Finding fresh horror movies can Watch High Heel Homicide (2017)pose a challenge.
Of course, new nightmares come to theaters regularly and plenty of streaming services have sections dedicated to the genre. But horror is as complex and varied as its morbid fanbase. It has a wide range of styles, mixed levels of intensity, and questionable quality standards — even when looking on streaming services like Shudder, which is exclusively dedicated to creepy curation.
With mountains of not-so-great scary movies appearing alongside frightful masterpieces, how do you hunt down what you'll like without getting lost in the browsing fray? Do you go by thumbnail? Rating? Recommendation? A tingly feeling in your left foot? It's a problem this reporter knows all too well, and one she'd like to help solve.
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Thanks to some meticulous combing (and a lot of free trials), here are the best places to browse for horror movies broken down by your terrifying taste — you know you're going to have a lot more time for scares now that you are responsibly social distancing in your apartment. There wasn't an easy solution to every problem, but this should get you fleeing in the right direction. Enjoy!
Slashers
Where to watch the best slasher movies Credit: universal pictures When it comes to slashers, finding iconic killers is easy. Although Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, Ghostface, Baby Face, Candyman, and Chucky aren't consolidated on one service, the sites lucky enough to have them advertise so often — pushing their movies to the top of horror fans' "recommended for you" queues and trusting they'll get a click.
Now if you're looking for slasher flicks that are less well-known, you won't need a subscription. Tubi and Crackle, both free streaming services (with advertisements), offer a surprisingly wide array of slashers from across decades. Think I Know What You Did Last Summer, Prom Night, Sorority Row, Black Christmas, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Sleepaway Camp.
Verdict: Tubi and Crackle
Psychological thrillers
Where to watch the best psychological thrillers Credit: mgm Like the subgenre itself, psychological thrillers seem to go anywhere and everywhere. Showtime has The Babadook, Hulu's got Black Swan, Netflix is streaming Rosemary's Baby, and American Psychois on STARZ. Oh, and Mulholland Drive, Silence of the Lambs, and The Shiningare only available for rent or purchase. My advice? This is one category of film best guided by recommendation. Narrow down what you really want to watch and brace for a rental fee.
Verdict:Look on a case-by-case basis
Gore and body horror
Where to watch the best gore and body horror Credit: 20th century fox If blood, guts, and gross skin stuff hold a special place in your horror-loving heart, then keep your browsing to Netflix. Unfortunately, body horror classics like The Thing and The Fly are only streaming on STARZ. But Netflix does have the Final Destinationfranchise, The Green Inferno, Would You Rather, The Evil Dead, The Perfection, and plenty of other heinous stuff.
FYI, the Sawfranchise is on Tubi, and The Human Centipedemovies are only available for rent or purchase. (Hey, youare the one looking for them. I'm just telling you where they are.)
Verdict: Netflix
Horror comedies
Where to watch the best horror comedies Credit: rogue pictures Want your screams with a side of giggles? Try STARZ, Showtime, or Hulu. STARZ has Shaun of the Deadand Young Frankenstein, while Showtime's got the Screamfranchise and Hulu has The Cabin in the Woodsand Little Monsters. If you're a fan of add-ons, Hulu is a good place to start.
Verdict: Hulu, Showtime, and STARZ
Black-and-white classics
Where to watch black and white horror Credit: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images Whether you’re a casual nostalgic or full-blown archival aficionado, Tubi and STARZ are the first places you should be looking for black-and-white frights. Tubi has classics like Night of the Living Deadand Plan 9 from Outer Space. STARZ has Hitchcock hits like Psychoand Vertigo. You can also check The Criterion Collection.
Verdict: Tubi and STARZ
Alien invasions
where to watch the best alien movies Credit: sony pictures Netflix's Stranger Things notwithstanding, Hulu add-ons dominate the alien invasion category. With the basic Hulu package, you get phenoms like A Quiet Place. Add Showtime to check out District 9. Top it off with HBO Now and you've got the entire Alienfranchise and War of the Worlds.
Verdict:Hulu (with essential add-ons)
Witchy teen stuff
Where to watch teen witch movies Credit: columbia pictures The Craft is on Crackle. The Craftis also on Netflix. The Craftis available for rent or purchase. If you would like to watch something other than The Craft that's also about teenagers and witchcraft (for some reason??), check out Halloweentown and Hocus Pocus on Disney+, The Blair Witch Projecton Hulu, or Suspiria(2018) on Amazon Prime Video.
Verdict: You could be watchingThe Craftright now!
Zombies
Where to watch best zombie movies Credit: Next Entertainment World There are as many great zombie movies as there are walking dead on that Train to Busan(now streaming on Netflix.) But Hulu has the heftiest hoard available with Overlord, 28 Days Later, Little Monsters, and Anna and the Apocalypse.
Verdict:Hulu
A24
Where to watch A24 horror movies Credit: a24 No, A24 isn’t a “type” of movie. But with the studio’s increasingly impressive horror catalogue, it can’t hurt knowing where all of its creepy contents reside. You can catch older A24 projects like The Witch, The Blackcoat’s Daughter, It Comes At Night, Under the Skin,and Enemyall on Netflix.
Killing of a Sacred Deer, Midsommar, and Hereditaryare currently included with Amazon Prime Video, but you’ll have to catch newer releases like The Lighthouseand Saint Maud (when it’s out of theaters, obviously) for rent or purchase.
Verdict: Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
TV series
Where to watch horror TV series Credit: Steve Dietl/Netflix No, this isn't a type of movie either. But horror series are becoming more common and more popular each year. Both Hulu and Netflix have stellar catalogues — Into the Dark! American Horror Story!The Haunting of Hill House! The Walking Dead! NOS4A2! — so if you're into serialized scares, flip through either and enjoy.
Verdict: Netflix and Hulu
Recent releases
Where to catch recent horror movie releases Credit: universal New releases are typically available for rent or purchase through services like Google Play, Amazon Prime Video, and iTunes long before they begin to stream. So, if you're looking for speed, it's best to cough up a few bucks and watch new content there.
However, if you want to watch new stuff with a subscription, HBO Now is a good service to keep your eye on. It regularly debuts theatrical content, including projects like Us, The Curse of La Llorona, Ma, and Annabelle Comes Home.
Verdict: HBO Now
Topics Netflix COVID-19
