The 20 best horror movies on Hulu
Everett Collection (2); Searchlight Pictures Andrea Riseborough in 'Possessor'; Sebastian Stan in 'Fresh'; Sigourney Weaver in 'Alien'
When you're in the mood for an adrenaline rush — but not in the mood to unstick yourself from your couch — there are ample options on Hulu, where the streamer has stockpiled a collection of some of the most exciting films in the horror genre. Whether you're craving housebound frights like Run, or seeking unconventional love stories led by cannibals or cars, the titles on this list are sure to shock. Here are the most frightening films currently streaming on Hulu, as of October 2023.
<i>No One Will Save You</i> (2023)
What if you could only rely on yourself to defend against alien invasion? No One Will Save You imagines such a scenario, with Kaitlyn Dever starring as a young woman who has become a recluse after a mysterious incident in her past that led to her being ostracized by her town. Her quiet existence is disturbed by a humanoid alien invading her country home, whom she proceeds to kill — but this is far from her last alien encounter. Dever fearlessly leads the film all on her own, communicating so much without speaking a word. Writer-director Brian Duffield's choice to not include any dialogue save for one key moment proves effective, demonstrating the power of well-thought-out cinematography, editing, and sound design to create a tense horror experience. —Kevin Jacobsen
Where to watch No One Will Save You: Hulu
Director: Brian Duffield
Cast: Kaitlyn Dever
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<i>The Exorcism of Emily Rose</i> (2005)
Part horror movie and part legal drama, The Exorcism of Emily Rose offers a fresh take on the tried-and-true exorcism subgenre. Laura Linney plays Erin Bruner, a lawyer defending a Catholic priest who performed an exorcism on 19-year-old Emily (Jennifer Carpenter), who ended up dying. Through flashback, we gradually learn the truth of what actually happened that fateful night, while Erin finds herself disturbed by paranormal events in the present. Praised by EW as one of the best exorcism-themed movies, The Exorcism of Emily Rose excels in exploring the line between science and faith, with a fiercely committed performance by Jennifer Carpenter. Notes EW, "Carpenter plays Emily in a persuasive, snarling manner that's both chilling and heartbreaking." —K.J.
Where to watch The Exorcism of Emily Rose: Hulu
Director: Scott Derrickson
Cast: Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, Campbell Scott, Colm Feore, Jennifer Carpenter, Mary Beth Hurt, Henry Czerny, Shohreh Aghdashloo
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<i>Evil Dead</i> (2013)
The world of the evil dead was reawakened with this fourth film in the franchise, 21 years after Ash fought deadites in the Middle Ages in 1992's Army of Darkness. This time around, an unlucky group of five is forced to defend themselves against a demonic force — who happens to look exactly like one of their own. Amping up the gore and body horror beyond that of the original film, this reboot/remake/requel(?) was relatively well received, even by diehard fans protective of the franchise. Raved EW's critic, "The new Evil Dead is not only made with an affectionate nod and a wink to the 1981 version, it's also the bloodiest, goriest, slapstickiest horror movie since, well, The Evil Dead." —K.J.
Where to watch Evil Dead: Hulu
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Fede Álvarez
Cast: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas, Elizabeth Blackmore
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<i>Infinity Pool</i> (2023)
Brandon Cronenberg's latest sci-fi horror concoction tells the story of novelist James Foster (Alexander Skarsgård) and his wife (Cleopatra Coleman) vacationing in a country with a unique system of law enforcement. James learns this the hard way after accidentally killing a pedestrian with his car, discovering that his punishment is death. However, for an exorbitant price, he can undergo a cloning procedure after which his double will be executed. Unfolding with dread and a sick sense of humor, Infinity Pool doubles down on its premise as James' plight continues to escalate, and you'll either be in or out depending on your stomach for body horror. —K.J.
Where to watch Infinity Pool: Hulu
Director: Brandon Cronenberg
Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Mia Goth, Cleopatra Coleman
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<i>Malignant</i> (2021)
Director James Wan returned to the world of the macabre with this gonzo psychological horror favorite. Annabelle Wallis stars as Madison, a woman experiencing grisly visions of murder...which then play out in reality. She and her sister Sydney (Maddie Hasson) go about investigating the root of these visions, discovering a disturbing truth in Madison's childhood. It's tough to say much more without giving away its wild twist, but suffice to say Malignant is a true experience, reveling in giallo-inspired horror with a healthy dose of camp that is sure to get a reaction out of you, one way or another. —K.J.
