Little known fact: Spooky time is all the time when you're a horror fan! AMC's horror streaming service Shudder makes it easier than ever for both casual viewers and aficionados alike to find whatever their haunted hearts desire. Like all streamers, though, there is a lot of content to parse through. Some of it can be pretty rough — no judgment if that's your thing as we all need a trashy horror movie now and then — but Shudder also happens to be an absolute treasure trove of some of the best horror around. Both foreign and domestic films are given the opportunity to shine on the platform, making it well worth the $5.99 per month (or $56.99 annually) price tag.
Read on for some of the best movies on Shudder right now, and then when you're done here be sure to check out the Best 90s Horror Movies you can stream and the 31 Best Modern Horror Movies.
A Lonely Place To Die
Julian Gilbey mixes genre experiences in his survivalist thriller A Lonely Place to Die. Mountain climbers in the Scottish Highlands discover a kidnapped girl, and her nefarious captors pursue the rescue party through ravines and while rappelling downward. Then the action transfers to a local town that at least endangers characters on solid ground. Melissa George stars in this free-falling descent into criminal dangers, as Gilbey finds horror both in hunters shooting innocents and climbers dangling off rock faces while bastards sabotage their trek. As if the threat of plummeting to your death isn’t enough, weaponry and traps are added into the mix for the ultimate outdoorsy terror that utilizes the bleak isolation of Mother Nature to tremendous effects.
Demon Wind
Demon Wind is an unintentionally bad-good 90s horror masterpiece that tries to recreate Evil Dead but fails so miserably that it boomerangs back to being amazing. This movie has everything! Magicians who know karate, Lou Diamond Phillips dressed as a boil-covered demon, animal transformations — except there’s no wind, just fog? Demon Wind doesn’t understand pacing, character development, or most other technical merits of cinema, but sure does make for an endlessly entertaining stream for maybe-not-sober watch parties. It’s a futile film to explain as possessions, nude seductresses, and cloven-hoofed devils cycle through scenes at random, yet must be experienced by anyone who loves cheesy midnighters with extra cheese overflowing everywhere.
Detention
Detention is based on a Taiwanese video game that blends national traumas with hints of Silent Hill and international survival horror games like DreadOut. High school students find themselves under martial law in 1962 Taiwan, where reading certain books is enough to earn the death sentence. Horrors are a mixture of government oppression and ghastly deities who resemble The Crooked Man, living at the intersection of historical terrors and demonic symbolism. It’s a story that oozes fear based on Taiwan’s tragic past without sacrificing these searing glimpses of horror between monsters, hangings, and other ghoulish accents that exploit the genre’s frightening efficiencies. How dare an overseas period piece be spooky and informative!
Scare Me
Josh Ruben's debut spotlights the power behind a well-told story. Two writers in cabins seeking rejuvenated creative juices spend time during a power outage telling each other scary tales to prove who's the better wordsmith. Imaginations run wild when their descriptions come alive, as Ruben and co-star Aya Cash (and SNL's Chris Redd) entertain using nothing but emphatic campfire tactics to raise chills that are impressive in their simplicity. Werewolves won't appear when Ruben tells a werewolf story, for example — entertainment is in a storyteller's annunciation and presence, which all actors convey splendidly. It's a clever exercise that proves how horror starts with sentences and characters before any visual effects are turned gory or grotesque, making the most of lower budgets by telling of terror without the need to show.
Hounds Of Love
Ben Young’s directorial debut, Hounds of Love, is as vicious and brutal a debut film as you can find. The Australian serial killer thriller stars Emma Booth and Stephen Curry as predators who prey on young girls. Their latest target, played by Ashleigh Cummings, is drugged and abducted as a prelude to gut-churning horrors that range from perverse fetishes to real-world sadism. Hounds of Love is a hard true(ish) crime pill to swallow — producers confirm Young’s criminals mix inspiration from a host of Australian and international murder sprees but nothing specific — which plays at romantic and abusive traumas. Booth and Currey are too charismatic; Cummings is a fierce and combative victim. It’s the darkest brand of horror tale, rooted in earthly evils but too accomplished by filmmaking standards. For those who listen to true crime podcasts like their daily treats, Hounds of Love is a must-see.
Black Roses
Black Roses falls under the “80s midnighter” umbrella for its cheesy rock ‘n roller themes and demonic costumes. It’s for those who enjoy films like Deathgasm, Rock ‘N’ Roll Nightmare, and Trick ‘R Treat (the heavy metal horror one). Bands of the era like Lizzy Borden and King Kobra lend their talents to a possessed band that turns suburban teens against their parents, resulting in unexplainable deaths. You’ll witness leather-clad monsters on stage who hypnotize their adoring crowd and record players that come alive, eating their prey. There’s nothing serious about Black Roses, so expect more comedy than tragedy — but it’s a definitive relic for headbanger horror fans. One that’s been especially hard to find, which makes its availability on Shudder all the more critical.
The Day Of The Beast
Álex de la Iglesia is such a prolific filmmaker, but stateside audiences might not know that since most of his work is Spanish. The Day of the Beast is a proper introduction to the madness he summons because none of his films choose safer roads. Take The Day of the Beast, a Christmas horror flick about a metalhead, a Catholic priest sinning as much as he can, and an Italian occult celebrity — a trio who must stop the antichrist’s birth. Iglesia’s morbid humor leads to these chaotic, off-the-wall, highly imaginative tales that blend multiple genres. The Day of the Beast is satanic horror, a buddy comedy, and so much more. A new Christmas tradition in the making!
