Horror films frequently have a terrible rap. Horror movie fans often know better than to judge a movie based just on its critical reception, as many critics at once scoffed at horror films that are now regarded as masterpieces, such John Carpenter’s The Thing.
However, both critics and audiences tend to concur that some of Netflix’s original horror programming is really underwhelming. Although everyone has their own definition of beauty, there are some truly awful horror films available on Netflix. The Rotten Tomatoes scores of the worst horror films available on Netflix are all extremely low.
It’s always exciting to see what new original horror films Netflix will be releasing, but some of the worst horror films on Netflix feature cliched themes and uninteresting characters. The worst Netflix horror films include a remake of a well-known slasher series and a Stephen King short story adaption. Fans and critics agree that the lowest-rated horror films on Netflix aren’t the most exciting in the genre, as seen by their low Rotten Tomatoes scores (less than 40%).
Cadaver (2020) – 33%
A desperate couple brings their daughter to a dinner theatre performance in the aftermath of a nuclear war, but things go tragically wrong when it turns out that the hosts are vicious cannibals. Although Cadaver attempts to be a smart metaphor, it is hampered by plot devices and strange narrative decisions.
Cadaver, one of the few foreign horror movies available on Netflix, has some interesting moments but falls short of delivering on its promises of societal satire and expertly-crafted horrors. It undoubtedly rates among the worst horror films of 2020.
Choose Or Die (2022) – 30%
Friends Isaac and Kayla discover that playing a video game might kill individuals while they are going through difficult times in the 2022 horror film Choose Or Die, which is available on Netflix. The information Kayla learns about this game completely alters the way she previously perceived the world.
The film has a compelling premise, but it’s also a little unclear and complex, which may account for its low 30% Rotten Tomatoes score. When compared to other slasher horror movies, the movie doesn’t hold up on its own. Choose Or Die isn’t as entertaining as the premise suggests, however Kayla and Isaac certainly appear terrified throughout.
Death Note (2017) – 37%
2017’s Death Note, an adaptation of the well-known anime series, tells the story of a man who acquires a book that has the power to kill anyone whose name is written in it. The Netflix movie reduces what should be a scholarly and intricate investigation of justice, power, and criminality into ineptitude.
The live-action adaptation seems satisfied to be nothing more than a subpar thriller, despite the source material being heavy, grim, and compelling. It is a Netflix anime adaptation that fails to grasp the charm of its original, along with Cowboy Bebop from 2021.
Ghost Lab (2021) – 29%
Ghost Lab, a Thai horror film from 2021, has the atmosphere of a passion project gone wrong. It starts out with a decently intriguing premise: after witnessing something during the night shift, two hospital personnel are motivated to present scientific proof of the paranormal. The plot, tone, and presentation, however, all come across as far too erratic and untested.
Ghost Lab will have spectators scrambling to keep up as it shifts from a jump-scare-filled fright fest to an odd comedy at the drop of a hat, and most Netflix customers are probably not willing to become that invested in a movie that only managed a 29% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
In The Tall Grass (2019) – 39%
Stephen King and his son Joe Hill worked together to adapt the 2012 novella of the same name into the film In The Tall Grass. A number of individuals are led into a weedy field in The Tall Grass only to find themselves trapped there by a sinister force.
In The Tall Grass overstays its welcome and extends its flimsy plot to the point of silliness. Its idea is reminiscent of earlier King works like Children of the Korn and 1922 (another horror film on Netflix). “This was a superb short film stretched out and padded to become a dreary full length thriller,” writes critic Allan Allmacher of The MacGuffin.
Rattlesnake (2019) – 30%
Unknowingly striking a contract with the devil to protect her child from a rattlesnake bite forces the mother to sacrifice another person in order to pay back the debt. Rattlesnake from 2019 has an intriguing idea, but it ultimately feels like a collection of chic images of a desolate desolation. It is not among the top horror films of 2019.
Rattlesnake’s plot doesn’t appear substantial enough to support a full-length movie, similar to In The Tall Grass. It is essentially a short story that has been tediously extended to the hour-and-a-half mark, and it is all the worse for it.
Secret Obsession (2019) – 28%
The wife of an amnesic quickly realises that nothing is as it seems and that the man claiming to be her husband isn’t the sweet and caring person he first seemed to be.
Lila and Melody, two siblings who travel to Harlow, Texas in the slasher series The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’s 2022 revival, are attacked by Leatherface. The action of the narrative occurs many years after the infamous villain starts his rampage in 1973.
While many horror fans weren’t very satisfied with the movie, they were eager to see what would happen next in the franchise. Particularly the finish is unsettling since a significant event occurs at the very last second and it doesn’t seem like this is how it should have ended. With both critics and fans, the remake soon dropped to the bottom of the franchise’s entries.
The Cloverfield Paradox (2018) – 22%
In 2016, 10 Cloverfield Lane won accolades for its spooky intensity brought on by John Goodman in a part that was completely out of his comfort zone. After making its Netflix debut, The Cloverfield Paradox, its fictitious sequel from 2018, was all but forgotten.
The Cloverfield anthology is expanded upon, and an intriguing cosmic terror premise is established, but the movie spends too much time explaining everything. The Cloverfield Paradox, which tries to imitate interplanetary horror epics like Alien or Event Horizon, is hindered by its tell-don’t-show style of narration.
The Open House (2018) – 13%
After the passing of her husband, a mother and her son attempt to sell the family house, but odd events happen to them. They must take every precaution to fend off a supernatural presence and make sure the house sells while also avoiding persistent harassment from a figure wearing black garments.
The Open House is overly predictable and formulaic, taking no risks, and plodding along, content in the knowledge that no horror fan will ever find it frightening in the slightest. It feels less like a horror movie and more like a History Channel dramatisation of a family’s real-life paranormal encounter.
If that idea seems similar, it’s because The Silence is essentially a direct copy of the previous year’s A Quiet Place. Unfortunately, this movie lacks the suspense and fear that were in the movie that probably served as its inspiration.
Things Heard & Seen (2021) – 39%
Catherine Claire finds evil entities prowling around the former farms the two have bought when she and her husband relocate to the little town of Chosen, New York. Things Heard & Seen, which is equal parts ghost story and domestic drama, is unable to innovate on its tired concept.
The film’s utmost banality, in the opinion of critics, appears to be its biggest sin. The power to frighten, disturb, or otherwise challenge the audience is the mark of a great horror film, yet Things Heard & Seen only seems to be able to induce yawns.
