Netflix is a great tool, especially when being forced to stay indoors. While everyone is stuck inside and twiddling their thumbs, many are turning to Netflix and experimenting with more adventurous and obscure pieces of entertainment. Well, that and watching The Office for the 32nd time.
Luckily for horror fans, Netflix is filled with some amazing but little-known horror movies. Forget the mainstream stuff - these obscure horror movies are where it's at. Of course, movies like this are always a risk. Luckily, we're here to help you out.
These are ten obscure (but awesome) horror movies you can stream today on Netflix.
The Invitation (2015)
The Invitation is a great little horror movie starring Logan Marshall-Green (who looks a heck of a lot like Tom Hardy). He plays Will, a depressed and traumatized man who is invited to a dinner get-together by his ex-wife. As you can probably expect, the dinner is not quite what it seems, and his ex-wife has ulterior motives for inviting him. It's a great and extremely tense movie that brilliantly unravels over its 100 taut minutes.
Creep (2014)
Found footage movies can be a hard sell. But Creep is a found footage film done right. Don't let the fact that Mark Duplass is in it fool you - this is a tense and very uncomfortable film that is a far cry from his typical comedic work. He stars as "Josef," an unstable, creepy, and allegedly dying recluse who hires a freelance videographer to film videos for his unborn son. Of course, he's not actually dying. And no, he doesn't have a son. And yes, he has ulterior motives as well.
It Comes At Night (2017)
It Comes at Night earned some pre-release hype as it was distributed by horror masters A24. Unfortunately, it failed to reach the heights of The Witch and quickly faded into obscurity. Despite earning strong reviews from critics, it received a far more lukewarm response from general audiences due to its misleading title and marketing. Don't let the trailers fool you - this isn't a monster movie. But it is a very tense and psychological one, especially in the age of social distancing and paranoia.
Apostle (2018)
Apostle was distributed exclusively through Netflix in the fall of 2018. It stars the always brilliant Dan Stevens as Thomas Richardson, a man who ventures into a mysterious cult to rescue his kidnapped sister. This is required viewing for those who love cult movies like The Wicker Man and Midsommar.
But be forewarned - this movie is much nastier, much gorier, and much weirder than either of those films. Yes, even Midsommar.
The Endless (2017)
The Endless is one of the best low-budget horror movies on Netflix. It was made by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, who you may know as the makers behind Resolution and Spring. This is another cult movie, but certainly not in the traditional manner. Whereas traditional cult movies focus on the horror of humanity and zealotry, The Endless focuses on the unknown. It's very Lovecraftian in its approach, and it is brilliant.
The Eyes Of My Mother (2016)
The Eyes of My Mother may be one of the most depraved and psychotic movies you ever watch. On its surface, the movie is about a troubled and lonely recluse who keeps her mother's killer locked up on her farm. But it's mostly an endurance test for the audience. This movie is pure misery, from the haunting black and white photography to the troubling storyline and scenes of distressing torture. Beautiful misery, mind you, but misery nonetheless.
Under The Shadow (2016)
Under the Shadow is one of the best horror movies of the 2010s, and it seems like no one in North America even knows about it.
This is a Persian-language film that premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and earned incredible reviews from critics, scoring an astounding 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. Put your potential hate for subtitles aside and check it out. You certainly won't regret it.
Cam (2018)
Unfortunately, Cam is another movie that has divided critics and audiences. The movie stars an absolutely brilliant and haunting Madeline Brewer as Alice Ackerman, a cam girl who discovers that she's been replaced by a replica. Critics adored both the movie and the performance, and it sits at 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the 54% audience score is enough to tell you that general audiences didn't much care for it. Check it out for yourself and see what you think!
The Perfection (2019)
The Perfection is a horror musical, if you will. It concerns Charlotte and Lizzie (Allison Williams and Logan Browning), two musical prodigies who were both taught at a prestigious school. They befriend each other at a musical event in Shanghai, and the movie proceeds to spiral outwards. We won't give away any spoilers, or even a hint as to the proceedings. Just know that the story makes many intriguing and unexpected twists!
Cargo (2018)
Zombie movies are a dime a dozen, but Cargo is a refreshing entry in the over-stuffed market. This is thanks to its focus on human drama over zombie action, the unique zombie creatures on display, the expansive Australian desert setting, and the ways in which the story comments on Aboriginal history. Of course, it's also a very entertaining and very scary zombie movie in its own right! And you can never go wrong with Martin Freeman.
