In the mood for some Halloween films? Me too! I love Halloween as much as I love using Netflix Instant and making lists, so I’ve compiled my favorite movies available for streaming, as of 2011. It’s a big list, with everything from goofy comedy gore to truly disturbing horror, and everything in between; check it out below.
This list isn’t meant to be exhaustive; it’s made up of films I actually liked, and would recommend to others.
Everything on this list should be available until at least November 1, but please let me know in the comments if something has gone away.
Last update: October 10, 2011.
- Trick ‘r’ Treat
A little-known gem. Three intertwining stories in a small town prove to be surprisingly, deeply creepy. - Session 9
Psychological/suspenseful horror film in which a haunted asylum drives a team of cleaners mad. - Little Shop of Horrors
Not strictly Halloween-y, but a great, campy, creepy musical nonetheless. - Cannibal! The Musical
South Park writers Trey Parker and Matt Stone star in…a musical about cannibalism. - Scream, Blacula, Scream!
Blaxploitation voodoo Dracula, with Pam Grier. - The Fog
Zombie-ghost pirates terrorize a small town in this John Carpenter film. More John Carpenter horror: Prince of Darkness, Village of the Damned, In the Mouth of Madness and Masters of Horror: John Carpenter: Cigarette Burns. - Dracula (1931)
The classic, starring Bela Lugosi. - Ichi the Killer
The pinnacle of Japanese ‘horror porn’ or ‘gorno’. Brutal. - Leprechaun 5: In the Hood
Can you believe shows like Firefly get canceled, while film series like Leprechaun get five iterations? Me neither. If you like the goofy horror creatures, there’s also Killer Klowns from Outer Space and Rumplestiltskin. - An American Werewolf in London
This werewolf tale is so evocative, moody and funny, that it doesn’t really matter if the plot wanders a bit. Just sit back and enjoy the transformation scene.
- Cronos
A take on vampirism by Mexican genius director Guillermo del Toro, Cronos is great at any time of the year. - From Dusk Til Dawn
George Clooney, Juliette Lewis, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez…and vampires. - The Lost Boys
1980s does vampires – Kiefer Sutherland and the Coreys. Pretty creepy! - Practical Magic
A gentler type of witchery, this is about two supernatural sisters (Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman) in Massachusetts who live in a beautiful old house and wear beautiful old clothes and do sometimes not-so-beautiful magic. - Dark Shadows
Four seasons of the classic daily soap opera from the 60s, which eventually totaled 1,225 episodes. Full of mood and mystery, the show doesn’t introduce the supernatural stuff until about halfway through the first season. - The Craft
Teen witches terrorize a high school and each other. - The Evil Dead
Sam Raimi’s 1983 classic cult horror film stars Bruce Campell, a cabin and a bunch of zombies. Black humor, goofy gore. - South Park Spook-Tacular!
All the Halloween eps of South Park in one title. - Aaahh!! Real Monsters
One of the greatest Nickelodeon cartoons, this show is about a group of monster students. Funny, weird, creepy and gross (in a good way). - Rocko’s Modern Life, Season 3 Episode 1
Another Nickelodeon great, about a wallabee and his surreal life. Just this one episode is themed after Halloween.
- Fat Albert’s Halloween Special
Hey hey hey, if your kids want to watch some Halloween cartoons, this is a good place to start. For kids, there’s also Barney: Halloween Party, Eloise’s Rawther Unusual Halloween, Thomas & Friends: Halloween Adventures and Children’s Favorites: Halloween Treats. - Child’s Play
Definitely NOT for kids, this tale about a murderous doll is way creepy. - Creepshow
George Romero and Steven King team up for a horror anthology. - Elvira, Mistress of the Dark
Campy character Elvira causes chaos in her newly adopted hometown. - Scream
The classic Wes Craven sendup of old-school horror films stands on its own. - Shutter Island
Suspenseful thriller about a marshal investigating a missing woman on an island asylum. - Three … Extremes
Three of the greatest Asian horror directors make scary shorts – uncompromising and not for the faint of heart. - Night of the Living Dead
The original zombie film from the master, George Romero. Still as creepy as ever, and a must-see. - Day of the Dead (2008)
A remake of the third “of the Dead” films, set after the zombies have overrun the planet…only in this version, they sprint after you instead of slowly, inevitably shuffling. - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1920s version of the Robert Louis Stevenson tale of twisted morality and terrifying humanity (or lack thereof).
