A list featuring the top 8 scariest movies on Netflix instant is, by Netflix’s very nature, a list liable to change. Because the popular streaming service tends to update the movies it makes available to its customers for instant viewing.
Worth mentioning is that this “update” doesn’t necessarily mean adding new movies to the ones already available, while keeping the old. On the contrary, many times viewers have discovered that certain movies which were available before, no longer are. Which is also what happened with the most recent “update” that took place at the beginning of October.
For example, users looking for the best Halloween movies on Netflix now, after the change, will notice (if, for some reason, they also happened to look for Halloween movies on Netflix in advance, before the change) that some classic horror titles are no longer there. Like “Black Sunday”, “Black Sabbath”, “Nosferatu”, “Night of the Living Dead” and (most notably) “The Exorcist”, to name a few.
Still, there are plenty of others left, so if you’re wondering “What are the scariest movies on Netflix streaming right now?”, as you anticipate a fast-approaching Halloween viewing with some company (or even scarier, all alone!), no need to research it yourself. Just check out this list of top 8 scariest movies on Netflix instant, below.
Keep in mind however that “scariest” is a most subjective term. What some might find scary might bore others or even amuse them. And while for some, scary means physical danger, violence, mutilation etc. For others scary can involve psychological damage, the unknown, or even just something that hits at their core values and beliefs.
8. Stake Land (2010)
The story of Mister, the hero leading an adolescent Martin and a group of survivors through a post-vampire apocalypse land towards safety. Exactly. This zombie apocalypse-like movie features vampire-zombies as the culprits. Director Jim Mickle’s great design and scapes are very notable results, despite the minimalist approach.
7. The House Of The Devil (2009)
In 1983, a young woman named Samantha Hughes agrees to take on a babysitting job for a mysterious client, but it turns out that there are many things wrong with the house she goes to. This movie is scary because it builds up the tension very well and slowly, to a satisfying (or horrifying) climax.
6. Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
A 5 Oscar winning masterpiece worth re-watching for the stellar performances, masterful writing and character driven story and suspense, this legendary movie should need no introduction. Still, if you haven’t watched it, do so now and give yourself a real Halloween treat.
5. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
How a young couple who just moved into a new place is slowly brought to a fever pitch panic by strange occurrences and strange behavior from their initially friendly seeming neighbors. Oh, and the woman becomes inexplicably pregnant, despite her husband becoming more and more remote and spending time with an elderly neighboring couple. This film from Roman Polanski is a well-executed, interesting idea.
4. The Omen (1976)
If you’re a parent, you’ll be especially hard hit by this one. Because it’s centered on a small boy called Damien who, after the age of 5 starts becoming… evil. To the point at which he is a threat to the whole world, including his parents. The character of Damien is carefully constructed so as to not end up being a crazed slasher kid. On the contrary, Damien exhibits very adult behavior (which adds to the freakiness), by knowing when to exercise restraint and choose his moments of violence, gore and terror.
3. The Babadook (2014)
How many times in the history of our world have mothers not soothed frightened children? Countless. Which makes the premise of this movie even scarier and “closer-to-home” because that’s exactly how things start going wrong, with a mother trying to deal with her son’s fear of monsters by gently trying to have him face it, i.e. reading him horror stories in a light-hearted manner to prove that they are just that. Until she reads a story featuring the Babadook, which refuses to be simply a story.
2. Sinister (2012)
A writer who focuses on true crimes in is works is unfortunately going through a period of writer’s block and accompanying lack of recognition, money etc. So, as he tries to get back to his former glory, he starts researching some snuff tapes that he finds in the place where he just moved into with his family, which point out to a series of crimes committed by a serial killer in the 1960s. But there’s more to it than that. Ethan Hawke gives a great performance as the writer and the threat to him and his family is genuinely scary.
1. The Nightmare (2015)
Intentionally left for last on this list of “8 scariest movies on Netflix instant”, this documentary (yes, documentary) is in my opinion the scariest movie on Netflix now, because of its plausibility and (possible) applicability to one and all. It deals with the sleep paralysis phenomenon that actually exists in real life and is recognized by modern medical science and the terrible hallucinations that sometimes accompany those who suffer from it. And by “deals”, I mean re-enactment. Go watch it. I dare ya.
When thinking of the 8 scariest movies on Netflix right now this might involve some totally (or just partially) different titles for you, so please comment what you think. Still, I hope this list can at least serve as a starting point or a prompt for discussion among you and your friends etc.
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