Best Horror Movies on Shudder Right Now (September 2023)

Run Time: 1 hr 40 min | Director: Karyn Kusama

Cast: Logan Marshall-Green, Tammy Blanchard, Michiel Huisman Emayatzy Corinealdi, Lindsay Burdge, Michelle Krusiec, Mike Doyle, Jay Larson, John Carroll Lynch

If you’re in the mood for a horror movie that will really mess you up but not in a super graphic way, then The Invitation is the film for you. The story begins simple enough: a man (Logan Marshall-Green) brings his girlfriend to a dinner party arranged by his ex-wife, which reunites a group of old friends. But soon things turn a bit…strange when the host (Tammy Blanchard) begins espousing about a group she and her new beau (Haunting of Hill House’s Michiel Huisman) have joined. This is a contained horror film that plays heavily on psychological and emotional trauma as opposed to jump scares for blood spurts, and it’s all the better for it. Director Karyn Kusama (Jennifer’s Body) shows a masterful handle on tone and tension, and the story will keep you guessing right up until the jaw-dropping final shot. – Adam Chitwood

Run Time: 1 hr 23 min | Genre: Horror | Director: Stewart Thorndike

Cast: Molly Ringwald, Gayle Rankin, Hari Nef, Annabelle Dexter-Jones

Bad Things is written and directed by Stewart Thorndike, who puts her own spin on ​​Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. Changing the perspective of the cabin-fever thriller, Thorndike puts a group of women at the center of the supernatural madness as they travel to a remote hotel inherited by Gayle Rankin’s character Ruthie, but their weekend party gets interrupted as they uncover a dark force that drives people to do bad things. In the same way that The Shining was a medium to explore toxic masculinity and fatherhood, this film investigates motherhood and the trauma that can be passed down through generations of parents. – Tauri Miller

Run Time: 1 hr 26 min | Genre: Thriller | Director: Andres Beltran

Cast: Carolina Gaitán, Allan Hawco, Sebastian Eslava, Andrés Castañeda

Quicksand is a Colombian English-language film about a couple on the verge of divorce who take a trip to South America and gets trapped in a pit of quicksand in the forbidden section of the rainforest. This survival story forces the bickering couple to work through their issues while struggling to battle the wildlife, harsh weather, and their own feelings in order to stay alive long enough for help to arrive. The two leads, Carolina Gaitán and Allan Hawco, are tasked with keeping the plot moving as the film revolves around them in a claustrophobic space where they can only rely on their dynamite acting skills, and they deliver from top to bottom. — Tauri Miller

Run Time: 1 hr 32 min | Genre: History, Horror | Director: Ted Geoghegan

Cast: Anne Ramsay, Ron E. Rains, Jeremy Holm, Larry Fessenden

Prolific horror writer and director Ted Geoghegan (We Are Still Here) presents a ghostly thriller about a séance gone horribly wrong. Brooklyn 45 is a story that’s told in real-time as five WWII veterans and childhood friends get together to contact the dead as a last-ditch effort to speak with a deceased love. The film is a campy period piece that is dripping with love for the supernatural and harkens back to the pulp horror of the early 40s. In addition to the tremendous homage, two standout aspects of the movie are Anne Ramsay (Mad About You), who gives a captivating performance, and the practical effects that make all the scenes feel more immersive. – Tauri Miller

Run Time: 1 hr 32 min | Genre: Horror, Mystery | Director: Kurtis David Harder

Cast: Cassandra Naud, Sara Canning, Emily Tennant

Director and co-writer Kurtis David Harder (Spiral) delivers a suspenseful and harrowing tale about the dangers of putting every moment of your life on the internet. Influencer is bubbling with social commentary about social media and the parasocial relationships that can quickly turn dangerous. All this is conveyed through the point of view of online influencer Madison (Emily Tennant), who ends up alone on her trip to Thailand when her boyfriend backs out of her content creation vacation. Madison meets CW (Cassandra Naud), a kind stranger who shows her around, but soon finds out CW’s kindness is just as much a mask as Madison’s online persona.

Run Time: 1 hr 40 min | Director: Thomas Marchese

Cast: Anna Camp, John Ales, Jennifer Lafleur, Travis Hammer

Anna Camp (Pitch Perfect) absolutely captivates in From Black, a dark, gripping horror film that strikingly merges a missing person mystery with haunting supernatural elements and an addiction storyline. Surprisingly, the woven-together plots create an exploration of grief, guilt, and gore. From Black presents a remarkably unique story built by an incredibly talented cast that includes Jennifer Lafleur (Big Little Lies) and John Ales (Euphoria) in supporting roles. From Black is the first narrative feature for director Thomas Marchese, who infuses the script written by Jessub Flower and Thomas Marchese with unexpected beauty. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 34 min | Director: Mercedes Bryce Morgan

