10 Horror Movies Streaming on Shudder Everyone Should Watch at Least Once

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Shudder provides a comprehensive selection of horror content, including both classic films and its own original productions. Unlike mainstream cinema, it boasts a significant number of lesser-known gems, often referred to as deep cuts. The beauty of these hidden treasures is that many are well worth exploring. For horror enthusiasts, Shudder offers an exceptional array of releases that cater to various tastes, and most can be streamed instantly with just a click (and a subscription).

These films share a common trait: they possess a broad, popular appeal that sets them apart from more specialized or niche titles. Although they are generally high-quality productions, they do not fall into the category of extreme or underground horror like Audition, Basket Case, Cannibal Holocaust, Cemetery Man, Color Out of Space, Demons, Ginger Snaps, Hell Night, In a Violent Nature, Intruder, Nightbreed, Nosferatu (1922), Piranha, Possession, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, Rawhead Rex, or The Toxic Avenger. Comedies are also excluded, so Werewolves Within was not included either. However, I encourage you to watch these mainstream horror movies.

10) Alligator

The alligator serves as an engaging creature film that offers both entertainment and a sense of credibility, albeit with a touch of lightheartedness. Sadly, it failed to ignite the box office due to its promising cliffhanger, but no sequel ever materialized.

If you’re a fan of films like “Crawl” or “Jaws”, this movie is worth checking out. Although it carries an R rating, it doesn’t contain anything excessively harsh that would make it unsuitable for family viewing, assuming your family enjoys monster movies. If the idea of another mindless monster flick comes to mind when you see the poster or hear the title, reconsider, as this film was penned by John Sayles, a writer who later moved on to direct more serious projects. Even at the early stage of his career, he demonstrates a knack for blending a witty commentary on greed with the terror suggested by the title.

9) Arcadian

Shudder offers several recent films starring Nicholas Cage, an actor widely appreciated by many. Although these movies may be less mainstream, they’re still noteworthy mentions. However, movies like Color Out of Space, Mandy, and Prisoners of the Ghostland are quite specialized, and honestly, I wouldn’t recommend watching Ghostland.

The film titled “Arcadian,” set to release in 2024, has a broad audience appeal. With its post-apocalyptic horror thriller narrative and a tone reminiscent of the popular Netflix series “Bird Box,” it’s drawn in quite a few viewers. Fundamentally, it tells a story centered around a father’s struggle to protect his two sons, making it universally relatable. As for Nicolas Cage’s performance, although his role in “Mandy” might be more captivating, this film showcases one of his best recent performances.

8) Black Christmas

In 1974, four years prior to the premiere of John Carpenter’s “Halloween,” the movie “Black Christmas” played a significant role in establishing the foundations of the slasher subgenre. This film is genuinely chilling and manages to create a sense of dread much like “Jaws.” Instead of relying on graphic depictions, it uses its atmospheric 1970s visual style, some startling point-of-view shots, and perhaps the most unsettling phone calls ever featured in cinema.

Generally speaking, Black Christmas is a movie with a serious undertone, but it was created by Bob Clark, who’s known for films like A Christmas Story, Porky’s, and Baby Geniuses, so it does include humorous elements to prevent it from feeling too intense. Unlike Porky’s, it has held up well over time, and unlike Baby Geniuses, it intentionally aims to scare you. For people who’ve skipped the original after watching the poor remakes (Black X-Mas in 2006 and Black Christmas in 2019), be warned that these adaptations are far from similar in tone, plot structure, or quality to this film.

7) Day of the Dead

Among the most intellectually stimulating horror movies from the ’80s, “Day of the Dead” was initially perceived as a letdown that marked the end of George A. Romero’s legendary zombie trilogy (which was later followed by several mediocre to poorly received films). However, it warrants re-evaluation, as it is just as strong as the more acclaimed and adored “Night of the Living Dead” and “Dawn of the Dead”.

