[It's my 5th time sharing a post like this, so I figured it was time for a proper graphic.]
My last Netflix Recommendation post was Christmas-themed. This one will fittingly be horror-themed, since we're now in the midst of 'Scream Fest' (that time of year when a bunch of horror movies are released in succession). So far we've seen the release of Annabelle: Creation, IT, and Mother!, and Jeeper's Creepers 3, Jigsaw, and another installment of The Purge series will soon be coming down the pipe.
Scary movies aren't for everyone. I get it. Nobody in my inner circle willingly goes to see horror films with me - it always takes some coercion, and while I have absolutely no problem going to the movies solo, sometimes I prefer to experience the thrill with a friend.
I also have no problem experiencing the thrill in the comfort of my own home, which is where Netflix comes to the rescue. I've seen almost all the top movies in the horror section of the site, even some of those b-list titles that look kinda sketchy or are a low-budget dupe of a popular big-budget option. I'll watch those.
This is why I can confidently share the picks below, because I often click on the obscure title expecting very little, but sometimes... sometimes... they pleasantly surprise. Another thing about these? They're the least "scary" of the ones I've watched recently, so even if you're not a fan of the genre, you might still enjoy them. Maybe.
At your own risk.
It Follows (2014)
This tells the story of a girl who's being followed by a supernatural being after having sex with the guy she's dating. The whole plot is one big metaphor for the things that haunt us after being intimate with someone, and even though it wasn't scary in the traditional sense, it had a few good jump-scare moments.
Clown (2014)
Clowns are having a moment this season thanks to Stephen King's IT revival. If you're interested in a different take on the theme, definitely check this one out. It's about a guy who puts on an old clown suit for his son's birthday party and is then unable to take it off. Things get eerie from there.
XX (2017)
This is a series of four short films, completely unrelated to each other, that offer a different take on the horror genre. The first one, "The Box," was my absolute favorite, and the ending still has me wondering.
Would You Rather (2012)
I watched this one a few years back. It was only available on HBO at the time, but now that it's on Netflix it definitely gets a nod. A group of guests sit down for a dinner party, but the host twists the evening into a sinister game of "would you rather." It gets gory, and I cringed more times than I could count, but all the gore has a point and is part of the actual plot. I could.not.stop.watching.
Also on The Active Spirit: The Netflix Recommendation Series
the only horror movie i'd love to watch is It. the others, um no thanks. for some reason, western horror movies tend to deal with exorcism and i don't find that appealing. even though i'm a scaredy cat, i think i still prefer asian horror movies that have ghosts and spirits as opposed to watching people twist and crack their bones because a demon is possessing them ^^;; oh i'm also interested in babadook but haven't gotten around to watching it. i've heard of it follows and i'm curious about it too but i haven't watched it. i might go and watch that, alongside babadook. i think i prefer psychological horror in general and can deal with that more than horror with exorcism, demons or spirits.
ReplyDeletep.s: i watched the purge - the first one - and was actually left unamused. i don't know what is it but as i watched, my only reaction was "oh, okay" and didn't find myself gripping the edge of my seat. at the same time, all i could think of during the movie was "if this purge happens irl, i'd steal things from the store instead of murdering people" :))
The Purge movies aren't my cup of tea AT ALL, and although I understand why they're classified as scary movies, they really aren't that scary in my opinion.
DeleteAnd I love the Asian take on horror stories, too! They way they bring supernatural elements to "life" on screen is much much better than the way we do in the western hemisphere.
I tried to watch babadook, but couldn't finish it! I found it quite boring... maybe I should give another try? All i hear is good things about it. Xx