Shudder has one of the greatest horror movie libraries it has something for everyone, from horror comedies to horror thrillers and from horror sci-fi to just straight horror, so today we are going to list the best horror movies on Shudder you should watch right now.
Black Sunday (1960)
Synopsis: A vengeful witch returns to possess her descendant in Mario Bava’s most famous film, which remains beloved by critics, horror historians, and directors like Tim Burton and Francis Ford Coppola (SLEEPY HOLLOW and BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA both feature homages). Bava’s major innovation was favoring thrilling visuals and European eroticism (still radical for 1960) over story. Even today, the film is regularly cited as one of the greatest horror movies of all time and scream queen Barbara Steele is still known as one of the most beautiful bad girls in horror history.
Witchfinder General (1968)
Synopsis: Horror legend Vincent Price is at his most wicked (and restrained) in Michael Reeves’ gruesome period piece about a sadistic 17th century witch-hunter. Matthew Hopkins delights in torturing those he suspects of being in league with the Devil. As he spreads terror and torment across the English countryside, the resistance emerges in the form of a soldier whose lover was raped by Hopkins’ henchman. When Hopkins decides to frame the couple as witches, all the cruel tools of torture are put to use to get them to confess. But justice may soon prevail…
A Bay of Blood (1971)
Synopsis: When a rich Countess dies, strange murders befall people trying to claim her property in Mario Bava’s gruesome giallo, which many credit with giving birth to the slasher genre. Combining his famously rich cinematography style with increasingly bizarre murders, Bava’s film became a favorite of directors like Joe Dante and horror historian Stephen Thrower. It also found many detractors, including horror icon Christopher Lee, who found the extreme violence revolting. Controversial, disturbing and incredibly influential, A BAY OF BLOOD is a total must-see.
The Amusement Park (1973)
Synopsis: Recently discovered and restored 46 years after its completion, George A. Romero’s The Amusement Park stars MARTIN’s Lincoln Maazel as an elderly man who finds himself disoriented and increasingly isolated as the pains, tragedies, and humiliations of aging in America are manifested through roller coasters and chaotic crowds. Commissioned by the Lutheran Society, the film is perhaps Romero’s wildest and most imaginative movie– an allegory about the nightmarish realities of growing older, and an alluring snapshot of the filmmaker’s early artistic capacity and style. The “lost” film was restored in 4k by IndieCollect in New York City.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Synopsis: THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE not only changed the face of horror in 1974 but still remains one of the most shocking, powerful and terrifying films ever made. Widely banned on its release it’s notoriety has not diminished and this harrowing tale of a depraved Texan clan, and its chainsaw wielding icon of horror, Leatherface, continues to stun and disturb audiences like no other film. This new director supervised restoration brings new life and detail to the film and immerses the viewer as never before.
Deep Red (1975)
Synopsis: A psychic who can read minds picks up the thoughts of a murderer in the audience and soon becomes a victim. An English pianist gets involved in solving the murders, but finds many of his avenues of inquiry cut off by new murders, and he begins to wonder how the murderer can track his movements so closely.
Carrie (1976)
Synopsis: Based on the best-selling Stephen King novel, Carrie is a high school loner with no confidence, no friends… and no idea about the extent of her secret powers of telekinesis. But when her psychotic mother and sadistic classmates finally go too far, the once-shy teen becomes an unrestrained, vengeance-seeking powerhouse who causes all hell to break loose in a frenzy of blood, fire and brimstone! Piper Laurie, John Travolta, and Amy Irving are terrific in this horror classic.
Halloween (1978)
Synopsis: The year is 1963, the night: Halloween. Police are called to 43 Lampkin Ln. only to discover that 15 year old Judith Myers has been stabbed to death, by her 6 year-old brother, Michael. After being institutionalized for 15 years, Myers breaks out on the night before Halloween. No one knows, nor wants to find out, what will happen on October 31st 1978 besides Myers’ psychiatrist, Dr. Loomis. He knows Michael is coming back to Haddonfield, but by the time the town realizes it, it’ll be too late for many people.
The Changeling (1980)
Synopsis: Consumed by grief, a New York composer moves to a secluded Victorian mansion. There he finds himself haunted by a paranormal entity that may unleash an even more disturbing secret. Peter Medak’s acclaimed and celebrated THE CHANGELING is quite simply, one of the great haunted house films.
