It’s a new month, and we’re officially in the back half of 2023. That also means that it’s a new month for streaming. Netflix’s horror offerings might be light when it comes to new releases, the most notable of which is Bird Box Barcelona, set to debut on the streaming service on July 14.
Whether you’re looking for underseen horror gems on Netflix or revisiting spooky favorites, here are ten great horror movies you can stream on Netflix in July.
Apostle
Writer/Director Gareth Evans brings the bone-crunching brutality of The Raid and The Raid 2 to his period folk horror film. The Guest’s Dan Stevens stars as Thomas, a man who travels to a remote island in 1905 to infiltrate the cult that’s kidnapped his sister for ransom. The cult leaders claim that the barren island was made fertile through blood sacrifice, and in his quest, Thomas learns the grim truth behind those sacrifices. The twists and visceral violence make for a gripping, gory final act with torrential bloodletting. Apostle is a slow burn that embraces its mysteries, but the journey is worth taking.
Calibre
A Scottish thriller that sees a horrific accident turn a weekend hunting trip into a nail-biting descent into paranoia for old friends Marcus and Vaughn, Calibre is a compelling and well-executed tale of suspense. The suspense of this grisly story cannot be understated. The palpable tension and brutal moments put this on the outskirts of the genre, making it a very worthwhile watch that’ll leave you on the edge of your seat.
His House
Husband-and-wife Sudanese refugees Bol (Sope Dirisu) and Rial (Wunmi Mosaku) have been through more than most endure in a lifetime. They’ve fled their war-torn village, crossed the ocean, survived a degrading stint in a U.K. detention facility, and finally been granted an opportunity for housing in their new country. The home may be roomy, but they face hostility in and outside its moldy walls. Remi Weekes’s feature debut transforms the refugee experience into a petrifying horror film with expertly crafted scares. For all the existential terror Bol and Rial face in their new lives, the director also keeps a firm grip on the supernatural.
May the Devil Take You
From Timo Tjahjanto, the director behind the gory “Safe Haven” segment in V/H/S/2, comes another gore-filled flick in the vein of The Evil Dead franchise. When her father mysteriously falls into a coma, Alfie and her step-family travel to his old villa for answers, uncovering a supernatural pact. When demonic forces come to collect, it’s up to Alfie to find a way to pay the debt without losing lives in the process. Tjahjanto wears his horror influences on his sleeves here, putting his characters through the splatter-fueled wringer by way of visceral occult violence. If you love this Raimi-styled demonic horror entry, look for the sequel on AMC+.
No One Gets Out Alive
NO ONE GETS OUT ALIVE. Cristina Rodlo as Ambar, in NO ONE GETS OUT ALIVE. Cr. Teddy Cavendish/Netflix © 2021
This pick is for fans of David Bruckner’s The Ritual. Santiago Menghini’s feature debut toys with the haunted house tropes to deliver a thrilling subversion that builds into an unforgettable finale and leaves you begging for more from author Adam Nevill’s box of horror. Ambar (Cristina Rodlo) finds herself trapped in a nightmare when she discovers her boarding house is a literal house of horrors. What begins as a standard haunter shifts gears into an entirely different subgenre to an exhilarating degree.
The Perfection
This Netflix gem feels like a few different subgenres rolled into one twisty horror thriller, and that unpredictability makes for a wild ride. The setup is simple; former music prodigy Charlotte (Get Out’s Allison Williams) returns to her past school and befriends new star pupil Elizabeth (Logan Browning), sending both down a path of shocking destruction. A little bit Martyrs, Oldboy, and more, this pick is for those that like their horror on the more deliciously outlandish side.
The Platform
This Netflix original centers around a strange, vertical prison facility with one cell per floor and two inmates per cell. Every day, food is lowered through the levels via a platform, with the inmates only allowed to eat whatever is left on the platform for a fixed period. Every month, the inmates are randomly reassigned to a new floor. Those at the top level feast in luxury while those many floors down starve or worse. There’s no subtlety to this film’s overt metaphor, but that doesn’t make it less effective. Things get brutal and repulsive. With a sequel on the way, now’s a great time to watch.
The Trip
Spouses Lisa (Noomi Rapace) and Lars (Aksel Hennie) head to a remote family cabin to reconnect, neither aware that the other is plotting murder. Just as their murder plans begin, a more significant threat arrives in the form of escaped convicts. It’s marriage counseling in its most violent, splatstick form, directed and co-written by Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow, Violent Night). Rapace is having a blast as the murderous wife who constantly outsmarts those around her. She takes as much of a beating as she doles out. In other words, The Trip is as mean as it is entertaining.
Under the Shadow
Babak Anvari’s feature debut gives a compelling spin on the Djinn. Set in a war-torn Tehran in the late ’80s, Under the Shadow follows Shideh (Narges Rashidi) as she attempts to raise her strong-willed daughter Dorsa (Avin Manshadi) and restart her medical school education after her political activism got her banned. Anvari instills oppressive dread even before the supernatural entity latches on to Dorsa. Under the Shadow’s unique perspective, atmospheric horror and exquisite scare-crafting make this underseen gem a must-watch.
“Marianne”
When famous horror author Emma is on the verge of ending her most popular novel series, the entity haunting her pages bleeds over into her waking life. A bizarre encounter with a childhood friend prompts her to return home to confront her past. All eight episodes were directed by Samuel Bodin (behind the upcoming Cobweb), who also co-wrote the series with Quoc Dang Tran. From the premiere episode, it becomes quickly apparent that Bodin understands how to craft a scare that will chill right to the bone. In terms of originality, horror fans will recognize many clear influences, but it customizes and molds them into a unique antagonist with fascinating mythology. It’s so scary that you won’t mind that I’m cheating by including a series on this list.
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