Psychological horror movies are not for the faint of heart. These films tinker with your brain, causing you to doubt your mental stability. These aren’t any ordinary movies – they stick with you ever after the movie is over. Want a bit of excitement and spine-chills? Netflix boasts a superb variety of these unnerving mind-game movies, certain to keep you biting your nails.
This article consists of the top 18 psychological horror films on Netflix. Read this article to learn more about these amazing flicks.
Top 10 psychological horror movies on Netflix – Quick list
- The Devil All the Time: Some folks in Ohio deal with harm, dishonesty, and wicked powers. This same bunch of people fight against brutality, untruthfulness, and negative influences in their area.
- Bird Box: A mom with her kids struggles to stay alive amidst a fatal danger that pushes folks towards self-destruction. A mother, alongside her children, battles something deadly, making people commit suicide.
- Ouija: Origin of Evil: A wicked ghost troubles a family once they use a tainted Ouija board. A malicious phantom plagues the same household after meddling with the accurate game. Again, an evil specter haunts this family after their involvement with the cursed board game.
- Hypnotic: A lady participates in many hypnotizing meetings, leading to surprising and harmful results. This woman participates in numerous hypnotic sessions with outcomes that are risky and unforeseen.
- In The Tall Grass: Two siblings lose their way in a field filled with high grass. They meet a scary power that keeps them there. Two brothers and sisters lose their way in a field filled with high grass. They meet a scary power that keeps them there.
- The Pale Blue Eye: A sleuth probes into a West Point cadet’s killing, revealing Edgar Allan Poe’s hidden shadows. A sleuth probes into the murder of a student at West Point, unraveling Edgar Allan Poe’s veiled mysteries.
- The Bridge Curse: Some kids try out a city myth about a spirit on a bridge and encounter scary outcomes. Some kids attempt a city myth regarding a phantom over a bridge and face horrifying outcomes.
- 1922: A farmer has a scheme to murder his wife for wealth. Yet, his plot goes awry, encountering other-worldly powers. A farmer plans his wife’s demise for money’s sake. This plan, however, stumbles upon encountering spectral forces.
- A Classic Horror Story: Five unfamiliar people find themselves lost in the forest, pursued by three frightful siblings from an Italian tale. Again, five unfamiliar people find themselves lost in the forest, pursued by three frightful siblings inspired by an Italian tale.
- Umma: A lone mom on a farm is troubled by the spirit of her mom that seeks to take over her child. A lone mom working on a farm is distressed by her mother’s ghost aiming to control her daughter.
Top psychological horror movies on Netflix – Detailed list
1. The Devil All the Time
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 2h 18min | Drama | Antonio Campos | Tom Holland, Bill Skarsgård, Riley Keough | 7.1 | 2020 |
This film revolves around numerous harmful individuals committing wicked actions. It takes place in Ohio and West Virginia post-World War II. Arvin is a brave youngster working to shield his loved ones from these destructive folks. His life is challenging due to the loss of his parents and his sister’s harassment.
Certain individuals are dishonest preachers causing harm. A preacher ends his wife’s life, while another wrongs Arvin’s sister. An unkind duo kidnaps and murders unknown folk on highways. Arvin stands against them, ending the lives of several offenders. He also confronts a corrupt law enforcer who is related to the evil woman.
2. Bird Box
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 2h 4min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi | Susanne Bier | Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, John Malkovich | 6.6 | 2018 |
Malorie is a mother of two children. They exist in a reality where dangers loom if you dare gaze outdoors. Malorie aims to unearth a secure haven for her loved ones. She embarks on a journey by boat, instructing her children to don blindfolds. They are blind to their surroundings, but birds chirping from a box reach their ears.
Half a decade passed, and Malorie was expecting a baby. She witnessed folks ending their own lives due to something they saw. She found refuge in a house with other survivors. They shielded the windows and lived inside. They ventured outside sporadically but only blindfolded. Malorie got acquainted with Tom, a helpful man with the newborn. However, disaster struck the safehouse one day. Malorie, Tom, the children, and the birds managed to escape. They cohabited as a makeshift family until Tom’s untimely death. Afterward, Malorie took to the river in a boat.
