When I was younger I was so easily scared by certain television and movie genres. I vividly remember getting nightmares from the movie The Last Samurai and the TV show 24 because of how intense they were. Despite my early sensitivity toward these types of shows and movies, I'm now a total Criminal Minds addict and I love horror films too. Whether they're scary because of all the pop-ups that make you jump or because of the eerie plots, scary movies are always a blast to watch. Finding a decent horror film can be hard to begin with, but especially on Netflix where there is such a limited selection. However, my love of scary movies has led me to watch nearly every scary movie on Netflix. I've listed a few of mine below so that nobody else has to go through the pain of watching The Awakening ever again.
1. Hush (2016)
Hush is not the traditional scary movie in the sense that it doesn't have anything supernatural in it. That being said, what makes Hush scary is the fact that what happens in the movie is mostly realistic. The movie is about a deaf woman who lives alone in the middle of the woods and her struggle to keep a murderous robber out of her house. As the plot progresses, things seem to appear bleaker and bleaker for the woman but she pushes through. Some of my favorite parts about scary movies are the jump scares and Hush has quite a few. I definitely recommend Hush to anyone who loves scary movies as much as I do.
2. Kristy (2014)
Ever considered staying on campus over break? Think again. Kristy is a movie about a girl whose decision to stay at her college over Thanksgiving break ended up making her fight for her life. After venturing off campus for a quick errand, Kristy is followed back to her dorm by some people she ran into at the store. This group of misfits follows her around the campus, taunting her and attempting to kill her. Similar to Hush, Kristy is scary in the sense that, while not completely realistic, it gives you the feeling that something like this could happen to you. Full of jump scares and surprises, Kristy is definitely one of the top horror movies on Netflix.
3. Would You Rather (2012)
Would You Rather is about a bunch of people who are invited to a dinner and then made to play a sadistic game of "would you rather." During each of their turns, the guests must decide which gory and petrifying action they would rather do. Much like Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, as the story goes on, more and more people die off. Both frightening because of its concept and because of the surprises, Would You Rather is among the creepiest horror movies on Netflix.
4. Last Shift
Among my favorite types of horror movies are ones based on people hallucinating. There's nothing more freaky than watching a movie where you can't tell whether or not something is actually happening or the character is just imagining it. Last Shift is about a woman whose first job as a cop is guarding a prison overnight. Many freaky incidents occur and the line between reality and hallucination blurs. What adds on to the scariness is the fact that the woman is alone for most of the night so she is completely vulnerable. Although, the scenes that involve other people are also frightening because they make you question whether or not they are real. Last Shift is a great movie and you definitely shouldn't watch it before bed!
5. Lizzie Borden Took An Ax (2014)
No one likes seeing the words "based on a true story" when they begin watching a horror movie. Lizzie Borden Took An Ax is about the true story of a young woman allegedly (she totally did it) axing her father and stepmother to death and then being found not guilty. Throughout the whole movie, I found myself switching back and forth between believing she was guilty and believing she was not guilty. It was so hard to find a decent reason why she would have done it but it was also a challenge to think of who else could have done it. Some of the scenes were very graphic and it was chilling to think of the idea that two people were (allegedly) murdered by their own family. You'll just have to watch it in order to decide whether or not you believe she is guilty!
While there may not be a lot of variety, there are at least a few good horror movies on Netflix. If you're a horror film junky like myself, hearing this will be a relief to you. Every once in a while it's good to take a break from watching Friends and Gilmore Girls and to enjoy a good scary movie. These are my personal recommendations! You have a whole summer ahead of you, so get crackin'!
