From terrifying horrors to not-so-scary classics riddled with mystery, Netflix is buzzing with an excellent array of creepiness to get you in the mood for Halloween. So, grab a friend, order a takeout and get watching some serious spine-chilling flicks. With hundreds of eerie titles available, we’ve narrowed down 20 of our favourites on Netflix New Zealand this Halloween.
1. Mr. Harrigan’s Phone
A freaky new movie that will put you in the Halloween mood. It is based on the short story by Stephen King. It centres around a boy named Craig, who befriends an older, reclusive billionaire. After Mr. Harrigan dies, Craig finds he is able to communicate with his former friend from beyond the grave.
2. Don’t Breathe
This movie starring Jane Levy, Stephan Lang and Daniel Zovatto as a group of Detroit delinquents who make a living from breaking into people’s houses. However, the three teens find themselves trapped in the house of horror trying to escape their blind, rich target.
3. The Watcher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HDkw100sXQ&t=64s
This American crime series tells the true story of a married couple who bought their dream home in 2014 in New Jersey. However, shortly after moving into the house, they are harassed through letters signed by a creepy stalker called The Watcher.
4. The Midnight Club
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3cCROeOQLQ
Just released this October by the creators of The Haunting of Hill House, it tells the tale of a group of terminally ill teenagers who meet in the hospice to tell spooky stories. With not long to live, the friends make a pact between them that the first person to die must send signs from beyond the grave. But when one of them dies, chilling things begin to happen.
5. DAHMER: Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVHHs-xllqo&t=43s
This is one of the best shows to watch on Netflix. This terrifying true story will change the way you think about humanity. It follows one of the most notorious serial killers in the history of the United States. Jeffrey Dahmer, known for cannibalism, killed 17 young men and teenagers across more than a decade beginning in 1978.
6. A Quiet Place
This 2018 thriller movie is the perfect Halloween throwback on Netflix. A family must live in silence to avoid being hunted by vicious creatures who chase sound. Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and Lee (John Krasinski) are forced to communicate in sign language, along with their children, to survive this brutal universe.
7. The Babadook
“Do you want to die?” is the question Samuel asks his widowed mother Amelia. As she tries to help her tormented son overcome his irrational fears of monsters, she’s faced with a supernatural presence that has escaped the pages of a children’s book. If you’re up for psychological horror, this Australian film is worth a watch on Netflix this Halloween.
8. Fear Street Trilogy
Horror fans will rejoice at this trilogy coming to Netflix so you can get in the Halloween mood. You can enjoy Fear Street Part: 1994, Fear Street Part 2: 1978 and Fear Street Part 3: 1666 on Netflix. The first movie follows a teen and her friends who decide to fight against evil forces after a series of brutal murders in their small town. Indeed, it will give you nightmares!
9. You
This American psychological thriller first hit screens back in 2018. Watch season one to three. In season three, creepy Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) is running from his murderous past, living in a Californian suburb with his new wife, Love (Victoria Pedretti) and newborn son. But Joe is unable to keep his toxic obsessions and infatuations at bay. Certainly, you’ll want to lock your doors and watch your back after this one.
10. Things Seen & Heard
This horror movie is based on the novel by Elizabeth Brundage, All Things Cease To Appear. In a 1980s depicted world, Catherine (Amanda Seyfried) and her husband George (James Norton) excitingly move to an old house in the Hudson Valley. Soon after, supernatural events unfold, and they realise that their home is harboring sinister secrets. If you’re a scary cat like myself, be sure to watch this horror flick with someone else.
11. Stranger Things
The second volume of the fourth installment of Stranger Things landed on Netflix in July. It picks up after six months since the battle in Starcourt, which almost destroyed Hawkins. The friends are separated for the first time, with Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) captured and stuck in a hidden location with no powers.
12. Fractured
This 2019 psychological thriller movie tells the tale of a man who goes on a mission to find his injured daughter and wife after they disappear from the emergency room. Believing the hospital has something to do with it, he starts to piece together the mystery. It’s cleverly absorbing but not too chilling that you’ll be hiding behind your hands.
13. The Babysitter 1 & 2
Both these horror-comedy movies, directed by McG, are the perfect way to dose up on bloody theatrics and still sleep peaceful. Think satanic shenanigans, plenty of action, and scared kids petrified of their babysitters, to keep you entertained.
14. The Devil All The Time
Expect a stellar cast to bring this disturbing movie to life. In a postwar town in America, watch as a young man tries to fight against corruption and sinister characters who can’t tell the difference between faith and evil, in order to protect his family. Indeed, this movie is unsettling to watch, full of violence, death, and plenty to heighten your Halloween spirit.
15. Hubie Halloween
This horror comedy flick stars Adam Sandler, Noah Schnapp, Maya Rudolph and more. It follows Hubie Dubois (Sandler), an unusual but harmless oddball, known to locals. However, when residents start disappearing, Hubie has a hard time trying to convince people it has something to do with an escaped criminal who is new to the area. You’ll have to watch it to find out what happens next.
16. #Alive
This South Korean title seems fitting in the current climate. It tells the story of a virus that spreads through South Korea and turns people into flesh-eating zombies. Instead of running, Joon-woo locks himself inside his apartment, trying to hide from the blood-thirsty monsters. This suspenseful thriller may even give you nightmares and is just the Netflix movie to get you in the mood for Halloween.
17. Bird Box
This Netflix sensation needs no introduction, but in case there’s a small chance you haven’t seen it, then it’s probably a good time to watch this post-apocalyptic thriller, where evil attacks through sight. Anyone unfortunate enough to see the mysterious force will commit suicide. Sandra Bullock plays a mother of two, who attempts to take her children on a treacherous journey down a river to safety. And she has to do it all, um, blindfolded!
18. The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina
This supernatural dark fantasy series is totally worth the watch. A twisted adaption of the Sabrina The Teenage Witch, it follows Sabrina Spellman as she tries to navigate her dual-life as half-witch and half mortal, while trying to protect herself and her loved ones from evil forces.
19. Unsolved Mysteries
This gripping docuseries will leave you with an insatiable appetite for true crime. While the shocking real-life murders and mysterious disappearances aren’t for everyone, those that binge-watched the first two seasons will be excited to know season three releases on October 18.
20. The Final Girls
This 2015 flick stars Taissa Farmiga, Nina Dobrev, Adam DeVine and more. It follows the daughter of a deceased scream queen from the 1980s, who attends a special screening with some friends. However, things take a spooky turn and the group end up in the movie, running for their lives from a psycho.