Image via New Line Cinema
Watching scary movies isn’t an activity that should be limited to just the month of Halloween. Sure, the spooky holiday is obviously the best time to indulge your darkest desires, but that only happens once every twelve months, and there are too many horror films to have to wait for October every year. Luckily for you, we’ve rounded up the best, most scary ones that you can stream on Amazon Prime with a couple simple clicks of a button any time you like.
Not everyone likes their entertainment to be nightmare-inducing, but don’t let your childhood fears of being frightened keep you from missing out on all the enthralling plot twists and demented characters that horror has to offer. Even though the genre has a rabid fanbase, horror films don’t often get the time in the limelight they deserve. Maybe it’s the jump scares or buckets of blood that keep the movies from reaching a larger audience, but some truly remarkable filmmaking is done within the confined of the genre. Luckily, films like this year’s breakout blockbuster, Get Out—which shattered records and came from an unlikely source in comedian Jordan Peele—showed modern pop culture enthusiasts that when a horror film is done right, it can be an enlightening piece of art that captures the attention of audiences far and wide with its eye-opening window into a bigger commentary on how we live life today.
From tense thrillers to blood-curling gore flicks, this list has a little bit of everything to terrify and satisfy even the most diehard horror fan’s darkest fantasies. There are some classics, some underappreciated gems, and some that fall somewhere in-between. So, if you’re feeling brave, sit back, watch, and enjoy—and best of luck trying to get a sound night of sleep after binge-watching this list of the best horror movies on Amazon Prime.
The Witch (2015)
Released in 2015, the supernatural horror film follows a Puritan family as they encounter forces of evil in the woods right next to their New England farm. The entire movie was shot with natural light (the indoor scenes only contained lighting from candles), and the result is a gritty, authentic look that channels an earlier era of spooky filmmaking. Plus, the movie took home awards from both Sundance Film Festival and Independent Spirit Awards, which is no small feat.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
The original that started it all. The film follows a group of friends who fall victim to an inbred family of cannibals while on their way to visit their old homestead. Along the way, they run into Leatherface, a chainsaw wielding maniac who quickly becomes the movie’s main antagonist. While the film’s plot is entirely fictional, the character of Leatherface and various plot details were inspired by the crimes of real life murderer Ed Gein.
Green Room (2015)
The third feature from acclaimed director Jeremy Saulnier, Green Room is a horror-thriller with a pretty unique plotline. The film boasts a cast that includes the late Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots and Patrick Stewart, and focuses on a fictional punk band (The Ain't Rights) who find themselves under attack by neo-Nazi skinheads after witnessing a murder at a sketchy music club in the remote Oregon woods.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
This is an American psychological horror crime film about the random crime spree of a serial killer who murders just about anyone—men, women and children—as he drifts across the country. Much like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, two of the major characters in the movie are loosely based on actual serial killers Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole. The film was so shocking when it was released in 1986 that it was rated “X” by the MPAA.
Dead & Buried (1981)
This movie skews a little more science-fiction than others on this list, but it’s still jam-packed with horror and suspense. Filmed on a shoestring budget, the story focuses on the happenings of a small town when a handful of tourists are murdered and their corpses begin to reanimate. It’s a murky detective story that slowly and intensely evolves into a uniquely eccentric scary movie—it’s an underrated film of the genre.
An American Werewolf In London (1981)
This film is another classic from the ‘80s that manages to mix both horror and dark comedy into one thrilling movie. Two college students are backpacking through Britain when a large wolf attacks them—killing one and injuring the other. As the title suggests, the unlucky survivor soon learns that the full moon causes him to transform from man to murderous beast. While it may look a little dated in 2017, the film was praised for its innovative makeup effects at the time of its original release.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Tim Burton, Sleepy Hollow manages to mix horror, fantasy, and romance into one hell of a compelling film. If Burton’s name wasn’t enough, the star-studded cast includes Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci as the lead characters. The movie’s stunning, gothic visuals helped it win the 2002 Academy Award for Best Art Direction. Don’t let the big names and romantic plotline fool you, though; the film still has plenty of creepy moments.
Night Of The Living Dead (1968)
One of the cult classics of the genre, Night of the Living Dead is a must-see (and a must re-watch) for horror fans new and old. The low budget indie follows a group of people who are trapped in a farmhouse in rural Pennsylvania when they are attacked by a large and growing group of "living dead" monsters. Basically, it’s the film that introduced the concept of zombies into entertainment decades before The Walking Dead further propelled them into the mainstream.
The Monster (2016)
This effort from writer/director Bryan Bertino, who had previously directed the 2007 hit The Strangers, does not disappoint. The movie follows the story of a divorced mother and her daughter as they make an emergency late-night road trip to see the girl's father. Car troubles leave the duo stranded on an empty country road when they come to realize they’re not alone. It may be a simple horror setup, but thanks to a powerful lead performance by Zoe Kazan as the daughter, the film delivers a subversive and riveting story.