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The 6 Best Free Horror Movies on YouTube Right Now (July 2024)

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Subversive by nature, horror is one genre where some of the best works are those that fly under the radar . Not all great horror movies get the appreciation they deserve from critics and the theater-going public. But thanks to the internet and streaming services, these indie terrors have an opportunity to scare the pants off people on a larger scale than ever before. YouTube is a big part of that, with the video-sharing platform allowing viewers access to a wide range of horror films, from obscure cult classics to actual legendary classics. Read on to discover some of the best horror movies you can watch for free on YouTube.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best horror movies on Netflix or the best horror movies on Shudder .

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US YouTube.

‘The Isle’ (2018)

Rotten tomatoes: 67% | imdb: 4.9/10.

Set in 1846 on a remote Scottish island, The Isle is a period horror film directed by Matthew Butler-Hart , who also co-wrote the script with producer Tori Butler-Hart . The movie follows three shipwrecked sailors who find themselves on an island with four strange residents. When it becomes clear that there’s no escape from the foggy isle, one of the sailors uncovers an ancient mystery involving a ghostly siren. The film stars Conleth Hill , Alex Hassell , Fisayo Akinade , and Tori Butler-Hart, among others. The Isle has received generally favorable reviews from critics and an even better reception from fans. The film has also received a number of accolades, including the Jury Prize for Best Sci-Fi/Horror Film at the 2018 London Independent Film Festival. The movie presents dark, atmospheric cinematography that makes full use of its picturesque setting. Buoyed by brilliant performances and haunting music, The Isle is a totally immersive horror drama that’s eerie and beautiful.

Watch on YouTube

‘Jessabelle’ (2014)

Rotten tomatoes: 28% | imdb: 5.4/10.

Jessabelle is a 2014 supernatural horror film directed and edited by Saw 3D director Kevin Greutert from a script written by Ben Garant . The film stars Sarah Snook as Jessie Laurent, appearing alongside Mark Webber , David Andrews , Joelle Carter , and Ana de la Reguera . After a tragic accident, Jessie moves to Louisiana with her estranged father and finds mysterious videotapes left by her late mother, which lead her to a terrible secret. Jessabelle received mixed to negative reactions from critics at the time of its release, performing marginally better with audiences. The movie’s plot has been criticized for its cliches, especially in the early half of the movie, and the general lack of focus. However, despite its flaws, the film does offer some slow-burn chills and it’s a great showcase of Sarah Snook’s abilities pre- Succession . Though it never truly fulfills its potential, Jessabelle is still an interesting watch for fans of classical ghost stories with tense, atmospheric storytelling.

‘Jacob’s Ladder’ (1990)

Rotten tomatoes: 72% | imdb: 7.4/10.

Jacob's Ladder

Directed by Adrian Lyne and written by Bruce Joel Rubin , this psychological horror thriller is considered one of the best horror films of the 1990s. Jacob’s Ladder tells the story of Jacob Singer, a Vietnam War veteran who is haunted by his experiences and suffers from PTSD, which causes frequent, bizarre hallucinations. Tim Robbins stars as the titular protagonist, appearing alongside Elizabeth Peña and Danny Aiello . Featuring a mind-bending narrative, Jacob Ladder is the story of a man trapped inside his own mind trying to navigate life between reality and imagination after a traumatic event. On its release, the movie was only moderately successful at the box office and received mixed reviews from critics. However, the film has become a favorite among genre fans and garnered a cult following, going on to be a significant influence on future works in the genre. Jacob’s Ladder is considered a major inspiration for the horror franchise Silent Hill , which includes five games and a 2006 film adaptation by Christophe Gans . A remake directed by David M. Rosenthal was released in 2019 starring Michael Ealy and Jesse Williams .

‘The Legend of La Llorona’ (2022)

Rotten tomatoes: 7% | imdb: 3.2/10.

The Legend of La Llorona

The Legend of La Llorona is a supernatural horror film directed by Patricia Harris Seeley , who also co-wrote the script with José Prendes and Cameron Larson . The movie follows a family vacationing in Mexico who are tormented by La Llorona, a malevolent spirit that traps children in a world between the living and the dead. The film stars Autumn Reeser , Danny Trejo , Antonio Cupo , and Zamia Fardiño . The Legend of La Llorona received rather negative reviews from critics at the time of its release. The movie does have its share of issues, both in terms of the plot and the visual effects. However, Autumn Reeser and Danny Trejo are the film’s saving grace, with performances that help take you through the story. Ultimately, The Legend of La Llorona isn’t exactly a modern classic, but as a simple ghost story, it’s still quite entertaining.

‘Terrifier’ (2016)

Rotten tomatoes: 57% | imdb:​​​​​​​ 5.6/10.

Written and directed by Damien Leone , Terrifier is an indie slasher film that features enigmatic serial killer Art the Clown, who targets young women on Halloween night. The movie stars Jenna Kanell , Samantha Scaffidi , and Catherine Corcoran , with David Howard Thornton as Art. The movie’s maniacal villain was first introduced in the anthology film All Hallows’ Eve and has subsequently spawned two sequels, Terrifier 2 (2022) and the upcoming Terrifier 3 . While the movie has received rather mixed reviews, Terrifier has garnered a cult following and received two nominations for Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. Its star, Art the Clown, has been hailed by horror fans as a modern slasher icon. Though Terrifier 2 is arguably a better movie, the original film features great special effects and brutal action. The movie is as grindhouse as horror can get, focusing more on style than plot or character development. The result is a film that’s wildly entertaining, even if it lacks much substance beyond the sheer thrill.

‘The Collector’ (2009)

​​​​​​​rotten tomatoes: 29% | imdb: 6.3/10.

The Collector

The Collector is a horror thriller film that was the directorial debut of Marcus Dunstan , who also co-wrote the script with Patrick Melton . The duo is best known for writing the horror action-comedy Feast . The Collector follows broke ex-convict Arkin O’Brien, who decides to break into his new employer’s house and rob a valuable gem, only to find out that a masked man has already broken in and imprisoned the family. The Punisher alum Josh Stewart stars as Arkin, appearing alongside Michael Reilly Burke , Andrea Roth , Juan Fernandez , Karley Scott Collins , Madeline Zima , and Robert Wisdom . On its release, The Collector got a generally negative reception from critics but fared quite well at the box office, earning fans with its gritty, no-holds-barred narrative. The Collector also spawned a sequel, The Collection , with Dunstan returning to direct and co-write with Melton and Stewart reprising his role of Arkin O’Brien, with Emma Fitzpatrick , Lee Tergesen , and Christopher McDonald appearing as new cast members.

The Best Free Horror Movies You Can Watch On YouTube Right Now

In his treatise on the nature of human fear, American multi-instrumentalist Andrew Gold posited that, "Spooky, scary skeletons / Send shivers down your spine / Shrieking skulls will shock your soul / Seal your doom tonight." He was right, of course — spooky scary skeletons can, as a rule, be counted on to sneak from their sarcophagi and just not let you be. But what if you're not close to a sarcophagus? What, indeed, if bags of bones are, to your eyes, a terror that's best categorized as merely semi-serious?

If that's the case, then consider this: YouTube offers a genuine smorgasbord of horror flicks, each designed to scare you and the ones you love, and each for the unbeatable price of zero dollars. The list is extensive, and runs the gamut from blood-soaked action to psychological thrillers that'll have you questioning the very nature of your existence — you know, just for fun. Here, we'll take a look at some of the best and most gruesome films that YouTube has on the menu.

On paper, "Cube" really should have turned out boring and bad. It was shot on a budget of less than half a million dollars on a Toronto sound stage and, in an especially foreboding development, involved hiring a math consultant. It had precisely no right to be good.

But here we are, nearly 25 years later, and "Cube" is still a classic of the low-budget, high-concept horror oeuvre. Written and directed by Vincenzo Natali of "Splice" fame, it tells the story of a group of strangers caught in what could best be described as a page from the Jigsaw Killer's dream journal — a maze of identical square rooms, intermittently booby trapped with all manner of unpleasantries, ranging from your boilerplate face-melting acid to a device that turns people into easily stackable segments of themselves. Typical as to what tends to happen in these situations, the argument is presented that human cube steak machines aren't the real monster — the real monster was the friends we made along the way.

Nosferatu the Vampyre

A full 40 years before he tried to kidnap Grogu, acclaimed filmmaker and amateur Henry Kissinger impersonator Werner Herzog took a swing at the legend of Dracula, reimagining 1922's "Nosferatu,"  the single most beloved piece of stone-cold plagiarism in the history of cinema.

