Top 10 best horror movies on Amazon Prime Video

❘ Updated: 2024-10-02T16:05:58

Universal Pictures

When it’s Halloween, everyone’s entitled to one good scare, so we’ve gone further with a list of the best horror movies you can watch on Amazon Prime Video right now.

Whether it’s blood-slashing gore, thrilling jumps, or scary scenes that are so far-fetched you just can’t help but laugh, putting on a horror flick always guarantees a good time.

Thanks to our favorite streaming services, an array of frightening flicks are available at the click of a button, from out-and-out classics to modern hits that have flown under the radar.

Amazon Prime Video has a mix of both raring to go. We’ve put together the best scary movies you can watch with your standard subscription (no need for add-ons here).

It Follows (2014)

There’s still much debate about whether or not it’s an allegory for STDs (it’s not), but one thing we can all agree on is It Follows is downright terrifying, introducing an entirely new boogyman to be afraid of (one that takes many forms) while securing Maika Monroe as our new fave scream queen.

The story centers around Jay, who is stalked by a relentless killer entity that can be passed on to another victim through sex. After her latest hookup gives it to her, she must outrun the demonic stalker before it’s too late. It’s creepy, it’s gruesome, and we’ll never stop wanting Yara’s retrofuturistic clamshell e-reader.

Terrifier (2016) & Terrifier 2 (2022)

With Terrifier 3’s arrival, what better time to revisit Art the Clown’s mischievous past. Terrifier is Damien Leone’s first feature-length flick centering on David Howard Thornton’s iteration of the killer clown, made on a shoestring budget with plenty of sinister grit.

The follow-up turned it up to 11, securing Art as one of the most hilariously sadistic horror icons the world has ever seen. That bedroom scene is by far the most gruesome thing you’ll watch this Halloween, and the perfect amuse bouche for the threequel.

Barbarian (2022)

Tapping into the uncertainties of the Airbnb era, Barbarian kicks off with Tess (Georgina Campbell), a woman who shows up to a rental house the night before a job interview, only to find it’s been double-booked. Although the other lodger, Keith (Bill Skarsgård), is up for sharing, soon enough the home takes a turn for the, well, barbaric.

To say you should expect the unexpected would be an understatement. What starts as a perfectly tense thriller spirals into an unpredictable nightmare with some stomach-churning practical effects and boundary-pushing scenes.

Drag Me To Hell (2009)

The plot follows Christine (Alison Lohman), a loan officer who denies an elderly woman an extension on her mortgage, only to be cursed with a terrifying supernatural fate. As Christine faces nightmarish visions and demonic attacks, she races against time to break the curse before she’s literally dragged to hell.

Say what you want about Sam Raimi’s goofy PG-13 horror but Drag Me To Hell is a lot of fun (kitten murder aside). If you’re an Evil Dead fan and you keep in mind it’s a campy, OTT, cartoonish ride, you’ll find something to enjoy here.

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

“Keep off the moors, stick to the roads,” the fateful line that shows why you should always take advice from the locals during your travels. Unfortunately, backpackers David and Jack learn the hard way in this feral classic when they venture out into the English countryside during a full moon.

An American Werewolf in London is one of the best werewolf movies; a perfect balance of horror and comedy. And the practical effects are so effective, they’ll make you wish we could go back to a pre-CGI world.

Doctor Sleep (2019)

A sequel to The Shining, Doctor Sleep follows an adult Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor), now struggling with his traumatic past and alcoholism, as he encounters a sinister cult that feeds on children with psychic powers.

Aside from Stephen King, many consider Stanley Kubrick’s iteration of The Shining to be one of the best horror movies ever made, crafted by one of the greatest auteurs that ever lived. So, when a big screen sequel was announced, film lovers across the globe were apprehensive about whether it could live up to its predecessor.

However, Mike Flanagan never misses, and he proved to be the perfect choice for the job, honoring both King’s novel and Kubrick’s vision while putting his own fresh spin on the story.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 50th Anniversary Edition (1974)

Leatherface in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Tobe Hooper’s 1974 classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre remains one of the most influential horror films ever made (and a personal favorite). Celebrating its 50th anniversary, this edition brings renewed appreciation for its gritty realism and relentless terror.

The story follows a group of friends who fall prey to the deranged, chainsaw-wielding Leatherface and his cannibalistic family. With its raw intensity and minimalistic style, the movie is a masterclass in tension-building, revolutionizing the horror genre with its shocking brutality and unnerving atmosphere that still haunts viewers five decades later.

Frozen (2010)

If you want to get those cortisol levels pumping, be sure to crack on Frozen (not to be confused with the Disney musical, unless you fancy the most mismatched double bill ever). Adam Green’s icy thriller is based on an incredibly simple premise: three friends stranded on a ski lift.

It might not sound that scary, but as they’re forced to confront freezing temperatures, dwindling hope, and the dangers of the wilderness, you can’t help but feel as if you’re suffering alongside them, plunging you right in the middle of a nightmarish scenario.

Totally Killer (2023)

When 17-year-old Jamie comes face-to-face with a masked maniac, she accidentally time-travels back to 1987. Forced to navigate the unfamiliar culture, Jamie teams up with her teenage mother to take down the psycho once and for all.

Our review said, “While it is unlikely to become a cult classic or reach the same level of fame as its predecessors, Totally Killer is an enjoyable watch that features a fantastic soundtrack, some hilarious moments, and a decent amount of blood.”

Suspiria (2018)

An adaptation from Dario Argento’s 1977 Giallo movie classic, Luca Guadagnino’s take on a witches dance coven is a trippy, horrorific cinematic experience all its own.

When Susie travels to Berlin to join the Markos Tanz Company, she does not know her fate is about to change. A dark force targets the inhabitants of the company and tries to take over their lives. Even better – Tilda Swinton plays more than one character here.

For more Halloween viewing, check out the scariest movies based on true stories, the best Netflix horrors to watch this Halloween, and every horror coming to streaming this spooky season.