Satan’s Slaves
I will never shut up about Joko Anwar's scare-machine, Satan's Slaves. The way we talk about James Wan's mastery of haunted house architecture could fit Anwar's stylistic darkness as well. I don't scare as easily anymore, given how many horror flicks I watch per year, but Satan's Slaves is one of those rare instances where I felt like a 7-year-old watching A Nightmare On Elm Street. It's steeped in unnerving paranormal activity that feels fresher from an international perspective, finding the perfect balance between cultural significance and nightmare camera tricks. Indonesian horror has been on fire these last however many years — Satan's Slaves is one of the best examples.
Monstrum
Who can say no to a horror movie where a plague is the least of everyone’s worries? A sickness is ravaging Joseon, but rumors of a monster run rampant further threaten King Jungjong's kingdom. Things are never really what they seem with monarchs, though. While some critics called Monstrum predictable, this one’s kind of more about the journey than the destination. The action sequences are a joy, the creature effects are fun, and there may or may not be a monster nicknamed “Sparkles.”
Z
Imaginations can be killer. Brandon Christensen’s spooky nightmare, called simply Z, plays into the familiar trope of a child’s murderous imaginary friend. The plot may be recognizable here, but the visuals are enough to keep you haunted. Lead actress Keegan Connor Tracy really loses herself in her role — literally. She’s gone on record saying that Z "was such a huge emotional journey for me and I had to sort of sequester myself a lot to stay in that woman’s mental and emotional space."
Blood Quantum
We love a sociopolitical horror joint! Fresh takes on the zombie genre are hard, a fact that becomes even truer when a film diverts from the horror-comedy angle and plays it straight. Still, Blood Quantum pulls it off. A play on controversial Blood Quantum Laws, we learn six months into the apocalypse that members of the Red Crow Reservation and all those with Native blood cannot be infected by the “Zeds” while the rest of the world is fair game. Though no more plot details will be offered here, it feels important to note that Stonehorse Lone Goeman’s Gisigu is an icon and the film is worth checking out for his performance alone.
The Cleansing Hour
The Cleansing Hour is perfect introductory horror. You’ve heard of televangelists, but have you ever heard of tele-exorcists? We follow a pretend preacher as he and his crew stage fake exorcisms for views on their tacky set. At least we do until the possession stops being fake and Max — the hot preacher — is forced to reckon with his past sins if he wants to save his fiancée. It’s a little predictable, and some of the performances are a little shaky, but the practical effects are strong and Alix Angelis carries everyone across the finish line with her impeccable acting.
Train to Busan
MCU fans will recognize Eternals’ Ma Dong-seok (Gilgamesh) in one of South Korea’s best horror flicks. (Which is a feat, for those familiar with South Korean cinema!) Picture this: You’re aboard a high-speed train at the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. Chaos overtakes the outside world, but you think, just for a moment, that you’re safe for the time being. You think this, of course, because you missed the sick woman shambling on the train. What comes next may be what you expect, but the way it all unfolds is what makes Train to Busan an all-timer.
One Cut of the Dead
There are good movies, there are bad movies, a lot of just ok movies, and then there are special movies. One Cut of the Dead is in that last category. Usually when you hear “stick with it past the first 30 minutes,” you assume that the first third of the movie is rough. In One Cut’s case, you simply don’t know what’s going on (in a good way) until those early 30 minutes wrap up. A “love letter” can feel like a cliche, but that’s exactly what kind of film One Cut of the Dead manages to be. Telling you who that love letter is addressed to heads into spoiler territory, but trust that this one is remarkable and give it a shot.
Psycho Goreman
If you’re looking for a “hot nonsense” kind of film to meet your viewing needs, Psycho Goreman is just that. This silly, vulgar, and sometimes touching flick became one of those instant cult classics for a multitude of reasons. The real question is, which aspect of it will be the one that wins you over? Will it be Nita-Josee Hanna’s hilarious performance as Mimi, the hunky boys, or PG inexplicably dressed as Dr. Alan Grant? Psycho Goreman is loads of fun for the whole family (swears and all), especially for those who gravitate towards practical effects.
The Medium
When you watch a lot of horror, getting creeped out can become a tall order. The Medium fits that bill and then some. It shifts from haunting to utterly terrifying with ease, and features an incredible performance from Narilya Gulmongkolpech as Mink. Found footage isn’t for everyone, but rest assured that any shaky camera work is used solely to enhance the story rather than to simply jar the audience. (And note that the film has no relation to the game.)
Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror
We see “essential viewing” thrown around all willy nilly a lot these days. That acknowledgment aside, Horror Noire is absolutely essential viewing. Based on Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1890s to Present by Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman, the documentary explores the Black history of horror. Featuring legends from Tony Todd to Jordan Peele and focusing on everything from The Birth of a Nation to blaxploitation to contemporary hits like Get Out, Horror Noire seeks to highlight both the sins and successes of Black representation in horror. The doc is also being followed up by an anthology series that premiered on October 29th on Shudder.
Tigers Are Not Afraid
Fantasy and stone-cold realism typically mix like oil and vinegar, but that’s the magic of Tigers Are Not Afraid. The award-winning film is unforgettable. A small group of children’s stories intertwine as the Mexican Drug War ravages their town and, in the process, they all find themselves met with challenges beyond their years. Those hurdles are coupled with impeccable performances and emotional traumas that will leave most viewers breathless.
What are your favorite horror movies on Shudder? Let's discuss in the comments!
