Summer is winding down, and the promise of fall looming mere weeks away has us beyond ready to tuck in under a blanket and cozy up in front of something terrifying. Stores are already bursting with Halloween supplies and fall decor, so why not just embrace the season of fright and indulge our scary-movie-loving ways? There are so, so many good horror movies and TV series out right now that if we don't start soon, we'll never get through all of them before it's time to start streaming Christmas movies.
So we've curated a list of more than 20 must-watch horror movies and shows that are sure to scare your socks off this fall — and may even haunt your dreams long after. For our purposes, we're only including stuff that came out between 2020 and 2021 (or had new seasons come out within that time frame), so our readers can check out all the latest intriguing entries into the horror genre.
One other thing we want to mention is that we're including TV shows here because, even though horror is not traditionally the most common genre for TV, spooky, disturbing shows are having a moment right now, which is likely due to the surge in original content produced by streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max. Content on streamers isn't as regulated as traditional network content, so they can really push the envelope and put out just the the type of bone-chilling stories that horror fans obsess over. And of course, they're perfect if you don't have a ton of time at night to watch spooky stuff without your kids.
Here are 21 horror movies and TV series you should absolutely check out:
'Aftermath'
This spooky film, starring Twilight's Ashley Greene, just landed on Netflix in August 2021, and it honestly exceeded our expectations despite clearly not having a huge budget. At first, it seems like a straightforward ghost story, but as the movie progresses it's apparent that the threat is actually a lot more real.
'Fear Street' Trilogy
Nineties kids had high hopes for Netflix's Fear Street trilogy, and it does not disappoint. But be warned, despite the fact that it's based on the young adult book series by R.L. Stine (of Goosebumps fame), these movies are definitely not for kids. They tell the story of a haunted town that goes back hundreds of years, and it's gory and absolutely terrifying.
'Them'
The Amazon Prime original series Them is absolutely chilling. It's so scary because it's based on the lived experiences of actual people in America, and the fear and emotional turmoil that builds throughout each episode feels palpable. It's about a Black family who moves to an all-white street in Compton, California, and faces intense racism.
'My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To'
This 2021 horror flick combines big scares with tons of drama. It's about a man who kills the lonely and downtrodden to collect their blood for his brother who can't survive without it. That only sounds blood-curdling, but the artistic way the film is shot and the intense dynamic between the characters take it into perfect horror movie territory.
'The Haunting of Bly Manor'
When it premiered just ahead of Halloween 2020, The Haunting of Bly Manor made major waves. It's a super-scary supernatural thriller, but with lots of character development and very complicated relationships. It's absolutely intriguing to watch, and the story unfolds at just the right pace to keep you riveted. You might not be able to go to bed right after watching it, though.
'The Boy Behind the Door'
The Boy Behind the Door is a super creepy watch for parents in particular, but it's the kind of horror movie that will utterly disturb you and make you think for a long time afterwards. It's about two boys who are kidnapped. When one escapes, he realizes that he can't leave his friend behind.
'Freaky'
We were honestly expecting 2020's Freaky, starring Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton, to be a lot more comedy than horror, but it's actually a classic slasher flick with a Freaky Friday twist that is done so well. It's creative, well-acted, and a whole lot of fun to watch while still being totally scary.
'American Horror Story'
Although die-hard fans always tune in, the various seasons of FX's American Horror Story are a mixed bag for some. But no list of horror TV shows would be complete without it. The 10th season comes out on August 25, 2021, and promises to be an interesting one, as it features two themes for the first time ever.
'Lucky'
There is nothing like a good stalker flick to give you the creeps. Lucky is about a self-help author who believes she is being stalked, but when her suspicions aren't taken seriously, she ends up having to defend herself alone. This one definitely borders on being a thriller, but either way, it will give you a fright.
'A Quiet Place Part II'
Although John Krasinski is absent from this sequel, it's still just as frightening and worth watching as the original. In it, the remaining members of the Abbott family must face the dangers of the outside world in order to survive, but they end up discovering new threats throughout their journey.
'Psycho Goreman'
Similar to Stranger Things, Psycho Goreman is a throwback to classic '80s-era horror movies. It's about a brother and sister who unintentionally resurrect an alien overlord, who they get to do their bidding using an ancient amulet. It's all fun and games until his intergalactic enemies realize he's at work again.
'Till Death'
Talk about a nightmare! The film Till Death, starring Megan Fox, is about a woman who wakes up handcuffed to her dead husband after a romantic evening together. She realizes that his murder was the work of hired killers, and must fight tooth and nail to survive when they return to finish her off.
'Black Summer'
Black Summer, a Netflix original series that premiered in 2019, is an interesting and inventive take on the zombie drama. It centers on a mother who is separated from her daughter during the zombie apocalypse and ends up banding together with a group of survivors on her quest to find her.
'Servant'
A chilling Apple TV series from director M. Night Shyamalan, Servant is about a couple whose marriage is struggling after a tragedy. They end up opening themselves up to a malevolent force. The series is dark and mysterious and totally worth watching for people who love the slow build.
'Monsterland'
This Hulu original anthology series deals with all sorts of supernatural creatures — including fallen angels, mermaids, and werewolves — and the different ways in which encounters with them affect various people. There's only one season of the show, so it makes for a quick bit of binge-watching.
'Censor'
This British horror film has a lot going for it. It's about a film censor who is prompted to investigate the disappearance of her sister after working on one particular movie. As the disturbing events unfold, she ends up struggling to keep track of what is real and what is fiction.
'Come True'
Sci-fi lovers should enjoy the film Come True, in which a high schooler who has run away from home voluntarily takes part in a sleep study in an attempt to stop the nightmares that plague her. But during the study, she finds things lurking in her mind that are even more frightening than she ever imagined.
'The Stylist'
If 1996's The Dentist freaked you out, The Stylist is definitely worth a watch. It's a slasher flick about a pretty hairstylist who is a total psychopath who kills and collects scalps. She becomes obsessed with a client and vows to give up killing, but soon realizes her nature won't allow it.
'Bloodthirsty'
The premise of the 2020 film Bloodthirsty is classic horror movie fodder. It's the story of a singer who starts dreaming that she's a wolf. When she visits a famous producer's remote home to work on a new album, her hunger for flesh grows and she soon discovers that she's a werewolf and learns previously unknown things about her entire family.
'Saint Maud'
There's just something about religious horror movies that is so terrifying, and Britain's Saint Maud does not disappoint. It's about a young, introverted, and quite devout nurse providing hospice care for a retired dancer. As she spends time with her charge, she becomes convinced that she absolutely must find a way to save her soul from eternal damnation.
'Werewolves Within'
We love a good horror-comedy, and Werewolves Within is one of 2021's best. It's actually a film adaptation of the 2016 video game of the same name. In the movie, a group of small-town residents ends up sheltering from a snowstorm together, and inadvertently learns the truth about a creature who has been attacking their community.
