10 Great Horror Movies Available to Download on Netflix

A recent and rare flight without a toddler in tow made me realize that Netflix’s download option would allow me to watch movies on the plane for free! Hooray! 

In case you have some toddler-free air travel in your immediate future, here are 10 great horror movies available for download on Netflix (as of the time of this post). In the spirit of discovering new movies, I’m leaving out some options that you really should have seen by now like Scream (1996), Zombieland (2009), The Witch (2015), and I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997). This list is spoiler-free, but I’ve included links to our spoiler-filled podcast discussions on these movies where applicable. I should also warn you that some of these may be a bit awkward or downright rude to watch if your inflight neighbor can see your screen. Use your judgement. So without further ado, and in no particular order...

The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

A father and son duo of coroners attempt to unlock the mystery of an unidentified dead body and things get weird. This is one of the most original horror movies I’ve seen in the last few years, and it flew a little bit under the radar. It’s creepy, fun, and definitely worth checking out whether you’re on a plane or on your couch.

Scream 4 (2011)

This sequel gets even more meta and tongue-in-cheek than the original. It can’t stack up to the first film, but it captures the same sense of scary fun and adds a new face to the franchise with modern day scream queen Emma Roberts. 

The Ritual (2017)

A bunch of friends go on a backpacking trip and things go south. It all sounds pretty typical, but this movie goes to some unexpected places and does so with aplomb. To say anymore would be spoiling the movie, but you should definitely check this out. The effects team gets high fives all around.

The Perfection (2018)

Here is another film that I’m hesitant to say much about without spoiling it. Love it or hate it, The Perfection is definitely worth the ride. Incredible performances from Alison Williams and Logan Browning ground the insanity that takes place after the meeting of two star pupils from an esteemed music school.

Bird Box (2018)

A supernatural entity causes anyone who looks upon it to die by suicide, and anybody who watches a movie about it to film themselves doing something stupid. Okay, maybe everybody already saw this one, but I’m putting it on here because even though it was snarkily dismissed by many, I firmly believe Bird Box is an above average movie with some exceptionally disturbing sequences and solid acting from Sandra Bullock and Trevante Rhodes. Come at me. But first put on that blindfold (*runs away*).

Tales of Halloween (2015)

This is a controversial opinion, but this Halloween anthology is even better than Trick ‘r Treat. With a wide variety of vignettes, Tales of Halloween is bound to have a few that everyone will like. Funny, gory, and spooky, this has become a movie I will watch every Halloween.

Emelie (2015)

The babysitter is usually relegated to the role of an inevitable victim in most horror movies, but Emelie isn’t that kind of movie. The film, which plays out more like a thriller than a horror movie,  is edge-of-your-seat, popcorn-shoveling fun. A compelling performance by Sarah Bolger lets us get lost in the movie and makes it easier not to harp on the plot holes.

Terrifier (2016)

We had mixed feelings on this movie when we discussed it on the podcast, but one thing is for sure - this movie is...something. If you’re prepared for some intense violence (specifically towards women), then Terrifier is worth a watch. This modern slasher pays homage to the slasher hay day of the late 70s and early 80s, but also adds a few tweaks to the formula. As far as a new slasher icon in the vein of Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees, it’s hard to deny that Art the Clown is the closest thing we’ve got.

Veronica (2017)

It seems like at least once a year, the label “one of the scariest movies of all time” gets tossed around on the interwebs. While that claim may be a bit hyperbolic, Veronica is definitely high on the scare-o-meter. Its genuine creepiness, stylized visuals, and solid child acting elevate this above the standard teen-plays-with-a-ouija-board film, and makes it one of Netflix’s strongest horror offerings.

Green Room (2015)

There’s no supernatural element, and it’s not exactly a slasher, but it’s hard not to call Green Room a horror movie. Lots of suspense, heavy violence, and bad guys that everybody can root against (neo-nazis) earns this movie a spot on this list. And Patrick Stewart makes a hell of a villain.

Have thoughts on any of these movies that you’d like to share? Feel free to join our Discord Server where you can chat with us and other horror fans, or follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

-Brian