The Best Horror Movies to Stream on Shudder and Sundance Now!

It’s time to bust out this number:

Because it is officially Halloween! So you know what that means: it’s time to curl up and watch some scary movies. Shudder and Sundance Now have both got you covered with a number of thrilling, chilling, and frightening films that are perfect for getting you in the Halloween mood. Shudder streams scary movies all day, everyday, while Sundance Now has its own special Halloween collection. Here are some of the best flicks you should check out to get your fill of tricks and treats:

SHUDDER

Seoul Station

When we think of horror movies, we typically don’t think of animated films. However, there are animated horror films that are just as frightening as anything Hitchcock produced, and one of them is Seoul Station. This Korean anime serves as a prequel to Train to Busan, and borrows a leaf out of George Romero’s book. The film focuses on the homeless who live around Seoul Station, who, much to their dismay, are attacked by zombies. During the melee, a concerned father shows up, trying to track down his runaway daughter. From there it turns into The Hunger Games meets “The Walking Dead”!

Uncle John

Not all horror movies are full of blood and gore -- some are slow, psychological burns. Such is the case with Uncle John, a disturbing tale of small town intrigue. The film follows John, a well-liked elderly man who kills a bad man in his town. No one suspects that sweet, innocent John could have done it... except for Danny, John’s alcoholic and violent brother. When John’s nephew shows up, the tale turns even more crazy. The film isn’t the fastest or even the scariest horror film, but it will leave you guessing until the end.

Noroi: The Curse

Found footage films are a dime a dozen, but this Japanese thriller stands out from the rest. The film appears to be a documentary by a paranormal journalist, who went missing shortly after the completion of the film. As people attempt to find out what happened to him, the film then introduces a demonic entity who may or may not be involved. The film begins rather slowly (as most Japanese horror films do) but then picks up and turns heart-pounding.

Killer Legends

Many horror films are based on urban legends, but where did the urban legends come from? This documentary sets out to answer that. Killer Legends explores the legends and, in some cases, the true stories inspiring The Hookman, the Candyman, and the Killer Clown. This documentary is ideal for getting into the Halloween spirit and to prepare you for all your favorite horror classics.

Black Sunday

Directed by one of the original masters of horror, Mario Bava, Black Sunday is a great horror classic. When a vengeful witch (Barbara Steele) returns to possess her descendant, only a handsome doctor and the possessed brother come to the rescue. The film is praised for its breathtaking visuals and gothic set design. This is a must-watch for any horror fanatic.

SUNDANCE NOW

Go Down Death

Based on the folklore of fictitious writer Jonathan Mallory Sinus, Go Down Death is an intriguing mix of strange and disturbing tales. Various vignettes include a child gravedigger who is chased by a shapeshifting physician, an abandoned factory in Brooklyn which also happens to be an abandoned village haunted by ghosts, and soldiers mysteriously disappearing -- and reappearing -- in the woods. It’s the ideal ghoulish mix to get you in the mood for Halloween.

Grand Piano

Your piano recitals were cake walks compared to this suspenseful tale. Also known as the most horrifying piano recital ever, iconic horror director Brian De Palma helms this thriller starring Elijah Wood as a talented pianist who, after constantly battling stage fright, decides to take his final bow. He returns to the stage only to find that a sniper (John Cusack) is planning to kill him if he misses one single note. Talk about pressure! You’ll have to tune in to see if he makes it through the hardest performance of his life.

Fear(s) of the Dark

Yet another example of animated horror, this French collection of animated shorts prove that sometimes the simplest stories can be the scariest. Six different graphic artists came together to create the black-and-white shorts, which include a town where people disappear and are never heard from again, a boy who meets the wrong girl, and a little Japanese girl who suffers from night terrors. Sweet dreams!

(Image via Nostromo Pictures/YouTube)

- Sarah Osman, YH Contributing Writer