3. Ouija: Origin of Evil
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 1h 39min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller | Mike Flanagan | Elizabeth Reaser, Lulu Wilson, Annalise Basso | 6.2 | 2016 |
Alice resides in Los Angeles with her daughters, Lina and Doris. She works as a faux medium, assisting folks to converse with deceased loved ones. She acquires an Ouija board for supplementing her act’s authenticity. However, she’s oblivious to the potential risks that the board poses.
Doris interacts with a game board, believing she’s communicating with her deceased father. In reality, she’s speaking with a malevolent entity named Marcus. This spirit controls her actions, leading her to harmful deeds, and injures those attempting to intervene. Alice and Lina discover that Marcus was a convict who died within their residence. They endeavor to rescue Doris and return Marcus to his place of origin.
4. Hypnotic
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 136 min | Thriller | Robert Rodriguez | Kate Bosworth, Jason Isaacs, Lucy Hale | 5.3 | 2021 |
Jenn is a disheartened lady who suffered the loss of her child and boyfriend. She visits a medical professional, Dr. Meade, known for his hypnotizing ability. He promises to improve his emotional state. However, he showcases bad intentions by prompting negative actions during her slumber. Additionally, he manipulates her into forgetting everything.
Jenn begins to experience odd dreams and lost periods. It is revealed that Meade is causing harm to others through his hypnotic abilities. She attempts to prevent his actions, but he is highly intelligent and strong. He desires to turn her into his puppet. Jenn must challenge him using her intellect and bravery. She receives assistance from an honest policeman familiar with Meade’s hidden tactics. Can Jenn escape Meade’s influence? View the film to discover.
5. In The Tall Grass
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 1h 41min | Drama, Horror, Thriller | Vincenzo Natali | Laysla De Oliveira, Avery Whitted, Patrick Wilson | 5.5 | 2019 |
Becky and Cal, brother and sister, find themselves in a puzzling situation. Becky’s expecting a baby. They hear a child’s sobs coming from a field filled with towering grass. They decide to assist him. Unfortunately, they end up misplaced and alone. The grass is bizarre and frightens them. It can alter time and place. They cross paths with others who are likewise caught, among them some unsavory characters.
Travis is in a relationship with Becky. He sets out to find them. He discovers the young boy, Tobin. Tobin recognizes Travis. He leads him to Becky’s lifeless body. Travis is devastated. He has memories of his past encounters with Becky and Cal. They attempted to flee the grass. Yet, a large, menacing stone, stands in their way. This stone is sinister. It incites madness in people. They are compelled to battle both the evil individuals and the wicked stone. Their goal is to escape the clutches of the grass.
6. The Pale Blue Eye
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 2h 8min | Mystery, Thriller | Scott Cooper | Christian Bale, Simon McBurney, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Harry Melling | 6.6 | 2022 |
The film centers on a detective named Augustus Landor. He works on unraveling a killing at an army academy. He uncovers that an individual removed the heart of a deceased learner. He seeks assistance from another scholar named Edgar Allan Poe. Poe is a talented author with a sharp mind.
Landor and Poe believe the killing is linked to dark sorcery. They discover that a physician and his offspring perform this dark sorcery, hoping it could treat the daughter suffering from convulsions. Landor and Poe halt their attempt to slay another pupil. Yet, the physician’s offspring meet their demise in a blaze. Landor and Poe wrap up the investigation, feeling blue. They understand that the world is a frightening and grim location.
7. The Bridge Curse
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 1h 28min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller | Lester Hsi | Cheng Cheng, Summer Meng, Bryan Shu-Hao Chang | 5.3 | 2020 |
This film features a terrifying bridge within a university in Taiwan. A heartbroken girl committed suicide on this bridge because her beloved didn’t arrive. Suddenly, she’s a ghost, threatening the lives of those who dare to cross the bridge after dark. A curious group of students, eager to establish the truth of this chilling tale, decided to conduct an experiment on this haunted bridge, but it resulted in horrifying consequences.
