Lesser Known Horror Movies Worth Streaming on Netflix for Halloween 2016

Netflix is a treasure trove of movies you’ve never heard of. Some are not that great, but there are quite a few gems, especially in the horror genre.

Since Halloween falls on a Monday this year, I’m guessing most of you will be staying home doing the Netflix and Scream thing, instead of going out and partying (hey – isn’t that what this weekend is for?).

If you fall into this category, and are looking for some horror movies beyond the blockbusters, here are my picks for what to stream on Netflix this weekend:

IF YOU LIKE STALKER/SLASHER FILMS, TRY:

Hush (2016)

Maddie, a female author, is holed up in her house in the woods, when a masked man starts trying to get in. The problem? She’s deaf, so she can’t hear him. This film has a lot of great tension and scares. (Rated R]

You’re Next (2011)

Erin goes with her boyfriend to meet his family when strangers start picking the group off, one by one, with unusually fiendish traps and weapons. The thing they didn’t count on is that Erin is no helpless damsel in distress. (Rated R)

IF YOU LIKE DEMON/SUPERNATURAL FILMS, TRY:

The Babadook (2016)

This Australian film is a scary story about a character from a sinister children’s book – The Babadook – but it’s also a film about a mother dealing with the loss of her husband and struggling to cope with her six-year-old son. This film isn’t about jump scares and gore. It’s a slow burner with a great payoff. (Rated R)

Baskin (2015)

This Turkish horror film is not for those with a low tolerance for gore. In it, a group of lawmen answer a call, and stumble into a gory Black Mass that appears to actually be occurring in Hell. It is in the native language with subtitles, but even if you don’t read them, you’ll get the gist of what is happening. (Not Rated but it’s definitely a hard R)

I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016)

This Netflix original is a classic haunted house horror story, with atmosphere and a slow burn to the payoff. Lucy, a hospice nurse, is sent to care for an elderly horror author named Iris. Before long, mysterious things start happening as the spirits in the house become more malevolent. (Rated TV-14 which is like a PG-13)

Jeruzalem (2016)

This Israeli horror film is part found footage film and part End of Days/Apocalypse film. It starts in 1972, when Jewish, Muslim, and Christian priests were all called to perform an exorcism on a woman who supposedly died three days before. It then jumps to the present day as two young American girls arrive in Israel on vacation. A vacation quickly interrupted by what seems to be a terrorist strike, but is really something more ancient and evil. The ending surprised even me. It is in English, but there are some subtitles when a few characters speak Hebrew. (Rated R)

Last Shift (2014)

Jessica is a rookie cop assigned to the last shift at a police station before it is permanently closed. Unexplained things start happening, and it’s all tied to a murderous cult that worships the King of Hell. But is it really happening? That’s the real mystery of this movie, which uses the isolated setting very well. (Rated R)

Let Us Prey (2014)

This British film is set in a remote village in Scotland. A mysterious stranger named Six is being held in the local jail. Soon strange things start happening, and it’s up to PC Rachel Heggie to figure out what is happening before she, too, is killed. The ending wasn’t what I expected, but it worked. (Not Rated, but I’d give it an R for the carnage)

IF YOU LIKE YOUR HORROR MIXED WITH COMEDY, TRY:

Knights of Badassdom (2013)

You know those movies that are so over the top that they’re almost too crazy? That is this film which takes place at a LARP-ing event (Live Action Role Playing, for those not geeks). In trying to enact their medieval fantasy, they inadvertently conjure a demon. It’s also got a great cast with Steve Zahn, Summer Glau, Peter Dinklage, and Ryan Kwanten. If you like your horror mixed with geek humor, give this one a try. (Rated R)

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010)

Tucker and Dale, two backwoods friends, are headed to the woods enjoy a vacation in their cabin. Unfortunately people start dying around them and they’re accused of being psychotic killers, when they are really just misunderstood. This is a hilarious mix of hillbilly horror films, and slasher in the woods films. (Rated R)

IF YOU LIKE YOUR HORROR UNDEAD OR MIXED WITH A VIRUS OUTBREAK, TRY:

Dead Snow: Red vs. Dead (2014)

I have to say this is probably the most insane zombie movie I have ever seen. This sequel to the Norwegian zombie classic Dead Snow finds the newly awakened Nazi Zombie army tearing a path of gore and mayhem across the countryside. The big battle scene toward the end is so over the top with carnage, but at the same time it’s really funny. If you like movies like Evil Dead 2, give this a try. (Rated R)

Pontypool (2008)

In this Canadian gem, a radio announcer in the small town of Pontypool, Ontario, starts noticing people in town becoming more bizarre and more violent, As his day goes on, people start going into mindless fits of range and try to kill themselves. Turns out the English language has been infected with a virus, and words really can kill. (Rated R)

IF YOU WANT TO BINGE A FEW EPISODES OF A SERIES, TRY:

Containment – Season 1 (2016)

A lethal virus sweeps through Atlanta, and authorities immediately impose a quarantine around the neighborhood the outbreak occured in. As the hospital that found Patient Zero tries to find a cure, a new hierchy evolves both inside and outside the cordoned off area. There are 13 episodes.

“Playtest” from Black Mirror – Season 3

The nice thing about the Black Mirror series is that it is an anthology, so each episode is a self-contained story. If you’re pressed for time, this hour-long episode deals with fear and technology, and how much is too much. By the end, you’ll be wondering what exactly is real in the story, and what is in the mind. If you have more time, check out the other episodes in the season.

Slasher – Season 1 (2016)

Years after the grisly slaying of her parents, a woman returns to her hometown. Unfortunately, it appears the killer has also returned, re-creating past crimes. This series is a bit formulaic, but there are some inventive kills. There are 8 episodes.

DID I MISS SOMETHING?

I hope you found something on this list of interest to check out on Netflix this Halloween. If you have a favorite film on Netflix that I missed, let me know in comments.

Happy haunting!

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I'm Michelle Snow, the writer and creator of Zengrrl. I write about travel, entertainment, women's issues, health, body positivity, and more, both for this blog and freelance. I have also authored/co-authored four guidebooks on Orlando and Florida. If you aren't already following me, the links are below, as well as on the top right of this page. Thanks!