Top 15 Scariest Movies To Watch On Netflix

 

We have plunged into the depths of Netflix's horror vault and emerged with a meticulously curated list of the 15 scariest movies currently available to stream. This isn't a list of feel-good horror comedies or campy slasher flicks. This is a journey into the heart of darkness, a collection of films designed to get under your skin, haunt your thoughts long after the credits roll, and remind you why you sometimes regret turning off all the lights.

We've covered all the major subgenres of terror: from mind-bending psychological thrillers and atmospheric supernatural hauntings to visceral body horror and slow-burn folk nightmares. So grab your popcorn, check the locks, and prepare to confront the most chilling films Netflix has to offer. This is your definitive guide to a night of pure, unadulterated fright.

1. Hereditary (2018)

Following the death of their reclusive grandmother, the Graham family, led by a gut-wrenching performance from Toni Collette, begins to unravel a series of terrifying secrets about their ancestry. This film is a masterclass in psychological dread, building a suffocating atmosphere of palpable unease that blurs the lines between reality and delusion with a final, horrifying reveal that will make your blood run cold. Director Ari Aster, who also wrote the film, uses meticulously crafted sound design and unsettling visuals to explore themes of inherited trauma and predestination, delivering an emotionally devastating experience that will leave you feeling unsettled and disturbed for days.

2. The Ritual (2017)

A group of four college friends, grieving the brutal murder of a fifth, embark on a hiking trip through the Swedish wilderness, only to find themselves tormented by strange symbols and a sinister presence. Directed by David Bruckner, this film excels at building a pervasive sense of isolation and dread, blending the psychological torment of the characters with genuine supernatural terror rooted in Norse mythology. The final-act reveal of the unique creature design makes it a must-watch for fans of folk horror and creature features, as it delivers a suffocating, atmospheric nightmare that proves the scariest things are often found off the beaten path.

3. His House (2020)

A young refugee couple, Bol and Rial, escape war-torn South Sudan and are granted asylum in the UK, but their new council house is haunted by a malevolent entity that seems to have followed them, forcing them to confront the ghosts of their past. Directed by Remi Weekes, this film is a brilliant and profoundly moving horror movie that uses the supernatural to explore real-world horrors, turning the hauntings into manifestations of the couple's immense guilt and grief. The terror is both a classic haunted-house narrative and a crushing emotional weight, with powerful performances from stars Sope Dirisu and Wunmi Mosaku grounding the scares in raw, human emotion, proving the most terrifying stories often hold a mirror up to our own fears.

4. Apostle (2018)

In 1905, a mysterious man named Thomas Richardson, played by Dan Stevens, travels to a remote island inhabited by a secretive, religious cult to rescue his sister, but he quickly uncovers their disturbing and bloody rituals. From director Gareth Evans, this film is a visceral, unrelenting descent into madness and gore, with its terror coming from the slow-burning dread of being surrounded by a community with a warped sense of morality. The film’s jaw-dropping final act is filled with some of the most grotesque and stomach-churning body horror you will ever see, making it a must-watch for horror fans who can stomach extreme content and appreciate a meticulously crafted, dread-filled atmosphere.

5. Incantation (2022)

This Taiwanese found-footage film centers on a woman, Li Ronan, who tries to protect her daughter from a deadly curse she unleashed after violating a religious taboo, a curse that is a viral, memetic entity infecting people through images and words. Directed by Kevin Ko, the movie brilliantly uses its format to break the fourth wall and make the viewer feel like they are directly in danger, with its horror deeply rooted in local Taiwanese folklore and a terrifying concept of a disease of the mind. As one of the most effective and genuinely scary found-footage films of the last decade, Incantation will leave you feeling vulnerable long after the credits have rolled.

6. The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

A father and son, both coroners, receive a mysterious, unidentified body to examine late one night, but as they begin their autopsy, they find no external signs of trauma, only horrifying supernatural secrets. Directed by André Øvredal and starring Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch, this film is a masterpiece of claustrophobic, atmospheric horror, using a single confined location—the morgue—to build a relentless tension and create a sense of being trapped with a malevolent entity. The film’s terrifying scares are earned through a masterful use of sound and shadows, making it a slow-burn nightmare that preys on the fear of the unknown.

7. Under the Shadow (2016)

Set in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq War, a mother, Shideh, and her young daughter, Dorsa, are terrorized by a malevolent djinn, a spirit from Islamic folklore, that has taken up residence in their apartment building. Director Babak Anvari masterfully blends supernatural terror with real-world anxieties, with the horror of the djinn magnified by the constant threat of war and societal oppression. The scares are deeply psychological, preying on claustrophobia and a pervasive sense of being trapped, proving that the scariest monsters are often the ones you cannot see, in a world where escape is impossible.