Where to watch Malignant: Hulu
Director: James Wan
Cast: Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson, George Young, Michole Briana White
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<i>Alien</i> (1979)
Featuring one of the most frightening taglines of all time ("In space, no one can hear you scream"), Ridley Scott's original Alien film is a masterpiece of sci-fi horror. Like many great classics of the genre, the film is in no rush to reveal its big bad, building dread as your mind runs wild imagining what fresh hell awaits the crew aboard the Nostromo starship. EW rated the film as the quintessential alien horror movie, noting that "As terrifying (and brilliantly designed) as the alien itself may be, the film is still so unnerving — and frequently spun-off and adapted — because of Scott's measured and impressive direction." Plus, Sigourney Weaver makes for an excellent addition to the "final girl" trope, launching her into stardom and becoming the (human) face of the franchise. —K.J.
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto
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<i>Slash/Back</i> (2022)
In the Inuit hamlet of Pangnirtung, Maika (Tasiana Shirley) and her friends see their idyllic summer interrupted by a sudden alien invasion in this underrated Canadian sci-fi horror. Luckily, the group is well-equipped to tackle these unwanted guests, possessing an arsenal of weapons and a keen understanding of horror movie tropes. Slash/Back delivers strong cultural commentary on top of its thrills, as Maika grapples with her own identity. The film debuted at the 2022 South by Southwest Festival, where it earned rave reviews for director Nyla Innuksuk's ability to craft this compelling and specific thriller with a low budget. —K.J.
Where to watch Slash/Back: Hulu
Director: Nyla Innuksuk
Cast: Tasiana Shirley, Alexis Wolfe, Nalajoss Ellsworth, Chelsea Prusky, Frankie Vincent-Wolfe, Rory Anawak, Kristian Bruun, Shaun Benson
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<i>The Last Exorcism</i> (2010)
Operating as The Exorcist for the found footage era, this 2010 chiller follows a preacher (Better Call Saul's Patrick Fabian) who has lost his faith but continues to perform sham exorcisms using smoke and mirrors. He gets more than he bargained for after one local father requests his services, realizing that something may actually be possessing the man's teenage daughter. Filmed in a mockumentary format, The Last Exorcism was released in a post-Paranormal Activity world — ultimately netting stronger reviews than others in the genre. As EW's Owen Gleiberman wrote, "The movie shrewdly exploits our voyeurism, all built around the teasing question of whether there's actually anything supernatural going on." —K.J.
Where to watch The Last Exorcism: Hulu
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Daniel Stamm
Cast: Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell, Iris Bahr, Louis Herthum, Caleb Landry Jones
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<i>Spree</i> (2020)
The perils of social media obsession are taken to a new level in this zany horror satire. Joe Keery — Stranger Things' Steve Harrington — stars as a rideshare driver who, aspiring to become a viral sensation, live-streams killing his passengers with poisoned bottles of water. He is soon labeled "the Rideshare Killer" as the police pursue him. Keery explained what attracted him to Spree in an interview with EW in 2020, relating it to his meteoric rise to stardom as a cast member on a hit streaming series. "Over the beginning of Stranger Things, I've been withdrawing from social media. Subconsciously, I think that was kind of one of the reasons why I was interested in exploring this movie. It's so embedded in our culture. It's a critique that hasn't been represented yet." —K.J.
Director: Eugene Kotlyarenko
Cast: Joe Keery, Sasheer Zamata, Mischa Barton, John DeLuca, Josh Ovalle, Lala Kent, Frankie Grande, Kyle Mooney, David Arquette
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<i>Watcher</i> (2022)
Julia, an American woman living in Bucharest, finds herself being watched by a man in a neighboring building in this Rear Window-inspired voyeur thriller. It Follows star Maika Monroe plays Julia, who watches the watcher and investigates whether he may be the reported serial killer in the area. A growing sense of dread overtakes Julia (and the audience) as she seeks to confirm her suspicions, while questioning her own sanity. Watcher earned positive reviews out of the Sundance Film Festival in 2022, with praise for its anxiety-driven atmosphere, meticulous production design, and Monroe's central performance. —K.J.
