Claire Herquet, Staff

It’s that time of year again! October 31 is right around the corner, and midterms have finally ended. This seems like the perfect time to kick back, dim the lights in your bedroom, pop some microwave popcorn, and get into the Halloween spirit by watching all 6 “Scream” movies in chronological order. Right? Wrong. Get ready to laugh in the face of fear and gore as I list five ultimate scary movies on Netflix that don’t seem to get as much credit and five-star reviews as they deserve.  

“Get Out” (2017) 

Protagonist Chris, an African American man, decides to meet his Caucasian girlfriend’s parents during a weekend getaway. Although the two seem normal and caring at first, he is not prepared to experience the horrors ahead. The storyline was mind-blowingly outside the box and had its funny moments at the most perfect times. Although containing touchier subjects like racism, this thrilling film captivates audiences like no other. Directed by Jordan Peele, this masterpiece was well done with an amazing cast, setting and music. If you haven’t seen this movie, I could not recommend it more. 

“Lights Out” (2016) 

When Rebecca moves out of her mother’s house to finally live on her own, her little brother Martin begins experiencing the same unprecedented and terrifying events that compromised his sister’s safety while she was still there. Holding a mysterious attachment to their mother, a supernatural entity has come back with a motive to torment her two kids. With a simple but captivating story, David F. Sandberg does an extremely good job using visuals and practical effects to really paint the picture of the horror that is this film. If paranormal activity interests you, you are sure to thoroughly enjoy this movie. 

“The Babysitter” (2017) 

12-year-old Cole was struck with the question “What do you think your babysitter does after you go to sleep?” He was curious and determined to find out the answer. A ridiculous but entertaining watch, you’ll be laughing for an hour and a half at all the gore and swearing Bella Thorne and Samara Weaving have to offer. The Babysitter is definitely worth watching if you want something lighthearted and fun, but still riveting and violent.  

“Missing” (2023) 

After her mother goes missing on a trip to Columbia, her teenage daughter June (played by Storm Reid from “Euphoria”) jumps through the highest of hoops to get her mom back home safe using her technological intellect. However, after issues arise with her absent father, things are sure to get dicey. Providing a beautiful and true dynamic of a mother and daughter love, the trials and tribulations to get there will have you at the edge of your seat. All filmed through a computer’s (MacBook) webcam, the creative and thought-provoking themes this movie possesses prove that it’s a cinematic gem. Hopefully this film will gain more popularity as it grows older. 

“Level 16” (2018) 

Level 16 follows a group of young girls who are kept in a prison-like boarding school to learn the importance of feminine virtue. Two girls, Sophia and Vivien, work together to uncover the dark truths hidden by the facility’s doctors and guards. A display of breathtaking acting by such beautiful and strong young women, the wide range of emotions exemplified over the course of time added so much to the movie. The twists and turns in the plot were nicely done, and the awareness brought to some of the power struggle issues at hand in society today is remarkable.  

I hope this list will be helpful to you in decompressing from the past week of classes, sports, and other activities. In conclusion, the appeal of scary movies remains as powerful as ever, with motion picture genres constantly evolving and changing. The big world of horror cinema is just a few clicks away.