7 good scary movies recently added to Netflix

Netflix regularly adds and removes movies, making it difficult to keep up with the ever-changing catalog. What's new this week? Which movies are still available and which ones were removed before you got the chance to watch?

This August, likely in preparation for the upcoming Halloween season, Netflix added several new and older horror movies to its catalog for fans to revisit or watch for the first time. Instead of scrolling aimlessly to find all of the newly added scary movies, we've created a handy list featuring some of the best new additions.

Life (2017)

While we wait out the last week or so before Alien: Romulus hits theaters, revisit this nerve-wracking sci-fi horror film about a crew's expedition into space to investigate a sample from Mars that might prove the existence of extraterrestrial life.

When the lifeform reacts violently, the I.S.S. realizes that humans would be better off alone on Earth. Life hijacks the majority of Alien's plot, but it's still a relatively entertaining B-movie with some thrills and chills. The cast alone—featuring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, and Ryan Reynolds—makes it worth the watch.

Bone Tomahawk (2015)

A cult classic, Bone Tomahawk is easily one of the most disturbing movies you will ever watch, and it has become known primarily due to a certain infamous scene. I won't spoil it in case you decide you want to watch it and be surprised, but be warned, the film is incredibly graphic, and the way that the specific death sequence is filmed, the fact it is long and drawn-out featuring very..accurate sound design, makes it an excruciating watch.

Part-Western and part-horror film, Bone Tomahawk stars Jeff Bridges, Richard Jenkins, and Matthew Fox as a trio of gunslingers sent to rescue captives from cannibals.

Tarot (2024)

Another bad movie that I can't help but like. I found myself charmed by Tarot when I saw it in theaters earlier this year.

It doesn't reinvent the wheel and it functions like a regular PG-13 gateway horror movie, but I have to give the filmmakers credit for trying something new with its unique monster designs. A Sony movie, Tarot made its official Netflix debut on August 1 and has held steady in the Top 10, which must count for something!

Child's Play 2 (1990)

Child's Play 2 is one of those rare sequels that succeeds in being better than its predecessor. The film takes everything people liked about Child's Play and amplifies it, cementing Chucky the doll as a horror icon alongside voice actor Brad Dourif and creator Don Mancini.

Darkly humorous, Child's Play 2 really helped pave the way for the future of the franchise, which is still going strong decades later. Netflix also added the rest of the Child's Play franchise (except the first one and the show).

Jigsaw (2017)

Jigsaw gets a lot of grief from Saw fans for being one of the worst films in the franchise, but I would argue it's better than the actual worst of the franchise—Saw 3D, or Saw 7. At least Jigsaw has some interesting characters, including one of my favorites of the series, the in-universe Jigsaw fangirl Eleanor played by Hannah Emily Anderson, who I would love to see return at some point.

I admit that the traps in this movie were a bit boring compared to the others, yet I still appreciated what they tried to do with the ending to this movie, in a twist that makes it unique from the others and leaves an opening for potential exploration in a future project.

The Nun (2018)

To be completely honest, I did not like this movie at all and thought The Nun II was only marginally better. But several people I know in real life enjoyed The Nun, including (but not limited to) my mom, sister, best friend's parents, and several others.

So, maybe I'm in the minority on this one. If you're into religious supernatural horror movies and you like The Conjuring movies, this one might be worth checking out. The Conjuring franchise comes and goes between Netflix and Max pretty regularly, so if you wait a while, I'm sure the sequel will eventually be on there, too.

Pearl (2022)

This prequel film set in Ti West's popular and acclaimed slasher trilogy doesn't land on netflix until August 16, but I figured I would put it on everyone's radar, especially since Netflix recently had the preceding film, X, and the third (and final) movie in the trilogy, MaXXXine is now available on PVOD.

Set in 1918, West took inspiration from popular technicolor films like Mary Poppins and, most notably, The Wizard of Oz. Mia Goth returns to play the titular character who starts a young woman desperate to become a star and spirals downward when her dreams don't go as planned.

To stay up to date on thrillers, sci-fi, and horror, bookmark 1428 Elm and follow our Facebook page and Twitter account!