14. Eerie (2018)
Overseas, there’s plenty of horror to enjoy. In the Philippines, horror has become a national staple and there are many movies to choose from. Looking for an easy watch?Eeriefits the bill.
This film centers on a guidance counselor named Pat, who investigates the death of a student at an all-girls Catholic school. What she uncovers is a horrifying truth about the school she’s serving.
Relying on its supernatural premise,Eeriepacks horrifying imagery and ominous scenery at every turn. Even by the end, the uneasiness remains.
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13. Bird Box (2018)
Bird Boxwas so hugely hyped back in 2018 that it was near impossible to live up to its marketing, hence its subpar reception. However, if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s not bad if you temper expectations.
The premise certainly has a frightening hook: in a post-apocalyptic world, unknown entities exist that cause anyone who looks at them to commit suicide, so people have resorted to blindfolding themselves at all times.
Every scene where Malorie (played by Sandra Bullock) and the two kids flee from danger while hampered by blindfolds is guaranteed to give goosebumps, especially as the infected pop out.
If you can look past its flaws,Bird Boxhas plenty of thrills through its jump scares and shocking imagery. And even if it comes off as a gimmick, its executed well enough to be worth a watch.
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12. Incantation (2022)
From Taiwan comesIncantation, a chilling found footage horror movie that exploded into an overnight sensation.
Inspired by a true story,Incantationfollows a single mother named Li Ronan (played by Hsuan-Yen Tsai) who must reverse or overcome an occult curse afflicted on her in order to protect her daughter.
It might build up to what feels like a conventional ghost film, butIncantationtakes full advantage of its found footage format, its real-life inspirations, and Tsai’s performance to deliver its thrills.
Related:The Best Horror Movies About Witches and the Occult
11. Before I Wake (2016)
Before Mike Flanagan made his mark withThe Haunting of Hill Housein 2018, he directed a trio of indie horror flicks in 2016: the slasher horrorHush, the haunted horrorOuija: Origin of Evil, and the dark fantasy horrorBefore I Wake.
Before I Wakeis certainly the least of those three, but even so, the movie still has the fingerprints of the modern horror maestro.
With its bold premise about dreams and nightmares coming to life, Flanagan builds up the tension until there’s no turning back—and there’s no telling what he may conjure up, jump scares and all.
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10. The Ritual (2017)
The Ritualfollows five college friends who reunite for a hiking trip in a Swedish forest. However, the deeper they go, the more they sense a presence stalking them at every turn.
Horror aficionado David Bruckner knows his craft, his setting, and his characters—and that means he knows when to deliver his scares.
For this film, those scares primarily come from two sources: the Scandinavian lore behind the main beast, and the bond between the friends where they gradually become vulnerable to each other.
As soon as those two elements collide, there’s no looking away from the shocking scenes that are straight out of folklore terror.
Related:The Best Folk Horror Movies of All Time, Ranked
9. Berlin Syndrome (2017)
Sometimes, travel can be genuinely disturbing.Berlin Syndromefollows young photographer Clare (played by Teresa Palmer), who meets an attractive English teacher named Andi (played by Max Riemelt).
When Max takes her to his house during one stormy night, Clare suddenly finds herself at the mercy of her unexpected captor.
Nothing is more frightening than being trapped in someone else’s world with no escape in sight. It’s one of the many sensations inBerlin Syndromethat makes for a genuine thrill ride, and it gets even worse as you never know when the handsome abductor may pop out from the dark.
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8. The Call (2020)
South Korea has its share of horror gems, ranging from merely passable to downright unforgettable.The Callfalls somewhere in-between, but it still packs jolting suspense within its time-ripping gimmick.
The story involves two women, Seo-yeon (played by Park Shin-hye) and Young-sook (played by Jeon Jong-seo), from two different timelines who end up connected through a phone call.
As you’d expect, one of them inevitably changes the fate of the other, causing ripple effects on their respective timelines.
The Callblends its elements effectively enough to deliver clever scares and isolation-heavy moments. The MVP is Park Shin-hye, who puts in some of the most terrifying expressions of horror we’ve seen from her.
Related:The Best Korean Horror Movies of All Time, Ranked
7. Blood Red Sky (2021)
Even on the most mundane of days, a red-eye flight can be nerve-wracking. But how much worse if that flight had animalistic vampires?Blood Red Skytakes this premise and runs with it.
