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There are already a ton of movies to choose from on the platform but like any other service, there are some that are much better than others. For those that are just getting into the Shudder service and want to watch some of its best offerings, take a look at the following films.
Updated January 24, 2023 by Mark Sammut: Valentine’s Day might be around the corner, but sometimes horror hits the spot better than romance. This article has been expanded to include a few more of the best Shudder horror movies.
Mayhem (2017)
Those looking for some “bloody good fun” should definitely check out Mayhem, a 2017 gem directed by Joe Lynch that boasts some impressive star power with Steven Yeun and Samara Weaving. The visceral film is filled with high-octane action, violence, humor, and a splash of horror for good effect. It’s got a smaller runtime (only 83 minutes) making it a great go-to for anyone looking for a quick watch on a particularly hectic evening.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) Nosferatu (1922) House on Haunted Hill (1959) Carnival of Souls (1962) Night of the Living Dead (1968) The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) Black Christmas (1974) Halloween (1978) Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) The Changeling (1980) Re-Animator (1985) Hellraiser (1987) Perfect Blue (1997)
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Steven Yeun plays a recently fired Corporate Lawyer that ends up trapped in his former mega-sized law office just as it enters a state of quarantine. The events that follow are intense, violently enthralling, and action-packed.
Anything For Jackson (2020)
Loss, sadness, grief, and despair are some of the most enthralling emotions when it comes to horror films. By presenting characters that are afflicted by great sadness, it’s easier for audiences to accept decisions and motivations that may seem completely bonkers from any other perspective.
Anything For Jackson takes this concept to a dangerous level by showcasing an elderly couple that has turned to Satanism in hopes of resurrecting their deceased grandson. Things, obviously, don’t go as planned and the couple is forced to deal with the repercussions of what they’ve done. It’s chilling, heartbreaking, and slow-to-start, similar to the smash-hit Hereditary.
Lucky (2021)
This film has seen some of the most “split” reviews concerning anything present on Shudder. It seems that fans are divided on whether the movie is deserving of a higher rating. However, it’s best to completely ignore these reviews and head into Lucky blind.
While it is true that Lucky isn’t “the perfect cup of tea for everyone,” it’s still a really solid addition to the world of psychological Horror. Those looking for something that’s less monster-infested and more about mental struggles might find a lot to enjoy about Lucky. Viewers should free themselves of expectations and head into this one with the intent of simply enjoying the ride. There’s a lot of depth to the Indie Horror film.
Near Dark (1987)
Kathryn Bigelow’s Near Dark twists the vampire mythos, crafting a tale that is both unapologetically ’80s but also strangely timeless. Stripped of any hints of romantic undertones, this grizzly Western-inspired horror flick is about Caleb, a man who becomes caught between two worlds and two families after he gets bitten in the neck by a female vampire.
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Near Dark is stylish, subversive, and brilliantly paced. The film features an all-time great performance by Bill Paxton, who effortlessly portrays a charismatic killer who is both magnetic and terrifying. Along with being one of the best horror movies on Shudder, Near Dark is among the greatest vampire flicks of all time.
Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer (1990)
Many horror movies offer pure escapism, delivering curated scares driven by threats removed enough from reality to frighten but not necessarily traumatize. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is a different beast entirely from the genre’s mainstream representatives, and it is not for the faint of heart.
Partially inspired by Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole, John McNaughton’s project centers around a drifter who kills for seemingly no reason. The film fully depicts the eponymous character’s violent acts, refusing to dilute the scenes’ horror through cinematic flourishes. Henry is gritty, vicious, uncomfortable, and intense; its horror is real.
A Creepshow Holiday Special (2020)
It’s easy to see that Greg Nicotero put a lot of love for the Holidays into this fantastic Creepshow branded special. Blending together the series’ signature Comedy and Horror elements, the end result is a fantastic dive into the history of the holiday season, specifically as it pertains to some of the most iconic “monsters” in folklore.
When a man suspects he might be a “werewolf” or something of the sort, he tries to seek help from a mysterious group. The underlying storyline that unfolds is hilarious, smart, and filled with a wide array of Horror tropes. It’s the perfect film for Halloween, Christmas, or anything in-between.
Deep Red (1975)
Dario Argento is one of the biggest names in the Giallo Horror scene. While the filmmaker’s resume has its share of lackluster projects, Argento’s greatest works – Suspiria, Opera, Inferno, Tenebrae – are among the scariest movies in Horror cinema. Out of all the director’s terrifying masterworks, 1975’s Deep Red might just rank as the best of the best.
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A gory murder mystery with a stellar final act, Deep Red expertly builds up suspense while weaving a gripping narrative that will keep audiences glued until the end. Shudder has quite a few Argento movies, but Deep Red is undoubtedly the greatest.
Scare Package (2020)
Horror fans looking for some comedy infused into their gorefests will definitely want to check out Scare Package, a beautifully crafted satire that pokes fun at Horror tropes and offers an array of short stories that are downright hilarious at times. From a killer-filled vacation story to one about a body-transforming piece of candy, there’s something here for everyone who lives and breathes Horror films.