Cast: Morgan Saylor, Kat Foster, Myko Olivier

Written by Leah Saint Marie, Spoonful of Sugar is an interesting horror film directed by Mercedes Bryce Morgan. With lively performances from the cast, which includes Morgan Saylor, Kat Foster, and Myko Olivier, Spoonful of Sugar unfolds a creepy slow burn shrouded in intrigue, setting itself apart within the horror genre by forgoing heart-pumping action. Highlighted by its clever use of shadows balanced against vivid imagery, Spoonful of Sugar builds a rich atmosphere through gorgeous cinematography. Interwoven with uncomfortable sexual overtones, the script and pacing of Spoonful of Sugar ultimately leave audiences wanting more. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 40 min | Director: Kyle Edward Ball

Cast: Lucas Paul, Dali Rose Tetreault, Ross Paul, Jaime Hill

Skinamarink is a creepy horror film written and directed by Kyle Edward Ball in his feature directorial debut. An experimental Canadian film, Skinamarink is the nightmarish story of two children who wake up to discover their father has disappeared. As they search their eerie home, more things begin to vanish, including windows and doors. Skinamarink is a feature produced on a shoestring budget and shot in the director’s childhood home with two child actors carrying the film. Yet somehow, it achieves the unexpected. Cinematographer Jamie McRae brilliantly captures the terrifying vibe of Skinamarink, providing a truly frightening immersive viewing experience. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 35 min | Director: Ben Parker

Cast: Tom Felton, Harriet Walter, Charlotte Vega

Written and directed by Ben Parker, Burial is an unintentionally humorous, action-filled film about a group of Russian soldiers at the end of World War II. Starring Tom Felton (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2) and Harriet Walter (Succession), Burial attempts an empowering message when enlisting a female intelligence officer (Charlotte Vega) to lead the last stand to ensure these determined soldiers deliver Hitler’s remains to Stalin. Built on a sliver of historical accuracy, Burial is a fictional mystery positing what a trek for a small band of soldiers with a world-altering mission would have entailed. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 31 min | Director: Alison Locke

Cast: Anna Gunn, Linus Roache, Janeane Garofalo, Holland Bailey

Written and directed by relative newbie Alison Locke, The Apology is an intriguing and thrilling feature with a severely underrated cast of incredible talent. Taking place on Christmas, The Apology stars Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad) as Darlene, a devastated mother whose daughter disappeared 20 years prior. The Apology explores the tense relationship between Darlene and her estranged ex-brother-in-law (Linus Roache), who unexpectedly turns up on her doorstep with information she wants. Supported by Janeane Garofalo (Wet Hot American Summer), The Apology builds suspense with clever dialogue and witty debates before launching into violent imagery and revenge. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 28 min | Director: Noah Segan

Cast: Noah Segan, Victoria Moroles, Akasha Villalobos, Tracie Thoms

Written, directed, and starring Noah Segan, Blood Relatives is a hilarious horror film. Segan stars as Francis, a Yiddish-speaking vampire who enjoys his solitude until a feisty 15-year-old teen girl, Jane, tracks him down, claiming to be his daughter. Jane, played by Victoria Moroles (Plan B), is exactly what the old curmudgeon needs. Together, they attempt to uncover the truth of their relationship while hoping to discover common ground. An unexpectedly cute and surprisingly clever mashup of scary movie tropes and road trip comedies, Blood Relatives explores the meaning of family through hijinks and bloody adventure. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 21 min | Director: Duncan Birmingham

Cast: Ryan Hansen, Melissa Tang, Timothy Granaderos, Perry Mattfeld

Written and directed by Duncan Birmingham (Maron), the fascinatingly entertaining Who Invited Them takes an ordinary occurrence and turns it into an intriguing circumstance. With whip-fast turns from cringe to laughter to suspicion, Who Invited Them follows a couple of housewarming guests who linger after everyone else has left. Timothy Granaderos (13 Reasons Why) is somehow both creepy and charming as he encroaches on personal space and accepted societal interactions. Who Invited Them is a fresh and fun approach to the genre, infusing vibes similar to Penn Badgley’s You with comedic elements reminiscent of Search Party to produce an undeniably enthralling movie. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 26 min | Director: Luke Boyce

Cast: Caito Aase, Shaina Schrooten, Bishop Stevens

Revealer is a 1980s-set campy, gory slasher flick starring Caito Aase and Shaina Schrooten as a stripper and religious protester, respectively, who find themselves relying on each other to survive the apocalypse. With a clever pairing of opposites, especially trapped in a peep show booth, Revealer plays with unique scenarios that lead the plot into a supernatural realm. Directed by Luke Boyce, who co-wrote the film with Michael Moreci and Tim Seeley, Revealer leans heavily into 80s electro-synthwave style nostalgia wrapped around spiritual and philosophically grounded dialogue. Revealer has a killer soundtrack and is an unexpected hidden gem. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 51 min | Director: Peter Strickland