The result: "Nosferatu the Vampyre." Released in Germany as "Nosferatu : Phantom der Nacht," the movie starts out about as unsettling as is generally considered possible, smacking viewers right in the gob with shots of very real, entirely not fake bodies of mummified children. With the tone having been set, the story continues in roughly the same direction as Bram Stoker's original novel, while taking design cues from the original "Nosferatu" and ramping up the horror thanks to Herzog's unique eye for creeping you the hell out.

"Nosferatu the Vampyre" has received near universal critical acclaim since its 1979 debut. Klaus Kinski's performance as the film's ratlike blood sucker, creepy from the get-go, becomes all the more unnerving when you realize that he's currently in your closet and there's nothing you can do about it.

Dead Snow 2: Red vs Dead

Uniformed, goose-stepping Nazis have luckily become more of a rarity to come by in the years following World War II. However in 2009's "Dead Snow,"  the plot   merged them with cinema's other favorite baddy to blow up, stab, and slap chop into pulpy bits: the humble zombie.

All of which raises a new problem: how do you up the ante on a story about undead fascists? In 2014, "Dead Snow" writer and director Tommy Wirkola gave audiences the answer: surgically attach a sentient zombie arm to the hero from the last movie. Maybe toss in an army of shambling Communist corpses, too. Also, see if Martin Starr is available, since he's literally only ever made things better.

"Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead" is a certifiable banger of a flick, somewhere between "Army of Darkness" and "Shawn of the Dead" in tone, with shades of "Idle Hands" and the undeniably striking image of a zombie in an SS uniform driving a tank thrown in for good measure.

The Jangsan Tiger is a well known (and very scary) urban legend in South Korea (per Asian Movie Pulse ). The white-furred and fanged creature supposedly stalks the Jangsan Mountain outside of the city of Busan, and in order to capture humans and eat them, it emits a wail that sounds like that of a woman in peril. The Mimic, a 2017 horror movie produced in South Korea and nominated for multiple South Korean film industry awards , brings the frightening tale to life in a setting grounded (ever so uncomfortably and menacingly) in reality. 

Min-ho, Hee-yeon, and their daughter Joon-hee move in with the family matriarch to care for the woman and to help Min-ho cope with the loss of her son five years hence. Mirroring a number of missing persons cases in the area, Grandmother keeps hearing the voice of her deceased sister coming from the forest. Meanwhile, little Hee-yeon finds a girl in the woods who looks and acts exactly like her daughter ... almost. Things get even more confusing and off-putting when the bodies start to pile up and it's necessary to cover all the mirrors in the house to prevent the evil from breaking through to this realm.

Jeepers Creepers 2

The phrase "Jeepers Creepers" is a cute, casual old-timey expression that means the equivalent of "my goodness," to indicate minor, pleasant shock. That sentiment is completely subverted and stretched to its absolute and ironic limits with the "Jeepers Creepers" film series, particularly the second entry in the franchise, "Jeepers Creepers 2" from 2003. Further playing with the idea of disarming the audience to induce sheer and utter terror, "Jeepers Creepers 2" is merely unsettling at first, finding and exploring the creepiness in common things. 

Set just after the first movie, a monster known as the Creeper kidnaps young Billy Taggart (Shaun Fleming), because it needs to feed. His father Jack (Ray Wise) and brother Jack Jr. (Luke Edwards) think the attack has something to do with a supernaturally monstrous scarecrow. It most certainly does, and things only get worse in terms of murder and mayhem when a school bus full of teenagers breaks down outside of town after a projectile made of bones blows up a tire. But it's nothing personal — the Creeper is only doing what comes naturally, killing to eat, thus horrifying a small farm community and some unlucky visitors.

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later

An early example of a franchise reboot that's also a legacy sequel, "Halloween H20: 20 Years Later" is the seventh entry in the horror series about the brutal (and seemingly immortal) masked murderer Michael Myers , bringing him back to his most iconic target, Laurie Strode. Released in 1998, "Halloween H20" cashed in on the late '90s teen horror boom ("Scream," "I Know What You Did Last Summer") by celebrating the 20th anniversary of the John Carpenter film from 1978 that inspired those movies while bringing in a whole new cast of young actors to continue to tell the story of Myers vs. Strode, ignoring some of the more poorly received latter sequels.

Picking up two decades after she was nearly murdered while working as a babysitter, Laurie Strode (scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis) has faked her death, changed her name, and moved to California, where she administers a private school. But Michael Myers, having broken into the home of his old psychiatrist and stolen Laurie's file, tracks her down and tries to kill her again. Halloween (the holiday) is coming, and so are the murders. Laurie will once again have to defend herself and some of her young charges (including Michelle Williams and Josh Hartnett) from very bloody murder.

Poltergeist

The '80s was a golden era for horror movies, and "Poltergeist" is one of the best. While it's got some moments of stomach-churning gore, Steven Spielberg and Tobe Hooper's film plays with the mind and soul, getting to the core of what can truly unnerve and horrify the average human being. It exploits those fears, delivering a penetratingly frightening movie about dread, loss, and feeling unsafe even in one's own home, normally a respite from the terrors of life. 

In the film's most famous line, little suburban kid Carol Anne Freeling (Heather O'Rourke) says in a sing-song voice, "They're here," announcing the arrival of ghosts trying to make contact through TV static. At first they're friendly, but they eventually kidnap her into their otherworldly realm. Terrified, panicked, and at a loss as to what to do, the family brings in quirky paranormal experts and an exorcist in their attempts to deal with a demonic presence. Nobody — and nothing — is safe in "Poltergeist."

Stephen King's career spans nearly 50 years, and his literary output has defined and shaped modern horror. He's written many classic tales of gore, fright, and darkness, among them his first major commercial success, "Carrie." It's been adapted for the screen multiple times, including the 2002 version, written for the screen by "Hannibal" creator Bryan Fuller . 

The cautionary tale of evil and dread is much the same one told by King and other filmmakers. Teenager Carrie White (Angela Bettis) is sweet and innocent to a fault, kept in the dark about the ways of the world by her overly religious and paranoid single mother (Patricia Clarkson) while enduring humiliation and abuse on a daily basis from her exceptionally cruel high school classmates. As Carrie matures, weird events recur, and she soon comes to realize she has powerful and deadly supernatural abilities. As Carrie comes into her power, both as a young woman with agency and as a force one shouldn't mess with, she'll have her revenge in a spectacular and tragic way during an unforgettable prom night.

The 13 Best Free Horror Movies on YouTube

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Even with the large selection of streaming services like Netflix and available across the world, it can start to feel like they're all just recycling the same movies from one platform to another. There are free streaming platforms like Pluto TV and Tubi, but many people overlook one of the best sources of free movies: YouTube .

Originally boasting the slogan "Broadcast Yourself," the video-sharing platform started off by featuring amateur uploads from users, but quickly grew into a giant company, with premium ad-free subscriptions and the streaming service YouTube TV, with the company now owned by Google.

When it comes to horror movies, YouTube has a selection of free (with ads) and paid options available to stream. However, there are also numerous channels dedicated to uploading free horror movies for viewers to stream also, at no charge. Two of the most well-known channels are Kings of Horror and V Horror , both offering a library of over 100 movies.

If you're looking for something outside-the-streaming-box to watch, here are 10 of the best horror movies you can stream on YouTube for free.

13 The Mimic (2018)

In a classic Korean-style ghost story, The Mimic follows the parents of a missing child, Hee-yeon (Yum Jung-ah) and Min-ho (Park Hyuk-kwon), who decide to take in a lost girl they find in the woods. Unfortunately, they begin to suspect that the child is not human.

A Spooky and Acclaimed Korean Horror

Huh Jung writes and directs this little nightmare following his well-received film Hide and Seek . The movie is a melancholic meditation on domestic life and the loss of a child, but is structurally a classic folkloric kind of horror story. The use of mirrors and reflections, empty space, and peripheral imagery is masterful in The Mimic, keeping audiences on their toes the entire time even when nothing directly horrifying is happening.

Watch The Mimic Free on YouTube

12 Patient Seven (2016)

The horror anthology film Patient Seven stars the respected Michael Ironside as a dark psychologist interviewing patients at a psychiatric hospital. Each patient's unique condition and mental state give clues to how they are all interconnected with someone referred to as "Patient Seven." Every segment showcases Dr. Marcus' twisted methods, making this movie feel like a combination horror-thriller at times.

