We love horror movies because they keep us on our toes. The boldest of us even enjoy watching them in the middle of the night, when it's dark and quiet and there's no one around to comfort you. Setting the right vibe is pivotal to the horror movie-viewing experience.
That's why Shudder sets the gold standard for horror catalogs on streaming services. The premier service is home to hundreds of classic films. But if you're looking for some truly haunting content to keep you up at night, look no further than the following list.
Evil Dead (2013)
Fede Álvarez's take on Evil Dead remains one of my favorite horror movies of all time, and while I adore the original movie, the 2013 version is my favorite. It is relentlessly gory and brutal, yet somehow weirdly cozy at the same time. Evil Dead takes familiar scares and moments from the 1981 film, pushing them to extremes with modernized practical effects.
Something about the way it was filmed and the cabin setting adds to a strangely calming vibe that makes the film both horrific when watched in the dead of night but also merits the movie becoming a comfort watch. Jane Levy is exceptional in the lead role as Mia, and I'm still crossing my fingers that she will return in a future installment.
Red Rooms (2023)
This Canadian psychological thriller is one of the most disturbing movies I've watched recently because its subject matter is frighteningly realistic. Kelly-Anne is a fashion model who also happens to nurture a dark obsession with true crime, specifically the recent frenzy over a killer accused of murdering teen girls and making snuff films of their deaths that he would broadcast for money on the dark web.
Kelly-Anne is so obsessed with following the trial that she has even accessed these "Red Rooms" to view the videos. The FBI manages to get two of the films, but the third one is missing, and Kelly-Anne is determined to get it first—a shocking and bracing commentary on our voyeuristic culture surrounding true crime.
MadS (2024)
Movies shot in a single continuous take are always worth watching, if only for the sheer talent and technical prowess on display. It's not easy to do a one-take scene; nonetheless, it is an entire movie. MadS does just that. Sure, it's a gimmick, but it's an entertaining one.
A stealth zombie movie, MadS follows a recent high school grad on the night of celebration as he tries a new drug. But on his way to a party, he stops to pick up an injured woman on the side of the road, and the night takes a violent and chaotic turn from there.
Oddity (2024)
Oddity is the second feature film from Irish filmmaker Damian Mc Carthy. I've recommended this movie several times by now. Mc Carthy is skilled at crafting suspense in a way that gets under your skin. In Oddity, Carolyn Bracken plays twin sisters Dani and Darcy.
When Dani is murdered, Darcy suspects something weird happened to her sister and begins her own investigation. A clairvoyant and owner of a curio shop, Darcy brings an unorthodox companion in the shape of a life-size wooden man, or golem. If you like Oddity, you can also try Mc Carthy's previous film Caveat, also on Shudder.
The House that Jack Built (2018)
The House that Jack Built is one of the most unsettling and uncomfortable experiences I've ever had watching a movie. It's easily one of the past decade's best and most underrated serial killer thrillers. Matt Dillon is a formidable force in the lead role as a killer who considers himself a master of his craft and genuinely enjoys murdering people.
Considering this is a Lars von Trier movie, you might know what you're getting into beforehand. The filmmaker doesn't shy away from disturbing content, and this film is no exception, featuring scenes of torture, violence, and an overall sense of disgust as we watch Jack kill one victim after another. But perhaps the most significant selling point of The House that Jack Built is that it's also darkly funny.
Skinamarink (2022)
Skinamarink is a polarizing movie because it's one of those horror films that feels like not much is happening. The horror isn't in your face. You won't find tons of bloodshed here. Skinamarink excels at creating a very specific atmosphere that can be bone-chilling if viewed under the right settings.
Watch this movie alone late at night, around 1-3 a.m., with all the lights turned off. Keep your phone far away from you and immerse yourself in the story the film is telling. You won't regret it. Well, you might when you have nightmares, but isn't that the point?