A reporter is curious about the bridge and its ties to the pupils. She uncovers a mysterious fact about the young lady’s demise. It turns out she wasn’t solitary on the bridge. Several individuals inflicted harm upon her and flung her into the river. The phantom made an eerie pact with a student to secure his safety. As a result, this student is now an ally of the inquisitive reporter. They have developed a scheme to dispel the haunting curse.
8. 1922
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 1h 42min | Crime, Drama, Horror | Zak Hilditch | Thomas Jane, Molly Parker, Dylan Schmid | 6.2 | 2017 |
Jim Wilfred, a farmer, shares his life with partner Arlette and their kid Henry. Unlike Arlette, Jim is against giving up farming life for city living. He persuades Henry to join him in eliminating Arlette, using a well as her final resting place. He believes this plan will let him retain his land and his son. His thoughts, however, prove to be incorrect.
Following the deadly incident, Wilfred’s world crumbles. Henry takes off with his expecting girlfriend. Wilfred’s home is overrun with rats which nibble on his hand. He encounters Arlette’s apparition, who forewarns him of his impending doom. Wilfred composes a confession and aims to flee, but the rats corner him. He meets his end alone, burdened with guilt, as Arlette chuckles at his plight from the afterlife.
9. A Classic Horror Story
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 1h 35min | Drama, Horror, Mystery | Roberto De Feo, Paolo Strippoli | Matilda Lutz, Francesco Russo, Peppino Mazzotta | 5.7 | 2021 |
Elisa, along with four others, embark on a journey in a motorhome. They are destined for varied locations across Italy. One night, they accidentally hit a tree, landing in an eerie forest. They stumble upon an unsettling dwelling, shrouded in a tale of three wicked siblings. The malevolent brothers seek to harm them, aiming for their sight, hearing, and speech faculties.
Elisa discovers that the culprit behind all the oddities, Fabrizio, is not who he seems to be. He’s a crafty driver pulling the strings on a terrifying hidden camera horror movie production. He’s aiming for internet stardom. He takes out the others, one after the other. Elisa retaliates, managing to slip away. She uncovers a bigger scheme involving the police and media, who label it just a spoof. This leaves Elisa in a swirl of confusion and anger. Reality and fiction start to blur for him.
10. Umma
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 1h 23min | Horror, Mystery | Iris Shim | Sandra Oh, Fivel Stewart, Dermot Mulroney, MeeWha Alana Lee | 4.7 | 2022 |
Amanda and her child Chrissy stay on a farm. They lack electricity or phones. Amanda is allergic to them. Also, she dislikes her Korean mom. Her mom was harsh to her as a youngster. She used to shock her with cables.
One morning, Amanda receives a case containing her mom’s remains. She’s told by her uncle to lay them to rest. However, Amanda refuses. Following this, peculiar occurrences start to unfold. Eerie apparitions and creatures become visible to Amanda. She feels her mother’s disappointment directed at her. She fears that she’s turning into her. She causes harm to Chrissy. This leaves Chrissy terrified and contemplating escape. Discovering that Amanda deceived her her identity and history, she faces confusion about whom to trust.
11. It Follows
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 1h 40min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller | David Robert Mitchell | Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Olivia Luccardi | 6.8 | 2014 |
Jay is a girl in her teens who is interested in a boy, Hugh. They go on a date and become intimate in his car. Unexpectedly, Hugh drugs Jay, binding her to a wheelchair. He then informs her that he has passed on a curse to her. A monstrous being will now track him down and attempt to end her life. What’s horrifying is that the creature can take on any form. The only method to escape this predicament is to become intimate with another person.