Cast: Asa Butterfield, Gwendoline Christie, Fatma Mohamed

Flux Gourmet is truly a bizarre, one-of-a-kind movie from acclaimed British writer/director Peter Strickland. Strickland’s canny eye and compilation of unique talents, including Asa Butterfield (Sex Education) and Gwendoline Christie (The Sandman), is nearly overshadowed by the immense sensory overload that is Flux Gourmet. Wrapped around a story of power struggles and bureaucratic politics and intertwined with artistry and egos, Flux Gourmet is set in an institute for the culinary arts and performances. Strickland’s cacophony blends discomfort, hilarity, and horror – as well as a pinch of gastrointestinal disorders – forming a monstrosity of cinematic originality. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 31 min | Director: Chloe Okuno

Cast: Maika Monroe, Karl Glusman, Burn Gorman

More than the traditional suspenseful horror flick, Watcher follows a young woman who suspects their new neighbor is spying on her and her husband, eventually believing he may also be a serial killer. Starring Maika Monroe and Karl Glusman as Julia and Francis, Watcher is a nail-biting thriller that trades twists and turns for pulse-pounding tension. Monroe’s performance is magnetic, having her transition from a quiet strength to a terrified fierceness within the same scene. Director Chloe Okuna’s unique perspective and stylish eye provide a distinct tone to Watcher, producing a positively gripping psychological thriller. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 2 hrs | Director: Vincent Grashaw

Cast: Robert Patrick, Nick Stahl, Scott Haze, Kelli Garner

What Josiah Saw is a modern American Gothic horror film starring Robert Patrick (Peacemaker) and Nick Stahl (Fear The Walking Dead). Robert Alan Dilts’s intriguing script is directed by Vincent Grashaw, and the two make for a compelling combination, as Grashaw’s use of shadows and suspense brings an unsettling story to life. Although the faces in this film are quite familiar, these performances feel uniquely creepy in ways audiences have not seen from these actors before. What Josiah Saw is a haunting experience for any horror fan. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 23 min | Director: Mickey Keating

Cast: Jocelin Donahue, Joe Swanberg, Richard Brake

Writer/director Mickey Keating crafts an eerie cinematic film, Offseason, starring Jocelin Donahue (Doctor Sleep) and Joe Swanberg as a couple determined to escape the terrifying nightmare of this deserted island town that they inadvertently entered. Keating’s smooth combination of chilling survival story with a menacing location and bizarre townsfolk builds the tension in Offseason, allowing Donahue and Swanberg to captivate against a dark and dreary backdrop. Offseason is a uniquely unexpected horror flick that surrounds the protagonists with heightened tension, macabre vibes, and weird happenings. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 37 min | Director: Ruth Paxton

Cast: Sienna Guillory, Jessica Alexander, Ruby Stokes

A Banquet is a feast for fans of slow-burn horror. The film revolves around Holly (Sienna Guillory), a widowed mother caring for her two daughters, Betsey (Jessica Alexander) and Isabelle (Ruby Stokes). Holly finds herself tested when Betsey proclaims that her body is no longer her own and is instead in service to a higher power – one that makes her stop eating. A psychological nightmare, A Banquet thrives due to its intense mother-daughter dynamics and depicting of a grieving family in crisis. – Taylor Gates

Run Time: 1 hr 23 min | Director: Brandon Christensen

Cast: Sara Canning, Osric Chau, Gracie Gillam

When travel bloggers Claire (Sara Canning) and Teddy (Oscric Chau) have the opportunity to stay at a remote five-star Airbnb with incredible reviews, they jump at the chance. They’ve been losing followers and need something big to revitalize their brand. Teddy sees this as the perfect opportunity to propose to Claire for love and extra views. However, Claire, unaware of Teddy’s plan, decides to exploit their eccentric host Rebecca (Gracie Gillam) for content. During their stay, Rebecca’s behavior becomes more and more unhinged. She shows up unannounced and is way too eager to help them out with every little thing. Claire insists that the “crazy superhost” will make them go viral again, but Teddy isn’t so quick to make a potential enemy out of their host. Superhost is an interesting take on influencer culture that has plenty of tension leading up to the final moments. Is Rebecca just incredibly passionate about her rental business, or is something more sinister going on? – Brynna Arens

Run Time: 1 hr 38 min | Director: Ruggero Deodato

Cast: Robert Kerman, Carl Gabriel Yorke, Francesca Ciardi, Luca Barbareschi ,Perry Pirkanen

Described by many as one of the most disturbing films of all time, it certainly isn’t for the squeamish or faint-of-heart. The first, true “found footage” film, Cannibal Holocaust follows a group of researchers who go into the Amazon, seeking a documentary crew that went missing. What they find instead is their footage, and it is far worse than anyone could have imagined. Not only is the documentary crew eaten by the titular cannibals, they stage many of their setpieces, proving that they are the true “savages.” Be prepared for real animal deaths, and scenes of rape and torture. The film was so brutal, director Ruggero Deodato was arrested for making a snuff film. He had to produce his actors in court in order to prove his innocence. — Alyse Wax