You've been scrolling for twenty minutes. The Netflix "Horror" category is starting to look like a graveyard of low-budget sequels and stuff you've already seen five times. It’s frustrating. You want something that actually sticks in your ribs, not just another jump-scare fest that you'll forget by breakfast. Honestly, finding good horror movies on Netflix right now is harder than it used to be because the algorithm loves to bury the weird, effective stuff under a mountain of "trending" noise.
The reality is that 2026 has been a weirdly great year for the genre on streaming. We finally got Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein after what felt like a decade of waiting, and some indie hits from last year are just now migrating over. If you’re tired of the same old recommendations, I’ve spent the week digging through the current library to see what’s actually worth your Friday night.
The Big One Everyone is Talking About: del Toro’s Frankenstein
If you haven’t watched Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein yet, stop reading this and go do it. It hit the platform late last year and it is, quite frankly, a masterpiece of production design. Oscar Isaac plays Victor Frankenstein with this sort of frantic, pathetic ego that makes you hate him and pity him at the same time. Then you have Jacob Elordi as the Creature.
Most people expected a monster movie. It’s not that. It’s a gothic tragedy that feels like a warm, dark blanket—until the second half when the "darkness" del Toro promised really starts to bleed through. It’s long (150 minutes), so grab a drink. It’s easily one of the most visually stunning good horror movies on Netflix right now, even if the pacing feels a bit indulgent in the middle.
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The New Slasher King: Thanksgiving
Eli Roth finally turned that fake trailer from Grindhouse into a full movie, and it’s surprisingly tight. It’s a Black Friday-themed slasher set in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It’s mean, it’s gory, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you miss the era of early 2000s slashers but want something that looks modern and crisp, this is the pick. It’s got that "chewing popcorn while someone gets hit with a meat tenderizer" energy.
Psychological Scares That Actually Work
Sometimes you don't want blood. You want that creeping feeling that something is wrong in your own house. Netflix has a few gems here that most people skip because the posters look generic.
- His House (2020): This has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes for a reason. It follows a refugee couple from South Sudan moving into a literal "haunted" house in England. But the ghosts aren't just ghosts; they’re manifestations of survivor's guilt. It’s deeply sad and terrifying.
- Don't Move (2024): This is a high-concept thriller that works as horror. A woman is injected with a paralytic agent by a killer and has to find a way to escape before her body completely shuts down. It’s claustrophobic in a way that feels very "real world" scary.
- The Moogai: An Australian import that deals with Indigenous trauma through a supernatural lens. A mother thinks a spirit is trying to take her child. Is she losing it, or is the spirit real? The tension is thick enough to cut with a knife.
Why You Should Stop Ignoring Foreign Language Horror
Seriously. Some of the best good horror movies on Netflix right now aren't in English. If you’re okay with subtitles—or even if you prefer dubs—you’re missing out on the best stuff if you stick to US releases.
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Train to Busan is basically the gold standard for zombie movies at this point. It’s on and off the platform constantly, but as of early 2026, it’s back. It’s fast, it’s emotional, and it makes The Walking Dead look like a daytime soap opera.
Then there’s The Platform. It’s a Spanish social allegory set in a vertical prison where food is lowered on a platform. The people at the top eat like kings; the people at the bottom starve. It turns into a brutal, gory nightmare very quickly. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s one of those movies you’ll be thinking about for three days straight.
The "Hidden Gem" You Probably Scrolled Past
Ever heard of Deadstream?
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It’s a "found footage" comedy-horror about a disgraced internet personality who tries to win back his followers by livestreaming a night in a haunted house. It sounds cheesy. It is. But it’s also genuinely creative with its scares. It uses the "live" format to pull off some tricks I haven't seen in the genre before. It’s one of those good horror movies on Netflix right now that usually gets buried because it doesn't have a massive star in the lead.
A Quick Word on the Classics
Netflix actually has the original 1974 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre right now. If you've only seen the remakes or the "legacy sequels," you owe it to yourself to see the original. It’s surprisingly bloodless compared to modern stuff, but the vibe is so gritty and hot and miserable that it feels more dangerous than a thousand jump scares.
How to Actually Choose What to Watch
Don't just trust the "Match %" Netflix gives you. It’s mostly nonsense based on what you clicked on while you were bored. Instead, look at the director. If you see names like Mike Flanagan (Gerald’s Game), Remi Weekes (His House), or Babak Anvari (Under the Shadow), you’re usually in good hands.
If you want a "cozy" horror night, go with Frankenstein or The Ritual. If you want to be stressed out and unable to look at your phone, go with Talk to Me (if it’s still in your region) or Barbarian.
The best way to experience these is to turn off the lights, put your phone in another room, and let the atmosphere do the work. The jump scares only work if you're actually paying attention.
Your Next Steps for a Perfect Movie Night
- Check your region: Licensing changes fast in 2026. Use the search bar for "Guillermo del Toro" first to see if Frankenstein is available in your specific territory.
- Update your audio: Most of these films (especially His House) rely on 3D spatial audio. If you have headphones, use them. It changes the experience entirely.
- Watch the trailers: If you're on the fence about The Platform or Thanksgiving, watch 30 seconds of the trailer. You’ll know immediately if the "vibe" matches your current mood.