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From Film Festivals to Netflix Hits: The 8 Most Festival-Approved Horror Films
Film
Oct 12
Horror films have long been a staple at film festivals, drawing attention for their ability to explore the darker sides of human experience while providing edge-of-your-seat thrills. But what happens when these critically acclaimed festival favorites make their way from the big screen to the streaming platforms we frequent today? Some become cult classics, others redefine the genre for a new generation. Below are eight horror films that started their journeys in the prestigious festival circuit and later became hits on Netflix, offering spine-tingling terror to a broader audience.
Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook premiered to rave reviews at Sundance, captivating critics with its layered storytelling that intertwined themes of grief and motherhood with unnerving supernatural elements. What set The Babadook apart wasn’t just the scares, but the psychological depth beneath the horror. It soon found a massive audience on Netflix, where viewers were enthralled by the film’s eerie atmosphere and emotional resonance. This blend of emotional and existential terror struck a chord, making it a lasting horror staple.
Why It Stands Out: It’s not just a horror film; it’s a moving exploration of motherhood, loss, and suppressed emotions, wrapped in an unforgettable monster metaphor.
Ari Aster’s debut feature, Hereditary, quickly earned its place in the horror canon after premiering at Sundance. Praised for its disturbing visuals and a harrowing performance by Toni Collette, the film unraveled a family tragedy that spiraled into supernatural horror. Hereditary is deeply unsettling, combining Aster’s masterful control of tone with a narrative that slowly builds to a crescendo of horror. Its success continued on Netflix, where it haunted the nightmares of viewers worldwide.
Why It Stands Out: With its unrelenting atmosphere and shocking twists, Hereditary redefined psychological horror for modern audiences, making grief and trauma just as terrifying as any supernatural threat.
Jordan Peele’s Get Out burst onto the scene at Sundance, instantly lauded for its sharp social commentary and innovative blend of horror and satire. The film delves into themes of race, identity, and cultural appropriation, all while maintaining a gripping, suspenseful narrative. Peele’s use of horror as a vehicle for social critique resonated with audiences long after the credits rolled. Get Out later made its home on Netflix, continuing to provoke thought and fear in equal measure.
Why It Stands Out: Get Out is a game-changer—both a chilling psychological thriller and an incisive commentary on the realities of racism, making it one of the most significant horror films of the decade.
The Witch took audiences at Sundance by surprise with its meticulous attention to historical detail and a slow-burn narrative that relied heavily on atmosphere. Set in 17th-century New England, the film follows a puritan family unraveling under the weight of fear and religious paranoia. Eggers’ debut film became a cult favorite, finding further acclaim on Netflix where its dark, unsettling tone and ambiguous ending kept viewers on edge long after the film ended.
Why It Stands Out: Eggers’ commitment to authenticity, from language to set design, created a deeply immersive horror experience—one where isolation and religious zealotry become as terrifying as any supernatural force.
Premiering at Cannes, It Follows became an instant sensation for its inventive premise: a curse transmitted through sexual encounters, where an unknown entity follows its victims relentlessly. The film’s retro visuals, eerie score, and subtle commentary on teen sexuality and fear made it a standout in the horror genre. It Follows found a new audience on Netflix, where its anxiety-inducing atmosphere and minimalist storytelling continued to captivate horror fans.
Why It Stands Out: It Follows brilliantly plays with horror conventions, subverting expectations and turning the mundane—simply being followed—into something terrifyingly inescapable.
Julia Ducournau’s Raw shocked audiences at Cannes with its visceral, boundary-pushing content. A coming-of-age body horror film about a young vegetarian who develops a taste for human flesh, Raw explores themes of identity, desire, and transformation in ways that left festival-goers talking. It quickly gained a reputation as one of the most daring horror films of recent years. On Netflix, it continued to captivate and disturb viewers with its bold, fearless storytelling.
Why It Stands Out: Raw isn’t just grotesque for the sake of shock—it’s a thoughtful exploration of identity and desire, wrapped in some of the most intense imagery horror cinema has to offer.
Ari Aster’s follow-up to Hereditary, Midsommar, traded in the dark, claustrophobic spaces of traditional horror for the bright, oppressive sunlight of rural Sweden. Premiering at the Florence Korea Film Fest, Midsommar explored themes of grief, toxic relationships, and cultural clashes, all within the framework of a pagan festival that turns increasingly sinister. The juxtaposition of horror and daylight struck a nerve, and it quickly became a Netflix favorite, where its unsettling atmosphere found a devoted audience.
Why It Stands Out: Midsommar upends traditional horror conventions by using light and openness to create discomfort, crafting an experience that’s as beautiful as it is unnerving.
Following his success with The Witch, Robert Eggers returned with The Lighthouse, an atmospheric descent into madness starring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. Shot in stark black and white, the film’s claustrophobic setting and surreal, mythological elements captivated audiences at Cannes. It later became a hit on Netflix, where its exploration of isolation and psychological breakdown resonated with viewers seeking something more cerebral in their horror.
Why It Stands Out: Eggers’ masterful direction, combined with powerhouse performances, turns The Lighthouse into a chilling, almost hallucinatory experience—where the line between reality and madness blurs with every frame.
These festival-approved horror films all began their journeys captivating the film world’s most discerning critics, but their success didn’t end with a round of applause. Each of these movies found new life on Netflix, where their unique blend of fear, emotion, and innovation resonated with a broader audience. From supernatural terror to psychological horror, these films are redefining the genre for the streaming age—proving that great horror isn’t bound by the big screen.
Call to Action: Ready to experience these festival-born nightmares? Queue up these Netflix hits and prepare for a journey into the heart of modern horror.
