Netflix's catalog of movies is among the best out there, with around 4,000 movies to keep
you entertained at any hour of the day. And among all the comedies and dramas and action
flicks, you'll find a decent showing of some of the weirdest, darkest films ever produced.
So what are some dark, obscure movies you'll find on Netflix that are actually still good?
Let's get started.
Veronica
When Veronica premiered on Netflix, it was touted as a film so scary people couldn't
even finish watching it.
(when your friend changes their Netflix password)
But it's not just creepy curiosity: It's actually a surprisingly good film with some great performances
by some very young actors. The flick follows a teenage girl and her two younger siblings,
relying on them to carry the drama with very little adult support, and they do a great
job. It's an intense ride, featuring that edge-of-your-seat build-up to dread you want
in a good horror movie.
Raw
For a purely visceral, shocking film experience, you can't get much better than 2017's Raw,
a movie that mixes gut-churning violence with a curious coming-of-age story. And it's about
cannibals, so it's got that going for it.
Make no mistake: Raw is not for the faint of heart. It's intensely graphic and pretty
gross at times in its stark refusal to water down the brutal aspects of the subject matter.
When it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, an ambulance had to be called
because a couple moviegoers actually passed out in the theater. If that's not marketing
gold for a horror movie, then nothing is.
In a bizarre twist for a movie so graphic and disturbing, it was also a critical darling.
Critics agree that it's a wonderful story, as long as you view it with some lights on
and with an empty stomach.
Mexico Barbaro
Horror anthologies are usually a mixed bag, with one part that's great, one part that's
terrible, and several in between. So it's always a treat when you find a new one, because
half the fun is discovering where each segment fits into that scale. That's part of the fun
of Mexico Barbaro, a horror anthology that delves into Mexican folklore and doesn't spare
on the full throttle, over-the-top darkness.
Featuring eight different short stories from eight different directors, this Spanish-language
movie is a trip from the get-go. It's not light, happy fare, so you'll need to be prepared
to see some things you've probably never seen on film before, and maybe a few things you
never wanted to see.
The Wailing
From South Korea, 2016's The Wailing is not just an excellent horror film, it's an excellent
film in general. This movie has been nearly universally praised for its engaging story
and performances while at the same time being pretty dark.
Packed to the gills with religious allegory, the story centers on a small-town-evil and
is told as a police mystery, so it has some good crossover appeal even if you're not a
fan of straight horror. And while it does have its share of blood and gore, it's not
over-the-top like some dark horror movies that can turn people away.
The Invitation
If you've ever found yourself feeling anxious in social situations, then The Invitation
just might be the film for you. With its setup of a simple dinner party invite that slowly
degrades into something much more sinister, this is the perfect dark and twisted tale
for anyone who'd rather stay home than deal with other people.
This critical favorite pushes the envelope on cinematic tension straight from the start.
Everything is just slightly off enough to give you that ominous sense of dread about
what's yet to come.
"You think we're crazy?"
"That's the thing I never said that."
"That's okay. I'm not offended. A lot of people think we're crazy."
A real claustrophobic vibe settles over the whole movie, mostly set in a single home where
escape isn't entirely an option.
Cube
If you're a fan of science fiction and you haven't seen the low-budget 1997 Canadian
film Cube, you absolutely need to add it to your list. A triumph of minimalist style stretched
to the very limits, Cube has a ton of surprises in store for a first-time viewer.
"Stop! In front of you!"
Imagine waking up in the most bizarre prison
ever, surrounded by total strangers and beset by dangerous puzzles. That's Cube at its core.
The film is an attempt to solve those puzzles while simultaneously showing you just how
many ways you can torture a group of people inside a box.
The Void
This Canadian film may have been released in 2016, but it features the kind of horror
that takes you back to the classic days of David Cronenberg and John Carpenter. It features
practical, gross effects in a body-horror nightmare world that's confined mostly to
one lonely, creepy hospital.
"Mmm-maybe we can barricade the doors or get out some other way."
The Void was well received by critics and audiences alike, but you'll appreciate the
movie even more if you're a fan of old school practical effects. The movie gives you everything
a fan of '80s horror could want, from crazy cults to freaky monstrosities.
Train to Busan
Another entry from Korea, Train to Busan breathed new life into the zombie genre with a film
widely lauded by critics and audiences alike. It's hard to keep a zombie movie fresh, but
Train to Busan does it and actually makes you care about the characters at the same
time, instead of patiently waiting for them to get eaten. Don't worry, though. Lots of
people get eaten.
The real strength in Train to Busan comes from the layered and believable performances.
You're right there with these people; it's just unfortunate they're all on the brink
of being eaten.
The Bar
Straight from Spain comes The Bar, a film that adds a dark comedy edge to a paranoid
nightmare. The Bar puts you right alongside the confused patrons of a Spanish restaurant
fearing for their lives, and draws from some classics of the genre that keep you guessing.
Is it a zombie apocalypse? A violent criminal? The breakdown of society as we know it? It's
hard to say, but it's clear you don't want to go outside to find out.
There's a real intensity to The Bar, potentially due to the fact that the director is a former
comic book artist with an eye for packing each frame with energy. It also makes great
use of limited space, the entire movie is split between basically three locations that
are all cramped and uncomfortable, if not downright gross. That and a decent dose of
intense paranoia should be enough to keep you interested until the end of the movie.
Creep
Another critical favorite, Creep i s a master class in making you feel uncomfortable thanks
to the unhinged performance of actor-slash-writer Mark Duplass. The title of this movie isn't
a random word pulled from a hat, it's completely on the money describing the film's antagonist.
"Death, it's coming."
While a lot of movies in the horror genre rely solely on terrifying imagery, Creep builds
up its character with awkward, cringe-inducing weirdness. You feel uncomfortable watching
this guy, and it just gets worse as the film progresses.
You know you're watching a horror movie and have to expect the worst, but the journey
there is what sets Creep apart. This is the kind of guy you fear ever meeting in real
life because, unlike a Jason or a Leatherface, this guy seems real.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to keep doing that."
"Come on, let's go."
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