The patients all have unique stories that keep the pacing on point, while the surprise ending that comes out of left field leaves an impression that viewers seem to love or hate. In addition to Ironside, the cast features Jack Plotnick as Dr. Victor and Amanda Graeff as Sarah (Patient Four).

An Atmospheric Watch With Solid Acting

Patient Seven is a testament to Ironside's incredible talent as an actor and his ability to give a truly convincing performance. That's not to say the movie is without faults, as there are several areas that have issues, especially the use of too many horror tropes and the controversial conclusion. But it's a great watch for anyone who's looking for a somewhat chaotic story they don't have to take seriously in order to enjoy.

​​​​​Watch Patient Seven for Free on YouTube

11 The Legend of Jack and Jill (2021)

Was the original "Jack and Jill" nursery rhyme not dark and gory enough for you? The Legend of Jack and Jill might just be the perfect watch to shake up your favorite childhood tale. This British horror movie was first released in 2021 and has since gained over 4.2 million views since its addition to the V Horror YouTube channel.

The plot follows Jack and Jill after escaping from a psychiatric facility with their mother, only to travel "up the hill" to where they will reside for the next decades. However, when people start going missing, and a group of hikers travels to the hill, it's clear they are going to come face-to-face with the feral siblings.

Lower Your Expectations and It Is an Entertaining Watch

It's no secret both critics and fans felt let down by this low-budget horror production. Yet, when you've already watched all the mainstream titles and need something new, it can be an entertaining choice. There's a lot of cliché to the characters, and the overall quality is lacking in some areas, but it is an interesting alternate universe for Jack and Jill, which includes some gore and a unique backstory.

Watch The Legend of Jack and Jill for Free on YouTube

10 Zombie Apocalypse: Redemption (2011)

Fans of post-apocalyptic B-list movies may already be familiar with Ryan Thompson's Zombie Apocalypse: Redemption , a 2011 film where the world is filled with zombies. The plot follows John Knox, played by Johnny Gel, who is struggling to survive among the living dead. He ends up meeting a group of survivors who take him in and make him an official member of their group.

Unfortunately, Knox's new love interest is kidnapped from their camp, leaving the group no choice but to head out and save their friend from the raiders while also avoiding the zombies.

A Fun and Cheesy Zombie Movie

Like many low-budget zombie productions, the special effects in this movie are questionable, and many of the scenes are far from realistic. It's not on the same level as a George Romero zombie film, but Zombie Apocalypse: Redemption has some fun and exciting scenes hidden throughout the scattered plot. There are some science fiction elements and a great performance from Fred Williamson that make this movie a fun watch.

Watch Zombie Apocalypse: Redemption for Free on YouTube

9 Krampus: The Devil Returns (2016)

Krampus: The Devil Returns , also called Krampus 2: The Devil Returns , is a sequel to the holiday horror movie Krampus: The Christmas Devil , not to be confused with 2015's successful film Krampus . This installment takes place several years after the first movie's events and follows former Officer Jeremy Duffin as he tries to deal with life in the aftermath of his wife's murder and his daughter's abduction.

Duffin ends up returning to his roots to try and stop Krampus from terrorizing more children in their town, while also hoping to save his own daughter again in the process.

Related: 15 Best Horror Movies on Peacock to Watch Right Now

'Tis the Season to Watch a Krampus Movie

The folklore of Krampus is a staple with horror fans looking for a genre movie to watch during the holiday season. Krampus is an anthropomorphic monster believed to originate from Germany that appears during the Advent season to punish children who have misbehaved throughout the year.

The consensus from audiences is that this sequel is an improvement from the first film, with scares and a good plot, though the acting is less than believable. Overall, Krampus: The Devil Returns is a solid free watch available on YouTube.

Watch Krampus: The Devil Returns for Free on YouTube

8 The Evil Down the Street (2019)

The Evil Down the Street is a demonic horror movie that's said to be inspired by real events . The plot follows the typical trope where a family moves into a new home, only for strange things to start happening. There's pretty much every horror cliché stuffed into this just-over-90-minute story, but the mysterious Ouija board that appears in the basement does help tie some of the events together. Compared to other horror movies, this is a tame watch that doesn't have a lot of gore or jump scares.

A Light Watch for Fans of Thrillers

There's a horror film for every type of fan, and this one is best for those just getting into the genre or those who don't want something too traumatizing. Most of the movie's scenes feel more like a thriller than anything, with unpredictable characters and interesting cinematography. It's a fairly quick watch that's free on the Kings of Horror YouTube channel.

Watch The Evil Down the Street for Free on YouTube

7 Halloween H20: 20 Years Later

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later

In the Halloween multiverse , Halloween H20: 20 Years Later takes place 20 years after the original massacre that ensued on Halloween night. The film saw the return of Laurie Strode, reprised by Jamie Lee Curtis, and shows that Laurie now lives under a new identity. The events of Halloween H20 sit closely with what the plot of Blumhouse's Halloween from 2018 intended, only in director Steve Miner's 1998 version, Laurie seems to be living a much more productive life.

One of the Best Halloween Movies

Halloween H20 tapped into the '90s horror boom and is arguably the first legacy sequel. In retrospect, the film was probably the third most acclaimed Halloween film after the first and the third installments. When David Gordon Green's 2018 Halloween came out, though, it may have knocked this film off its pedestal. Though considering how Green's Halloween trilogy worked out, H20 is looking pretty good these days.

Watch Halloween H20 Free on YouTube

6 Hell House LLC (2015)

Fans of found footage movies that are presented as documentaries should check out Hell House LLC . The movie has inspired several sequels and was generally well-received among the horror community. The documentary in the film is investigating an abandoned hotel that was once the site of a haunted attraction that left fifteen dead on its opening night. The documentary crew is able to interview the only survivor from the Hell House staff, which leads them on a terrifying journey to learn what really happened at Hell House that night.

Well-Done Found Footage Mockumentary

Hell House LLC does an incredible job of creating a consistently creepy atmosphere throughout the film's entirety. On the surface, it's a found footage mockumentary, but once you get into the meat of the plot, it becomes clear it's more of a haunted house movie than anything. There's quite a bit of shaky camera movement, but as a whole, Hell House LLC is an underrated addition to the genre and is well worth a watch.

Watch Hell House LLC for Free on YouTube

5 The Corrupted (2010)

The 2010 horror movie The Corrupted is a lesser-known production from writer-directors John Klappstein and Knighten Richman. The plot follows a group of friends who head out for a weekend of partying at a lake house in rural Alberta, Canada. While playing the guitar by the lake one night, one character is approached by an unknown woman who summons him to follow her.

When he meets back up with his friends, it's clear something is different about him. The second half of the film finds the characters fighting to survive and not become one of the corrupted themselves.

A High-Energy Horror/Sci-Fi Combo

If you're a fan of science fiction movies with a touch of horror/thriller, The Corrupted checks all the boxes. It has an independent film feel with a truly creative take on the genre. The movie's special effects are impressive for what it is as a whole, and there's a palpable tension in most of the scenes. The Corrupted only has a runtime of 76 minutes, so it's well-paced, and a quick watch.

Watch The Corrupted for Free on YouTube

4 The Changeling (1980)

The Changeling (1980)

The Changeling is a 1980 supernatural horror mystery starring George C. Scott as the film's main character, John Russell. The plot begins with Russell losing his wife and daughter in a tragic car accident, which prompts him to uproot his life and relocate to Seattle. He ends up renting a mansion that's sat vacant for many years, which only adds to his lonely existence as a musician.

Russell starts experiencing strange occurrences in the mansion that take him on a terrifying yet entrancing journey to learn the source behind the strange haunting events.

The Changeling is a Canadian Classic

One of the best things about The Changeling is that it doesn't need blood, gore, or over-the-top effects for the story to be effective. The cinematography is hauntingly beautiful, and creates an atmosphere that makes this one of the most unsettling yet underappreciated films of the early '80s. It has elements of a psychological mystery thriller that make the story impactful, so much so that it stays with many viewers long after their first watch.

Watch The Changeling for Free on YouTube

3 Blood Cult (1985)

Known as one of the first direct-to-video horror movies , Blood Cult was first released in 1985 by Christopher Lewis. The movie follows police detective Ron Wilbois as he tries to solve a group of recent murders at a Midwestern college campus. However, it doesn't take long for Ron to become a target himself, leaving the detective unsure of who he can trust in his own personal life. It's soon revealed that the murders are due to a satanic cult and their need for human sacrifices.

