Netflix is well known for investing heavily in high quality original shows and movies. Not every venture can be a hit, but that strategy certainly paid off when it comes to the incredible horror movies on this list!
1. Incantation (2022)
- Director: Kevin Ko
- Writers: Che-Wei Chang and Kevin Ko
- Cast: Hsuan-yen Tsai, Sing-Ting Huang, Ying-Hsuan Kao, Sean Lin
If you liked The Ring, you’ll love Incantation— one haunted woman’s harrowing quest to protect her young daughter from a sinister curse. The found footage genre at its absolute peak, this movie manages to put you on edge immediately and keep ratcheting up that tension for nearly two hours straight.
The titular incantation will get stuck in your head like the world’s creepiest earworm. “Mother Buddha” is an eldritch abomination that would make Lovecraft proud. Viewers with severe trypophobia might not survive the runtime.
Chock-full of effective scares (visual, psychological, and jump), the movie manages to maintain a consistent emotional center from start to finish. The tear-jerking, dread-inducing ending is sure to stick with you long after your TV goes dark.
2. His House (2020)
- Director: Remi Weekes
- Writers: Remi Weekes, Felicity Evans, Toby Venables
- Cast: Sope Dirisu, Wunmi Mosaku, Malaika Wakoli-Abigaba, Matt Smith, Javier Botet
His House follows husband and wife Bol and Rial as they flee from political violence in South Sudan, but find they can’t escape the (possibly literal) ghosts of their past.
Raw and resonant, the themes explored in His House will hit close to home for many in the current global political climate. Cultural displacement, political unrest, poverty, racism, and the looming threat of deportation all feature heavily. Whether or not you’ve personally experienced the desperation faced by our protagonists, you will deeply feel their fear, frustration, panic, and grief as events progress.
The film is beautifully shot and masterfully crafted, with dread steadily building from every side until it all comes crashing down in a truly devastating climax. The reveal at the end of the film hits like a punch to the gut. Yet, the story manages to end with closure and even a touch of hope. No matter your takeaway, His House is the kind of movie that will keep crossing your mind years after you watch it.
3. The Ritual (2017)
- Director: David Bruckner
- Writers: Joe Barton, Adam Nevill
- Cast: Rafe Spall, Arsher Ali, Robert James-Collier, Sam Troughton, Paul Reid
A few months after a traumatic loss, the surviving members of a close-knit friend group set out on a multi-day hike through the austere beauty of northern Sweden. They go off trail. Horrors ensue.
There’s a lot to love about this movie. The creature design is phenomenal. The setting is atmospheric and immersive. The cinematography perfectly places you right alongside the group on their bleak trek through the cursed wild. It often feels like a bit of a sophisticated Blair Witch, without the shaky cam and with way more actual witchery.
Whether you’re spooked by the environment, the interpersonal turmoil, the violent cult, or the glowing eyes of an ancient forest demon, the many chills of The Ritual will seep right down to your bones. A warm blanket to soothe your shivers (and possibly hide behind) is an absolute requirement for the viewing experience.
4. Velvet Buzzsaw (2019)
- Director: Dan Gilroy
- Writer: Dan Gilroy
- Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Zawe Ashton, Toni Collette, Natalia Dyer, Daveed Diggs, Tom Sturridge, John Malkovich
What determines the value of art? Failing answers might be fatal. Boasting an impressive cast and utilizing its wealth of talent to the fullest, Velvet Buzzsaw hilariously satirizes the pretension of wealthy art-collecting elites while delivering genuinely frightening (and appropriately creative) kills. It’s a movie best enjoyed going in blind, so I’ll avoid any further discussion of the plot.
One of the rare horror-comedies that succeeds equally as both, Velvet Buzzsaw maintains a brisk pace, moving frequently among a large cast of characters without sacrificing narrative clarity. The premise seems silly— and at times, it is— but always in service to the story, never a distraction from it.
It’s bright, colorful, and even playful, a refreshing contrast to the desaturated monochromes currently in vogue. It’s a movie with plenty to say, but unlike its protagonists, it never takes itself too seriously. If you prefer fun scares over dour horror, Velvet Buzzsaw is for you.
5. The Platform (2019)
- Director: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia
- Writers: David Desola, Pedro Rivero
- Cast: Iván Massagué, Zorion Eguileor, Antonia San Juan, Emilio Buale, Alexandra Masangkay
At this point, it’s pretty clear to most of us that the “trickle-down” economics of the Reagan era don’t work out in practice. Instead of passing on their wealth, the people at the top hoard resources, leaving those at the bottom to starve. The lowest members of society are often forced to turn to violence for survival.
Surprise! I’m not lecturing you about capitalism, I’m describing the plot of The Platform! Now, those two things are functionally the same, but the latter is way more fun.
Suspenseful, scary, and smart, The Platform takes a straightforward— but never boring— look at one of the most relevant issues of our time. The extremely minimal set design lets the acting take center stage, and everyone involved more than rises to the challenge. It’s cerebral, yet accessible. It’s heavy, but it’s also hopeful. Before you rewatch Squid Game for the umpteenth time, give The Platform a shot; you won’t be disappointed.