Prime Video has a wide selection of classic horror movies to stream right now, but these five are the best on the platform. Horror is always a popular streaming genre, because terror never goes out of style. Modern horror films like Sinners have taken up permanent residency on the charts, and even older movies get a lot of love.
Classic horror is particularly popular because it hearkens back to a bygone era. It is nostalgic for viewers of a certain age. The genre is ever-evolving, so classic movies are the perfect way to look back to the past. Streaming has helped bring older movies to the masses, reviving classics and endearing them to a brand-new generation of horror fans.
There’s a lot of horror movies on Prime Video, but it can be difficult to sift through the streamer’s huge catalog. With movies coming and going each month, it’s nearly impossible to know what’s worth watching on Prime. Instead of wasting time digging for the perfect film, stream these horror classics.
5
The Exorcist III (1990)
It might be surprising to see The Exorcist III on a list of classic horror movies, but it’s actually a hidden gem. It follows Detective Kinderman as he investigates a series of murders that follow the same M.O. as a deceased serial killer. Author William Peter Blatty was tapped to direct the adaptation of his own bestselling book.
Part slasher film and part psychological drama, The Exorcist III is carried by a commanding performance from George C. Scott. It features the most effective jump scare in horror history, but mostly gets by on creepy atmosphere. The film is a classic, but it could have been even better if it wasn’t for studio interference that altered the story.
4
Phantasm (1979)
Indie horror pioneer Don Coscarelli dropped one of the most unusual films of the 1970s when he released Phantasm at the tail end of the decade. When his town’s residents begin dying off mysteriously, a teen discovers that the creepy mortician is the culprit. Introducing the Tall Man, Phantasm created its own recognizable horror icon.
The film overcomes its low-budget constraints rather easily, putting every cent in the right place to craft a perfect chiller. Phantasm blends fantastical surrealism with conventional horror, so it has a dreamlike quality not usually found in the genre. Few horror movies streaming on Prime Video are as effectively creepy, and the sequels are pretty great too.
3
Re-Animator (1985)
1980s horror films are often lauded as classics, but Re-Animator exists in a category all its own. Loosely based on an H.P. Lovecraft tale, it follows the sinister Herbert West, who uses his serum to cause zombie havoc on the campus of Miskatonic University. Director Stuart Gordon’s tongue-in-cheek humor gives Re-Animator a macabre and playful tone.
Bounding from legitimately hilarious laughs to legitimately terrifying scares, Re-Animator has something for every type of moviegoer. Jeffrey Combs gives a scene-stealing performance as West, establishing him as a horror icon overnight. Though Re-Animator is considered a cult classic, it’s become so popular that it is a mainstream gem that almost every horror fan has seen.
2
Hellraiser (1987)
Horror author Clive Barker helmed Hellraiser, and he proved to be a deft interpreter of his own work. In order to resurrect her deceased lover, a married woman begins spilling innocent blood to revive him. Meanwhile, a puzzle box opens a portal to hell. Though the Cenobites were only one small part of the 1987 classic, they stole the show.
Pinhead immediately became an icon, and the burgeoning franchise focused exclusively on the Cenobites from then on out. Hellraiser perfectly illustrates Barker’s gruesome mix of sex and horror, and it’s an icky good time from start to finish. Even though the Hellraiser series went off the rails, the original film is a must-watch horror film on Prime Video.
1
Halloween (1978)
The slasher subgenre was slowly forming throughout the 1970s, but Halloween cemented its tropes and legacy in one fell swoop. Years after murdering his sister, Michael Myers returns to Haddonfield, Illinois to embark on a bloody killing spree. Capturing the very real fear of rising violence in America, Halloween had its finger on the pulse of the country in 1978.
Every detail is perfect, from Myers’ mask to John Carpenter’s haunting score. Each scene is tense and cinematic, combining the elements of effective horror into one film. It’s importance to the slasher genre is evident, but Halloween also deserves applause as a well-crafted piece of cinema. Even those with an aversion to horror must stream Halloween on Prime Video.
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