Related: 10 Most Terrifying Movies About Cults on Netflix

An '80s Horror B-Movie to Watch at Least Once

When it comes to Blood Cult , the low quality is part of the movie's charm. The gore is so over the top that it looks incredibly unrealistic in the best way, and has a lot of entertaining scenes that make for solid pacing in this slasher flick. It has a moody cinematography that enhances the film visually and helps to make it a cult classic among genre fans.

Watch Blood Cult for Free on YouTube

2 Nosferatu, the Vampyre (1979)

The legendary Werner Herzog gave the groundbreaking German silent film a stylistic remake with the 1979 film Nosferatu the Vampyre , which stars Klaus Kinski as Count Dracula and follows the blood-craving creature as he travels to Wismar, Germany where he brings chaos and the Black Plague. When Dracula sets his sights on Lucy Harker, he must face off against her husband Jonathan and his longtime nemesis, Abraham Van Helsing, if he wishes to have the love he desperately craves.

A Sympathetic Monster

Nosferatu the Vampyre paints the iconic bloodsucking movie monster in a more sympathetic manner, with Kinski explaining , "He is a man without free will. He cannot choose, and he cannot cease to be. He is a kind of incarnation of evil, but he is also a man who is suffering, suffering for love. This makes it so much more dramatic, more double‐edged." The reimagining was a smash hit with critics and audiences, with many praising it for its depiction of Dracula as a weary, doomed ghoul and for its eerie atmosphere.

Watch Nosferatue, the Vampyre Free on YouTube

1 The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)

The Taking of Deborah Logan stars Jill Larson in the titular role as Deborah, an elderly woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The plot follows a student documentary crew as they film Deborah and her daughter, Sarah, to document the condition and its progression.

Yet, the longer the team works with Deborah, the clearer it becomes for them that something supernatural has a hold on her, and she's not just suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The movie's slow pacing and convincing performances make The Taking of Deborah Logan a diamond in the rough when it comes to found footage-style horror documentaries.

A Great Example of a Mockumentary Done Right

The Taking of Deborah Logan is a unique movie in that it perfectly blends different types of horror cinema. It's a consistently scary and tense story about possession , supernatural elements, and has a plot with a good amount of depth. There's no shortage of jump scares, which some may view as overdone at times, and the first and second half of the film are both incredibly disturbing in different ways.

Watch The Taking of Deborah Logan for Free on YouTube

• Movie Lists

10 Scariest Movies You Can Watch FOR FREE On YouTube Right Now

These are the horror movies you can watch for free with the press of a button.

With the world being what it is in 2020, going to the cinema isn't an option for large swaths of the global population, and so streaming has enjoyed an enormous uptick in worldwide traffic.

There are countless streaming platforms to choose from, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and the horror-specific Shudder, all of which of course require their own subscription fee.

But there are a number of free alternative streaming options, which while perhaps not touting the very newest releases, will nevertheless allow you to hunker down with some great horror flicks.

And there's perhaps no more democratic a video repository than YouTube, which in addition to offering its own paid movie rental service , allows distributors, rights holders, and even fans (distributor tolerance depending) to share movies on their own channels for free.

And so, scouring YouTube's platter of available horror flicks, these are unquestionably the 10 scariest you can dare subject yourself to, from pulse-racing found footage films to the undisputed, classic kings of the genre.

If you're stuck for something to watch and are in the mood to have the living bajesus scared out of you, you shouldn't give these movies a miss...

10. Grave Encounters

As much as the found footage genre might seem thoroughly played-out, it does nevertheless periodically serve as a fertile medium for low-budget filmmakers to express their scrappy creativity.

One such example is 2011's Grave Encounters, in which a reality TV crew lock themselves inside a haunted psychiatric hospital, which goes about as swimmingly as you'd expect.

If you can forgive a few dodgy CGI moments, this is one of the leaner and more effective found footage joints out there, taking a familiar formula and elevating it with slow-building suspense and an utterly nerve-jangling, dread-soaked payoff.

Making the most of its eerie central location and offering up a few unexpected twists, Grave Encounters is so much scarier than its daft title might have you believe.

The less said about the critically mauled sequel , though, the better.

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.

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Horror Movie Reviews

Home » Horror Movie Reviews

Stream Review

Review of the slasher movie Stream, which features FX by the director of Terrifier and has several genre icons in the cast

AfrAId (2024) Review

This AI Horror movie is just another in a line of bad PG-13 Blumhouse horror movies with no soul or originality.

The Deliverance Review

Lee Daniels’ foray into horror features great performances but seems intent to just check off tropes versus create something challenging.

Slingshot Review

Casey Affleck and Laurence Fishburne really impress is this space-set thriller dealing with the mental fatigue of a years long mission.

Strange Darling Review

We were absolutely blown away by Kyle Gallner & Willa Fitzgerald in this cat-and-mouse thriller with an incredible (and mysterious) narrative

Blink Twice Review

Zoe Kravitz makes her directorial debut and really impresses in this contrived mystery that still manages to thrill.

Skincare Review

Elizabeth Banks impresses in this “sunshine noir” about a woman having her life completely destroyed by a mysterious assailant.

Cuckoo Review

As an absolute showcase for star Hunter Schafer, Cuckoo is a wild ride that’s sure to impress those that like their horror weird.

Trap Review

Josh Hartnett gives an incredible performance but Shyamalan mostly misses the mark in this strange PG-13 horror film with no bite.

Hell Hole Review (Fantasia 2024)

Review: The Adams family returns with Hell Hole, a horror film that will be released through the Shudder streaming service

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• What Is Cinema?

The 32 Best Horror Movies to Keep You Up at Night

The best horror movies tend to be trendsetters, whether by launching a subgenre, introducing new visual techniques, reinventing familiar tropes, or employing clever marketing schemes. Everyone has a different favorite, but it's the rare genre where people—even those who prefer their Halloween films on the cozy side—tend to agree on a handful of paragons. You'll find grisly slasher flicks, eerie ghost stories, creature features, and psychological freakouts in equal measure here, making this a guide to the best horror movies of all time for beginners and repeat viewers alike.

32. The Wicker Man (1973)

Long before Midsommar came about, The Wicker Man supplied pitch-black horror set in broad daylight. A religious police sergeant (Edward Woodward) travels to a rural Scottish island to investigate a young girl's disappearance, but the locals' culty Pagan practices prove equally concerning. His eerie interactions play like fish-out-of-water social comedy, but any sense of security disappears in the lead-up to an electrifying finale that involves a folk hymn, a human sacrifice, and a lot of eccentric Scandinavian dancing.

31. The Others (2001)

The Sixth Sense is often hailed as horror's greatest twist ending, but what if The Others ' is even better? A Gothic ghost story starring an immaculate Nicole Kidman as a pious mother who moves her two strange children to a remote mansion they quickly suspect is haunted, this is a chilling exercise in atmospheric tension. Like so many horror film narratives, it's about grief—but the titanic payoff is what sticks with you. Two decades later, it's worthy of canonization.

30. Cat People (1942)

It may be mellow by today's standards, but Cat People has ascended from popular B-movie to respected classic. A Serbian fashion illustrator (Simone Simon) engaged to a thoughtful engineer (Kent Smith) believes an ancient curse will turn her into a panther upon arousal, which is a pretty solid metaphor for the shame that accompanied sex in the censhorship-heavy '40s. Using noirish shades and a couple of well-placed jump scares that influenced future horror editors, Cat People is a relic rich enough to earn a bloated Paul Schrader remake in 1982.

29. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Wes Craven began his career as a gonzo provocateur (see: The Last House on the Left, The Hills Have Eyes ) and eventually became a master of commercial crowd-pleasers. A Nightmare on Elm Street brought much-needed humor to the slasher craze, establishing Freddy Kruger as a fedora-wearing jokester who doubles as literal nightmare fuel.

28. The Omen (1976)

Hollywood spent the '70s trying to replicate the success of The Exorcist . Nothing came as close as The Omen , which summoned a demon by way of a 5-year-old Antichrist named Damien ( Harvey Spencer Stephens ). This was 1976's biggest summer hit, withstanding the critics who unjustly dismissed it.

27. Misery (1990)

Before there were stans, there was Annie Wilkes (a disconcertingly sweet Kathy Bates ). She's one of those villains you know by name, shorthand for an overzealous admirer who'll stop at nothing to get what she wants from her favorite entertainer, romance novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan). When Annie learns Paul has killed off her favorite literary protagonist, she wages warfare in an icy remote cabin where no captive's ankles are safe.