Jay feels fear and escapes the beast. She informs her crew and kin. They pledge their aid and cover. They venture to the seaside, a pool, and a medical center. They encounter the beast in various shapes. Sometimes, it takes the guise of an unknown person, some moments like someone familiar. Mesmerizingly, Jay chooses to intimately connect with her pal Paul, hoping to transfer the curse. Still, the beast persistently shadows them.
12. Mr. Harrigan’s Phone
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 1h 44min | horror | John Lee Hancock | Jaeden Martell, Donald Sutherland, Cyrus Arnold, Alexa Niziak | 6.0 | 2022 |
Craig, a book-loving and phone-enthusiast boy, bonds with Mr. Harrigan, an elder who bestows him with books and a shiny iPhone. He’s also got Ms. Hart, a school teacher who offers her guidance. Their friendships involve weekly chats and school assistance, forming a network around Craig.
Mr. Harrigan passes away, and Craig puts his phone in the grave with him. Craig receives money from Mr. Harrigan’s legacy to attend college and pen tales. He dials Mr. Harrigan’s phone to show gratitude, only to receive mysterious messages. Craig believes these cryptic messages are Mr. Harrigan’s attempts to assist him. However, he also notices misfortunes befalling those who have wronged him or his companions.
13. Gerald’s Game
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 1h 43min | Drama, Horror, Thriller | Mike Flanagan | Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, Chiara Aurelia | 6.5 | 2017 |
Jessie and Gerald, a wedded pair, plan a cozy retreat to a lakeside cabin. To heighten the thrill, Gerald locks Jessie to the bed, attempting to initiate intimacy. However, Jessie disapproves and urges him to halt. Suddenly, Gerald suffers a cardiac arrest and perishes right atop her. She’s left confined and isolated.
Jessie perceives illusions. Gerald’s voice and touch seem real to her. He conveys his anger at her for not trying to mend their marital bond. Moreover, he informs her about her health deteriorating due to lack of food and water. Suddenly, Jessie recalls that there’s a water bottle on the shelf above the bed and uses the straw from a price tag to hydrate himself.
14. Lights Out
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 1h 21min | Drama, Horror, Mystery | David F. Sandberg | Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Maria Bello | 6.3 | 2016 |
“Lights Out” portrays a frightful tale of a lady named Sophie who converses with an eerie figure called Diana. While Diana doesn’t exist in reality, she can harm individuals in the absence of light. Witnessing Diana frightens Martin, Sophie’s son, profoundly. Upon her discovery, he shares this information with his sister, Rebecca. Desirous for her family’s safety, Rebecca takes it upon herself to protect Martin and Sophie.
Rebecca, along with her boyfriend Bret, visits Sophie’s home. Their mission is to convince Sophie to take her prescribed medication and consult with a physician. However, an attack occurs from the lurking Diana. At Paul’s workplace, a factory, she commits murder. Paul happens to be Sophie’s boss. Diana also ends the life of Rebecca’s father from days gone by. This results in Rebecca and Martin having to stand strong using light as their defense against Diana.
15. Sightless
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 1h 29min | Drama, Thriller | Cooper Karl | Madelaine Petsch, Deniz Akdeniz, Alexander Koch | 5.5 | 2020 |
Ellen Ashland, a well-known violin player, had a strong passion for music. One evening, an assailant assaulted her, using a chemical that blinded her. She became visually impaired, leading to deep sorrow. Her supportive sibling arranged a fresh living space and hired Clayton, a skilled caregiver, to ensure her well-being.
Clayton acted kindly towards Ellen, yet he concealed a dark secret. It was he who assaulted Ellen, causing her blindness. He aimed to eject her from his life due to her being his previous girlfriend’s sister. Clayton led Ellen to believe that it was Lana, their neighbor, who posed a threat. When Ellen began to piece together the truth, he never attempted to take her life.
