Let’s be honest: if you’re on this website, odds are pretty good that you’re here because you already know who I am and what I write, and odds are then also pretty good that you follow me on other social media platforms. If this is you, then you’ve seen my very long lists of the best horror movies streaming on various streaming services over the last week or two, but you know what? Sometimes people find my site by accident! Sometimes people are looking for the best horror movies on Netflix that might not be on other streaming platforms, and if that’s you, then I’ve got great news: I’m here to offer the five movies currently on Netflix that aren’t readily available anywhere else!
If you’re the type of person who likes to watch recommendations instead of reading them, then you can watch the video above. However, those of you who love to read, keep scrolling because I’ve got some movies for you!
The Strangers
When Bryan Bertino’s The Strangers first hit theaters back in 2008, it didn’t really resonate with people all that strongly. At the time, gore-focused movies were dominating the horror world, like the Hostel movies or the Saw franchise. Even though it wasn’t a massive hit immediately, the years have been kind to The Strangers, and rightfully so.
The movie sees a couple heading to a remote cabin, as audiences can tell there’s a bubbling tension between them. Things get even worse when a stranger knocks on the door in the middle of the night, asking, “Is Tamara home?” From there, the couple is stalked and tormented by figures in freaky masks, seemingly for no real reason other than the thrill of this torment.
The Strangers has set the contemporary standard for home invasion films, and for good reason. The many shots and sequences of these “Strangers” lurking in the background, quietly and patiently waiting for their moment to strike, are far more horrifying than if they were continuously lashing out. The tension between our protagonists will immediately set you on edge, with things only escalating from there. Even without initially dominating the horror world, the impact of The Strangers has become evident not only through the many imitators it’s inspired, but also with the recent reboot trilogy being released.
The Ritual
From The Night House and Hellraiser (2022) director David Bruckner, The Ritual follows a group of friends on what is supposed to be a relaxing adventure in the woods. These friends aren’t entirely equipped to handle the elements, which escalates tensions, and when they begin discovering bizarre relics in the woods, they inadvertently proceed further into a nightmare.
The format of “group of friends in the woods stumble on something scary” isn’t entirely original, arguably with The Descent being the pinnacle of that structure, but the reason there have been so many imitators is because of how much storytelling potential that narrative can bring. Even though the premise and the characters in The Ritual aren’t particularly memorable, the places this story goes and the creatures it delivers more than earn their place in this genre’s legacy.
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House
I feel very fortunate that I got to catch The Blackcoat’s Daughter relatively early on, to the point that my initial review of the movie was under its original title, February. Osgood Perkins‘ mastery of tone and pace was once again put on display in I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House, a Netflix exclusive that was largely ignored upon its debut.
The movie focuses on a nurse coming to take care of an older woman who used to be a writer, with this nurse beginning to experience bizarre things in this remote home in the countryside. Both the nurse and the audience start to suspect that the lines between fact and fiction have been blurred, as it’s possible this former writer was recounting her own personal experiences or that her stories are starting to come to life.
Perkins has earned a lot more attention from the horror crowd in recent years, thanks to movies like Longlegs and The Monkey, with I Am the Pretty Thing being his more traditional take on a haunted house movie that still honors his own personal style. Whether you like a good haunted house story or have become a Perkins fan, I Am the Pretty Thing is worth diving into.
The Sentinel
In hopes of getting a fresh start on her life, a model moves into a new apartment building in a new part of town and starts to become friendly with the eccentric residents of the building. While they all have their quirks, the strangest figure is the blind priest who lives on the top floor, who always seems to be observing out the top window, regardless of his lack of sight. Both our main character and the audience start to suspect crazy stuff going on in this building, all while questioning the ulterior motives of this building’s residents.
The ’70s vibes of The Sentinel and the overall question of whether this woman is imagining the terror she’s in or if she’s genuinely facing threats feel very reminiscent of a movie like Rosemary’s Baby, though, rather than just one strange couple, our protagonist is surrounded by dozens of weirdos. As if this paranoia isn’t enough, I can confirm that the finale of the movie is weird as hell, which fully pays off on audience expectations.
Cobweb
The less said about Cobweb, the better, as it’s not only hard to put into words what makes the story work, but the more you know about it, the more absurd it might sound. What I will say, though, is that it’s the story of a young boy who wants to go out trick-or-treating on Halloween night, and his parents don’t let him. The boy doesn’t know why and the audience doesn’t know why, only for all of us to start to unravel the bizarre reasons for their control.
While a movie like The Strangers is pretty straightforward and is grounded in reality, Cobweb is…not that. If you’re like me and you can appreciate absurdity and surrealism in your horror, than Cobweb is for you, because it’s a movie where, if you try to nitpick the reality of what’s happening, you’ll be left disappointed. However, it takes place on Halloween night and is weird as hell, so if you’re a sicko like me, Cobweb is well worth checking out.
If five horror movies on Netflix aren’t enough for you, then check out my Instagram post below, which has more than five recommendations, as well as recommendations on other services! Feel free to let me know what you thought of these movies or the ones I’ve missed over on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, or YouTube!
The Wolfman Cometh 