- Nosferatu
The classic Murnau silent film telling of the story of Count Orlock, a vampire who arrives in England to feast upon human blood. - Paranormal Activity
This low-budget mockumentary style film is the closest thing we’ve had to the Blair Witch Project in a long time. Best watched in a group with all the lights turned down. - Thirst
Korean horror director Chan-wook Park’s take on vampires, with all the comedy, drama and violence that typify his work. - Dead Snow
Nazi zombies. - Let the Right One In (or the remake, Let Me In)
A fantastically fresh take on the blood-sucking undead set in a small Swedish village. - The Fly
Vincent Price’s brother gets splinched with a common housefly. Classic! - The Exorcist
The ultimate horror movie, which set the bar for everything else that’s come since, and is rarely matched.
Want the Halloween mood without the scares? Try one of these documentaries:
- Starz Inside: Bloodsucking Cinema
- Starz Inside: Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Make-Up EFX
- Nightmares in Red, White and Blue
- Tales from the Script
- 1,000 Ways to Die
- American Scary
Suggestions, corrections, additions? Let me know in the comments.
23 Comments
wes craven*
Whoops! Duh. Fixed that one. Thanks!
After exploring in your portfolio, I’ve learned that people like you, make this world a better place. THANKS
I was watching leprechaun when I was 4 and didn’t think it was scary at all but that’s just my own opinion. You reviews of the movies are a great deal of help though!
I don’t think it’s scary, either. (My favorite type of scary movie is psychological horror.) But people seem to like the weird ghoul-goblin-creature genre, so I figured I’d include it anyway.
I haven’t seen that one yet but ill have to watch it! anymore suggestions?
oops i meant to say: shutter Island? haven’t seen that one yet do you have any suggestions?
You are into psychological thrillers but no Jacobs Ladder? For shame…
Thanks!!!
It’s not on Netflix Instant, unfortunately. I do love that film, though!
Vincent Price does NOT get “splinched” with anything in The Fly. David Hedison is the one (Andre) who gets spliced with the fly. Vincent Price is his brother (Francois).
Either way, it is a Classic!
Doh, you’re right. It’s been a while! Guess I’ll be queuing that one up this weekend.
I started liking Chan Wook Park after seeing the Vengeance Series and began looking at more of his work. Yes, you have to read sub-titles but it is worth it. So in honor of your list which is good given its guidelines of needing to be available for instant viewing on Netflix (which I love btw) I submit Three…Extremes which is three mini horror flicks for one! All dark and twisty and perfect for Halloween. Oh, maybe don’t eat first…just saying =)
Also saw Poltergeist II on the netflix list this month
Thanks for the list! Just what I needed for the next two weeks. :)
Is it any good?
Yes, I must absolutely agree with Trick r’ Treat. I picked this up on DVD on vacation last year and have ever since sung it’s praises. A sequel is supposedly in the works (or has already been shot and yet to be released?) that focuses more on Sam.
This is a GREAT list!
My suggestions are The Others and the Roseanne Halloween episodes.
Hate being that guy, but dawg the ship Nosferatu is on goes to Wisborg, Germany not England.
Finally, someone recognizes Cannibal, the Musical! :D
You Forgot H20 The Comeback Of Jamie Lee Curtis In Halloween!! It Is In Instant Netflix.. And Halloween Ressurection Which Wasn`t As Good As H20 But Still Worth A Watch ;)
Behind the Mask: Rise of Vernon Leslie is a pretty good one that starts out as a mockumentary, and turns into an intriguingly well-drawn-together cliche.
Thanks for the great recommendations! Cannibal! The Musical is not only a ho down good time, its also a little bit of Colorado history in that people were possibly eaten here by Alfred Packer and it was one of Trey Parker and Matt Stones first creations. Then you have a movie from Takashi Miike. Well at the other end of the horror movie spectrum, his movies are intense. For a lot of the movies listed here and more I go to DISHOnline.com. Its included free with service from DISH Network, my employer. I found a lot of other good movies for this time of year at DISHOnline.com. Stan Helsing is a parody movie about a video store clerk fighting famous movie monsters and villains. You can also check out Monster Island, where teens must fight giant beasts in order to save Carmen Electra in a tribute to 50’s creature features. They have a lot of free content for everyone and even more with DISH Network service.
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