26. Eraserhead (1977)

Many of David Lynch 's films borrow horror elements, namely Blue Velvet , Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me , Lost Highway , and Mulholland Drive. But his debut, Eraserhead , is the director's most straightforward genre piece, which is a weird thing to say about a surreal freakout that rose to prominence as a go-to midnight movie. The highlight is the unnerving sound design, a fizzy collection of static, mewling, and urban oddities that heighten the story of a misfit (Jack Nance) caring for an unseemly baby in a dank apartment.

25. Don't Look Now (1973)

Grief and the passage of time are two of horror's consistent preoccupations, and Don't Look Now turns them into a spectral saga about a couple ( Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland ) who travel to Venice while mourning the death of their daughter. There, they see apparitions of a young girl in a striking red coat who evokes the child they've lost, leading them down an occult rabbit hole.

24. Wait Until Dark (1967)

Audrey Hepburn weaponized her sweet persona in this terrifying home-invasion thriller, playing a blind housewife who has to ward off criminals inside her Manhattan apartment. You're not sure she'll pull it off, which turns Wait Until Dark into a pins-and-needles wallop that uses dim, angular corners to sustain suspense.

23. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

Call it hagsploitation if you want, but What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? remains one of the most delicious psychodramas ever made. Bette Davis and Joan Crawford milked their on-and-off rivalry to play sisters living out their troubled history as bitter adults. One is an unbalanced alcoholic (Davis) obsessed with her past as vaudeville's "Baby Jane" Hudson, the other a paraplegic (Crawford) whose own success came to a halt after a mysterious car accident. Together, they trudge through middle age in a mansion where Jane enacts various forms of phsychological terrorism. The pacing is a bit inconsistent, but the movie's demented kicks haven't dissipated.

22. The Fly (1986)

Several David Cronenberg movies could grace this list: Videodrome is his smartest, The Brood his most visceral, and Dead Ringers his most chilling. But The Fly is the ideal sweet spot between Cronenberg's potentially alienating outlandishness and his ability to craft a mainstream horror movie. The director's biggest hit brought what the schlocky 1958 original was missing: sophisticated effects and a giddy Jeff Goldblum . Chronicling an unconventional scientist whose teleportation experiment accidentally infuses him with the DNA of a housefly, the movie poignantly explores disease while never losing its verve.

21. The Blair Witch Project (1999)

No one would fault you for censuring the found-footage fever The Blair Witch Project induced. Most of the movie's imitators are mere gimmicks, whereas the OG was an ingenious feat of both filmmaking and marketing. Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez took a Hi8 camcorder into the woods of Maryland, gave their actors limited instructions, and made off with an all-timer. It's also one of the most profitable movies in history: Shot and edited for less than $1 million, Myrick and Sánchez recouped their budget on a Sundance acquisition deal alone. Then came the gargantuan worldwide grosses ($248.6 million), buoyed by a PR campaign that left the public unsure whether what they were seeing was real or fictional. No found footage will top this once-in-a-lifetime achievement or its chilling final scene.

20. Carrie (1976)

The pig's blood. The hand popping up from the gravesite. "Breasts, Mama. They're called breasts." Carrie is famous for its enduring imagery, so it's easy to forget how both profound and humorous the Stephen King movie adaptation can be. Sissy Spacek earned her first Oscar nomination for the title role, playing a lonesome high schooler whose physical awakening sparks further extremism from her hyper-religious mother ( Piper Laurie , also Oscar-nommed). Beneath the mayhem is a story about a girl coming into her own and the terror that inspires in others. Brian de Palma has flirted with horror on other occasions ( Sisters , Blow Out , Body Double ), but this is the director's purest genre exercise.

19. Candyman (1992)

A precursor to Get Out , this supernatural slasher showpiece dared to tackle race in America mere months after Los Angeles erupted into riots over the brutality police inflicted on an unarmed Rodney King. Candyman links inner-city racism to 1800s slavery, following a graduate student ( Virginia Madsen ) as she investigates an urban legend about a Black ghoul ( Tony Todd ) who stalks the Chicago housing project where he was killed by a savage lynch mob. It's a tour de force that peppers its entertaining menace with a dose of intellectualism.

18. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

George Romero established the zombie-movie template with this scrappy black-and-white independent sleeper that's often considered an allegory about the atrocities of the Vietnam War. Influenced by the novel I Am Legend , Romero and co-writer John Russo made Night of the Living Dead for approximately $880,000 in today's money. The grainy aesthetics make it feel unsettlingly real. Even without sophisticated special effects, some spectators likened Living Dead 's violence to pornography, proving the film had hit a nerve.

17. Frankenstein (1931)

In the 1930s and '40s, Universal Pictures was Hollywood's signature horror house. Starting with 1931's Dracula and spanning The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Black Cat , and The Wolf Man , the studio invented creature features as we know them. The best of the bunch is Frankenstein , a Gothic adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel that cemented how we would forever imagine the titular scientist's laboratory monster (Boris Karloff). Many sequels, spin-offs, remakes, and parodies have followed, but none would shock like the sight of Dr. Frankenstein's ogre chucking a trusting young girl into a lake .

16. Peeping Tom (1960)

By the late '70s, everyone knew what a slasher movie was. But when Peeping Tom arrived in 1960, audiences weren't yet conditioned to expect the bloodthirst that would define the subgenre. People were shocked to see a movie told from the perspective of a voyeuristic serial killer (Carl Boehm) who records his murders with a hidden camera so he can watch them in the comfort of his London apartment. He's as much protagonist as he is antagonist, if only because he's such a detailed character, elevated by the gorgeous Eastmancolor—a single-strip alternative to laborious Technicolor—that director Michael Powell used.

15. Audition (1999)

Japanese horror traveled westward in the '90s and early 2000s, prompting American diehards to look beyond their own country for the genre's gutsiest work. Cure, Ringu, and Kairu are great, but Audition is the J-horror pinnacle, a deceptive slow burn with one of the most disturbing final acts committed to film. What starts as a simple premise about entitlement—with the help of his producer friend ( Jun Kunimura ), a widower ( Ryo Ishibashi ) stages mock movie-casting trials to find a new wife—turns into a revenge saga as meaningful as it is gnarly. When his chosen sweetheart ( Eihi Shiina ) flips the script using a syringe and a wire saw, Takashi Miike 's film becomes a disquisition on wounds of all kinds.

14. Suspiria (1977)

Four decades before Luca Guadagnino turned it into a slice of art-house philosophizing , Suspiria was a phantasmagoric caffeine drip. It's part slasher movie, part supernatural thriller, part body-horror whatsit about witches at a German dance academy. Directed by the outré Dario Argento , the unclassifiable gem is suffused in blood-red palettes and a pulsating score that prog-rock band Goblin recorded before cameras even rolled. Argento's original 35mm print was lost for many years before being mysteriously discovered at an abandoned Italian cinema in 2017, at which point the cult favorite enjoyed a renaissance, right in time for Gudagnino's update.

13. Jaws (1975)

Jaws has a lot of firsts to its name: the first proper summer blockbuster, Steven Spielberg 's first big hit, the first major movie shot on the ocean, and the first movie to cross $100 million at the box office. The ostinato that begins John Williams ' score—a long, ominous *daaaaah-dah—*still strikes fear into hearts everywhere, and sharks have been in desperate need of a rebranding ever since.

12. Get Out (2017)

Jordan Peele has grown more ambitious with his later features, Us and Nope , but Get Out remains his crowning achievement. The sketch writer capitalized on his intuitive understanding of comedy to make a horror movie that's as funny as it is scary and as exciting as it is socially resonant. Few directors balance those poles seamlessly, and few in recent memory have added so much to our cultural vernacular (the Sunken Place, "I would have voted for Obama for a third term if I could"). In Daniel Kaluuya , Peele found a pitch-perfect proxy for his twisty tale about a Brooklyn photographer who tries to ignore many, many red flags while accompanying his white girlfriend ( Allison Williams ) on a trip to visit her wealthy family. Everybody wants to make their own Get Out , but no one has come close.

11. Poltergeist (1982)

Two years after Jack Torrance's " heeeere's Johnny ," little Carol Anne Freeling (Heather O'Rourke) turned away from her staticky television set and gave her own spring-chilling warning: "They're here." But who? Uncertainty made it frightening. The "who" turned out to be phantoms that move objects and bring trees to life, sucking Carol Anne into a portal requiring paranormal intervention. Directed by Tobe Hooper (with a crucial assist from Steven Spielberg ), Poltergeist —with its Oscar-nominated visual effects and affecting performances from JoBeth Williams , Craig T. Nelson , and Zelda Rubinstein—is an exemplar about the demons of suburbia.

