Even though it's the festive Christmas season, horror fans aren't entirely captivated by Santa Claus movies, rom-coms, and comedies set in idyllic mountain villages: here are five dark, psychologically challenging, and tremendously unsettling Netflix films.
The Devil on Trial
This isn't a film but a documentary, and that's precisely what makes it terrifying. This time, the terrible phrase "based on a true story" hits like a punch in the face, especially when those who lived through it tell the story, even indirectly. In 1981, Arne Cheyenne Johnson committed a murder: his defense followed a line never before attempted. According to his lawyer, Johnson was not conscious at the time of the events, but rather possessed. The documentary reconstructs the case through footage, recordings, and testimonies, and investigates the hypothesis of possession. Critics preferred a more rational approach, but emotionally, it remains terrifying. If you prefer a more fictionalized version, the story of Arne Cheyenne Johnson is told in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, as it was followed at the time by the Warrens.
His House
With His House, Remi Weekes makes his directorial debut, bringing to the screen a story of (attempted) integration seasoned with a lot, a lot of horror. Rial and Bol are two Sudanese immigrants who, after a loss, are seeking a new life in the United Kingdom: they are given a house where they can stay, provided they follow the rules. It seems like a new beginning, if it weren't for the strange events that begin to threaten their attempt to start over. Here, the haunted house cliché takes a completely new turn. According to Rotten Tomatoes, His House is the best Netflix horror film!
Sister Death
An ambitious horror film that uses the supernatural to tell the story of the cruelty of war and injustice. Sister Death is the prequel to Veronica: set in Spain in 1939, Paco Plaza's film tells the origins of the elderly Sister Death, who belongs to the director's mythology. Narcisa is a young woman with supernatural powers, famous as a child for being able to communicate with the Virgin Mary. As she grows up, the visions disappear, fueling doubt and questioning her vocation. Despite her inner conflicts, Narcisa becomes a novice: her task will be to teach in a monastery. But it seems that something unholy has taken root in God's house...
The Ritual
What could go wrong when a group of friends goes on a mountain trip? Everything, of course: the reason that drives them to the Swedish woods is not a good omen. The protagonists are there to pay homage to a friend who died in violent circumstances. Against the evocative backdrop of the Scandinavian mountains, the group will begin to be threatened by strange presences as they get closer and closer to a terrifying ritual. The strong point of David Bruckner's film? The characters feel "real".
Fear Street
The Fear Street trilogy is a mix of slasher and supernatural horror and is divided into three time periods: 1994, 1978, and 1966, delving into the origins of the curse that has afflicted the town of Shadyside. An evil force leaves an indelible trail of blood in the collective memory and in a group of teenagers who fight in an increasingly macabre way for survival. Trust us, there will be no shortage of blood. The influences of slashers like Scream and Friday the 13th are present but do not overshadow the original product. And if you've already seen it... Don't miss the school dance: Fear Street Prom Queen is on Netflix.