That time of year is rolling around again. The leaves are on the ground in gorgeous colours, the weather is getting colder. I’ve taken to ignoring the Christmas decorations popping up in the shops because Hallowe’en gets to come first! This year is Eliott’s first year properly getting into it (thank you montessori), we’re even making a big deal and decorating the house in spooky decorations! In the spirit of all things spooky, Netflix has a huge selection of scares for all ages. Here are 27 options for watching while hiding behind a cushion – a mixture of movies and series to get stuck into in the run up to Hallowe’en.
For The GrownUps Eyes Only
The Amityville Horror
A family is terrorized by demonic forces after moving into a home that was the site of a grisly mass-murder. You know, the usual neighbour problems…..maybe not. Directed by Andrew Douglas and starring Ryan Reynolds (Green Lantern, The Proposal) and Melissa George (Grey’s Anatomy, Home and Away), this is a remake of the 1979 film of the same name. Keeping many of the horror cliches in, it’s a good watch but you may not be leaving the lights on afterwards.
I Know What You Did Last Summer
This 1997 horror is a classic! A year after running over a fisherman and dumping his body in the water, four friends reconvene when Julie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) receives a frightening letter telling her that their crime was seen. While pursuing who he thinks is responsible for the letter, Barry (Ryan Phillippe) is run over by a man with a meat hook. The bloodletting only increases from there, as the killer with the hook continues to stalk Julie, Helen (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Ray (Freddie Prinze Jr.).
The Purge
Is the best way to rule a law-abiding society to allow all hell to break loose for one 12 hour period once a year to get out all that rage? Probably not, but it is the makings of this horror movie franchise which does exactly what it says on the tin.
The Purge Election Year
In a follow up to the success of The Purge, and in collaboration with the election-year-hell that was the 2016 US Elections, The Purge: Election Year brings more horror to our screens. It’s been two years since Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo) stopped himself from a regrettable act of revenge on Purge Night. Now serving as head of security for Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell), his mission is to protect her in a run for president and survive the annual ritual that targets the poor and innocent. But when a betrayal forces them onto the streets of D.C. on the one night when no help is available, they must stay alive until dawn…or both be sacrificed for their sins against the state.
The Haunting Of Hill House
A series this time, instead of a movie. The Haunting Of Hill House has been released in October 2018 to a lot of praise. This modern reimagining of the Shirley Jackson novel follows siblings who, as children, grew up in what would go on to become the most famous haunted house in the country.. Now adults, they are forced back together in the face of tragedy and must finally confront the ghosts of their past. Some of those ghosts still lurk in their minds, while others may actually be stalking the shadows of Hill House…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9OzG53VwIk
When A Stranger Calls
Far away from the site of a gruesome murder, a teenager named Jill Johnson (Camilla Belle) arrives at a luxurious home for a baby-sitting job. With the children fast asleep, she settles in for what she expects to be an ordinary evening. Soon, the ringing of a phone and the frightening words of a sadistic caller turn Jill’s routine experience into a night of terror. Let’s hope your own phone doesn’t ring mid-watch, eh?
Scream
Would any Hallowe’en list be complete without Scream? A killer known as Ghostface begins killing off teenagers, and as the body count begins rising, one girl and her friends find themselves contemplating the “Rules” of horror films as they find themselves living in a real-life one. This one is quite high on my list for a re-watch each year!
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
A rather different Sabrina the Teenage Witch from the 1990s version played by Melissa Joan Harte, the new Netflix version from the executive producers of Riverdale is far more dark and twisty! Half witch. Half mortal. On her 16th birthday, Sabrina (Kiernan Shipka) has to make a choice between the witch world of her family and the human world of her friends. With her aunties (Miranda Otto, Lucy Davis), her cat Salem, and her boyfriend Harvey Kinkle (Ross Lynch), Sabrina will face horrors and new adventures in the mysterious town of Greendale.
American Horror Story
Ryan Murphy’s extremely successful American Horror Story does exactly what it says on the tin! Netflix has a whole seven seasons of it to get stuck into – grab a cushion and some pilfered trick-or-treating sweets and get watching! From Murder Houses to Cults to Asylums, there’s really something for whatever horrifies you!
Season Of The Witch
His faith broken by many years fighting in the Crusades, a knight named Behman (Nicolas Cage) returns to Europe and finds it ravaged by the Black Plague. A dying cardinal orders Behman and his friend, Felson (Ron Perlman), to take an accused witch (played by Claire Foy) to a remote abbey, where monks will destroy her powers and end the pestilence. As Behman and five comrades undertake the dangerous journey, they come to realize that the prisoner is no ordinary girl, and evil forces await at the destination.
Apostle
In 1905, a drifter on a dangerous mission to rescue his kidnapped sister tangles with a sinister religious cult on an isolated island. This Netflix Original horror stars Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey, Beauty and The Beast), Richard Elfyn (The Crown, Stella) and Paul Higgins (Line Of Duty). It’s a slow building horror without ghosts or monsters but hang on in there for the ending full of dread.
Paranormal Activity
If you’re into Found Footage type films (think Blair Witch Project) this one may be for you! The first two in the series are available on Netflix if you dare!
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
The Rev. Moore (Tom Wilkinson) is prosecuted for the wrongful death of a girl thought to be demonically possessed, because he administered the church-sanctioned exorcism that ultimately killed her. Prosecuting attorney Ethan Thomas (Campbell Scott) contends that the young woman, Emily (Jennifer Carpenter), suffered from schizophrenia and should have been medically diagnosed. Meanwhile, defence lawyer Erin Bruner (Laura Linney) argues that Emily’s condition cannot be explained by science alone. Another film made all the more creepy by the fact that it’s based on a true story…
The Woman In Black
Daniel Radcliffe’s first big role post-Harry Potter sees him play Arthur Kipps, a lawyer, who is recently widowed and grieving the loss of his wife when he is sent to a remote village to put a deceased eccentric’s affairs in order. Soon after his arrival, it becomes clear that the villagers are hiding a terrible secret. Kipps discovers that his late client’s house is haunted by the spirit of a woman who is trying to find someone and something she lost, and that no one — not even the children — is safe from her terrible wrath.