10. Diabolique (1955)

This master class in suspense isn't based on a true story, but you can feel its DNA all over today's crime obsession, true and otherwise: the domestic discord, the vengeance scheme gone wrong, the what-did-they-get-themselves-into fallout. Hitchcock desperately wanted to make Diabolique , which is based on a novel by the French duo Boileau-Narcejac. Henri-Georges Clouzot got there first, casting his wife, Véra Clouzot, as a boarding-school proprietor who plots to kill her domineering husband (Paul Meurisse) with the help of his mistress (Simone Signoret). The movie's ghostly interiors foster a dread that builds toward a thrilling, unpredictable climax.

9. Scream (1996)

After a glorious run in the '70s and '80s, horror hit something of a downward slope in the '90s. Tropes had grown too shopworn, and narrative preoccupations too familiar for an era that let all sorts of mid-budget adult genres thrive. Leave it to Wes Craven to resuscitate what we'd lost. In Scream , he and writer Kevin Williamson dissected slasher clichés while serving them up wholesale. They created another indelible protagonist in Sidney Prescott ( Neve Campbell ), who took the reins after Drew Barrymore ’s bravura "do you like scary movies?" opening and—until a recent pay discrepancy —long ruled the still-effective Scream franchise.

8. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre transcended the exploitation at its core by being about something: a family whose working-class slaughterhouse jobs were rendered obsolete by industrialization. They just so happen to be murderous cannibals who gleefully hack away at a group of teenagers who stumble upon their remote farmhouse. Tobe Hooper ’s visceral movie, partly inspired by real-life serial killer Ed Gein, captured the chaotic ethos of the mid-'70s, all the way to the unforgettable image of bloody Sally Hardesty (Marilyn Burns) hysterically laughing as she flees Leatherface’s rampage.

7. Psycho (1960)

Both the slasher genre and the crime-thriller genre are indebted to Psycho , the defining work of Alfred Hitchcock’s career. In committing Robert Bloch’s 1959 novel to film, Hitch made the villain his film’s most complex figure. Norman Bates (the ever-underrated Anthony Perkins) is a dissociative loner with mommy issues that are every bit as shocking as the early muder of marquee star Janet Leigh. Psycho changed moviegoing forever: Breaking with the era’s norms, audiences had to arrive on time, lest they miss crucial details. Beyond that, the movie mainlined violence and sexuality in ways that would influence Hollywood for decades.

6. Alien (1979)

Whether Ridley Scott ’s Alien should be classified as science fiction or horror feels irrelevant when the movie is so damn scary. Long hallways and clinical white interiors turn the Nostromo spacecraft into a haunted house, substituting ghosts for H.R. Giger-designed xenomorphs. The genre wasn’t known for fearless heroines before Sigourney Weaver showed up as Ellen Ripley, a generation-defining lion who outlived all the fussy men around her.

5. The Shining (1980)

The lore surrounding The Shining is as memorable as the movie itself. Stephen King didn’t think Stanley Kubrick successfully adapted his novel, nor did many critics when it first opened. Kubrick asked so much of Shelley Duvall on the set that she became overwhelmed and physically ill. And the plot itself prompted enough interpretations to merit an entire documentary that interpreted the interpretations. Altogether, that mythology only amplifies the film’s impact, making it even more layered. A hair-raising masterpiece about a hotel caretaker ( Jack Nicholson ) losing his mind over the course of one frigid winter, The Shining is a Rorschach test in horror form.

4. Halloween (1978)

Halloween ’s opening scene alone makes it immortal. In five resourceful minutes, John Carpenter crafts what could be a standalone short, using a seemingly unbroken first-person perspective shot filtered through the eyes of a 6-year-old boy who puts on a mask and kills his teenage sister. That boy, of course, was Michael Myers. Carpenter never intended for him to become a decades-spanning franchise baddie laden with overblown mythology. Halloween was a shoestring independent project: Everything feels and looks organic, creeping through fictional Haddonfield, Illinois, in ways that startled viewers anew. Horror continues to strive for the same unbridled pleasure—and for scores as influential—but few boogeymen live up. 

3. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

The Silence of the Lambs is the only horror movie that has won the Oscar for Best Picture, in part because it can't be confined to one label. In a sense, cannibalistic serial killers Hannibal Lecter ( Anthony Hopkins) and Buffalo Bill ( Ted Levine ) are window dressing for a psychological drama about an FBI trainee ( Jodie Foster ) wrestling with the demons of her childhood. But the artful complexities don't make those slithery scoundrels any less scary. In Jonathan Demme’s gifted hands, every character is a fully-formed human being—something that can’t be said of many horror villains. Everything builds toward the harrowing night-vision climax in which a breathy Clarice Starling confronts her fears in pitch black.

2. The Exorcist (1973)

Often hailed as the scariest movie ever made, The Exorcist is the rare auteur-driven hit whose datedness hasn’t dulled its shock. Part of that is owed to William Friedkin ’s chilly atmospherics, and part is because, at its core, this is a sympathetic story about a mother ( Ellen Burstyn ) fighting desperately to protect her daughter ( Linda Blair ). In addition to inspiring umpteen copycats that couldn’t measure up, The Exorcist prefigured the so-called Satanic panic that gripped America in the 1980s and '90s.

1. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

A landmark of feminist horror was made by a man who later confessed to raping a 13-year-old girl. Somehow, that contradiction doesn't dampen Rosemary’s Baby , a movie that continues to influence droves of horror filmmakers. Its story comes from an Ira Levin novel, and its effectiveness is owed as much to Mia Farrow ’s stirring performance as it is to Roman Polanski ’s slick direction. This is arty horror at its most mainstream, a studio movie full of odd idiosyncrasies unlikely to see a wide release today. But it’s every bit as perfect as it was in 1968, turning the story of a chic Manhattinite who rightfully suspects her neighbors (Sidney Blackmer and the great Ruth Gordon) are running a Satanic cult with the help of her husband (John Cassavetes) into a deep statement on womanhood.

Next up, browse our guide to the best Halloween movies on Netflix .

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5 Horror YouTube Channels Worth Watching

As you may have heard, YouTube recently dropped the bomb that only channels having 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time in the past twelve months (as of February 20) are eligible for monetization. For creators, especially those featuring horror related content, who, thanks to YouTube’s wonky algorithm, already faced increased obstacles in monetization, this decision has profound financial implications.

Because we appreciate the value content creators bring to the table, we wanted to highlight a few of our favorite channels in the hopes that you will go forth and subscribe/watch their work. While each of these channels offers up a unique contribution to the horror community, they all provide valuable content to fans. And though our list is far from exhaustive, there does exist a fantastic playlist of additional horror based channels available for your viewing pleasure.

Here is our list of the top 5 horror themed YouTube channels you’ll want to check out ASAP:

The Homicidal Homemaker :

With production values to make Svengoolie drool, The Homicidal Homemaker is a clever re-envisioning of the fusion of food and the macabre. Typically, horror films leverage food as a way of creating a sense of revulsion and disgust. Consider Blanche’s lunchtime surprise in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) or the spaghetti scene in Se7en (1995). But what makes this channel such a standout is how it reframes food within the context of the genre to actually make it appealing. Want a fudge encrusted take on the maggot ridden steak from Poltergeist (1982)? Done! While the culinary creations are arguably the stars of the channel, its winning blend of camp and old school home economics works largely thanks to its host, Kaci Hansen. Serving up a persona that evokes the silliness of early Elvira, Hansen’s deliciously subversive blend of domesticity and horror is downright addictive.

Recommended Sample:

The Splits Archive:

As the brainchild of horror writer MV Clark, this channel’s fusion of detailed analysis coupled with a genuine love for the genre is right up our alley. Offering a wholly unique way of incorporating fan engagement, its segment Title Fights is essential viewing for any fan looking to exist in that chill spot where a genre devotee can think seriously about film while still retaining her fannish love for all things horror. Title Fright pits two horror films with similar themes against each other and then lets the audience decide the ultimate victor. The announcement of each bout is followed by a carefully researched video exploring seminal topics within each of the films selected. Fans are then encouraged to vote and the results are shared in a follow-up video that incorporates the thoughts and analysis of fans from social media. While still a relatively new series, Clark has figured out a way to take typical film analysis and repackage it in a way to engage other fans. For that reason alone, it’s a series to keep an eye on.

