Netflix’s latest rounds of new additions include some genre powerhouses. Here are five horror films you must have under your belt!
Netflix has gained some points in my book with this newest round of horror films added to their library. From industry-shattering classics to Internet-era hits, here are five must-watch films to catch on the platform before they’re gone in the next rotation!
Psycho
💀 Alfred Hitchcock’s PSYCHO (1960) 🔪 pic.twitter.com/zsxNcmLYbp
— ✨️AnnetheHat🎩✨️ (@thecheshirepath) April 18, 2023
Psycho (1960) is Alfred Hitchcock’s most iconic film, lauded by horror fans and film critics alike for its twists, sinister performances, and eerie atmosphere. It was nominated for four Oscars back in the days of separate categories for black-and-white movies and still stands as one of the most influential films in Hollywood’s history.
In case you somehow don’t know what it’s about, Psycho follows a young woman who shelters for the night in a motel run by a charming but off-putting young man named Norman Bates. Her stay takes a dark turn when Bates’ mother enters the picture. Full of signature Hitchcock suspense and a score heard around the world, any film lover needs to enjoy this mid-century classic. Have fun visiting the original set on your next Backlot Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood!
Lights Out
One place you can hear more is the commentary track that Lotta and I recorded on our own for Lights Out. https://t.co/ksGU4lGBka
— David F. Sandberg (@ponysmasher) April 14, 2023
Lights Out (2016) began as a short film uploaded to Swedish filmmaker David F. Sandberg’s active YouTube channel for a competition in 2013. It follows a young mother plagued by a dark entity she recognizes from her traumatic childhood. This ghostlike figure is only visible when the lights are turned on, filling every shadow and instance of darkness with a sense of impending dread.
The film is a haunting allegory for mental illness and its resulting isolation. Produced by master of horror James Wan, Lights Out ties effectively creepy visuals with an impactful story for a short, gut-wrenching experience. Sandberg has gone on to direct Annabelle: Creation (2017) and Shazam! (2019), so take this as your sign to take a leap of faith and publish your short films online!
Zombieland
I just assumed tallahassee was a city in texas for most of my life until I watched zombieland and one of my friends was like “yeah he’s a good florida man” about woody harrelson’s character like WHAT???
— post rut clarity🌻 (@quelsee) April 17, 2023
Zombieland (2009) is a modern classic horror-comedy following a ragtag group of survivors after the world succumbs to a zombie apocalypse. Unfortunately, these particular undead are incredibly fast, cutting the chances of making it out alive quite slim.
Despite the humor that earned this film its stardom, the zombies are nothing to scoff at; everything is definitely worse when a zombie is also dressed as a clown.
Featuring an all-star cast (i.e., Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone), clever self-referential humor, spectacular settings, and surprisingly tender relationships, Zombieland is a perfect opportunity to have some fun as a horror fan.
The Birds
I’m not like other girls. The birds in Hitchcock’s The Birds (1963) wouldn’t attack me.
— your lady of the various sorrows 🕷🕸 (@soylatted) April 19, 2023
Another stunner from Hitchcock, The Birds (1963) is a monster movie if I’ve ever seen one. Set in the stunning Bodega Bay, the film is a two-hour meditation on the question, “What if nature fought back?”
There’s a general misunderstanding that older films aren’t scary to contemporary audiences, but Hitchcock’s masterpiece throws a wrench in that assumption. The growing flock of malevolent birds matches our steadily rising anxiety as gruesome signs of their brutality begin to appear; meanwhile, a group of schoolchildren are nearby. Great! If you’re looking for a well-paced, good old-fashioned suspense fest, this classic is for you.
Unfriended
unfriended movie is a cinema idc
— Aleeq (@AleeqOrion) April 18, 2023
Unfriended (2014) takes found footage to a new level, using a teenage girl’s computer screen as our eyes into her private life, unsteady relationships, and the weird hacker that won’t seem to leave her Skype group with friends. To make things even more invasive, the infiltrator claims to be a classmate of theirs who died by suicide exactly one year ago that day.
The film is a cautionary tale about cyberbullying, featuring underrated performances from its ensemble cast, uncomfortably creative kills, and a steadily devolving friend group willing to do and say anything to survive (except tell the truth, it seems). It’s also full of Internet references from the early 2010s that any Millennial or Gen Z can appreciate (and cringe at in hindsight).
I’m happy to see these horror gems alongside Netflix’s stellar originals like Black Mirror and Mike Flanagan’s many projects that fit snugly into the genre. I can’t wait to see what graces my subscription next!
