I’ve had a passion for film ever since I could process a storyline. My obsession with horror started not long after, when my mom let 7-year-old me watch The Exorcist. Terror, suspense and panic got my blood pumping and triggered the fight-or-flight reflex from the safety of a couch. I’ve never looked back.
When Netflix introduced streaming in 2007, it was a dream: a seemingly infinite supply of movies were a click away. That’s when I began a tradition of watching one horror film every day in October.
Here’s my list for 2024. Pick a few to get you through Halloween, or extend your spooky season all the way to Thanksgiving — truly the most terrifying holiday of all.
1. Poltergeist, Tobe Hooper, 1982. Stream on AMC or rent on YouTube for $3.79
When I first watched Poltergeist, it kept me up for the better part of a week. Heather O’Rourke’s impeccable performance as Carol Ann, a young girl who notices strange happenings with the TV after her family moves into a new home, continues to instill the same terror more than 40 years after its release. Poltergeist is a top-tier classic packed with memorable moments and timeless scares. It is a must-watch for any horror fan.
2. The Cabin in the Woods, Drew Goddard, 2012. Stream on Peacock or rent for $3.99
A horror comedy that changed the game and pays homage to dozens of great movies.
3. Hereditary, Ari Aster, 2018. Stream on Kanopy or rent for $3.99
A terrifying flick that shocks early and ramps up from there. A modern classic.
4. Get Out, Jordan Peele, 2017. Stream on Peacock or rent for $3.99
A psychological thriller with a unique concept and masterful execution.
5. Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, Jung Bum-shik, 2018. Stream on Prime Video or rent for $3.99
A Korean found footage film that immerses you in the depths of horror for the entire wild ride.
6. Nefarious, Chuck Konzelman and Cary Soloman, 2023. Stream on Prime Video or Tubi
An underrated prison interview/possession flick with exceptional writing.
7. Exhuma, Jang Jae-hyun, 2024. Stream on Shudder or rent for $5.99
I knew nothing about this film when I first found it, but I am so glad I did. The terror begins when an infant develops a seemingly incurable illness, prompting his wealthy Korean family to request the help of a reputable shaman. What unfolds is an incredible tale of mythology, history, iconography and feng shui as the newly hired team investigates. Finding a grave and declaring it cursed, the team must perform a ritual to safely move the casket to a new location. The path of the film is winding, but it never derails. I loved how the story plays out, and it inspired me to learn more about Korean lore. Exhuma is a riveting watch full of building tension and surprise scares.
8. Hell House LLC, Stephen Cognetti, 2015. Stream on Prime Video or Tubi
Haunted house found footage brimming with jump scares and tension.
9. When Evil Lurks, Demián Rugna, 2023. Stream on Hulu or rent for $4.99
An Argentinian horror/thriller about superstitions and the consequences of ignoring them.
10. The Witch, Robert Eggers, 2016. Stream on Kanopy or rent for $3.89
A paranoia-centric slow-burn set in the early 1600s with fantastic ambiance and scares.
11. The Taking of Deborah Logan, Adam Robitel, 2014. Stream on Prime Video or Tubi
A documentary-style horror film that centers around Alzheimer’s disease — until it doesn’t.
12. Sinister, Scott Derrickson, 2012. Stream on Max or rent for $3.99
A crazy intense horror/thriller about the consequences of watching old, unlabeled VHS tapes.
13. The Blair Witch Project, Daniel Myrick; Eduardo Sánchez, 1999. Stream on Peacock or rent for $3.99
Before the internet allowed us to fact check just about anything, The Blair Witch Project was advertised as a true story, and we all believed it. Watching this film in its original limited release, only my friend and I were in the theater. It was incredible to lift the armrests and lay across half a row of old theater seats. We didn’t lay for long; as the movie ramped up, we found ourselves on the edge of our chairs with our eyes glued to the screen. After you watch, be sure to check out how it was made, because it’s almost as crazy as the film itself.
