Whether you’re sticking on that horror film that inevitably leaves you lying awake all night, trying out the latest paranormal thriller or revisiting a spooky classic from your childhood, it’s always great to watch something seasonal around Halloween.
If you’re stuck for something to tune into this year, then look no further than your own Netflix account, because the streaming service has a plethora of titles – both TV shows and films – to make you jump (or laugh, depending on your preference).
Here are 13 of our top picks…
‘The Haunting Of Hill House’
If there’s one thing ‘Hereditary’ taught us, it’s that nothing makes for an unsettling horror outing quite like delving into a family’s collective demons.
Based on the Shirley Jackson book of the same name, ‘The Haunting Of Hill House’ takes this idea and runs with it, with thrilling, but occasionally disturbing results spread out over 10 hours. The show has been met with acclaim from critics and viewers alike since its debut in October 2018, and we could easily see it going on to become one of Netflix’s stand-out original shows.
‘The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina’
Don’t let those nostalgic memories of the classic Nickelodeon sitcom fool you, the good people at Netflix were not joking around when they called Sabrina Spellman’s new adventures “chilling”, with demonic hauntings, satanic rituals and grisly nightmare sequences all par for the course in this new teen drama.
‘Carrie’
Arguably the quintessential Halloween horror film, there’s no escaping that 40 years later, a lot of the appeal of ‘Carrie’ comes from its camp and kitschy qualities.
Still, despite being a little on the dusty side, this is a film that still packs a punch (it can boast being one of only a handful of horror films to scoop a few Oscar nominations), and can have you throwing your bowl of popcorn in the air in its scarier moments. Plus, a pre-‘Grease’ John Travolta is always a bonus.
‘1922’
Alternatively, if you like your Stephen King offerings a bit more shiny and new, look no further than Netflix’s 2017 adaptation of ‘1922’.
Probably not one to watch if you have a phobia of rats, let’s just put it that way.
‘American Horror Story: Coven’
Any series of ‘American Horror Story’ is fitting for the Halloween series, whether you fancy the glossy theatrics of ‘Freak Show’ and ‘Hotel’ or the more grisly and gruesome ‘Asylum’ and ‘Roanoke’.
Still, we reckon the high camp of ‘Coven’ is the most fitting for Halloween series, with stellar performances from regular cast members Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson and Lily Rabe, as well as one of the best cameos in TV history from Stevie Nicks, playing a witchy version of herself.
‘Bates Motel’
When it comes to villains’ original stories, we usually have a “keep it” attitude, but this show exploring Norman Bates’ life, leading literally right up to the events of ‘Psycho’, is a bizarrely gripping watch that it’s tough to look away from, no matter how much you want to.
And to whoever had the bright idea to bring in Rihanna to star as Marion Crane in the final series… we salute you.
‘Black Museum’ (‘Black Mirror’)
Most ‘Black Mirror’ series have sinister episodes that make you want to put your smart phone in the other room for a while, but none drew on themes of out-and-out horror quite like the last episode of the most recent series, ‘Black Museum’.
In equal parts a warning about the dystopian dangers of technology, an allegory about societal racism and a straightforward horror story told in three parts, ‘Black Museum’ proved to be a stand-out when series 4 of ‘Black Mirror’ debuted on the streaming platform towards the end of last year.
‘Scary Movie’
Fancy getting into the Halloween spirit without giving yourself nightmares? Arguably the masterpiece of parody cinema, ‘Scary Movie’ sends up all the biggest horror films from the genre, including ‘Scream’, ‘The Sixth Sense’ and ‘The Blair Witch Project’.
Should you fancy a double feature, parts 2, 3 and 5 (otherwise known as “the one with the messy Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen cameo”) are also available to stream.
‘Ghostbusters’
Similarly, if you fancy a good laugh rather than a fright over the Halloween period, but are looking for something a bit more family-friendly, the recent female-led ‘Ghostbusters’ reboot can also be found on Netflix.
Anyone feeling in the mood for something more nostalgic, can also make it a double feature, by following it with the original 1980s sequel ‘Ghostbusters 2’.
‘Paranormal Activity 2’
But if what you’re really looking for is a traditional horror film this Halloween, Netflix has got you covered there, too.
Among their scarier offerings is ‘Paranormal Activity 2’, a film hailed by many critics as being even scarier than the original film, the success of which has gone on to lead to numerous spin-offs and sequels.
‘The Cabin In The Woods’
It’s a tale as old as time, isn’t it? A load of sexy college students gather at a remote location, flirt with each other for a bit, argue, and then get attacked by a load of zombies that they accidentally brought back to life. All while being watched in a lab, without their knowledge.
Why, there’s something almost nostalgic about it, isn’t there?
‘Stranger Things’
No, you’re not going to get any terrifying ghost attacks or chilling zombie resurrections, but there’s an eerie feel to Netflix original series ‘Stranger Things’ that makes it perfect for Halloween.
The two series feature dark parallel universes, scary monsters and some weird goings on in an 80s science lab, plus a mystery that only a group of teens seem to be able to get to the bottom of.
If you haven’t watched ‘Stranger Things’ yet, this is the perfect time of year to finally get into it.
‘Labyrinth’
Again, not a horror or even a particularly thrilling film, but there’s just something so deliciously odd about this classic 80s film that makes it ideal to stick on around Halloween.
Chock full of nostalgia, there are also some great musical numbers, plus all the weirdness you’d expect from a collab between ‘Muppets’ creator Jim Henson, former ‘Star Wars’ chief George Lucas and music icon David Bowie.