The “Dead” trilogy stands out because each of its movies offers more than just mindless zombie violence. Instead, they explore various themes. For instance, Day of the Dead delves into human behavior during prolonged crises, revealing that even in a world overrun by zombies, people can become as dangerous to each other as sharks in the water. (Note: Here’s a potential spoiler alert for those who haven’t watched it yet.)

6) Dog Soldiers

A lesser-known yet exceptional horror film from the 2000s, “Dog Soldiers,” offers a compelling portrayal of werewolves that remains the standout in its genre. Despite being seldom mentioned, this movie could have sparked an entire franchise. The internal struggles within the werewolf characters continue to capture audience’s interest, as their lupine nature often presents intriguing dilemmas.

The film “Dog Soldiers” offers a unique twist: it’s a military action movie with an intriguing addition-werewolves. While it’s more popular within horror enthusiast circles, its appeal could broaden, making it a streaming success. Notably, Liam Cunningham, who gained global recognition from “Game of Thrones,” plays a significant role in this film. This means that even casual viewers might recognize at least one familiar face.

5) Halloween

The movie “Halloween” not only initiated a wave of imitation films within its genre, some of which turned out to be quite impressive, but also became an unstoppable box office force and a significant cultural milestone. Among all the movies on Shudder, it’s safe to say that this film is the one that has been viewed by the most people.

For those who haven’t yet, don’t miss out! The series is as fantastic as its highly praised reputation suggests. If you’re a fan of Michael Myers and crave more after this, Shudder offers both “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” and “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers”. However, while “Halloween 4” is quite good (though not as outstanding as the original), “Halloween 5” might be easily forgotten. If you’re a fan of Jamie Lee Curtis and are looking for more chilling performances from her, Shudder also features “Prom Night”.

4) House on Haunted Hill

During the late ’90s and early 2000s, director Robert Zemeckis, known for “Back to the Future”, re-made two films by horror icon William Castle: “House on Haunted Hill” and “Thirteen Ghosts”. While movies like “Ghost Ship” and “Gothika” maintained that theme but were original productions, they may not be worth watching. However, the original “House on Haunted Hill”, despite being over 65 years old, remains eerie to this day.

The reason “House on Haunted Hill” is a must-see is that it’s widely regarded as one of Vincent Price’s most iconic films, even though he’s best known these days as the creator of Edward Scissorhands. With the movie being over 30 years old, many viewers might not recognize him from this role. It’s unfortunate because, like Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff, Price is a significant figure in horror film history. In fact, Michael Jackson chose him to deliver a monologue for “Thriller.

3) Hush

It’s worth noting that Mike Flanagan has become widely recognized as one of the top adaptors of Stephen King’s works. Few authors enjoy as much adoration and respect on a broad scale as King does. As such, it would be beneficial for any movie enthusiast to check out one of his earliest and most acclaimed projects.

Three years following the success of “Oculus” in theaters, he released “Hush”. While “Hush” didn’t receive much attention except among horror genre enthusiasts, it’s a highly suspenseful film set in a single location. Most viewers would likely appreciate its merits on movie night.

2) The Babadook

One of the standout horror films from the 2010s, “The Babadook,” showcases exceptional skill in creating suspense through simplicity. Fundamentally, it’s a story about a mother striving to safeguard her child, which resonates with many viewers much like “Arcadian.

While watching “The Babadook,” you might get the sense that you’re experiencing something entirely unique, despite familiar plot progressions or horror tactics being present elsewhere. This film boasts an outstanding performance by Essie Davis, making it a must-see, even for those typically wary of low-budget productions. It’s intricately made, eschews jump scares, and centers around a captivating mother-son relationship that truly sets it apart.

1) The Others

The Others,” released during the early 2000s, stands out as an exceptional supernatural tale, boasting at least one scene tailor-made for captivating trailers. Moreover, Nicole Kidman delivers a mesmerizing performance in this film, and there have been indications that she might be open to revisiting this intriguing project.

This film stands out not only for its striking aesthetic and clever plot twists, but also because it’s suitable for young, emerging horror enthusiasts. It carries a PG-13 rating, ensuring no content that might prompt parents to hurriedly switch off the TV.

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2025-09-03 03:42