Sinister–Courtesy of Blumhouse Productions
Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and Shudder may get all the love, but VUDU has a great selection of horror films waiting to be streamed for no cost at all.
VUDU is a tragically underappreciated streaming service for fans of horror. Not only can you rent or purchase films – both new and obscure – if you so choose, but the platform also has an impressive selection of horror titles that you can watch for free with only a few ads.
To prove that the service is an ideal alternative for those who don’t have Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime or Shudder, we’ve compiled ten of the best horror films available for free streaming on VUDU.
The Last Exorcism (2010)
The Last Exorcism–Courtesy of Strike Entertainment and StudioCanal
Found footage gets a lot of flack from the horror community, but when utilized effectively, the format can be genuinely unnerving. Such is the case with The Last Exorcism. It isn’t without standard exorcism tropes, but with an eerie backwoods location, a fervent sense of dread and atmosphere, fantastic performances from Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell. And lastly, a satisfyingly scary ending, surpassing the quality of most films within the sub-genre.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2–Courtesy of The Cannon Group, Inc.
If Tobe Hooper‘s courage was ever called into question, it was put to rest with the release of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. Boasting a drastically different tone than the iconic original film he created twelve years prior, Chainsaw 2 was met with mixed-to-scathing reviews from critics and fans alike. Leaning heavily into its dark comedy, this sequel is an entirely different experience than The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It’s okay to hate the film, but we find it to be a blast — especially the hilariously disturbing performance by Bill Moseley as Chop Top.
The Lords of Salem (2013)
The Lords of Salem–Courtesy of Blumhouse Productions and Entertainment One
Transitioning from a Bill Moseley-starring film to a Rob Zombie horror flick just feels like a natural progression. Perhaps the most polarizing horror director of our time, Zombie’s vision is unquestionably distinct. Most of you would likely roll your eyes at the inclusion of The Lords of Salem on any best-of list, but we could argue that it’s actually Zombie’s greatest film. Loaded with a disturbing, dream-like atmosphere, terrifying visuals, and some of the best horror cinematography we’ve ever seen, Lords is a nightmare come to life.
Sinister (2012)
Sinister–Courtesy of Blumhouse Productions
Most horror fans will agree that Scott Derrickson’s Sinister is one of the most disturbing mainstream genre releases of the decade. Co-written by Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill, the film follows Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke), a true-crime writer who moves his wife and children into the home of a recently murdered family. When Oswalt discovers reels of horrific footage in the attic of their new home, he unlocks a terrifying supernatural mystery that puts the safety of his family at risk.
Featuring several moments of intense terror, a committed performance from Ethan Hawke, and one of modern horror’s great villains, Sinister is the type of film that makes you thankful for nightlights. Stream it on VUDU and put them to good use.