7 best psychological horror movies on Netflix that'll truly unsettle you

A beloved subgenre of horror would have to be psychological horror. It's a genre focusing on delving into the characters' minds, their fears, anxieties, and the unknown. The main character(s) in these types of films usually feel disconnected from reality and are unstable, unreliable, or disturbed due to a traumatic event.

Instead of relying on physical threats, gore, and jump scares to scare audiences like a traditional horror film, psychological horror films focus on the characters' dwindling emotional and mental states. This exploration of the psychological states of characters can build suspense and horror and ultimately disturb and terrify an audience.

Below, we shared a list of seven psychological horror movies currently streaming on Netflix that are worth checking out.

The Perfection (2018)

The Perfection follows a troubled cello prodigy who decides to return to her former music academy to reconnect with her old mentors, only to discover that a new and much younger cellist has taken her place. After meeting, these two musically talented individuals eventually embark on a sinister path of revenge against those who have wronged them in the past.

Creep (2014)

Creep centers around a videographer who takes on a one-day job in a remote mountain town to film a video diary for the unborn child of a client who claims to be dying from a terminal illness. But what was supposed to be a simple job turns into a complete nightmare when the client begins to exhibit increasingly strange and unsettling behavior.

Run Rabbit Run (2023)

Run Rabbit Run revolves around a fertility doctor and single mother who, after noticing her young daughter exhibiting strange behavior, begins to question her own sanity. This leads to her having to confront her dark and painful past.

The Babadook (2014)

The Babadook follows a widowed single mother named Amelia, who is struggling to care for her 6-year-old son Samuel. Things become even more complicated for the mother and son when a strange children's book titled "Mister Babadook" appears in their home.

After reading it, terrifying and unexplainable events begin to occur in their house. Amelia starts experiencing disturbing hallucinations, and her mental state continues to deteriorate at a rapid pace. Pushed to the brink of insanity, Amelia finds herself having to confront her inner demons to protect herself and her son.

It Follows (2015)

It Follows stars Longlegs Maika Monroe as a young woman named Jay who, after sleeping with her boyfriend for the first time, becomes the victim of a deadly curse that is passed from person to person through sexual activity. The curse involves a shape-shifting supernatural entity that will follow a victim wherever they go, and if it catches them, it will kill them. The only way to rid oneself of the curse is by passing it to another person.

As Jay tries to find a way to escape the relentless entity, she lives in constant fear of being killed. It's the constant paranoia and anxiety that causes her mental state to deteriorate.

Cam (2018)

Cam follows an ambitious young woman named Alice who works as a camgirl under the name "Lola_Lola." But things take a disturbing turn when her account is hacked by someone who looks and has her exact mannerisms. As she works to regain control of her account and unmask the mysterious person, she becomes increasingly paranoid and desperate. It's the fear of losing control and being replaced that causes Alice's mental state to become progressively worse.

Circle (2015)

Circle sees a group of strangers awaken in a dark room to discover they're being held captive and forced to participate in a deadly game. While all facing execution, the participants soon realize that they can vote on who will be executed next. It's this constant threat of death and the extreme pressure of having to decide who deserves to live and who should be sacrificed that tests each participants psychological state.

What are some of your favorite psychological horror movies?

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