No thanks to Covid-19 and shelter-in-place, many movie fans are left stuck in the house twiddling our thumbs and eagerly awaiting the re-opening of movie theaters everywhere.
Rejoice, as streaming platforms are here to save the day! Among the leaders of the streaming pack is Netflix, which makes no exception with hundreds of original movies and TV shows being added to the service on a regular basis. One genre that has plenty of high-quality content to choose from is horror.
This list is comprised of movies and TV series created and distributed by Netflix, so does not include horrors they may have on their service from other studios. Lets get busy and get scary…
These are the Top 10 Must-see Netflix Horror original series and films:
10. Black Summer (2019)
Fans of the zombie horror genre will certainly want to give this Netflix horror TV series a watch. Admittedly, Black Summer sacrifices story for a more direct and non-stop approach with directly continuing storylines episode-to-episode.
The results make for an exhausting and fast-paced zombie thriller that doesn’t let you stop to catch your breath. The entire series is set around an unlikely group of survivors from yet another apocalyptic meltdown who get pushed to the limit. This Netflix horror original series definitely puts the fear back in zombies with its claustrophobic atmosphere.
The shows first season was a hit on Netflix, leading to the announcement of a second season and even gaining attention from the king of horror himself, Stephen King.
9. Calibre (2018)
Calibre is a dark British Netflix horror original film that was released in 2018. It follows two childhood friends as they travel to Scotland on a hunting trip until a horrific freak accident befalls them. Suddenly, they are faced to do whatever it takes to keep their dark secret hidden. The results make for a deeply heartbreaking and intense thriller, which reminds us all that life is fragile and anything can happen to flip our world upside down.
8. Marianne (2019)
The first and only foreign language horror on this list. Marianne is a supernatural French language horror series featuring a famous horror author who is forced to go back to her hometown and confront her dark past. Then, of course, an evil spirit appears and calls out to her.
Marianne is full of twists with every episode, wrought with nerve-wracking tension. Deeply exploring the main character Emma Larsimon (played by Victoire Du Bois) leaves you wondering how she’s connected to the malicious spirit. This is a TV series has some truly frightening moments that horror fans will love.
7. Apostle (2018)
Apostle is a period piece, a Netflix horror original film written and directed by Gareth Evans, mostly known for directing the acclaimed action movies The Raid and The Raid 2. Set in 1905, the film focuses on a British man traveling to a remote island in Wales to rescue his sister after finding out she has been kidnapped by a mysterious cult.
Starring Dan Stevens and Michael Sheen in exceptional performances, the movie has incredibly tense scenes that will grip you immediately. Starting off as a slow burn, the movie, very much like the main character, gradually spirals into a descent of madness as his search for his sister reveals there is more to the story than he realized.
6. The Perfection (2018)
The Perfection explores the dark side of the life of a musical prodigy and the sacrifices one would make to become a star. This is a psychological horror filled with twists and misdirection. It won’t go the way you expect it to and you never see the full picture until the closing minutes.
One of the most satisfying endings on this list. This movie itself is far from its title, but it is still a movie that should certainly not be missed. Although it may make you want to look away sometimes with some pretty gruesome shocks.
5. The Babysitter (2017)
The Babysitter is about a young boy who discovers that his babysitter is involved in a satanic cult and he must use his wits to survive the night. The Babysitter is the only Netflix horror comedy to make the list. With humor reminiscent of the Scream movies, The Babysitter is as hilarious as it is gory. Never taking itself too seriously as the entire cast have the time of their lives with this fun and energetic script. It gets silly, it gets messy, but it keeps you entertained. A sequel was announced by Netflix on September 2019
4. Eli (2019)
Eli is about a boy who suffers from a rare disease causing him to have an allergic reaction to the outdoors. He’s 11 and forced to wear a full body suit for protection until the opportunity for a cure gives him hope of a better future. Treatment for the rare disease leads him and his family to a facility inside a house with a very dark secret.
Another movie about a haunted house? Eli starts off as a pretty safe and risk-free horror movie, following a long list of generic jump scares and movie ploys we’ve all seen too many times lately. Then, thankfully it flips all of that on its head in the final act, creating something entirely fresh and reminding us that horror movies can still surprise us.
3. Hush (2016)
Hush is a slasher home-invasion horror film with one twist — the protagonist is deaf. We have covered this film before because really, we’re solid fans of it. The results make for an edge-of-your-seat horror movie that has you praying the protagonist makes it out alive, despite the fact she is at a tremendous disadvantage.
All alone… in a house… in the woods… with nobody to save her… as a masked man tries to break in. If you were a fan of The Strangers and You’re Next, then this Netflix horror movie is a must-see for you.
2. Gerald’s Game (2017)
After a planned night of role-playing in the bedroom goes wrong, a freak accident leaves a woman chained to the bed in handcuffs next to her dead husband who suffered a fatal heart attack. With no way of getting out and nobody knowing her whereabouts, she struggles to survive a battle against starvation, dehydration, and her own sanity.
Gerald’s Game is a smash hit adaptation of yet another Stephen King book. It shows the gripping reality of one woman doing whatever it takes to survive. Fans of Stephen King will not be disappointed.
1. The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
The Haunting of Hill House, created and directed by Mike Flanagan, follows a group of siblings and their parents as they deal with the aftermath of growing up in a haunted house when they were young. It simultaneously takes place in the past and the present throughout the course of the show. Depicting the harrowing ordeal of how trauma at a young age can affect you in adult life.
I can confidently say, the best was saved for last. The Haunting of Hill House is a perfect example of how someone makes a superb horror film or series — and this is a Netflix horror original!
Exploring the heartbreaking reality of loss, grief, and addiction and mashing it up with supernatural elements to create the most refreshing and unique piece of work in recent years. Every episode of this 10-part series is of the highest quality, full of shocks and twists around every corner. It boasts a staggeringly high critical reception and immediately got picked up for a second season to debut in 2020.
So now you’ve seen this A-List, what do you think? Did you feel that I missed anything out? Drop a comment below, I would love to hear your opinion!
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