10 Scary Movies To Watch On UK Netflix – Top 10 Films

If youre looking for some Spooktober inspiration this year, Netflix UK has a few scary movies worth checking out. Here we take a look at some of our favourites.

Dir. Gareth Evans (2018)

A horror film thatll make you squirm,Gareth Evansdark journey into the heart of an early 20th century Welsh cult is one thats difficult to forget. Thats in part thanks toDan Stevensterrific performance as a former Christian missionary who attempts to infiltrate the mysterious, island-dwelling community whose leader (played byMichael Sheen) has kidnapped his sister for ransom. Wonderful cinematography and set design complementApostlescompelling mix of folk horror and survival movie asThe Wicker ManmeetsThe Descent.

Dir. Patrick Kack-Brice (2014)

Patrick BricesCreepis undoubtedly one of thebest found footage horror filmssince the mightyThe Blair Witch Projecthit cinemas in 1999.

Unlike a number of found footage efforts that have tended to mimicEduardo SnchezandDaniel Myricksfrightening jaunt in the woods, Brice finds a unique perspective to stage a terrifying ordeal that is authentically captured on video.

Dir. Rob Reiner (1990)

Rob Reinerknows how to adapt aStephen Kingstory for the big screen. Hes done it twice, and on both occasions the novelist himself has approved of his work with glowing praise. Misery is one of the writers best, mixing a wry, self-referential humour with murderous thrills that works as perfectly on the screen as it does on the page.

The story largely follows two characters in an isolated house a recovering car accident survivor (James Caan) and the woman nursing him back to health (Kathy Bates). Problem is: the woman, Annie Wilkes, is a psychopath. Its a tension-filled thriller with stellar performances including one of Bates finest.

Dir. John Carpenter (1983)

A 1958 Plymouth Fury with jealous and evil tendencies tries to take total control over its owner. Arnie Cunningham (Keith Gordon), a nerdy teenager, is unaware of his new cars demonic qualities when he buys and restores it and names her Christine.

Arnie somehow gains confidence with his new shiny ride and starts to become an arrogant jerk. When he scores a hot girlfriend and is spending a lot of time with her, Christine grows violently possessive of its new owner. Gordon nails this role perfectly, a character whose psychosis he wonderfully conveys on the way to madness. Hes such an underrated actor.

With John Carpenter in the directors chair thisKingadaptation is darker than most. It features a great soundtrack and, while similar in set-up to the equally teen angst-riddenCarrie, throws a neat spin on it.Christineisnt one of Kings finest novels so its testament to Carpenters skill as a cinematic storyteller that the film version is so enjoyable.

Dir. Karyn Kusama (2015)

The film twisted my insides and left me feeling like I had just witnessed one of the better slow-burns of the last quarter century. Logan Marshall Green plays Will. He and his new girlfriend get invited to his ex-wifes place (along with about ten mutual friends) for a night of drinking and eating and socialising.

But not all is what it seems and slowly we start to feel that something isnt quite right. As the audience, we pick up on this at the time and pace that Will does. And of course no one believes him. And why should they? Everything is circumstantial but we just feel it. When all hell breaks loose in the last act of the film, its shocking and twisted and really well done. Director Karyn Kusama has made one of the more shockingly twisted films.

Dir. Ari Aster (2018)

Ari Astersfeature debut (after a number of highly regarded shorts) possesses a craftsmanship that elevates its effectiveness as a slow-burning, atmospheric horror film. Both its enigmatic qualities and carefully constructed suspense complement its stylistic flourishes, putting it not just in the spiritual domain of genre classics likeThe Wicker ManandRosemarys Baby, but in the same league too.

Framed around the death of an unusual matriarch, Annie Graham (Toni Collette) quickly reveals, by way of her eulogy, a troubled relationship with her mother. She hardly knew her; and in her final days, while living with the family (Annies two children Charlie and Peter, and husband Steve) she was largely uncommunicative. But the passing of the old woman appears to open old wounds that begin to show themselves in increasingly disconcerting ways.

Dir. Mi Night Shyamalan (2015)

From the director of The Sixth Sense, The Visit sees M. Night Shyamalan adapt the found footage concept, combining it with his skill for slow-burning tension, enigmatic mystery and dazzling plot twists, that sees a teenaged brother and sister make a video diary of their first meeting with a pair of estranged grandparents. Note: these old people arent what they appear to be!

Whether The Visit exhibits Shyamalan purposely going back to basics (it was made for a fraction of the cost of his other movies) or simply hitting upon a good idea, the writer-director has rekindled a long, almost lost passion for the art. In fact, the film features his best twist since The Sixth Sense.

Dir. John R. Leonetti (2014)

Annabellefits neatly into the paranormal works ofJames WansConjuringandInsidiousfilm chapters. Thats not surprising, of course. Its inspired by the possessed doll which briefly featured inThe Conjuring, taking us back to the inanimate objects entry into the lives of a well-meaning family and the demonic events that witness it gain a malevolent consciousness.

In part because it is a spin-off but more so because it is directed by his favourite cinematographerJohn R. Leonetti,Annabelleis very much in the same paranormal movie mould as Wans commercial hits. While it is thin on plot and youll still be waiting to get to know the characters by the films closing credits, this is an appealing attempt at ghost train cinema. In other words, step onto the ride and await for something to jump out at you.

Dir. Leo Gabriadze (2014)

Aesthetically sparse,Unfriendedbringsfound footage horrorto the world of social media, basing its entire story on the computer screen of Blaire Lily (Shelley Hennig) and her interaction with friends via various online platforms.

From private messages onFacebook, toYouTubevideos andInstagramphotos, the story comes together and takes a turn for the worst when Blaire and co witness an uninvited guest enter their webcam group chat onSkype.

Unable to remove the mysterious stranger, attentions begin to turn to the death of their former classmate who killed herself following an embarrassing video of her drunken antics going viral on the Internet. This is a clever scary movie for the social media generation.

Dir. Alex Garland (2018)

Heres the tough second album for writer-director Alex Garland after stunning audiences with his dazzling sci-fi debut feature, Ex Machina. A mindbender of a plot that turned some audiences away and caused some critics to moan it made no sense Annihilation oozes tension, a red hot atmosphere and striking production design.

These are qualities that are hard to dismiss when you also consider Natalie Portmans deft, softly spoken protagonist who carries the film with a subtle but tangible screen presence. A heady mix of ambiguity and hardcore science-fiction, Annihilation may take some digesting but is destined for cult-like status as those who first dismissed it return to find its unique strengths.

Words by Dan Stephens, Dan Grant and Neal Damiano.

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10 Scary Movies To Watch On UK Netflix - Top 10 Films