The 18 Best Psychological Horror Movies on Netflix Right Now

Justice Ekaeze Last updated: May 7, 2024 Read time: 19 minutes Disclosure
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Experie­nce the thrill of Netflix’s top psychological horror films! Ste­p into a world where reality twists, suspe­nse grabs hold. This chosen collection, full of mind-twisting storie­s and shivers-down-your-spine excite­ment, will linger in your dreams. Pre­pare for a ride into the de­ep world of psychological fear!

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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

The-Devil-All-the-Time
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link2h 18minDramaAntonio CamposTom Holland, Bill Skarsgård, Riley Keough7.12020

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

Bird-Box
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link2h 4minDrama, Horror, Sci-FiSusanne BierSandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, John Malkovich6.62018

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

Ouija Origin of Evil
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link1h 39minHorror, Mystery, ThrillerMike FlanaganElizabeth Reaser, Lulu Wilson, Annalise Basso6.22016

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

Hypnotic
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link136 minThrillerRobert RodriguezKate Bosworth, Jason Isaacs, Lucy Hale5.32021

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

In-the-Tall-Grass
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link1h 41minDrama, Horror, ThrillerVincenzo NataliLaysla De Oliveira, Avery Whitted, Patrick Wilson5.52019

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

The-Pale-Blue-Eye
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link2h 8minMystery, ThrillerScott CooperChristian Bale, Simon McBurney, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Harry Melling6.62022

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

The Bridge Curse
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link1h 28minHorror, Mystery, ThrillerLester HsiCheng Cheng, Summer Meng, Bryan Shu-Hao Chang5.32020

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

1922
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link1h 42minCrime, Drama, HorrorZak HilditchThomas Jane, Molly Parker, Dylan Schmid6.22017

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

A-Classic-Horror-Story
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link1h 35minDrama, Horror, MysteryRoberto De Feo, Paolo StrippoliMatilda Lutz, Francesco Russo, Peppino Mazzotta5.72021

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

Umma
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link1h 23minHorror, MysteryIris ShimSandra Oh, Fivel Stewart, Dermot Mulroney, MeeWha Alana Lee4.72022

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

it-Follows
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link1h 40minHorror, Mystery, ThrillerDavid Robert MitchellMaika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Olivia Luccardi6.82014

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

Mr. Harrigan's Phone
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link1h 44minhorrorJohn Lee HancockJaeden Martell, Donald Sutherland, Cyrus Arnold, Alexa Niziak6.02022

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

Geralds Game
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link1h 43minDrama, Horror, ThrillerMike FlanaganCarla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, Chiara Aurelia6.52017

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

Lights Out
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link1h 21minDrama, Horror, MysteryDavid F. SandbergTeresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Maria Bello6.32016

“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

Sightless
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link1h 29minDrama, ThrillerCooper KarlMadelaine Petsch, Deniz Akdeniz, Alexander Koch5.52020

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

Cam
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link1h 34minHorror, Mystery, ThrillerDaniel GoldhaberMadeline Brewer, Patch Darragh, Melora Walters5.92018

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

Creep
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link1h 17minHorrorPatrick BriceMark Duplass, Patrick Brice, Katie Aselton6.32014

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

The-Platform
Movie linkDurationGenreDirectorLead castIMDb ratingYear
Official Netflix link1h 34minHorror, Sci-Fi thrillerGalder Gaztelu-UrrutiaIvan Massague, Zorion Eguileor, Antonia San Juan7.02019

“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.

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About the Author

Naturally addicted to Netflix and streaming in general, Justice Ekaeze is a freelance content writer who has worked for specialized content agencies such as Copypress and Skypublishers. Over the years, Justice has gained extensive content writing experience that helps readers.

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