16. Cam
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 1h 34min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller | Daniel Goldhaber | Madeline Brewer, Patch Darragh, Melora Walters | 5.9 | 2018 |
Alice is an online performer known as Lola. She earns her income through digital performances. Her audience is vast and loyal. One particular day, she observes another Lola on the internet. This new Lola is almost her mirror image, mirroring her personality and appearance. Unexpectedly, she hijacks Alice’s platform and her audience. An unsettling wave of fear and anger washes over Alice. She is determined to uncover this imposter and neutralize her malicious actions.
Alice seeks assistance from online resources, law enforcement, and her companions. Yet, she receives neither trust nor concern from them. She suspects another webcam girl, Princess, is at fault. But Princess denies any wrongdoing. Alice uncovers that other webcam models also have replicas. She discovers that Lola isn’t human; instead, she’s software. Alice then resolves to confront Lola and reclaim her persona.
17. Creep
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 1h 17min | Horror | Patrick Brice | Mark Duplass, Patrick Brice, Katie Aselton | 6.3 | 2014 |
Aaron is a filmmaker. His new project involves filming Josef, a man on the brink of death. The movie is intended for Josef’s infant son. Aaron treks to the nestled home of Josef deep in the forest. Josef’s behavior is odd and frightening. He murmurs dark things, attempting to instill fear in Aaron. Aaron tries to leave, but Josef won’t allow him. Suddenly, a call comes in from Josef’s sibling. She warns Aaron that Josef is a threat and urges him to flee.
Aaron gets away from Josef and returns home. However, Josef continues mailing items to Aaron. One of these items is a disturbing video of Josef digging a hole that seems like a grave. Needless to say, this frightens Aaron immensely. He tries to seek help from the police, but they cannot assist. In another video, Josef sends an apology and a request to meet Aaron. Aaron consents to this meeting, deciding on a park as the location. Tragically, the meeting ends with Josef murdering Aaron using an axe, claiming Aaron was his favorite.
18. The Platform
Movie link | Duration | Genre | Director | Lead cast | IMDb rating | Year |
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Official Netflix link | 1h 34min | Horror, Sci-Fi thriller | Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia | Ivan Massague, Zorion Eguileor, Antonia San Juan | 7.0 | 2019 |
“The Platform” is a sky-high prison film. The structure is multileveled, housing two individuals per level. Meals are served daily on a descending platform. Food distribution differs per level – lower levels receive a higher portion compared to their elevated counterparts.
The film depicts individuals of varying statures wrestling for sustenance and life. There are folks who lend a hand and support each other. On the other hand, some deliver harm and pain. The film further sheds light on some attempts to revise the system, aiming for a more equitable one. This film can be quite distressing and melancholic, sparking thoughts on the disparity in food access within our society.
Conclusion
Netflix offers diverse, compelling psychological horror movies that cater to varied tastes. These movies, mixed with gripping stories and profound characters, are sure to excite lovers of this style of film. It blends old favorites with new hits, making sure anyone seeking a thrilling ride into deep psychological fear finds what they are after. So, whether you are a seasoned horror fan or a laid-back watcher, rest assured, the tailor-made collection on Netflix offers mystery, excitement, and an insightful dive into the complex human mind.
FAQs
Mind horror zeroes in on fear and terror tied to feelings and thoughts, exploring characters deeply. The thrill and stress it creates don’t depend on outright spooks.
Despite their intensity, movies suit various tastes. Many focus more on building mood than featuring violence, making it interesting for diverse comfort zones.
Different themes like fear, loneliness, and the mind’s weakness are explored. Every movie gives its view on scary mental stories, showing a variety of storylines and visual adventures.
Get ready for ideas that stick. These movies are designed to make a strong impression, leaving a feeling of discomfort that might linger.
Sure, the selection includes enduring classics. These movies dramatically affected the psychological horror category.
The decision rests with you. Alone, the adventure might feel more powerful for some. However, others might enjoy having a buddy to go through the mental trip with.
Yes, certain films blend in eerie supernatural parts, adding a twist to the mental horror. Be ready for a combo of mental frights and ghostly scares.
They serve a curious crowd looking for stories that make you think. Great for folks who like exploring how people think and feel through movies.