Netflix Has a Pretty Solid Halloween Movie Lineup in 2025

Netflix is offering a diverse range of Halloween content in 2025, from timeless classics and recent hits to hidden gems. You’ll find everything from intense found footage horror and atmospheric gothic romances to thrilling monster movies and lighthearted Halloween comedies – offering something for every mood.

Netflix added a lot of horror movies in October to update its spooky selections. Some were recently added, while others are original films always available on the platform. Here’s a list of movies that make Netflix a great place to find something scary to watch all month long.

‘Host’ (2020)

This short, found-footage horror film takes place entirely on a video call and was made during lockdown. It follows a group of friends whose online séance goes wrong when something unexpected responds. The movie cleverly uses computer screens and chat windows to create scares and unsettling details within everyday apps.

I have to say, Rob Savage really nailed the atmosphere in this film. He smartly used the actors’ actual homes and shot everything in real time, which keeps the story incredibly tight and avoids any unnecessary fluff. It’s a quick watch, too – perfect for pairing with another movie. Honestly, it’s best experienced on a laptop or TV, lights off, to really get the full effect.

‘Deadstream’ (2022)

A livestreamer, trying to rebuild his reputation, goes back to a famously haunted place and broadcasts an all-night stay. He uses several cameras and a mobile recording setup, and the movie cleverly incorporates both the different camera angles and the live chat reactions from viewers, who begin noticing strange things happening on screen, turning their comments into part of the story.

The movie relies on classic techniques – things like puppets, hidden passages, and real-life effects – to create its scary moments. It also cleverly shows a layout of the location, so you always know where everyone is, even as things get more and more frantic.

‘Christmas Bloody Christmas’ (2022)

This film takes place on Christmas Eve and follows a broken robot display that suddenly starts causing trouble. It’s visually striking, with bright, colorful city scenes set to a synth-filled soundtrack. The story unfolds in places like record stores and bars, all covered in snow, creating a unique holiday atmosphere that also feels perfect for watching in October.

The film relies on realistic gore and extended shots during action sequences, making it easy to understand where everything is happening. The story takes place over just one night, and important locations are shown early on, which makes the ending feel satisfying and logical.

‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’ (1992)

Francis Ford Coppola’s film adaptation of the novel is visually stunning, featuring detailed sets, clever camera work, and historically accurate costumes. The movie centers on Dracula’s journey from Transylvania to London, weaving together several storylines: a property deal, a medical inquiry, and a group of friends determined to hunt him down.

Instead of using today’s digital techniques, the movie creates its visuals with classic methods like double exposures, projecting images onto screens behind the actors, and scale models. The music by Wojciech Kilar and the overall sound design use repeating themes for characters and places, helping viewers easily follow the story and understand changes in perspective.

‘Hubie Halloween’ (2020)

This funny story takes place in Salem on Halloween night. It centers around a volunteer who notices strange things happening as the town gets ready for fall festivities. The plot involves a police investigation, a local mystery, and a series of jokes and pranks that were first introduced earlier in the show.

The film cleverly uses actual locations in Salem and typical fall traditions – like hayrides and parades – to build its scenes. Brief appearances by actors from previous Adam Sandler movies create fun connections and inside jokes that all come together in a satisfying conclusion.

‘Day Shift’ (2022)

In the San Fernando Valley, a pool cleaner leads a double life as a vampire hunter. He’s part of a union with very specific rules about rewards and the illegal trade of vampire fangs. The story follows a crucial three-day period where he needs to earn enough to support his family, adding a sense of urgency to his hunts.

Action sequences rely on practical effects like wires and incredibly flexible stunt performers to create the vampires’ unique movements, avoiding excessive computer-generated imagery. A union rulebook surprisingly dictates what weapons and fighting styles are permitted in each action scene, making every fight feel different and original.

‘The Strangers’ (2008)

A couple staying at a secluded house are disturbed by late-night knocking, which turns out to be masked intruders trying to get inside. The entire story unfolds over a single night, and the layout of the house is used to show the intruders repeatedly coming and going, creating a pattern for the audience to follow.

The movie builds suspense using sound – like faraway footsteps and muffled thuds – and repeating record loops. The characters wear masks that don’t change expression, so the filmmakers rely on long, steady shots. Scares come from subtle movements and things appearing unexpectedly, rather than quick cuts and edits.