The characters are entertaining too, with the lead role bringing some big laughs thanks to his over-the-top personality.
The Wailing (2016)
The South Korean film industry has produced quite a few great horror flicks, and The Wailing ranks among the very best. Na Hong-jin’s projects have a habit of playing around with expectations through genre manipulation, something that can be clearly experienced in this 2016 release.
Set in a small rural town, The Wailing follows a cop as he investigates a string of gruesome murders. Eventually, the case takes a strange turn when the deaths are linked to a peculiar illness and an enigmatic man. Clocking in at well over two hours, The Wailing uses its length to carefully explore its characters and setting, all the while telling an engrossing and frequently horrifying story.
V/H/S/94 (2021)
Those that want an anthology series that’s meant to be much scarier (although still featuring small bouts of comedy from time to time) should check out the latest entry from V/H/S. The V/H/S series has been circulating around the web to much fanfare for some time, with many labeling it an instant cult classic thanks to its incredibly gripping short stories. V/H/S/94 continues to carry the torch, to a greater effect than its predecessors thanks to its Shudder Original label.
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There are a ton of great and downright scary stories here, all culminating alongside an overarching narrative that promises to keep the series moving in the future.
Jakob’s Wife (2021)
A fun and funny twist on the vampire sub-genre of Horror, Jakob’s Wife follows a woman who suddenly gains an agonizing appetite for blood. It’s a great introspective into the idea of “suddenly becoming a vampire” and the fallout that ensues afterward. With great Comedy elements and some solid writing, Jakob’s Wife shows the ups and downs of a tumultuous marriage torn further apart by a sudden supernatural shift.
Santa Sangre (1990)
Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Santa Sangre defies traditional classification, but this twisted tale of parent-child co-dependence has its roots firmly planted in surreal horror. The story fixates on the relationship between Concha, a beautiful trapeze artist at a circus, and her son, Fenix, a dynamic that starts disconcertingly and only gets worse from there.
Santa Sangre should be experienced blind, if possible. Its psychedelic overtones and bursts of violence might make it a poor fit for a movie marathon party; however, as one of the best horror films on Shudder, fans of the genre’s experimental side should check it out.
Ringu (1998)
North American readers are likely acquainted with 2002’s The Ring, which is a respectable ghost movie by any metric. However, familiarity with the remake should not discourage someone from seeking out the Japanese original, 1998’s Ringu.
While they hit some of the same beats, they are ultimately quite different experiences, and the J-Horror flick is the scarier of the two movies. Suspenseful and slow but effectively paced, Ringu crafts a feeling of dread that persists throughout its entire runtime.
Train To Busan (2016)
Zombies have been beaten to death, so a new addition to the subgenre has to be extra special to leave a lasting impression. Train to Busan is extra special. The South Korean film follows a father and daughter as they make a supposedly straightforward train journey, but things go awry when an apocalypse breaks out.
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Train to Busan blends action, horror, and drama to create a crowd-pleasing film without a dull moment. While not among the scariest movies on Shudder, this 2016 release is one of the service’s best offerings.
Caveat (2020)
Viewers that enjoy the “slow burn and build up” to some Horror films will get a kick out of Caveat, an imaginative flick that features some truly frightening visuals. The premise follows a man who must spend time with an individual that’s suffering from intense anxiety attacks, all while alone on an isolated island. What seems like a simple premise at first soon devolves into chaos, showing multiple layers to a story that seemingly comes out of nowhere.
Boys From County Hell (2020)
This Irish Horror film explores an ancient evil when a crew of road workers accidentally unleash a powerful vampire onto the countryside. Playing well into the tropes of bickering father-and-son relationships and the idea of banding together to overcome something sinister, the film includes a lot of great vampire tropes and a smattering of Irish humor. It’s a tense movie overall, broken up in parts by small spats of Comedy but many regard it as a solid vampire flick.
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Slaxx (2021)
There is something both charming and incredibly unnerving about the possession of “everyday objects.” Horror fans have seen cars come to life in Maximum Overdrive and even suffered fear at the sight of Rubber, a maniacal murderous tire. Slaxx takes the concept even further, offering up a tale of terror that affects a beloved clothing item. Slaxx is all about the dangers of working in retail, especially when the staff is forced to contend with an evil-spirit-infused pair of jeans.
This is a great Horror flick for those that don’t want to explore a “deep plot” and instead want to be engrossed in a riotous clothing rampage.
Host (2020)
The global pandemic hit a lot of studios hard when theaters and productions were forced to shut down, putting a damper on the entertainment scene that so many people rely on for a means of escape. It seemed like the worst combination, for entertainment producers not to be able to bring joy to those that were stuck inside for months. Thankfully, though, some creators were able to work around the delays.
A small group of filmmakers tossed together Host, an incredibly topical film that was shot and produced during the pandemic by a talented team working from home. The end result is a truly chilling warning about messing with the occult and one of the best Horror films to stem from 2020.
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