The best horror movies on Hulu right now

The criminally underappreciated Jena Malone stars in Christopher Smith’s 2023 horror thriller Consecration. The actress plays Grace, a young woman who travels to a Scottish convent to uncover the truth behind the death of her brother, a priest. However, she soon discovers disturbing truths about her past, uncovering a series of harrowing secrets.

Consecration is a solid entry into the ever-growing canon of religious horror films that greatly benefits from a confident and committed performance from Malone. Its ideas are somewhat safe, and it certainly doesn’t reinvent the genre. But it doesn’t have to. Consecration offers effective scares and a consistent and deeply off-putting atmosphere that makes it a great watch for this spooky season.

Hulu’s Into the Dark has produced many worthy entries, including 2021’s Tentacles. The plot chronicles the quick but passionate affair between Tara and Sam, whose relationship takes a turn to the sinister as they become increasingly close. At first, Tentacles might seem like more of a drama, thanks to its strong focus on the couple’s relationship.

However, the truth soon comes out, and it’s as creepy as it is surprising. Borrowing heavily from Lovecraftian lore, Tentacles is an interesting take on double-sided obsession and the dangers it can uncover within a person’s psyche. The visuals are the strongest aspect, even if they are limited by Into the Dark‘s reach.

Game of Thrones‘ breakout Gwendoline Christie and Sex Education‘s Asa Butterfield star in the 2022 horror black comedy Flux Gourmet. The plot is set in a culinary institute and follows the escalating conflict between several characters as they engage in increasingly deranged power struggles. One’s enjoyment of Flux Gourmet depends entirely on one’s tolerance to director Peter Strickland’s unique brand of horror excess. Those who like it will find a true multi-course meal here; indeed, Flux Gourmet is over-indulgent to the point of nausea, an unhinged, wicked, and off-putting horror comedy with pitch-black humor and one of Christie’s strongest turns outside of Westeros.

Game of Thrones‘ Nathalie Emmanuel stars in the divisive 2022 horror thriller The Invitation. Inspired by Bram Stoker’s seminal classic Dracula, the film follows Evie, a young woman grieving the loss of her mother. She meets some long-lost family members who soon prove to be more sinister than they seem. Emmanuel gives it her all in the lead role, considerably elevating The Invitation‘s dodgy screenplay and puzzling direction. The result is more uneven than one would expect, but The Invitation remains a refreshing addition to the canon of Dracula-inspired cinematic efforts. In the hands of a more experienced director, it could’ve been a genuine hit; still, it is quite good for what it is. 

The psychological horror thriller Somewhere Quiet centers on Meg, a woman recovering from a kidnapping. Attempting to regain control of her life, she travels to her husband’s compound, only to begin losing her grip on reality. Somewhere Quiet is an interesting case: critics gave it positive reviews, but audiences have been far more mixed in their reaction. The film favors establishing a moody and almost overwhelming atmosphere over offering typical thrills or jump scares. See for yourself to decide where you fall in the critics-versus-audiences battle regarding this underrated but worthwhile picture.

A prequel to the 1976 horror classic The Omen, the aptly titled The First Omen stars up-and-coming scream queen Nell Tiger Free, best known for her remarkable work in M. Night Shyamalan’s Apple TV+ series Servant. She stars as Margaret, an American woman sent to Rome to work at an orphanage. There, she uncovers a sinister conspiracy to birth the Antichrist. Although it is very much tied by its duties to the larger franchise, The First Omen successfully stands on its own as a worthy addition to a movie series that has never really found its footing. Atmospheric and chilling, this is a prequel that’s actually worth seeing.

The brilliant and criminal underrated Marin Ireland stars in the psychological horror film Birth/Rebirth.  The film follows Rose, a morgue technician who reanimated a young girl and must go to extreme lengths to keep her alive. An incredibly disturbing piece of psychological dread, Birth/Rebirth rises on the strength of Ireland’s performance. It’s provocative enough to surprise yet confident enough to rely on classic horror tropes without succumbing to cliches. Birth/Rebirth is an impressive directorial debut from Laura Moss, and a horror movie that has everything to become a modern classic.

An entry in Hulu’s anthology series Into the Dark, Flesh & Blood follows teenager Kimberly, who’s living with agoraphobia and hasn’t left her house since her mother’s unresolved murder. On Thanksgiving Eve, she begins suspecting her father might be hiding a sinister secret in her home, which sets of a series of events that escalate rapidly. Although dealing with a familiar premise, Flesh & Blood rises on the strength of its cast, especially a chilling Dermot Mulroney and an impressive Diana Silvers, who crafts a final girl for a new generation.