‘Sinister 2’ (2015)

A mother and her sons relocate to a countryside home that has a dark history linked to several disappearances. Old Super 8 movies become central to solving the mystery, revealing a collection of homemade films, each showcasing a different, disturbing technique.

The new movie builds on the story’s existing lore by connecting old church documents and maps to past events. It also cleverly reveals how the film was made, turning behind-the-scenes footage into important clues that help solve the mystery.

‘Death Becomes Her’ (1992)

Two enemies drink a potion that stops them from aging, but they can still be hurt – meaning every accident becomes a dramatic display of special effects and makeup. The story unfolds in luxurious Beverly Hills homes, doctors’ offices, and at a mysterious ceremony where the secrets of the potion are revealed.

Industrial Light & Magic pioneered early digital effects, like seamlessly altering faces and skin, that still look good today. The costumes and set design also cleverly show changes in a character’s importance or status using color and materials, letting the visuals tell the story without needing words.

‘1922’ (2017)

This film, adapted from a story by Stephen King, tells the story of a farmer in Nebraska who plots against his wife and then deals with the fallout over the course of a year. The story is told through letters and narration, presented as a confession that clearly lays out the events in chronological order.

The film uses natural lighting and realistic rat effects to make its supernatural aspects feel believable, all set against the backdrop of a very ordinary farm. Time passes gradually, shown through the changing seasons and weather, which helps the audience understand when events are happening in the year.

‘His House’ (2020)

Two refugees begin new lives in Britain, moving into state-provided housing, but they’re soon disturbed by strange sounds and unsettling visions at night. The story unfolds through their immigration processes, required home visits, and haunting memories of their dangerous journey across the sea, all framed by official deadlines and personal recollections.

The movie cleverly blends traditional stories with the frustrations of everyday life by connecting ghostly appearances to decisions the characters make along the way. The film’s detailed sets are filled with hidden clues – symbols embedded in things like cracked walls and floors – that become important as the couple tries to uncover the mystery behind the haunting.

‘Apostle’ (2018)

In 1905, a man journeys to a secluded island to save his sister from a dangerous cult. He soon learns their beliefs are deeply connected to the island itself. The story follows both his attempts to infiltrate the cult and the power struggles happening amongst its leaders, creating a complex and engaging plot.

The story unfolds in several key locations: a village square, a barn where ceremonies take place, and a system of underground tunnels that become important later on. To keep the setting realistic as fantastical events occur, the filmmakers relied on practical effects and tools from the time period for both rituals and any machinery used.

‘Tarot’ (2024)

A group of people ignores a rule found on a set of fortune-telling cards, and each prediction comes true as the story unfolds. The movie is structured around the order of the cards – specifically the Major Arcana – allowing it to be divided into chapters with distinct titles and imagery.

The way characters die in the film echoes imagery from tarot cards, making it rewarding to rewatch and notice these visual connections. Repeated use of objects like charms and candles links the ending back to the beginning, creating a sense of closure and making the final showdown feel connected to the very first scene.

‘The Ritual’ (2017)

A group of four friends are hiking in Scandinavia when one of them gets hurt. They decide to take a shortcut, which leads them into a mysterious part of the forest filled with odd symbols. Luckily, a map they’re using consistently shows their path, making it easy to see how they transitioned from the trail into the woods.

The film uses dreamlike scenes to explore feelings of guilt experienced by a character, and the monster’s appearance is specifically tied to them. Filming took place in actual forests, utilizing large, realistic sets for the ruined buildings, ensuring a consistent sense of size and space as the characters move indoors.

‘Bird Box’ (2018)

A mysterious and deadly force causes anyone who looks at it to take their own life, leaving those who survive to live with their eyes covered. The story unfolds across two timelines – one set in a secure location from the past, and another following a river journey years later – which eventually come together in a dramatic finale.

The movie cleverly uses sounds – like bells, birdsong, and running water – to help the characters (and the audience) understand where they are and how to move around. Action sequences, such as a blindfolded car chase and a frantic run through the woods, feel realistic because they incorporate physical challenges that reflect what the characters can and can’t do.

Share your favorite finds from this year’s Netflix Halloween shelf in the comments.

2025-10-14 06:17