8. Gerald's Game (2017)

When a man suddenly dies of a heart attack while his wife, Jessie, is handcuffed to the bed in a remote lake house, she is left stranded and begins to hallucinate, seeing visions of a gaunt "Space Cowboy" and a version of her dead husband. Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novel is a terrifying masterclass in psychological and body horror, with its terror rooted in the very real fear of being trapped and alone, and the existential dread of facing death. The film features a courageous performance from Carla Gugino, who fully embodies Jessie's psychological unraveling and a famously gruesome "degloving" scene that will test your limits.

9. Creep (2014)

An out-of-work videographer, Aaron, takes a job filming a man named Josef for a day, but as the day goes on, Josef’s behavior becomes increasingly strange and threatening, leaving Aaron trapped with a man who may be far more dangerous than he appears. Directed by Patrick Brice and starring Mark Duplass, this found-footage film is a pure, unadulterated slow burn of psychological dread, as its terror doesn't come from a ghost but from the horrifying realization that you are in a room with a complete sociopath. Creep proves that you don't need a big budget or special effects to create a truly horrifying film, as it builds on awkward social interactions and a chilling sense of a lack of control, culminating in a final confrontation that will leave you unsettled for days.

10. 1922 (2017)

Based on a novella by Stephen King, this film follows Wilfred James, a Nebraska farmer in the year 1922, who conspires with his teenage son to murder his wife, a heinous act that leads to him being tormented by her spirit and a plague of rats. Directed by Zak Hilditch and featuring a chilling performance from Thomas Jane, the film is a bleak, relentless exploration of a man’s descent into madness and the terror of a haunted conscience. The horror lies in the way Wilfred’s life slowly crumbles as he is forced to face the monstrous consequences of his actions, proving that you can’t bury your sins and that sometimes, the true horrors come from within.

11. The Perfection (2018)

A former cello prodigy, Charlotte, returns to the prestigious music academy she left years ago, where she meets the new star pupil, Lizzie, an encounter that is a catalyst for a shocking series of events. Directed by Richard Shepard, this film is a wild and deeply unsettling ride that is not for the faint of heart, as its horror is pure, shocking body horror and psychological manipulation. The movie keeps you off balance with its unpredictable narrative, making you question every character's motive with shocking reveals and an unflinching look at the toxic pressures of the competitive world of classical music, making it a unique and horrifying watch.

12. The Platform (2019)

In a dystopian future, inmates are housed in a vertical prison where a platform of food descends one level at a time, forcing the prisoners to fight for survival and revealing the most grotesque acts of desperation. While not a traditional horror film, this Spanish film directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia is a terrifying exploration of human nature under extreme duress, with its horror in the psychological torment and the brutal violence of the inmates. The film forces you to confront the disturbing question of what you would do to survive, making it a chilling and thought-provoking film that will make you feel claustrophobic and deeply disturbed by the depths of human selfishness.

13. The Call (2020)

A young woman, Seo-yeon, returns to her childhood home and finds a phone that connects her to a woman, Young-sook, living in the same house in the year 1999, but when she reveals a secret that saves Young-sook's life, a terrifying killer is unleashed on both of their timelines. This South Korean film, directed by Lee Chung-hyun, is a fast-paced, relentless, and inventive horror-thriller, with its scares coming from the terrifying paradoxes of time travel and the chilling presence of a truly unhinged villain. The film is a masterclass in tension, as every action Seo-yeon takes has a direct and often gruesome consequence in the past, creating a unique sense of dread that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

14. I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020)

A young woman takes a road trip with her new boyfriend to meet his parents on their remote farm, but as the trip progresses, she begins to question everything she knows, including her own identity. Directed by the acclaimed Charlie Kaufman, this film is a pure psychological horror experience, with its terror being insidious and deeply unsettling rather than loud or violent. The film’s dreamlike, fragmented narrative leaves you feeling profoundly disoriented and isolated, with every shot filled with an uncanny sense of foreboding, culminating in a bizarre and utterly chilling final act that will leave you thinking, and possibly hallucinating, for days.

15. The Wailing (2016)

A bumbling police officer in a small South Korean village investigates a series of brutal murders, which the locals blame on a strange Japanese hermit, but as the sickness and violence spread, the officer finds his own family threatened by a terrifying supernatural evil. This sprawling, epic, and profoundly unsettling film from director Na Hong-jin is a long, slow, and utterly relentless horror, with its terror rooted in Korean folklore and a suffocating sense of paranoia. The final moments are a masterclass in ambiguity and pure, heart-stopping terror, leaving you with a haunting feeling of hopelessness and a chilling testament to a terrifying evil that can't be reasoned with or defeated.

Conclusions

There you have it. Fifteen films that are guaranteed to turn your cozy movie night into a journey through a cinematic house of horrors. These are not just movies; they are experiences designed to leave a lasting impression, to make you jump, scream, and perhaps even question your sanity. So, turn off the lights, lock the doors, and press play. Just be warned: once you start, there’s no going back. And when you’re done, you might want to leave a light on tonight.