Dead & Buried (1981)
Synopsis: In Potter’s Bluff, unsuspecting visitors are being brutally murdered by groups of locals. But when the sheriff starts to investigate, he uncovers a dark conspiracy involving voodoo, witchcraft and his own wife! Gary Sherman’s Bradbury-esque chiller boasts an impressive horror pedigree, including effects by Stan Winston, a script from the writers of ALIEN, and Robert Englund in a supporting role. But the scary standout is surely WILLY WONKA’s Jack Albertson, who delivers a wonderfully wicked performance as the creepy town mortician with some long-buried secrets.
Poltergeist (1982)
Synopsis: Late one night, 10 year-old Carol Anne Freeling hears a voice coming from the inside of the television set. At first, the spirits that invade the Freelings’ home seem like playful children. But then they turn angry. And when Carol Anne is pulled from this world into another, Steve and Diane Freeling turn to an exorcist in the horror classic.
Sleepaway Camp (1983)
Synopsis: A deranged killer stalks kids and counselors at summer camp in this ’80s cult classic which spawned multiple sequels. Slightly traumatized and painfully shy Angela Baker is sent away to summer camp with her cousin. Not long after Angela’s arrival, things start to go horribly wrong for anyone with bad intentions. Who’s the secret killer? And what’s behind their murderous motivation? SLEEPAWAY CAMP is an unusual fright film which starts out campy then gets nastier and nastier until the shocking (and problematic) ending. Essential viewing for ’80s slasher fiends.
Day of the Dead (1985)
Synopsis: After a zombie apocalypse, scientists attempt to reverse the reanimation process and train zombies to abstain from eating people. But this being one of George Romero’s films, the scientists and military enforcers at the underground lab facility soon wind up in deep trouble. As with his previous two zombie films, Romero inserts a commentary on the decade it was made – the ’80s – connecting the walking dead to the homeless, the poor and people with AIDS. Controversial on its release, DOTD later found a group of champions who consider it one of Romero’s best.
Re-Animator (1985)
Synopsis: This classic ‘80s cult horror hit follows a student who brings the dead back to life. Herbert West (the brilliant Jeffrey Combs) has just enrolled at a new school after an attempt to revive a former professor went very wrong. Convinced he’s on the verge of a breakthrough, West sneaks into the morgue and revives a corpse, and that’s where the terror—and comedy—begins. RE-ANIMATOR was the first, and still the best, of Stuart Gordon’s gruesome (and raunchy) H.P. Lovecraft adaptations. 30 years later, it remains essential viewing for any true horror fan.
Hellraiser (1987)
Synopsis: A puzzle box reveals a realm of sadistic monsters led by a being named Pinhead, who torture the depraved man who unlocks it. Escaping Pinhead’s wrath, what remains of Frank hides out in his attic, until a chance encounter leads him to enlist his brother’s wife Julia, with whom he had a passionate affair, to lure victims home so Frank can feed off their blood. Clive Barker’s essential 80s classic offered audiences weary of slashers a thrilling new alternative: a sexually-charged horror-fantasy with a villain more terrifying””and goth””than Freddy or Jason.
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
Synopsis: It’s a decade after the original Halloween massacre in Haddonfield, and Michael Myers lays comatose in a maximum security prison hospital. But when he learns of the existence of his young niece Jamie (Danielle Harris), he escapes to return home and fulfill his destiny of destruction. Can Michael’s relentless killing spree be stopped by Dr. Loomis (the legendary Donald Pleasence) or will this inhuman evil again survive the most frightening night of the year?
Ginger Snaps (2000)
Synopsis: Two death-obsessed sisters, outcasts in their suburban neighborhood, must deal with the tragic consequences when one of them is bitten by a deadly werewolf. Morbid and singular in their small town, Brigitte and Ginger vow to live and die together, but when Ginger is attacked by a werewolf, she grows detached from her sister and embraces a vicious new lifestyle. Written by Karen Walton and directed by ORPHAN BLACK creator John Fawcett, GINGER SNAPS packs dark, affecting themes of family, feminism and oncoming womanhood into a grisly creature feature. A favorite upon release, GINGER SNAPS only grows more ferocious with age, as it takes its rightful place as one of our great werewolf stories.
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)
Synopsis: In this clever mockumentary, a camera crew follows an aspiring slasher movie killer as he prepares to slaughter a group of teens. Leslie Vernon always dreamed of joining the ranks of Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers and Freddy Krueger. But if he wants to become the next great psycho slasher, he’s got to do lots of preparation — from weapons practice to lots and lots of cardio. Fans of SCREAM and THE CABIN IN THE WOODS shouldn’t miss this hilarious slasher satire, which features horror icons Robert Englund, Kane Hodder and Zelda Rubenstein in supporting roles.
