Halloween is just around the corner, so why not celebrate this spooky month by enjoying some terrifying horror movies? There are a lot of horror movies on Amazon Prime so it can be intimidating to try and find one that is actually good. Given the scary movie section on this streaming service is a grab bag of quality, we are going to pick out the 10 best horror movies you need to watch. Keep in mind that Amazon Prime constantly updates their movie lists, so we are only taking into account films that are available at the time of writing this. We tried to include a variety of different types of horror films since not everyone is scared by the same thing.
Before we begin, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Jeepers Creepers 2
- The Woman in Black
- Nosferatu
- Blair Witch 2016
- Pumpkinhead
- Open Grave
- The Bay
Here are our picks for the top 10 best and scariest horror films on Amazon Prime.
(This list is in no particular order)
1. The Girl With All the Gifts
There isn’t enough praise I can heap at this wonderfully original zombie movie. Directed by Colm McCarthy, this film takes place in the near future where the zombie hordes have already overrun humanity. Humanity’s only hope of survival is a group of children that are also infected, but the virus is more dormant. After a disaster at a military base, a small band of survivors must head out into the dangerous countryside and attempt to survive. Sporting a wonderful script and well-developed characters, The Girl With All the Gifts is a steller, well-paced horror movie.
2. The Witch
If you are looking for a slower paced horror movie consider checking out Robert Eggers’ The Witch. Set in America during the 17th century, a deeply religious family slowly becomes tormented by a mysterious dark entity. Unlike many modern horror films, The Witch doesn’t rely on jump scares or spikes in the audio. Instead, a sense of dread and paranoia washes over every frame of this terrifying flick that is equal parts repressive, captivating, and horrific.
3. Green Room
For something more visceral consider giving this white-knuckle thriller a watch. Set in a white supremacist punk rock club, a young band stumbles upon a horrific crime and now must survive this backwoods encounter. Where Green Room truly shines is in just how brutal and realistic its violence ends up being. Despite the fast pacing, director Jeremy Saulnier does a great job developing and establishing the relationships between the band members. Yet, the true star of this movie is Patrick Stweart who completely disappears into the role of the skinhead leader, Darcy.
4. Savageland
Perhaps one of the most unique horror films in recent memory, Savageland takes the zombie formula and flips it on its head. Composed entirely like a murder mystery television show, Savageland relies less on jump scares in order to craft a compelling and at times convincing zombie tale. Focused on the disappearance of a single town, one man is blamed for all the chaos despite some terrifying photo evidence appearing. Even though this film breaks the traditional horror formula, it’s still a highly entertaining film that truly stands out. A lot of this is due to how convincing both the performances and overall structure of the movie is. You may even forget you aren’t watching a documentary at times.
5. Hell House LLC
For a more traditional found-footage scary movie, Hell House LLC follows a film crew that visits one of the most intense horror houses. Things, of course, get out of hand when the group becomes hunted by an unsettling entity. Hell House LLC is a fairly straightforward film, but thankfully the tight script and interesting setting let the movie standout. You won’t find a ton of substance or hidden messages with this movie, but that’s okay because it fully embraces the classic horror movie design. Also, if you have a friend who’s terrified of clowns then this is the perfect movie to show them
6. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 40th Anniversary
One of the greatest horror movies of all time, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre helped revolutionize the genre. This gritty and unrelenting film follows 5 friends who are attacked by a family of sadistic cannibals and have to do everything in their power to survive. Despite being over 40 years old, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is still a horrific ride from start to finish that wears its brutality like a badge. Encapsulating the gritty, grind-house style movies it still inspires to this day, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a must watch for any horror fan.
7. The Neon Demon
Perhaps our most controversial choice for this list, The Neon Demon is a horror movie that you will either absolutely love or completely hate. Meshing surrealism with horror, director Nicholas Winding Refn’s film is a rather tense experience that never lets go. The story follows a beautiful young woman that is thrust into the modeling world. However, after meeting a group of fellow models, our protagonist slowly discovers that everything is not what it seems. To say any more would ruin the fantastic twists and turns the plot takes. While the movie lacks any traditional scares, The Neon Demon is an unsettling experience from start to finish.
8. House on Haunted Hill (1959)
Another classic in the genre, House on Haunted Hill is one of the most important horror films ever to be produced. Directed by William Castle, the plot focuses on 5 guests who are offered $10,000 dollars if they can survive the night. This is a traditional ghost story, but it’s twisting, dark plot still holds up to this day. A lot of that is thanks to actor Vincent Price who hams up every moment he is on screen. While this movie may lack the dramatic punch a lot of modern horror tales have, its classic tale is remarkably compelling.
9. Frankenstein’s Army
Frankenstein’s Army is probably one of the most entertaining horror movies that as released in recent memory. Embracing the B-Movie aesthetic, Frankenstein’s Army follows a group of Soviet soldiers that stumble upon a secret Nazi compound deep in the woods. However, instead of finding traditional soldiers, this base is filled with nightmarish creations that are equal parts horrifying and hilarious. This is a horror movie we highly recommend watching with friends if you want something less intense or traditional. There’s a uniqueness to Frankenstein’s Army that really helps it stand out among a sea of terrible B-movies.
10. An American Werewolf In London
Werewolf films have always been a difficult monster to make scary, but director John Landis pulled it off with An American Werewolf In London. Set in Britain, the story follows two friends who are attacked by a werewolf during a walking trip. One is gravely injured, yet the townspeople refuse to even admit that anything happened or such a monster exists. Landis does a great job blending both comedy and horror together, allowing for some truly memorable moments. If you are in the mood for a monster movie then An American Werewolf In London is the best choice on Amazon Prime.
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10 Best and Scariest Horror Movies on Amazon Prime (2017)