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Chloe Okuno
Cast: Maika Monroe, Karl Glusman, Burn Gorman
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<i>The Exorcist III</i> (1990)
Critically panned upon its release in 1990, The Exorcist III found new life over the years thanks to devoted horror fans who were willing to reframe the film's overacting and fruitless philosophical tangents into positives, rescuing the franchise from train-wreck territory (via the second movie) by introducing this now-cult classic. Written and directed by William Peter Blatty (who also wrote The Exorcist novel and the first film's Oscar-winning screenplay), our reviewer notes the filmmaker's tendency to describe the gore rather than depict the violence onscreen — a questionable choice given the visual medium of it all. We may have given the movie an F, but like many cult horror darlings, whether that F stands for failure or fun is a judgment call for you to make after watching. —Andrew Walsh
Where to watch The Exorcist III: Hulu
EW grade: F (read the review)
Director: William Peter Blatty
Cast: George C. Scott, Ed Flanders, Jason Miller, Scott Wilson, Nicol Williamson, Brad Dourif
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<i>John Dies at the End</i> (2012)
Based on the comedic horror novel written by David Wong (also the name of the film's narrator), John Dies at the End follows the escapades of professional slackers John (Rob Mayes) and Dave (Chase Williamson) after both consume a street drug known as "soy sauce" that sends users on trips across time and space. After John and Dave realize this interdimensional travel has left the world vulnerable to a supernatural invasion, it's up to these two college dropouts to save humanity. With a cast that includes Paul Giamatti as the skeptical reporter Arnie and Clancy Brown as the guys' paranormal advisor Dr. Albert Marconi, John Dies at the End is a bizarre, surrealist romp designed to make even the soberest of individuals feel like they're midway through a psychedelic trip. Come for the comedy, stay for the real star of the show: Bark Lee the rescue dog. —A.W.
Where to watch John Dies at the End: Hulu
Director: Don Coscarelli
Cast: Chase Williamson, Rob Mayes, Paul Giamatti, Clancy Brown, Glynn Turman, Doug Jones, Daniel Roebuck
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<i>Little Monsters</i> (2019)
Apocalypse movies are breeding grounds for unlikely posses, and this Australian zom-com from writer-director Abe Forsythe is no exception. Man-child Dave (Alexander England) wants to impress his nephew's teacher, Miss Caroline (Lupita Nyong'o), and volunteers to chaperone a kindergarten class trip. But, when a zombie escapes a nearby military base, Dave, Miss Caroline, and a popular children's television host (Josh Gad) must band together to protect the young and fight off the walking dead. A sunnier take on the zombie genre, fans of Warm Bodies and Shaun of the Dead will love sinking their teeth into this offbeat horror comedy. Gad is a standout as the hilariously amoral Teddy McGiggle. But, according to EW critic Leah Greenblatt's review, the real star of the show is the guitar-wielding Nyong'o. "She's both a warrior queen and a fallible, believable human woman — and never not a movie star in every scene." —A.W.
Where to watch Little Monsters: Hulu
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Abe Forsythe
Cast: Lupita Nyong'o, Alexander England, Josh Gad, Kat Stewart
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<i>The Vigil</i> (2019)
Desperate for money after leaving his Hasidic community, Yakov Ronen (Dave Davis) agrees to work overnight as a paid shomer, keeping vigil over the body of a recently deceased Holocaust survivor. During his watch, he is terrorized by a malevolent force searching for its next victim. But Yakov will have to make peace with his personal demons if he hopes to defeat the one after his soul. A religious horror in the vein of The Exorcist, this low-budget, supernatural thriller uses its tiny row house setting to maximum effect. Its roots in Jewish folklore offer fresh imagery, while the strong performances from Davis and Lynn Cohen keep the film emotionally grounded. This is one to watch with the lights on. —A.W.
Where to watch The Vigil: Hulu
Director: Abe Forsythe
Cast: Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig, Malky Goldman, Fred Melamed, Lynn Cohen
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<i>Amulet</i> (2020)
Harry Potter alum Imelda Staunton goes to the nunnery in Amulet as Sister Claire, a London nurse who helps a refugee and ex-soldier named Tomaz (Alec Secareanu) find lodging after the building where he's staying catches fire. Sister Claire brings Tomaz to live with Magda (Carla Juri), a young woman caring for her sickly mother. But, the longer Tomaz lives with them, the more he realizes their family secret is more hellish than the war he survived. Written and directed by Romola Garai, Amulet embraces some of the trope-ier elements of the genre, but executes them in a way that feels congruent with Garai's penchant for lingering shots and aesthetic world-building. Amulet is, as EW's Leah Greenblatt writes, capable of casting a "grim sort of spell; a brooding, stifled dread that creeps in quietly from the margins, and lingers long after the last triumphant frame." —A.W.