14. Oculus, Mike Flanagan, 2013. Free on PlutoTV or rent for $3.99
A solid psychological horror movie with some excellent jump scares.
15. The Autopsy of Jane Doe, André Øvredal, 2016. Stream on Netflix or rent for $3.99
A superb autopsy horror where the story’s revealed as the flesh is peeled.
16. Creep, Patrick Brice, 2014. Stream on Netflix or rent for $3.99
A documentary-style slow-burn that lives up to its title in the most unsettling way.
17. Late Night with the Devil, Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes, 2024. Stream on Shudder or rent for $5.99
This film answers the age-old question: What would happen if a TV host summoned a demon live on the air?
18. The Poughkeepsie Tapes, John Erick Dowdle, 2007. Stream on Prime Video or Free on Roku
An absolutely chilling investigation movie centering around haunting found footage filmed by the serial killer himself.
19. The Ritual, David Bruckner, 2017. Stream on Netflix or AppleTV
Oh, another lost-in-the-forest horror? Sprinkle in some German mythology and gorgeous Scandinavian scenery, and you’ll see why this flick stands alone.
20. The Beyond, Lucio Fulci, 1981. Stream on Peacock or Tubi
Fulci is essential to any horror list. This year, I’m going with island zombies.
21. Let us Prey, Brian O’Malley, 2014. Stream on Prime Video or rent for $3.99
A fun twist on the typical rookie-cop-alone-watching-prisoners trope.
22. Trouble Every Day, Claire Denis, 2001. Stream on Shudder or Hoopla
Sexual tension, gore and cannibalism? Got to love the French.
23. Barbarian, Zach Cregger. 2022. Stream on Prime Video or rent for $3.99
This is a film I like to rewatch with friends, just to see their reaction as the events unfold. The horror begins with a double-booked house rental in a substantially decayed Detroit neighborhood and immediately asks viewers what they would do in that situation. Tess (Georgina Campbell) makes her choice, and it’s not the only time you’ll find yourself shaking your head at her decisions. The exceptional jump scares and unexpected reveals had me raving about this flick to anyone who would listen. Top-notch horror with a small, humorous interlude that only serves to reset the stage before the terrifying conclusion.
24. Scanners, David Cronenberg, 1981. Stream on Max or rent for $3.99
An edge-of-your-seat horror/thriller with one of the best head explosions in movie history.
25. Incantation, Kevin Ko, 2022. Stream on Netflix or AppleTV
A Taiwanese horror that had me pacing my house gobsmacked. The less you know, the better.
26. The Wailing, Na Hong-jin, 2016. Stream on Netflix or Hoopla
A Korean horror that builds steadily enough to keep you in your seat for all 156 minutes.
27. It Follows, David Robert Mitchell, 2015. Stream on Paramount+ or rent for $3.99
A totally unique concept, well delivered. A fun ride that’s also fun to talk about after.
28. Insidious, James Wan, 2011. Stream on Peacock or rent for $3.99
Jump scares galore. PG-13, so you can laugh at your kids when they pee their pants.
29. Saw, James Wan, 2004. Stream on Max or rent for $3.99
Back-to-back Wan flicks? Yes, especially for this instant classic. Definitely not PG-13.
30. Caveat, Damian McCarthy, 2021. Stream on Shudder or rent for $3.99
Damian McCarthy absolutely delivers as the writer, director and editor of Caveat. Johnny French as Isaac does a favor for a friend, which seems like an easy gig and some easy money. McCarthy’s filmmaking debut caught me by surprise in the best way, just like his sophomore feature, Oddity. From weird to supernatural to terrifying, the creativity is matched only by the anxiety — and I loved every minute of it.
31. Halloween, John Carpenter, 1978. Stream on Shudder or rent for $3.99
If you’re not watching Halloween every Halloween, what are you even doing?
Looking for more freaky films? Check out our monthly Friday Night Weird column.