American Poltergeist
When several friends travel to a vacation home in Massachusetts they are unaware that the house is haunted by a deadly poltergeist. Loosely based on the real life story of Elizabeth Borden, this movie serves as a reminder to probably check the reviews on that AirBnB before booking…
Malevolent
Brother and sister team Angela (Florence Pugh) and Jackson (Ben Lloyd-Hughes) are nothing more than scam artists. Preying on the grief stricken and the vulnerable, they convince the bereaved that Angela has the ability to contact the dead. It’s a simple con, until Mrs. Green (Celia Imrie) summons the pair to her home — the orphanage that was once stage to a string of murders of young girls — and Angela grows less and less certain of what’s actually real. The fake paranormal investigators suffer the ultimate reality check when they are confronted by the true horrors and terrifying past that lie hidden within the haunted orphanage.
Insidious
Take your haunted house and bring it to a new level. That’s what 2010 horror movie Insidious does. The movie tells the tale of a family that moves into an old house and begins to suspect they are under siege from otherworldly forces when their young son inexplicably falls into a deep coma. As devoted parents Josh and Renai struggle to uncover the cause of their son’s condition, the stress of the situation gradually begins to take its toll on their relationship. When darkness falls and specters appear to reach out for them from the shadows, the frightened parents realize they’re dealing with something even more sinister…..
For The Kids (and really the whole family)
Goosebumps
Getting right back to childhood with this one – it’s not a movie, so it’s in shorter bursts, but Netflix has five whole seasons of Goosebumps. Based on the best-selling series by R.L Stine, and complete with 1990s special effects, you can introduce your child to scary stories which enraptured kids of a previous generation – and enjoy the throwback to childhood yourself! Probably better for older kids/kids who aren’t scared easily. Check out the very 90’s trailer below….
Super Monsters
The kids of famous monsters come together at a special preschool. As a group, they must train the skills they inherited from their parents and have them good-to-go for kindergarten.
Masha’s Spooky Stories
Masha (of Masha and The Bear) explains why there’s no need to be scared of things like monsters, the dark, going to a new school, thunder and other common childhood fears. Great for younger viewers!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3vNh6HcZO8
Alvin and The Chipmunks Meet The Wolfman
In this animated adventure, chipmunk Alvin (Ross Bagdasarian Jr.) has werewolves on his mind. After being haunted by a creepy nightmare, he is convinced that his eerie next-door neighbor, Mr. Talbot (Maurice LaMarche), has a monstrous secret. As he and his brother Simon (also Bagdasarian) investigate, shy sibling Theodore (Janice Karman), who has been reluctantly cast in the school’s production of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” finds his inner monster after being attacked by a strange dog.
Dreamworks Spooky Stories
If you’re a fan of the Dreamworks crew (Shrek, Madagascar), then these shorts may be perfect to watch together this Halloween. Here’s a taste of what to expect….
Monster House
No adults believe three youths’ (Mitchel Musso, Spencer Locke, Sam Lerner) assertion that a neighboring residence is a living creature that means them harm. With Halloween approaching, the trio must find a way to destroy the structure before innocent trick-or-treaters meet ghastly ends.
Wallace and Grommit The Curse of the WereRabbit
The plucky characters from a series of animated shorts, Wallace (Peter Sallis) and his dog, Gromit, make their feature debut here. After starting a pest control business, the duo soon lands a job from the alluring Lady Tottington (Helena Bonham Carter) to stop a giant rabbit from destroying the town‘s crops. Both Wallace and the stuffy Victor (Ralph Fiennes) vie for the lady’s affections. If Wallace wants to please his pretty client, and best Victor, he needs to capture that pesky bunny.
Ghostbusters: Answer The Call
Paranormal researcher Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) and physicist Erin Gilbert are trying to prove that ghosts exist in modern society. When strange apparitions appear in Manhattan, Gilbert and Yates turn to engineer Jillian Holtzmann for help. Also joining the team is Patty Tolan, a lifelong New Yorker who knows the city inside and out. Armed with proton packs and plenty of attitude, the four women prepare for an epic battle as more than 1,000 mischievous ghouls descend on Times Square. The female-centric reboot was released in 2017 and is well worth checking out for family Hallowe’en movie night!
A Series Of Unfortunate Events
The on-screen adaptation of Lemony Snicket’s bestselling series is an excellent choice for some family friendly spooky viewing! This series follows the tragic tale of three orphans — Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire — who are investigating their parents’ mysterious death. The siblings are saddled with an evil guardian named Count Olaf (portrayed by award-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris), who will do whatever it takes to get his hands on the Baudelaire’s inheritance. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny must outsmart Olaf at every turn, foiling devious plans and disguises.
Monster Island
At a school dance, Lucas discovers he comes from a long line of monsters. Eager to find the rest of his family, he sets out for the island of Calvera. Coming-of-age meets monsters with not many scares for little ones.
Hopefully this list will help you pick out some spooky viewing this Hallowe’en on Netflix! Let me know what your must-watch films are at this time of year, or what you think of any of the ones I’ve mentioned. Leave a comment below, or say hello over on Facebook or Instagram! I’d love to hear from you.
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Disclosure:I am a member of the Netflix Stream Team and received a Netflix subscription and an iPad Mini in return for posting Netflix updates and reviews, however, all opinions are my own, and I already had a personal subscription before joining the Stream Team.