Update : Unfortunately, this YouTube channel is no more, but check out The Splits Archive website and MV Clark’s novel, The Splits .

Adam Cesare:  

Listen, we’re three female academics so of course no viewing list would be complete without a nod toward a channel that takes horror books seriously, and Adam Cesare more than fits the bill. Primarily known for his addictive horror novels (seriously, check out Video Night ), Cesare’s YouTube channel is an artful blend of appreciating the genre in all its forms. Offering up reviews and insights about both mainstream and out-of-the-box fare, both films and books, this channel is a useful resource for both horror newbies and veterans looking for recommendations from a knowledgeable source. Arguably the best known of the channels discussed here, Cesare brings to his channel an authenticity that translates to the audience. If he’s recommending it, you know it’s worth your time.

Horror in Me: 

If horror-themed collecting is more your bag, it’s hard to find a channel with a more diverse offering than Horror in Me. With content ranging from unboxings and figure hunts to well-crafted examinations of real life serial killers, this channel is eclectic in the best sense of the word. But what really sets it apart from other channels of its ilk is host Darren Mitchell’s genuine enthusiasm for collecting. Whether you want to live vicariously through Mitchell’s killer personal collection of masks, figures, autographs and everything in between or if you just want to keep an eye on subscription box releases, Horror in Me is worth a watch.

Spooky Astronauts: 

A personal favorite of mine, Spooky Astronauts is the perfect channel for the grizzled horror vet looking for something new. Its Horror Around the World series stands out as one of the few horror YouTube series that actively seeks to promote non-American horror films. While it covers the expected titans of horror filmmaking, for example Japan and South Korea, it also delves into what’s happening with the genre in some unexpected places, such as Ireland and Turkey. Emma, the host, is exceedingly knowledgeable about the genre and her quick take reviews provide an excellent gateway to viewers interested in learning more about the genre.

So now that we’ve told you our favorite horror focused YouTube channels, what are yours? Let us know and we’ll make a list to shout out on Twitter!

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Definitely a great list. Unfortunately it seems like Youtube is still shunning horror content. Aside from the larger creators, smaller / up and coming creators often can’t have their break-out moment. I hope that changes sometime soon. But until then, we need to support one another. 👍

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Screen Rant

15 of the scariest short horror films (you can watch on youtube right now).

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For the past many years, YouTube has provided the world with countless amusing cat videos, babies biting people, and so on. However, you may or may not know that a darker and more sinister corner YouTube plays host to some of the scariest short films based in the world of horror .

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From the works of established directors to passion projects by college students, there are hundreds upon hundreds of short films uploaded every day. So in the spirit of Halloween, we're counting down some of the scariest short horror films you can go watch on YouTube right now.

Updated October 30th, 2020 by Zach Gass: Nowhere in the blood-soaked realms of the horror genre does it say that a horror film has to be feature film length. There are dozens of films out there who can guarantee a scary sequence in 10 minutes or less thanks to the invention of scary short films. Not only that, but many of these bite-sized suppliers of scares can all be found on the free and familiar platform of YouTube. For those that think horror is created with long runtimes and a big-budget, take a look at some of these fearsome,  free to watch features for your Halloween thrills.

The Umbrella Factory

Crypt TV is a YouTube channel absolutely loaded with brilliant short horror films of all varieties. Any die-hard horror junkie would be seriously mistaken to not subscribe and expose themselves to some of these seriously scary shorts.

One of the most underappreciated members of the channel's library is  The Umbrella Factory ,  an animated, black-comic adaptation of  The Monkey's Paw. Short, spooky, and stylistic, The Umbrella Factory  is the perfect way to whet one's appetite before binging a series of horror shorts. But this isn't the only feature from Crypt TV to warrant attention.

If it's one thing  Crypt TV does exceptionally well, it's creating memorable monsters with only minutes of screen time. One of the most horrifying and hauntingly beautiful creatures ever to step foot in a horror movie has to be The Birch . The Birch is a forest spirit brought to life by a bullied British schoolboy who reaps a gnarly vengeance on his tormentor, much to the audience's satisfaction.

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Not since the ghosts from Del Toro's  Crimson Peak  has a spirit been so lethal yet loving at the same time. Fans of traditional creature features will definitely love her.

For those wanting a more gruesome and gory affair from Crypt TV , look no further than the  Look-See  series of shorts. This collection of films will undoubtedly make the viewer's skin crawl. The Look-See creature himself is essentially Slenderman with razor-sharp teeth and a knack for making his victims disappear, usually in bloody ways.

The creature is supposedly a representation of unprocessed grief, eating away at those it affects before finally consuming them, leaving a selected body part as a symbol of their tragedy. It gives new meaning to insult to injury.

The Backwater Gospel

The Backwater Gospel   is an animated horror short from Wicker.Works that's more of an acquired taste, but more than enjoyable for those willing to pay attention. The Joker once said "when the chips are down these... civilized people, they'll eat each other." and this stylish short film is the perfect visual example.

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When the mysterious Undertaker, a manifestation of death, visits the religious town of Backwater to take some poor soul with him, the townsfolk turn on one another in a brutal, violent fashion. Not even the town's beloved, bible-belt minister is safe from the carnage.

Never Hike Alone

Can a horror film be a fountainhead of fan-service? The answer is   Never Hike Alone .  This Friday the 13th -inspired fan film pulls Jason Voorhees back to his roots while at the same time bringing him into the modern age without the use of a Michael Bay remake.

While the film's body count is surprisingly low, to say Camp Crystal Lake's resident slasher doesn't deliver would be insultingly untrue. The film is free to watch in its entirety and recently got a sequel that continues the carnage with  Never Hike in the Snow. 

2am : The Smiling Man

CreepyPastas have often been controversial topics thanks to likes of the SlenderMan. However, it is some of the lesser-known stories on the popular fiction site that can provide substantial amounts of source material for the budding horror short director and  2am: The Smiling Man is one such success story.

Directed by Michael Evans in 2013, this short film based upon the Reddit phenom chooses to embrace a creepier style of storytelling. Paul Foltz, who plays the smiling man embodies the character and really brings a sense of mischief to the role with his gaunt and misshapen movements that are sure to leave viewers unsettled and perhaps rethinking that late-night stroll.

The Cop Cam

The Blair Witch  Project  is undoubtedly one of the most popular horror films ever made. With its found-footage approach, it opened up the world to a style and format of filmmaking that had never been as commercially successful.  It gave up-and-coming filmmakers a tool that could be utilized without breaking the bank and so the onslaught of found footage films began.

The Cop Cam takes this very premise and infuses it with a video-game-style to create a suspense-filled journey through an abandoned house in response to an emergency call. It's not the most story-driven piece but for an electrifying scare, its a perfect go-to for any fan of found footage film.

Bloody Mary

Folklore and tales of Bloody Mary have always played havoc with anyone looking for an easy scare and, more often than not, this old tale has served generations of teenagers from all over the world in scaring each other silly but with no real outcome. However, director Alexander Ronnberg tells a different story in 2016's Bloody Mary short.

The lack of any kind of soundscape plays a key role in building tension in this piece.

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With the looming camera movements, typical horror tropes, and cliches, it serves its purpose in delivering a memorable experience that is perfect for putting anyone off of ever looking in the mirror again.

The Captured Bird

By far the most visually stunning selection on this list is  The Captured Bird ,  directed by Jovanka Vucovic in 2012. It quite rightly grabbed the attention of Guillermo Del Toro, who was named as an executive producer, because of its simple premise, and beautifully-structured exploration of innocence and seemingly dark undertone.

The film also enlisted an outstanding team for its production and you can really tell that this was a labor of love for all involved, with impeccable creature designs and a nod to the works of H.P Lovecraft. It was a critical success, and very rightly so for its haunting atmosphere, stunning visuals, and unnerving performances. It is a must-see for fans of anything that Guillermo Del Toro has produced .

Tuck Me In is a perfect example of the effectiveness of using common and everyday tasks that a viewer can relate to then giving them a perfect scare. Directed by Ignacio F. Rodo in 2014 and one of the shorter selections in this list with just a one minute run time, Tuck Me In has an ability to create intrigue that can rival a full-blown feature-length film.

Its climax proves to be scary because of the performances from both the father and son, giving us something more unsettling than what is expected without the need for a typical  jump scare . It leaves the viewer with questions and the door open to interpretation which only adds to its appeal.