Taking inspiration from the “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” episode ofThe Twilight Zone, this British-German Netflix film blends action, horror, and drama to create a tension-filled travel scenario.
It’s bad enough to see your loved ones transform into bloodthirsty monsters. It’s even worse when you’re stuck in a giant metal tube with monster jump scares waiting around every corner.
Amidst the hair-raising vampiric thrills, you’ll find a true heart in Peri Baumeister as the ill-stricken mother Nadja, who must do more than just survive this unnerving voyage through the skies.
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6. Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)
Here we have another film by Mike Flanagan, this time putting his name on the map with his skillful direction of atmospheric scares.
As the prequel to the 2014 movieOuija,Ouija: Origin of Eviltraces the backstory of Lina Zander (played by Annalise Basso), whose family fell victim to the demonic corruption of their Ouija board.
Flanagan rounds up his usual tricks to horrifying effect. Every scare—from the sewed mouths to the devious kills—is a shock you’ll remember. The fear of the Zander family and the nervous atmosphere really pays off, especially the first time Lina gets possessed.
Related:The Best Horror Movie Directors of All Time, Ranked
5. Under the Shadow (2016)
Supernatural horror and war drama are two genres you’d never expect to blend well, butUnder the Shadowmade it happen.
A mother named Shideh (played by Narges Rashidi) stays in war-torn Tehran to protect her daughter Dorsa (played by Avin Manshadi). But as the war intensifies, their fears do as well—including that of a mysterious apparition who watches their every move.
While thedjinnand thechadormake for terrifying entities, the true enemy here is anxiety. When those jump scares arrive, they feel all too real due to the historical context and Shideh’s PTSD.
Related:The Best Movies About Trauma and PTSD, Ranked
4. Creep (2014)
Found footage horror is always good for jumpy scares, andCreepis one that’s a delightfully haunting treat. Mark Duplass’s performance here is a nerve-wracking watch.
Creepfollows a videographer named Aaron, who takes up an assignment to record a man named Josef who has a brain tumor. However, Aaron discovers a darker story behind Aaron and his “family.”
This might sound like a story about a serial killer, but even that’s uncertain as this tale blends found footage horror with warm drama—and that mixture makes the jump scares all the more unnerving.
Related:The Best Found Footage Movies of All Time, Ranked
3. Lights Out (2016)
If you’re afraid of the dark, you’ll find much to related to inLights Out. This film takes that common fear and adds a ghastly presence that hides in the dark and strikes at the most unsuspecting moments.
Based on the scary short film of the same name, hands-on director David F. Sandberg’sLights Outeffectively expands on the mythos.
The film follows a girl named Rebecca (played by Teresa Palmer) who must protect her stepbrother Martin (played by Gabriel Bateman) from an evil entity rooted in her traumatic past.
Beyond the jump scares and the unbearable tension every time the light flickers or shuts off, the core family drama is just as horrifying.
Related:The Best Movies About Hauntings and Demonic Possessions
2. His House (2020)
His Houseis a frightening thriller with brimming anxiety that’s relatable with its allegory. Like all the best horror flicks, its timely metaphor only adds to the horror that lurks beneath, ready to strike.
This unsettling tale about a Sudanese refugee couple struggling to settle in to their new home has terror invading their very doorstep. Their trauma in migrating to Britain is as effective as the jump scares and startling imagery throughout the film.
The appearance of Matt Smith as a cold-hearted case worker certainly doesn’t help matters! Released at the right time,His Housecreeps.
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1. Jaws (1975)
Right now, the best film on Netflix with the most effective jump scares is the horror that birthed the concept of the summer blockbuster.
Jawshas been discussed to death since its release almost 50 years ago. Yet, many still find it hard to ignore this behemoth, which comes in the form of a mechanical shark that hides and only strikes at the right time.
Indeed, the behind-the-scenes production stories aboutJawsare hellish and fascinating, and it’s incredible that Steven Spielberg somehow made it all work despite a malfunctioning shark.
The result is a tense summer adventure that will surely give you thalassophobia, just as it did to an entire generation when it first came out.Jawsis a horror classic for good reason!
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