We Are What We Are (2010)
Synopsis: The Parkers are a seemingly wholesome family, but patriarch Frank rules over them with a rigorous fervour. When tragedy strikes and his daughters Iris and Rose are forced to assume terrifying responsibilities that extend beyond those of a typical family, the local authorities begin to uncover clues to a horrible truth that the Parkers have hidden for so many years. Directed by Jim Mickle (Stakeland) WE ARE WHAT WE ARE, is a chilling tale of a family with a dark, dark secret.
Absentia (2011)
Synopsis: A woman’s missing husband returns after many years, but something is wrong with him. Days before Tricia’s finally ready to file a document declaring her husband Daniel legally dead, she encounters a mysterious tunnel and a terrified man inside. Soon after the encounter, Daniel shows up, bloodied and scared to death of the tunnel. What happened to Daniel? And where does the tunnel lead? Variety called Mike Flanagan’s (OCULUS) crowdfunded indie horror film, “very creepy” and “non-formulaic”, and the film won over 20 awards at US horror film festivals.
The Canal (2014)
Synopsis: Whilst sorting through film footage of a horrific 1900s murder case, archivist David (Rupert Evans) discovers his family home was the scene of the gruesome crime in question. Initially dismissing the case as ancient history, David begins to question everything when the horrific crimes of the past bleed into reality. Teetering on the brink of insanity, a shattering betrayal sends David over the edge as he finds himself embroiled in a sinister plot. Based on an Irish ghost story, Ivan Kavanagh’s THE CANAL is an effective murder mystery with a compelling supernatural twist.
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
Synopsis: The first Iranian Vampire Western, Ana Lily Amirpour’s debut feature basks in the sheer pleasure of pulp. A joyful mash-up of genre, archetype and iconography, its prolific influences span spaghetti westerns, graphic novels, horror films, and the Iranian New Wave. Amped by a mix of Iranian rock, techno and Morricone-inspired riffs, its airy, anamorphic, black-and-white aesthetic and artfully drawn-out scenes combine the simmering tension of Sergio Leone with the surrealism of David Lynch.
The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)
Synopsis: After months of searching, Mia Medina has found the perfect subject for her PhD thesis film on Alzheimer’s Disease. For the next several months, cameras will record the everyday life of mother Deborah Logan and her daughter Sarah. But as the days progress, they observe behaviors and occurrences that show the progression to be far more advanced than anyone was prepared for. What becomes apparent is that there’s something besides Alzheimer’s that has taken control of Deborah’s life. It’s an evil that is far worse than the debilitating disease with which she was first diagnosed.
Southbound (2016)
Synopsis: On a desolate stretch of desert highway, two men on the run from their past, a band on their way to the next gig, a man struggling to get home, a brother in search of his long-lost sister and a family on vacation are forced to confront their worst fears and darkest secrets in these interwoven tales of terror and remorse on the open road.
The Wailing (2016)
Synopsis: In this unbelievably tense supernatural thriller, a foreigner’s mysterious appearance in a quiet, rural village causes suspicion among the locals – suspicion which quickly turns to hysteria as the townspeople begin killing each other in brutal outbursts for seemingly no reason. As the investigating officer watches his daughter fall under the same savage spell, he agrees to consult a shaman for answers – unknowingly escalating the situation into something far more dangerous.
Train to Busan (2016)
Synopsis: When a mysterious virus breaks out across the country, the infected turn into the murderous undead. A few terrified travelers find themselves trapped on a bullet train from hell, fighting for their lives as hordes of the living dead crash towards them, crawling closer with every stop. Suspicion is rife and tensions run high as some will do anything to survive and make it to the safe zone.
Prevenge (2017)
Synopsis: A pitch black, wryly British comedy from the mind of Alice Lowe (SIGHTSEERS), PREVENGE follows Ruth, a pregnant woman on a killing spree that’s as funny as it is vicious. It’s her misanthropic unborn baby dictating Ruth’s actions, holding society responsible for the absence of a father. The child speaks to Ruth from the womb, coaching her to lure and ultimately kill her unsuspecting victims. Struggling with her conscience, loneliness, and a strange strain of prepartum madness, Ruth must ultimately choose between redemption and destruction at the moment of motherhood. PREVENGE marks the directorial debut from Lowe, who is a true triple threat, writing, directing, and acting in the film during her own real-life pregnancy.
Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017)
Synopsis: A haunting horror fairytale set against the backdrop of Mexico’s devastating drug wars, TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID follows a group of orphaned children armed with three magical wishes, running from the ghosts that haunt them and the cartel that murdered their parents. Filmmaker Issa López creates a world that recalls the early films of Guillermo del Toro, imbued with her own gritty urban spin on magical realism to conjure a wholly unique experience that audiences will not soon forget.
One Cut of the Dead (2017)
Synopsis: While shooting a low-budget zombie film in an abandoned warehouse, the crew find themselves caught between actual zombies and a mad director who won’t stop rolling. If you think you know what happens next, think again. Filmmaker Shinichiro Ueda turns the film on its head more than once for one of the wildest, funniest, and most surprising zombie movies of all time.
Knife + Heart (2018)
Synopsis: Paris, Summer 1979. Anne (French superstar Vanessa Paradis) produces third-rate gay porn. When one of her actors is brutally murdered, Anne is caught up in a strange investigation that turns her life upside-down. An ultra-stylish and blood-soaked ode to ’70s-era De Palma, Argento, and Friedkin, shot on 35mm and featuring a killer retro score from M83.
Mandy (2018)
Synopsis: The quiet life of devoted couple Red (Nicolas Cage) and Mandy (Andrea Riseborough) takes a dark and bizarre turn when a nightmarish cult and their maniacal leader (Linus Roache) seek to possess Mandy…body and soul. A shocking assault on the innocent pair leads to a spiraling, surreal, bloody rampage of all out, mind-altering vengeance.
Daniel Isn’t Real (2018)
Synopsis: As a boy, Luke invented an imaginary friend named Daniel who led them both into a world of fantasy and imagination. But after Daniel tricks Luke into doing something terrible, Luke is forced to lock him away. Twelve years later, the dangerous Daniel is back–and he now appears as a charming, maniuplative young man with a terrifying secret agenda.
Nightmare Cinema (2019)
Synopsis: In this twisted horror anthology, five strangers are drawn to an abandoned theater and forced to watch their deepest and darkest fears play out before them. Lurking in the shadows is the Projectionist, who preys upon their souls with his collection of disturbing films. As each reel spins its sinister tale, the characters find frightening parallels to their own lives.
After Midnight (2019)
Synopsis: Ten years into his small-town, storybook romance with Abby, Hank suddenly wakes up to an empty home. With nothing but a cryptic note to explain why she left, Hank’s charmed life begins to fall apart. To make matters worse, Abby’s disappearance seems to trigger the arrival of a ferocious creature that crawls out of the old grove on the edge of his property.
Horror Noire (2019)
Synopsis: Delving into a century of genre films that by turns utilized, caricatured, exploited, sidelined, and finally embraced them, Horror Noire traces the untold history of Black Americans in Hollywood through their connection to the horror genre. Adapting Robin Means Coleman’s seminal book, HORROR NOIRE will present the living and the dead, using new and archival interviews from scholars and creators; the voices who survived the genre’s past trends, to those shaping its future.
Scare Me (2020)
Synopsis: During a power outage, two strangers tell scary stories. The more Fred and Fanny commit to their tales, the more the stories come to life in the dark of a Catskills cabin. The horrors of reality manifest when Fred confronts his ultimate fear: Fanny may be the better storyteller.
The Boy Behind the Door (2020)
Synopsis: A night of unimaginable terror awaits twelve-year-old Bobby and his best friend, Kevin, when they are abducted on their way home from school. Managing to escape his confines, Bobby navigates the dark halls, praying his presence goes unnoticed as he avoids his captor at every turn. Even worse is the arrival of another stranger, whose mysterious arrangement with the kidnapper may spell certain doom for Kevin. With no means of calling for help and miles of dark country in every direction, Bobby embarks on a rescue mission, determined to get himself and Kevin out alive… or die trying.
Kandisha (2021)
Synopsis: It is summer break and best friends Amélie, Bintou and Morjana hang together with the neighborhood teenagers. At night, they have fun sharing goosebumps stories and urban legends. But when Amélie is assaulted by her ex, she remembers the story of Kandisha, a powerful and vengeful demon. Afraid and upset, she summons her. The next day, her ex is found dead. The legend is true and now Kandisha is on a killing spree. The three girls will do anything to break the curse.
This concludes the list of the best horror movies on Shudder you can watch right now. So, if you have watched them tell us in the comments and we will make a new list for you, and if you haven’t what are you waiting for.
