We often find ourselves in a rut of recommending the same old hot-topic scary movies and renowned classics. It seems to be that we gravitate to the most popular or recent horrors that we know will give us a good scare, but in the process, we miss out on some great spine-tingling jump scares, plenty of gore, and definitely an exorcism thrown in somewhere.Fans of the much-loved horror genre may be well experienced in finding brilliant movies to sink their teeth into, but in case you are stuck in a vicious circle of watching the same old scary movie time and time again, you can build the tension and teeth-chattering atmosphere. Here’s what to watch on Netflix if you need to switch it up.
7 Creep
Aaron, an aspiring and optimistic videographer, answers an online advert to film a man for the day, who wants to make a video for his unborn child. As the day progresses, Aaron realizes that Josef's requests get stranger and there may be something truly creepy going on. The unpredictability of Josef's behavior throughout the film is what generates such a sinister and unsettling atmosphere; Mark Duplass is brilliant here, as one minute he is charming and seemingly harmless, and the next he is taking a practical joke way too far. Despite the viewers being concerned for Aaron, it is hard to ignore our feelings of slight anger at his naivety, and we can't help but shout at the screen when he goes to meet a stranger in the woods, ignoring all the obvious red flags. Creep generates genuine fear and frustration in the audience and keeps us on our toes all the way through as it gets creepier and creepier.
6 I’m Thinking of Ending Things
In an adaptation of Ian Reid's novel of the same name, surrealist psychological thriller I'm Thinking of Ending Things (by director Charlie Kaufman) follows the story of a young woman, who is contemplating ending her relationship wit her boyfriend. The two go on a desolate, snowy trip to meet his parents at their secluded farm where she is thrown into a surreal and psychological odyssey. The movie brings a brilliant and refreshing twist, as the main narrative is intercut with clips of a janitor working at a high school, with both stories eventually intersecting. Viewers' minds will surely be blown by this disturbing exploration of regret, longing, and the fragility of the human spirit.
5 Veronica
2017 Spanish horror movie Veronica is a perfect example of why summoning spirits with your friends and a Ouija board during a solar eclipse is not the best idea. In true paranormal fashion, the events that unfold during the movie are absolutely terrifying, and if you have ever considered using a Ouija board, you won't want to after this. Fans have discovered that Veronica is loosely based off true events, which has probably contributed to the many tweets from horror lovers who were so terrified that they couldn't finish watching it, and have warned friends of Veronica's horrifying jump scares.
4 Antibirth
On a normal day, Lou and her friend Sadie are typically in a drug-induced haze, but everything changes when Lou wakes up with unexplained and highly abnormal symptoms of pregnancy. Paranoia increases as her due date draws closer and conspiracy theories about her pregnancy begin to come to the surface. After one of the most horrific pregnancies to be shown on film, the audience are left feeling anxious, shocked, and horrified, and after the events that unfold throughout Antibirth, viewers are second-guessing the thought of pregnancy.
3 His House
His House, Remi Weeke's directorial debut, brilliantly incorporates global and sociopolitical issues into the horror genre, following the scary and horrible immigration process that refugees go through. Being haunted by their past traumas and current fears, we watch a young Sudanese couple become consumed by their relocation anxieties and a supernatural presence that torments them to the point where they must face their suppressed memories. His House provides a cohesive, efficient story that is both terrifying and important by giving us a heart-throbbing and educational insight into the terror and overwhelming sadness many immigrants face during this refugee crisis.
2 The Invitation
In this twisted and attention-grabbing horror thriller, Will and his girlfriend Kira receive what seems to be a casual invite to his ex-wife's house for a dinner party. While everything is going to plan, Will becomes suspicious about what the real reason behind the invitation is, and he realizes that things are quickly turning into sheer horror. The Invitation is a slow burner, not revealing the true meaning of the dinner party until deep into the storyline, gradually building the tension and terror throughout the movie. Viewers can truly feel the discomfort and the paranoia that radiates throughout the duration of the movie, and the shocking twisted ending will surely put anyone off of going to a dinner party any time soon.
1 Mercy Black
15 years after stabbing a classmate in a blood ritual, intending to conjure a spirit called Mercy Black, a woman is finally released from a psychiatric hospital. Having been convinced that it was just a delusion and Mercy Black wasn't real, she is sent to live with her sister and nephew. Now, she must face her traumatic past in order to save her nephew's future. Mercy Black takes certain real-life elements of horror (the actual stabbing of a girl by other children as an offering to the fictional Slender Man) in order to create a terrifying and realistic horror movie that really has goosebumps crawling over our skin. This movie is full of nerve-wracking moments, but can Marina keep her family safe?