The time is drawing near. It’s already mid-September, which means the season of crunchy leaves, knit sweaters, and all things pumpkin is fast approaching. Most importantly however, the end of September means the start of October, and the start of October means it’s time to get SPOOKY!
Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. It’s an excuse to dress up, eat tons of candy, and play pranks on your friends. Perhaps best of all, it’s the ideal time to do things that scare the crap out of you! On purpose! For fun!
Over the course of the past three weeks, my roommate and I have watched a dozen horror films, and have thoroughly enjoyed screeching and cringing our way through the start of the school year. The real challenge is finding scary movies that are actually decently made and fun to watch. The good news is that we’ve already done the legwork for you! Here are five of the best scary movies currently available on Netflix.
1. The Babadook, 2014
The Babadook was the first scary movie that we watched together, and it’s the first to make it on our list. With a captivating storyline that keeps you wondering what’s coming next, this film is the perfect mix of eerie and frightening. It tends to avoid cheap tropes like jump scares and gore, and the underlying message leaves you feeling just a touch unsettled. Although the pacing feels a little slow at points, there is always just enough to keep you questioning whether or not all is really the way it seems.
2. We Are What We Are, 2013
This film is not for the faint of heart (or the weak of stomach). We Are What We Are is an intense, heart-pounding movie that treats a typically sensationalized topic with reverence and chilling severity. Half art film, half horror flick, We Are What We Are was screened at Sundance and the Cannes film festival, among others, and won the award for “Best Kill” from the Toronto After Dark film festival. Although some have complained that it’s too slow in its pacing, I felt that the suspense created by the writing, acting, and beautiful cinematography was more than enough to keep me on the edge of my seat until the absolutely shocking twist at the end.
3. The Awakening, 2011
Although this movie is arguably more thriller than horror, The Awakening is a beautifully constructed film with a vibe that starts out like “Masterpiece Mystery” and escalates into something from M. Night’s glory days. Cleverly written and exquisitely acted, this movie creates a mystery for both its characters and its audience, featuring a protagonist that is complex and compelling. This one also has a knack for avoiding cheap jump scares, instead opting for building tension and keeping you guessing as to what could be right around the next corner.
4. Housebound, 2014
Producing anything that could be described as “horror comedy” takes a little bit of daring and a whole lot of skill, but Housebound executes (get it?) the genre perfectly. This movie seems to take advantage of the fact that you know that you’re watching a horror film to take you through countless twists and turns. Just when you think you know where the story is going, it veers off in another direction entirely. Clever, surprising, and more than a little scary, this one is a must-see for any horror fan.
5. The Den, 2013
Last, but certainly not least, The Den may well be the scariest movie I have ever forced myself to sit through. Intense, shameless, and raw, the utter realism of this film is perhaps its biggest selling point. How many times have you stared at your television screen, begging the characters not to split up or yelling at them not to play with the damn Ouija board?!?!? The Den is made all the more terrifying by the intelligent, careful protagonist who does everything she should and yet still ends up in ever worsening situations. With suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish and more than a few make-you-scream scares, The Den is a contemporary masterpiece of the horror genre.
That should be enough to get you started, you little horror junkie, you. What do you think? Are there any Netflix horror movies that I missed? Let me know in the comments if there’s something that I need to watch before the Season of Spoop passes us by!
Oh, who am I kidding. Any time is a good time for a horror movie.
