is here, which means Halloween is just around the corner. So, when you are not busy dressing up as bizarre characters for parties, check out these 10 horror movies to feel the spirit of the holiday. But if you are faint-hearted, make sure to have someone watch them with you because these films are bound to bring out screams, dread, and bewilderment in you.

1) The Wretched (2020)

Set the tone for your Halloween marathon with The Wretched. It is a mix of folk horror and body snatching movies. The story follows a rebellious teenager, Ben, who travels with his father to a coastal town. Everything seems serene about the town until Ben starts to suspect his sweet and harmless neighbor, Abby, is possessed by an ancient witch.

He suspects that the witch possessing Abby can swap bodies and can manipulate people around her. Things go awry when Ben's warnings against Abby go unheeded, and eventually the town's dark underside is revealed.

2) Incantation (2016)

Incantation is a Taiwanese found-footage supernatural horror film considered to be one of the scariest modern Asian horror films. It is also Netflix's highest-grossing Taiwanese horror film and perfect for the Halloween season.

What makes the film great is its perfect blend of realism and cultural mythology, which is shown in a found-footage manner to make it even more intriguing. The story follows Ronan, who was subject to a horrific ritual and is forced to face the supernatural forces she unleashed.

3) Blood Red Sky (2021)

If your two fears are claustrophobia and vampires, then you might want to steer clear of this one for Halloween. Blood Red Sky is a perfect cocktail of thriller, action, and horror that puts a new spin on vampire lore. In this film, an ill woman boards a transatlantic flight, which sadly gets hijacked.

What the hijackers don't know is that the ill woman is harboring a terrifying secret: she is a deadly vampire. The horror that plays at 30,000 feet will make you speechless with fear and think twice before booking your next flight.

4) Apostle (2018)

Set in 1905 on a remote island, the story is about a man named Thomas who is trying to rescue his sister from a mysterious cult. The cult claims to worship dark forces to gain blessings from them, but Thomas soon discovers the truth. Behind the cult's faith, there is a string of brutal rituals, paranoia, and supernatural entities that are hiding behind a facade.

The film is a slow-burning burn atmospheric horror, combined with religious and ritualistic fanaticism. What makes the film eerie is the oppressive setting, scary symbols, and the tension that keeps you on your toes throughout the film.

5) Gerald's Game (2017)

What is the worst that could happen when a couple decides to have a romantic getaway? No one will ever think of what happened to Gerald and Jessie. The couple decided to spend quality time at a remote lake house, but things start to go horribly wrong for Jessie when Gerald dies of a heart attack in the middle of their intimate moments.

Why is that bad for Jessie? Well, it's because she is left handcuffed to the bed with no way of contacting someone for help. And what makes it even more horrifying is that she is not alone; something or someone is lurking in the dark. This film turns a simple premise into a psychological fever dream, and Carla Gugino single-handedly carries the weight of the entire movie brilliantly.

6) Roh (2019)

Roh is a Malaysian folk horror film with no over-the-top effects, but it still manages to instill maximum horror into the viewers. The silence and the unsettling imagery of the film will make you want to curl up next to someone for comfort, so watch it at your own risk.

The film is set in a rural forest where a family lives secluded and away from people. Things start to turn sour when a strange girl arrives at their doorstep with an ominous prediction. This event turns out to be the beginning of the end. And supernatural forces creep up from the dark to disturb the peace of the family.

7) His House (2020)

This film puts the H in Halloween and is so intense that it received a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film perfectly portrays personal trauma in a supernatural horror setting. Both make it equally horrifying and show how sometimes supernatural forces are less scary than the personal tragedies you carry in your heart.

In the film, a refugee couple escapes from a war-torn South Sudan and tries hard to adjust to their new life in an English town. They are provided a worn-down house, and as they are trying to settle in, they realize that there is something evil lurking around. What follows next is a harrowing tale of escape from supernatural forces and a tragic past.

8) It Follows (2014)

It Follows deserves to be on this list for three reasons: originality, tension, and a masterful cocktail of its cinematography and background score. The story is about a woman who is targeted by an evil supernatural entity after she has an intimate encounter. The entity follows the woman at a steady pace and is a shape-shifter, and can take the form of anyone in her life.

The turning point comes when the woman realizes that the only way to get rid of the entity is to pass on the curse to someone else. This creates a moral dilemma for her. The film's undertone about guilt, trauma, and the fear of death sets it apart from a typical horror film.

9) The Wailing (2016)

If there is one genre that the South Koreans have mastered, it is horror/thriller, and The Wailing is another star in their record. This movie skillfully mixes supernatural horror with psychological terror to create a horror masterpiece. The film is set in a remote village riddled by a mysterious illness. On top of the illness, strange murders begin to occur after the arrival of a mysterious outsider.

In the midst of the chaos, a clumsy police officer is desperate to save his daughter. What seems like a detective mystery at first turns into a terrifying dive into folklore, demonic possession, and hopelessness. The best part is that the film will keep you guessing right till the end.

P.S. - This movie will give you a lot of inspiration for Halloween costume ideas.

10) Under the Shadow (2016)

Just like the South Koreans, Iranian filmmakers create horror masterpieces that can scare even the bravest souls. If you are not convinced, Under the Shadow will change your mind. Set in the 1980s, the film is shot against the backdrop of the Iran-Iraq conflict and tells a story of Shideh, a struggling mother trying hard to protect her daughter, Dorsa, from an evil force that begins to haunt them after a missile strike.

The movie is one of the few that mix supernatural horror with political tension, skillfully blending social commentary with genuine dread. The slow-burning tension and the heartbreaking climax will make your Halloween unforgettable.

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Whoever thought of creating an entire holiday celebrating horror must have been a horror buff. Halloween is a fun holiday because it is the only day that you can look scary and get tons of compliments for it. So, if treating yourself this Halloween means lying down and watching gnarly horror movies for you, then be sure to watch the movies on this list. You won't be disappointed.