HBO Max has an extensive catalog of movies, and when it comes to horror, it has some great titles, both classic horror movies and recent hits. There are plenty of streaming platforms to choose from now, with most of them requiring a subscription and others offering a free service. In the former category, one platform that has become widely popular is HBO Max.
HBO Max is home to most of the catalog of Warner Bros. and HBO, with some TV shows and movies shared with other platforms. As such, HBO Max has a long list of classic movies and recent theatrical hits, and its catalog of horror movies has a bit of everything – from horror classics to gore to psychological horror stories and more.
Cronos (1992)
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Cronos is a horror drama movie written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, as well as his first feature film. Cronos is the story of Jesús Gris (Federico Lupi), an elderly antique dealer who finds a centuries-old mechanism developed by an alchemist. When Gris opens it, it inserts a needle into his skin, and an insect inside the mechanism filters the blood.
After that, Gris’ health improves, his wrinkles are gone, and he’s a lot younger, but he also develops a thirst for blood. Cronos is Guillermo del Toro’s take on vampires, in a creative story that doesn’t forget about emotional depth and complexity, and with memorable performances from Luppi and Ron Perlman.
House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
Directed by Rob Zombie
House of 1000 Corpses is a dark comedy slasher horror movie written and directed by Rob Zombie in his directorial debut. House of 1000 Corpses follows a group of teenagers who are on a road trip across the country to write a book about offbeat roadside attractions.
The group learns of the local legend of Dr. Satan, and is led by Captain Spaulding (Sid Haig), the owner of a gas station and horror museum, into a disturbing trap. After taking a hitchhiker named Baby (Sheri Moon Zombie) to her family home, the group is kidnapped by Baby’s psychopathic relatives: the Firefly family.
House of 1000 Corpses is heavily inspired by The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes, and while it does rely on gore a bit too much in some scenes, it’s a great watch for those into slasher, gore, and a 1970s horror vibe with graphic scenes.
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Directed by Halina Reijn
Bodies Bodies Bodies is a black comedy horror movie directed by Halina Reijn. Bodies Bodies Bodies sees a group of friends at a “hurricane party” at the mansion of one of them. There, they play a murder in the dark-style game called “Bodies Bodies Bodies”, but their night takes a turn when one of them is found dead.
What follows are the efforts of the rest to survive the night while trying to figure out who killed their friend, all this while the storm worsens, and they have no power and no way of communicating with the outside world. Bodies Bodies Bodies is as suspenseful as it is funny, with some clever twists and great performances.
The Witch (2015)
Directed by Robert Eggers
The Witch is a folk horror movie written and directed by Robert Eggers in his feature directorial debut. The Witch takes the audience back to New England in the 1630s, and centers on a Puritan family who are being preyed upon by an evil force in the woods, beginning with the kidnapping of their youngest child while under the care of their eldest daughter, Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy).
As they grieve the loss of their child, the family turns upon one another, while Thomasin is suspected of being a witch. The Witch is more of a slow-burning horror movie, so it might not be for everyone, but that pace is key to it building suspense, tension, and making the audience question if Thomasin is innocent or a real witch.
It (217)
Directed by Andy Muschietti
It is a supernatural horror movie directed by Andy Muschietti and an adaptation of Stephen King’s 1986 novel of the same name. Set in 1989, It takes viewers to the fictional town of Derry, Maine, to meet a group of kids self-named “The Losers Club”, who come across an evil, shapeshifting creature they refer to as “It.”
It awakens every 27 years to feed on the fear of its targets, and for that, it takes the shape of its victims’ biggest fears. It’s preferred shape is that of Pennywise the Dancing Clown (Bill Skarsgård), and so it terrorizes the Losers as they come up with a plan to confront and defeat the creature.
It is the first part in a duology, with the sequel, It Chapter Two (also directed by Muschietti), reuniting with the now-adult Losers 27 years later, as they prepare for a final confrontation with Pennywise.
The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
Directed by Rob Zombie
The Devil’s Rejects is a black comedy horror movie written and directed by Rob Zombie and a sequel to House of 1000 Corpses. As such, The Devil’s Rejects reunites viewers with the Firefly family, centering on Baby, Otis (Bill Moseley), and Captain Spaulding. With the three now on the run, they set out on a violent (and graphic) road trip across the desert.
The Devil’s Rejects is as graphic and violent as its predecessor, but it’s a lot better written, developed, and with better performances. To this day, The Devil’s Rejects is Rob Zombie’s best movie, and it got a sequel in 2018 titled 3 From Hell, but it couldn’t match its quality and success.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
The Killing of a Sacred Deer is an absurdist psychological horror thriller directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. The Killing of a Sacred Deer is the story of Steven Murphy (Colin Farrell), a cardiac surgeon who introduces his family to Martin (Barry Keoghan), the teenage son of a man who died when Steven was operating on him.
Soon after, Steven’s family mysteriously begins to fall ill, and it’s all connected to Martin and the “balance” of things. The Killing of a Sacred Deer is as complex as it is suspenseful, disturbing, and a bit confusing at times, with unexpected twists and an ending that will leave viewers wondering if the decisions taken were the right ones.
Midsommar (2019)
Directed by Ari Aster
Midsommar is a folk horror movie written and directed by Ari Aster. Midsommar follows Dani (Florence Pugh), who, after a family tragedy, accompanies her boyfriend and his friends to Sweden, to the town of one of them, to celebrate midsummer. However, once there, they witness some disturbing traditions and find themselves trapped in a cult.
Unlike many horror movies, Midsommar is set during the day, proving that horror stories don’t necessarily live in the darkness. Midsommar has some shocking images, though they are justified, and disturbing twists that make it one of the best horror movies of the 2010s, along with another horror movie by Aster, but more on that in a bit.
Evil Dead Rise (2023)
Directed by Lee Cronin
Evil Dead Rise is a supernatural horror movie written and directed by Lee Cronin, as well as part of the Evil Dead movie series, though not a sequel to Sam Raimi’s trilogy and TV show. As such, Evil Dead Rise follows Beth (Lily Sullivan), who visits her estranged sister Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) and her children: teenagers Danny (Morgan Davies) and Bridget (Gabrielle Echols), and child Kassie (Nell Fisher).
After an earthquake, Danny finds a mysterious book and phonograph records underneath their building’s parking lot, through which he accidentally unleashes the “evil dead”, turning those around them into Deadites. Evil Dead Rise feels claustrophobic, is suspenseful, graphic, and very well written, while staying true to the essence of the Evil Dead franchise.
Get Out (2017)
Directed by Jordan Peele
Get Out is a psychological horror movie written and directed by Jordan Peele in his directorial debut. Get Out follows Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), a Black photographer who goes to meet the family of his white girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams). Once there, he slowly uncovers a disturbing family secret that puts his life at great risk.
Get Out is one of the best horror movies of all time, and has been praised for its concept, writing, direction, performances, and social commentary, covering themes like racism, neoliberalism, identity, and more. Get Out isn’t a movie with jumpscares and supernatural villains, but its antagonists are a lot scarier as they are real people.
