14 horror films to watch this Halloween on Netflix and Amazon Prime – ranked by scariness

Halloween is here, and there’s only one thing scarier than finding a terrifying film to watch: endlessly scrolling through Netflix and Amazon Prime until you’ve lost the will to live.

Well, scroll no more – we’ve picked out the best spooky films to stream in the season of ghouls and ghosts.

What’s more, we’ve (vaguely) ranked them in order of scariness – so the further down you read, you’ll find even more horrific, gory, and nightmare-inducing flicks.

Good luck.

The Gift

Watch it on: Netflix

Joel Edgerton’s writes, directs and stars in this creepy stalker horror-thriller. Simon (Arrested Development’s Jason Bateman) is visited by his old ‘weirdo’ classmate Gordo – who becomes increasingly generous with gifts towards Simon and his wife Robyn. Too generous. Strong characters, and a gut-wrenching denouement.

The Woman in Black

Watch it on: Netflix

The film adaptation of the long-running stage show won’t haunt your dreams, but it’ll give your nerves a few jolts with some super-effective jump scares. Daniel Radcliffe shakes off Potter in the lead role as a lawyer charged with sorting the affairs of the departed Mrs Drablow – whose Eel Marsh House has a spooky resident.

The Mist

Watch it on: Amazon Prime

Remember how Frank Darabont’s Shawshank Redemption left you brimming with hope at the end? Well, his take on Stephen King’s The Mist does the exact opposite. It’s a strong character-driven monster movie with a genuinely harrowing finale that’s not easily forgotten.

The Hallow

Watch it on: Amazon Prime

Corin Hardy’s Irish creature feature is a smart mix of many horror genres – home invasion, folklore, monster movie, and more. But the scares come alongside some heartfelt performances by Joseph Mawle and Bojana Novakovic, fighting to protect their newborn from a terrible fate.

The Babadook

Watch it on: Netflix

This low-budget (but big-ambition) Australian horror is both scary and sad, with a masterful performance from Essie Davis. She plays widow Essie Davis, whose trouble-making son becomes very scared of the dark when a creepy-as-hell pop-up book called The Babadook arrives on their doorstep.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night

Watch it on: Amazon Prime

Artfully shot in stunningly beautiful black and white, this Iranian vampire movie is a true original that mixes genres at will. Sheila Vand is mercurial as the titular girl who stalks the streets of Bad City, Iran and – well, the rest would be spoiling it.

Hush

Watch it on: Netflix

Mike Flanagan (whose Ouija: Origin of Evil is currently in cinemas) is making a real name for himself – and this Netflix exclusive is cementing his reputation. It’s a creepy home invasion film about a mysterious bad guy who stalks deaf crime writer Maddie over one distressing night. It’s not totally terrifying, but it’s chock full of inventive ideas and brilliant sound design.

It Follows

Watch it on: Amazon Prime

Seriously scary while you’re watching it, It Follows really gets its claws in once it’s over. The film is part homage to Seventies and Eighties horror classics like Halloween and Nightmare on Elm Street, and ranks up there alongside them. David Robert Mitchell’s dread-filled plot follows a teen who’s informed that a supernatural evil will constantly stalk her – unless she can pass on her ‘infection’ to someone else.

Poltergeist

Watch it on: Amazon Prime

Ignore the yawn-some 2015 remake (which can be found on Netflix), Amazon have the original Poltergeist – the scariest thing Steven Spielberg had put his name to until Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Scream

Watch it on: Netflix

Forget the dodgy TV adaptation – the original Wes Craven meta-horror still serves up self-aware laughs and savage chills despite being nearly 20 years old. There’s a good chance it’s your favourite scary movie.

The Conjuring

Watch it on: Amazon Prime

OK, so the Conjuring isn’t an old horror – but in the style of a real séance, it properly, erm, conjures the spirit of one. James Wan’s nostalgic haunt-‘em-up is full of real tension and well as LOUD NOISE jump scares, with some spectacular camera-work and a wonderful performance from Vera Farmiga.

The Exorcist

Watch it on: Amazon Prime

Anyone who tells you The Exorcist isn’t scary anymore is lying. William Friedkin’s masterpiece has been written about to death – so you know the drill by now. Best watched with a serving of pea soup.

Kill List

Watch it on: Amazon Prime

The film that really put director Ben Wheatley on the map is a mix of kitchen-sink Ken Loach-isms and Wicker Man occult thrills that becomes almost unbearably scary in its final act. Along the way there’s look-away-now gore, and a deeply unnerving atmosphere throughout.

Martyrs

Watch it on: Amazon Prime

French endurance test Martyrs goes to such terrible places that it’s almost hard to recommend – and it’s certainly not for everyone. If you’re feeling brave and have a strong stomach, you might want to try this revenge flick that takes a soul-ravaging turn in its final third. One of the most divisive and controversial horrors of recent years.