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Romola Garai
Cast: Carla Juri, Imelda Staunton, Alec Secareanu
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<i>Possessor</i> (2020)
In Possessor, Andrea Riseborough plays Tasya Vos, an assassin who kills by possessing innocent people's bodies and controlling their minds. Tasya struggles to separate her home life from her work life, and when her handler (Jennifer Jason Leigh) assigns her a high-profile hit, Tasya loses control of the host body (Christopher Abbott) she has possessed to complete the assignment. A sci-fi thriller with some thematic similarities to Apple TV+'s Severance, Possessor was directed by Brandon Cronenberg (son of body horror legend David). The director told EW the idea for the script came to him during his publicity tour for his last film, Antiviral (2012). He said he felt the effects of performing for the media day after day and "I was finding it hard to see myself in my own life. I was getting up in the morning and feeling like I was sitting up into someone else's life." —A.W.
Where to watch Possessor: Hulu
Director: Brandon Cronenberg
Cast: Andrea Riseborough, Christopher Abbott, Rossif Sutherland, Tuppence Middleton, Sean Bean, Jennifer Jason Leigh
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<i>Run</i> (2020)
From Searching director Aneesh Chaganty, Run follows doting mother Diane Sherman (Sarah Paulson), who has maintained meticulous control over the life of her daughter Chloe (newcomer Kiera Allen) for 17 years. Once the time comes for Chloe — a wheelchair user with multiple ailments — to leave for college, she soon becomes a prisoner in her own home as dark secrets are uncovered. Run is a taut thriller that feels like an elevated Lifetime movie in all the right ways. Chaganty sets the action primarily in the Sherman house, creating an environment that feels both intimate and suffocating. In preparation for the role, Paulson told EW that she channeled Piper Laurie's eerie matriarch in Carrie, saying, "There's an element of control, there's obviously an extreme codependent situation at work there, where you have a young person who is slowly coming into their own and what that causes the parent to feel." —A.W.
EW grade: B– (read the review)
Director: Aneesh Chaganty
Cast: Sarah Paulson, Kiera Allen
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<i>Censor</i> (2021)
In the 2021 film Censor, even the British Board of Film Classification can't bleep out the terrors that lurk within. This British psychological horror stars Niamh Algar as Enid Baynes, a censor working in 1985 to clamp down on rampant violence within film. But Enid has her own violent past to deal with, namely her sister Nina who has been missing since the girls were little. Enid believes Nina is still alive, and sets out to find her, but struggles to determine the difference between her real life and the movies. Released during Sundance 2021, Censor is a well-reviewed addition to the British horror movie canon with admirable style (the film was primarily shot on 35mm film, interspersed with some Super8 and VHS footage). If you're in the market for a scary movie with elegant execution, look no further than Censor. —A.W.
Director: Prano Bailey-Bond
Cast: Niamh Algar, Nicholas Burns, Vincent Franklin, Sophia La Porta, Adrian Schiller, Michael Smiley
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<i>Titane</i> (2021)
One of EW's best horror films of 2021, Titane, by writer-director Julia Ducournau (Raw), follows Alexia (Agathe Rousselle), a serial killer and car show model whose fetish for motor vehicles leads to her pregnancy by a Cadillac sedan (yes, you read that right). After a particularly gruesome killing spree, the soon-to-be mother goes into hiding and assumes a new identity, willing to do anything to survive. Sex with a car, motor oil lactation, and murder by hairpin are just a few things the first 30 minutes has in store. This Palme d'Or winner could have easily been a less-aware exercise in camp, but instead develops into a suspenseful meditation on gender, empathy, and grief. The neon-soaked body horror of Titane is a wild, unpredictable ride that will leave your mouth hanging open throughout its hour and 48 minutes of mayhem.
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Julia Ducournau
Cast: Agathe Rousselle, Vincent Lindon, Garance Marillier, Laïs Salameh
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<i>Fresh</i> (2022)
A nuanced examination of the horrors of modern dating, first-time feature-length director Mimi Cave's Fresh follows the meet-cute turned meat-cute between budding lovers Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Steve (Sebastian Stan). When Steve turns out to be more Hannibal Lecter than Prince Charming, their relationship takes an unappetizing turn. A dash of American Psycho, a sprinkling of Blood Diner, with a pinch of When Harry Met Sally for flavor, this horror comedy is held together by the killer chemistry between its two leads. Edgar-Jones imbues Noa with a final girl's quiet strength and sharp intellect, making you hope she'll survive the main course. On the flip side, Stan brings Steve's psychopathy just the right amount of disarming goofiness to keep him from being a one-note villain (as seen in his audition video where he dances with a kitchen knife). One suggestion: You may want to eat before you hit play. —A.W.
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Mimi Cave
Cast: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sebastian Stan, Jojo T. Gibbs, Andrea Bang
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