Do you want to watch something scary? Well, you horror stan, Hulu is a great place to start looking.
Right now, the streaming service has a solid lineup of new and old frights, ranging from recent Hulu originals like False Positive, starring Ilana Glazer, to cross-genre international hits like Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite. Of course, not all horror experiences freak us out in the same way — or to the same degree — so you'll want to know what you're getting yourself into before pressing play.
To help you out, we've combed through Hulu's catalog and selected the 10 all-around best horror movies available (in no particular order).
Good luck out there, and remember: Never go alone!
10. False Positive
From Mother! to Rosemary's Baby, reproduction has been explored by enough horror titles to qualify pregnancy-terror as its own subgenre. In director John Lee's False Positive, co-written with star Ilana Glazer, the gross-out body stuff you've seen done countless times gets fresh framing with a snappy script that addresses modern mothering imperfectly but thoughtfully. Plus, Pierce Brosnan plays a campy, creepy OB-GYN villain you've just gotta see.
Where to watch: False Positive is streaming on Hulu(opens in a new tab).(opens in a new tab)
9. Villains
Venerable horror icons Bill Skarsgård and Maika Monroe lead Villains, a Bonnie and Clyde-meets-Don't Breathe mashup with a sprinkling of '50s style you'll love. When criminal lovebirds Jules and Mickey decide to rob a house, they encounter a mystery within and must contend with the home's residents, played by Kyra Sedgwick and Jeffrey Donovan, to solve it.
Where to watch: Villains is streaming on Hulu.(opens in a new tab)
8. Oculus
Before he was the mind behind The Haunting of Hill House, Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep, and The Midnight Club, critically acclaimed director (and recipient of the Stephen King seal of approval) Mike Flanagan made Oculus. It's a psychological horror following siblings Kaylie (Karen Gillan) and Tim (Brenton Thwaites) as they investigate the supernatural entity behind their family’s tragedy. When they rediscover an antique mirror in their childhood home, the malevolency hiding behind its pristine glass begins looming over them, and all the horror hijinks ensue. If you’re looking to stay up all night and to never look into a mirror again, this movie is right up your alley. — Yasmeen Hamadeh, Entertainment intern
Where to watch: Oculus is streaming on Hulu.(opens in a new tab)
7. The Lodge
The Lodge is the bleakest title on Mashable's 2020 holiday horror list, bar none. If you're looking for a fun holiday horror flick, this is not it. That said, this psychological nightmare is a great choice if you're looking for an unnerving horror experience that combines The Shining with occultism. Intrigued? Starring Riley Keough as an unwelcome girlfriend on Christmas vacation with her boyfriend's kids, played by Jaeden Martell and Lia McHugh, The Lodge foregoes traditional scares for slow-burn tension and shocking implications.
Where to watch: The Lodge is streaming on Hulu(opens in a new tab).(opens in a new tab)
6. Lights Out
Based on director David F. Sandberg's short film of the same name, Lights Out is a supernatural fright fest with jump-scares to spare. This descent into darkness follows siblings Rebecca and Martin, played by Teresa Palmer and Gabriel Bateman, as they fight to solve the mystery behind a clawed creature hunting them and others as prey only when the lights are out. This is a real sphincter-clincher, so maybe save it for when you need an adrenaline boost.
Where to watch: Lights Out is streaming on Hulu(opens in a new tab).(opens in a new tab)
5. Black Swan
Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan is a classic take on psychological horror and explores the sinister side to the pursuit of perfection. Nina (Natalie Portman) is a ballerina who just landed the lead role in a production of “Swan Lake,” but is immediately threatened by newcomer Lily (Mila Kunis) who proves to be better fit for the role of the mystifyingly sensual Black Swan than Nina. As she tries to maintain her position as prima ballerina, Nina descends into her dark side and lets it envelop her, with the journey being a harrowingly gripping watch. — Y.H.
Where to watch: Black Swan is streaming on Hulu.(opens in a new tab)
4. Parasite
Although Parasite isn’t your typical horror movie, its last sequence is destined to haunt you long after its end credits finish rolling. From the mind of legendary director Bong Joon-ho, Parasite made waves thanks to its historical Academy Award win for Best Picture and its phenomenally layered story that’ll have you digging beneath its surface, much like its character’s homes.
A story of class disparity and capitalism (the scariest monster out there), Parasite follows the Kim family, a painfully penniless bunch, as they sneak their way into the affluent home of the Park family, a painfully penny-full bunch, by pretending to be unassuming, unrelated employees who are just trying to find jobs around the Park’s home. The harmony of their symbiotic relationship is soon cut short when a secret reveals itself, and the film beautifully stumbles into a cinematic second act that asks you: How do you get rid of a parasite when everyone is one?
Parasite is also listed as one of Mashable's best films of the 2010s. — Y.H.
Where to watch: Parasite is streaming on Hulu.(opens in a new tab)
3. Let the Right One In
Swedish director Tomas Alfredson's heartbreaking vampire tale changed the game for 2000s horror. An expertly executed but surprisingly restrained affair, Let the Right One In follows a young boy, bullied in school, who befriends another kid with a mysterious need to feast on blood. The resulting romance is one of a kind — tonally unique and hauntingly impactful.
Where to watch: Let the Right One In is streaming on Hulu(opens in a new tab).(opens in a new tab)
2. Prey
The widely successful prequel to the Predator franchise, Prey is set in 1719 and follows Naru (Amber Midthunder) as she tries to protect her community from our favorite clicking, creepy alien nightmare. Hulu also has the entire Predator franchise available for streaming if you’re up for a marathon. — Y.H.
Where to watch: Prey is streaming on Hulu.(opens in a new tab)
1. The Blair Witch Project
The first Blair Witch Project is a legendary staple of horror. Seriously, its storytelling through “recovered footage” is so good it inspired future horror blockbusters like Paranormal Activity and more. Set in 1994, The Blair Witch Project follows three film students, Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard (who act as themselves), as they venture into the Black Hills near Burkittsville, Maryland, to investigate the Blair Witch, a creepy folklore staple of the town. After the three go missing, their documentary footage is found years later and makes up the film you see today. The Blair Witch Project is entirely fictional and staged, but its perfect execution in making you feel otherwise is a large part of its charm. It’s gloriously suspenseful. It’s a master class in tension. And it’s a must-watch for all horror lovers. — Y.H.
Where to watch: The Blair Witch Project is streaming on Hulu.(opens in a new tab)
To get your horror movie night on, Hulu offers a 30-day free trial for all new subscribers, with a basic plan of $6.99 per month (with ads), and a premium plan of $12.99 per month (with no ads). Hit that button below to start streaming.
UPDATE: Oct. 2, 2022, 5:00 a.m. EDT This article has been updated to reflect current streaming options.
