One of the best things about the age of multiple streaming services is that they all strive to offer viewers a lot of choices in terms of viewing choices. Given that horror movies have long been a staple of movie production, it’s not surprising that many streamers, including Hulu, would aim to have that genre well-represented in their catalog.
For those who are interested in watching some terrifying movies that are a cut above the rest, Hulu has quite a few that will definitely fit the bill, all while being unsettling and terrifying. From body horror movies like Possessor to Stephen King adaptations like Children of the Corn, these movies are a great way to sample Hulu's "Huluween" catalog of classic and contemporary horror films.
Possessor (2020)
Brandon Cronenberg, son of the famous David Cronenberg (known for producing some truly excellent horror movies in his own right), follows in his father’s footsteps with Possessor, a bleak and disturbing movie set in an alternate world where an assassin is able to inhabit the bodies of others to carry out her killings. Like all good horror movies, Possessor takes a harsh look at the world, using its horror trappings to probe at the pressing questions that haunt modern society and its myriad problems. In addition, the film contains disturbing visuals such as a woman tearing off her own face that will haunt any viewer who dares to watch it.
You’re Next (2011)
The slasher movie is, of course, one of the perennially popular types of horror movies, and as a result, it’s very easy to initiate or to do badly. Fortunately, Hulu is streaming You’re Next, which plays with some of the tropes of that genre in ways that are sure to delight fans of the slasher. In addition to its traditional narrative--that of a family that’s terrorized and slaughtered by a group of assailants who never reveal their faces--it also has a twist at the ending that is both grisly and disturbing.
Children of the Corn (1984)
Rural horror is another of those sub-genres that is easy to do poorly, but fortunately, there are some movies, such as Children of the Corn, that rise above the rest, which is why it’s such a good thing that it’s streaming on Hulu. Based on the Stephen King book of the same name, it follows a couple who stumble upon a town in which children sacrifice adults to a malevolent deity.
The Stephen King book may be better than the movie, but Children of the Corn is still a unique play on the killer kid trope that spawned numerous sequels and reboots. The original, however, is still the best as it effectively conveys a sense of menace and terror even in broad daylight.
I Am Legend (2007)
I Am Legend is the third adaptation of the book of the same name, and this time it features Will Smith as a man struggling to survive in a world in which almost all humans have either died or become vampire-like creatures.
Smith turns in a good (and often underrated) performance in this movie, but what really allows it to stand out from similar post-apocalyptic movies is the detail with which it paints the collapse of human civilization in the aftermath of a global catastrophe.
28 Days Later (2002)
Danny Boyle deserves a great deal of credit for what he managed to accomplish in 28 Days Later. The zombie movie is one of those genres that can rely very heavily on tropes and cliches, but this movie is not one of those. Instead, Boyle’s movie relies more on a well-constructed narrative about four people who struggle with a world slowly falling apart around them. It is, more than anything, an exploration of what it means to be a human being in a time of crisis. With its probing social commentary and grisly special effects, 28 Days Later is an effective horror movie that made zombies scary again.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Dracula is, of course, the most famous vampire in the history of either movies or literature, but only rarely has a movie sought to capture the baroque and erotic nature of his story. That’s what sets Bram Stoker’s Dracula apart from other adaptations of the story.
Furthermore, by the end it has become much more than a horror movie; in fact, it’s a profoundly moving story about a lost soul, trying to reunite with the woman that he loves more than anything else. The film is also notable for its gorgeous cinematography, lush musical score, and elaborate costumes, which won Eiko Ishioka a well-deserved Oscar for Best Costume Design in 1993.
Let the Right One In (2008)
Let the Right One In is a vampire movie that manages to do something a little different than other entries in the genre. Rather than leaning into gore and spectacle, it focuses instead on a quieter, more realistic approach. Just as importantly, it also uses the figure of the vampire to focus on the profound bond between two young people, one of whom must kill in order to survive and the other of whom wants to kill in order to get revenge on those who have tormented him. The result is a vampire movie unlike most others and the best romantic horror film in recent years.
Gretel and Hansel (2020)
The story of the children Hansel and Gretel is one that is deeply embedded in the literary imagination, and it has seen its share of adaptations in movies. Gretel and Hansel takes the story into new territory, bringing out the genuine horror and trauma that was such a key part of the original folktale. In addition to that, it’s also a very beautifully shot movie, immersing the viewer in a dark and sinister world that are the things that children’s nightmares are made of.
Saint Maud (2021)
Religion is an aspect of human experience that often straddles the boundary between the horrifying and the uplifting, and Saint Maud is a movie that manages to explore both aspects of it. Its story revolves around the title character, a nurse and recent convert to Catholicism who becomes infatuated with a patient.
The movie is quite intense at times, Morfydd Clark delivers a searing performance as Maud, with a final scene that is sure to stay in the mind long after the movie concludes. With a deft blend of horrific images and spiritual monologues, Saint Maude could qualify as one of the best religious horror movies available.
Lights Out (2016)
Horror movies typically explore some element of the human psyche that lurks under the surface, and so it’s no surprise that many of them probe the family and its dynamics. That’s what happens in Lights Out, which focuses on a mother and her two children who are haunted by a demonic presence. The cast delivers some extraordinary performances, and the movie is at times quite moving as it also explores the terrifying impact of depression.