From Michael Chaves, director of The Curse Of La Llorona and the upcoming  Conjuring 3  comes The Maiden , a masterfully produced short that delivers on everything you could ask for from a horror film. The Maiden balances itself on the thin line between comedy and horror with its humorous story involving a real estate agent selling a haunted house.

Chaves hammers down on the comedic premise by ramping up the tension and delivering horrifying visuals with a poignant ending. It is a well-executed piece with performances to match and it is exciting to think of what Chaves can accomplish within the Conjuring Universe .

Written and directed by Andy Muschietti of the  It  films comes Mama , a short film that later went on to be adapted for the big screen thanks to its haunting premise and well-executed, claustrophobic atmosphere. Muschietti cleverly brings his story to life in one continuous sequence held together by two sisters at the mercy of Mama.

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Some fans argue that this short is infinitely scarier than its feature-length follow-up and it is hard to dispute when we see the jarring and uncomfortable Mama in full glory, terrifyingly running amok in this creepy and memorable piece.

Autumn Harvest

Directed by Fredrik S. Hana, A utumn Harvest explores one lonely man's desperate pursuit for connection with grotesque and horrific outcomes. Shot entirely in black and white and lacking any dialogue, Autumn Harvest is a beautifully produced short.

As it progresses we see incredible acts of violence paired with an intriguing story of tragedy only made better with an incredible performance from its leading man. Lovecraftian to the core, it's impossible not to applaud everyone involved and it is certainly a memorable piece that keeps its cards close till the bitter end.

In 2013 David F. Sandberg, an unknown writer and director at the time , entered a short film based around a simple premise into the 'Who's there film challenge'. That film was Lights Out and not only did it win the competition, but it shot Sandberg into the spotlight. In 2016, the short went on to become a fully-fledged, feature-length film.

That being said, fans of the original short film will argue that the film never quite matched the horrifying original.

Filmed on a shoestring budget, it is a simple premise and really demonstrates that fears and phobias can often create the most thrilling of horror experiences.

Best known for the film  District 9, Neil Blomkamp decided to branch out from Hollywood and into the world of short films by creating his own studio, with its sole purpose being to produce films to test the water for larger projects and ideas for feature-length productions. As a result, we have Zygote , a sci-fiction horror short with clear comparisons to  The Thing  and  Alien.

The indie style short film format allows Blomkamp to stretch his legs and play in his own sandbox with the viewer reaping the rewards. It's a tension-filled experience and one that is a testament to what can be achieved when a talented director can express creative freedom without constraints.

NEXT: 10 Horror Movies With The Scariest Endings Ever, Ranked

7 YouTube Channels to Watch Scary Movies (Legally)

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Whenever you get a craving for a horror movie, finding the right one can be a challenge. Of course, all the usual suspects come in handy, but their scary selections are often underwhelming.

So, where do you go if you've found yourself bored of Netflix's horror section, having already seen most flicks and having zero interest in seeing the rest?

Amazon Prime Video has a vast library, but most features can cost you and add up in price. So an excellent alternative is YouTube. The platform has many channels offering free and legal horror. Let's look at some of them.

1. Kings of Horror

Kings of Horror offers a glimpse into the world of independent horror. The channel fosters a community for filmmakers and hardened horror fans who enjoy visiting some of the scariest corners of the internet .

You can find a full roster of trailers and full-length movies on this YouTube channel. There are also often scheduled upcoming events for horror flicks, giving you something to wait around for and allowing you to turn it into a big thing. So you can have a movie premiere night, start a virtual watch party with friends and enjoy some indie horror together.

Kings of Horror presents fully legally licensed features, so you're free to enjoy the content guilt-free.

2. Popcornflix

Popcornflix is a pretty well-known movie channel on YouTube and beyond—it also offers a streaming platform and an app.

Though Popcornflix doesn't explicitly focus on horror flicks, you can certainly find some scary features browsing its roster. The YouTube channel has a wide selection of TV shows and full-length films under every genre you can imagine, and content gets uploaded frequently enough to keep the selection fresh.

Popcornflix's channel offers licensed content, making it one of the best YouTube channels for watching free movies and shows legally.

3. Horror Central

The Horror Central channel is one of the best places to watch horror movies online . It offers a ton of full-length features and uploads regularly, so you're unlikely to run out of horror flicks.

The playlist section is excellent and comes in pretty handy if you're feeling up to a binge and crave a specific trope or subgenre of horror. For example, there's a separate playlist called Shark Attacks.

Once you press play, you can relax and enjoy the list of movies where sharks are the big bad. It begins with Sharknado, of course—the campiest of camp horror, but a classic nonetheless. After all, what's wrong with visiting sites to get your dose of cheesy horror from time to time? Everything Horror Central lists is under legal license, so you're clear to consume its content scot-free.

4. Watch Movies Now!

Watch Movies Now! curates horror, thriller, and sci-fi movies for its roster. You can find features that range from half an hour to an hour and a half in length. And the videos are pretty prolific in their genre.

Watch Movies Now! showcases anything from your typical slasher flick to alien horror, found footage, ghostly terror, and more. The channel uploads different scary movies and videos pretty regularly, so you'll never run out of content to watch. Plus, everything you see on the YouTube channel is legal.

5. V Horror

V Horror offers a variety of horror flicks ranging in length. Most films are about an hour and a half but scattered throughout, but you will also find shorter content, too.

The channel's playlist section isn't the best, but it still offers a curated playlist of movies in 4k, as well as one that hosts all of the flicks you can watch in English, which will help you pitch what to watch next.

Everything featured on the V Horror YouTube channel is legal to view, so dive in and explore. Maybe you'll find your next favorite indie horror.

6. FilmIsNow Horror Movies

FilmIsNow Horror Movies provides a vast selection of horror in every style you can imagine, preferring to avoid the blockbuster movies in favor of the back-to-basics kind. The channel offers everything from long movies to short films, so you'll find something you will enjoy in a few clicks.

Going through the FilmIsNow Horror Movies, you can see a ton of ready-made playlists to browse. There are separate playlists to cater to all your moods. You can find Evil Toy, Anthologies, Clowns, Vampires, and Found Footage playlists—whatever your specific mood, you're likely to find a playlist to match it.

The YouTube channel uploads new content regularly, so it's doubtful you'll run out of new features to see.

7. Movie Central

Movie Central doesn't only stick to horror with its features but offers a wide array of movie genres. However, its playlist section is expertly curated, so if you feel like only watching horror flicks, you'll find them easily. Granted, you may not find as many scary movies here as you would on other channels, but it's still a solid option if you don't want to pay for horror streaming services like Shudder or Screambox .

The YouTube channel holds a Halloween playlist with over 200 films on it. And, if you prefer something more specific, you can check out virus outbreak or monster movies. There are also explicit Horror and Thriller playlists you can browse.

The channel's uploads are frequent, and movies tend to last about an hour and a half. Of course, everything on Movie Central is under legal license, so watch away.

Switch Up Your Horror From a Visual to an Auditory Experience

Horror flicks are sometimes just what the doctor ordered. However, if you're looking to switch up your horror routine and spice it up, why not try out a new spooky podcast? Instead of watching horror, why not listen to it?

Put on your headphones, set the atmosphere, and give into your imagination by hearing about of haunted places, paranormal events, and scary fiction inspired by real-life stories. Find the right podcast to feed your fears and give in to the eeriness.

Streaming services aren't going anywhere, so why not try something new and listen to a horror podcast next?

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Best Horror Movies 2022

A singular film in so many ways, Ti West’s X , the first of the promised Pearl trilogy, very well may be the pinnacle of what the series could offer, and it tops our Best Horror category. That is saying something, considering Pearl , the second installment, also made our list. We know a film that offers Brittney Snow, Kid Cudi, Mia Goth, and Jenna Ortega is hard to pass up, but be sure to check out our other entries. We would be doing a disservice if we didn’t mention a couple of our indie shout-outs, like Sissy and Barbarian , the latter of which was a success on social media and the internet.

The order reflects Tomatometer scores (as of December 31, 2022) after adjustment from our ranking formula, which compensates for variation in the number of reviews when comparing movies or TV shows.

X (2022) 94%

Barbarian (2022) 92%

Hellbender (2021) 97%

Sissy (2022) 96%

You Won't Be Alone (2022) 93%

Saloum (2021) 96%

Pearl (2022) 92%

Hatching (2022) 93%

A Wounded Fawn (2022) 96%

We're All Going to the World's Fair (2021) 90%

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