If you are like us, then you probably love a good horror movie. Specifically, a movie set in a small coastal village where a supernatural fog is taking over, a suburban neighborhood where the residents are stalked by a masked slasher, or even a remote desert town where you have to fight off subterranean monsters.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of what we feel are the best small-town horror movies that you can stream right now. While some of them are available to stream for free, others require a subscription to a streaming service or a good old-fashioned rental.
The Best Small-Town Horror Movies
30 Days of Night
2007 • 1h 53m
This small town in Alaska is used to dealing with darkness but this year the residents also have to deal with a group of hungry vampires.
30 Days of Night is currently only available to stream with a rental.
Arachnophobia
1990 • 1h 43m
A poisonous spider turns up in a rural town in California, resulting in a string of deaths and causing an arachnophobe to face his fears in an attempt to stop a deadly infestation.
Arachnophobia is available to stream on Hulu (or for free on Tubi).
The Dead Don’t Die
2019 • 1h 43m
After a celestial event causes the dead to rise again, a peaceful town’s police chief and his deputy struggle to keep things under control.
The Dead Don’t Die is available to stream on Netflix.
Eight Legged Freaks
2002 • 1h 39m
A chemical spill in a rural mining town turns hundreds of little spiders into massive spiders overnight, forcing the townspeople to join together to battle against the eight-legged freaks.
Eight Legged Freaks is currently only available to stream with a rental.
The Fog
1980 • 1h 29m
The townspeople of a seaside village are forced to suddenly deal with the ghosts of shipwrecked sailors who have retuned on the 100-year anniversary of their deaths.
The Fog is available to stream on Peacock (or for free on Pluto TV and Plex).
Grabbers
2012 • 1h 34m
Following an invasion by a group of bloodsucking aliens, the inhabitants of a small island realize the only way they can survive is to get very drunk.
Grabbers is available to stream on AMC+ (or for free on The Roku Channel).
Halloween
1978 • 1h 31m
15 years after Michael Myers brutally murdered his 17-year-old sister on Halloween night, Myers returns to his hometown to continue his bloody rampage.
Halloween is available to stream on AMC+ (or for free on Plex).
House of Wax
2005 • 1h 53m
A small group of college students on a road trip find themselves stranded in a small town where art takes on a real-life meaning.
House of Wax is currently only available to stream with a rental.
In the Mouth of Madness
1994 • 1h 35m
When a best-selling author mysteriously vanishes, a special investigator is sent to track him down and ends up in a town that raises more questions than answers.
In the Mouth of Madness is available to stream for free on Tubi and The Roku Channel.
It
2017 • 2h 15m
When an ancient shape-shifting clown threatens the kids of a small town in Maine, seven young outcasts join forces to try and stop their worst nightmare.
It is available to stream on HBO Max.
Jaws
1975 • 2h 10m
When a shark invades a New England tourist town, the inhabitants and tourists of Amity Island quickly discover the beach is now a no-go zone.
Jaws is available to stream on Netflix.
Midsommar
2019 • 2h 28m
While visiting a friend’s rural hometown in Sweden, a couple discover the town’s fabled midsummer festival descends into something more sinister.
Midsommar is available to stream on HBO Max (or for free on Pluto TV, Tubi and The Roku Channel).
The Mist
2007 • 2h 6m
After a powerful storm hits a small town in Maine and the inhabitants go on the search for supplies, they quickly realize the fog contains something dangerous.
The Mist is available to stream on AMC+ and Prime Video (or for free on Xumo Play).
Pet Sematary
2019 • 1h 40m
A family moves to a rural town in Maine and discover that a nearby ancient burial ground is home to a sinister and evil power.
Pet Sematary is available to stream on Paramount+ (or for free on Pluto TV and YouTube).
Salem’s Lot
2024 • 1h 53m
An author returns to his childhood hometown and learns that some of the current residents are hiding a very dark secret.
Salem’s Lot is available to stream on HBO Max.
Scream
1996 • 1h 51m
A masked knife maniac is stalking high-school students in Woodsboro, turning the quiet, pristine California town into a place where no one is safe and everyone is a suspect.
Scream is available to stream on Paramount+ (or for free on Pluto TV and YouTube).
Secret Window
2004 • 1h 36m
A mystery writer recovering from a bitter divorce seeks solace in his remote lake house only to find that a stranger has very different plans for him.
Secret Window is available to stream for free on Pluto TV.
Silent Hill
2006 • 2h 7m
On a long distance trip to a faith healer in an attempt to cure her adopted daughter’s illness, the mother and daughter find themselves trapped in the town of Silent Hill.
Silent Hill is available to stream on Peacock (or for free on Pluto TV).
Sleepy Hollow
1999 • 1h 45m
An investigator in 1799 is sent to the small town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate and stop a string of unexplained deaths.
Sleepy Hollow is available to stream on Paramount+ (or for free on Pluto TV and YouTube).
Summer of 84
2018 • 1h 45m
A teenager begins to suspect his police officer neighbor is a serial killer. Naturally, the teenager and his friends decide to investigate.
Summer of 84 is currently only available to stream with a rental.
The Thing
1982 • 1h 49m
A group of American research scientists in remote Antarctica are suddenly faced with something far more dangerous than the environment.
The Thing is available to stream on AMC+.
Tremors
1990 • 1h 36m
Two repairmen learn the small desert town of Perfection is infested with gigantic man-eating creatures living below the ground.
Tremors is available to stream on AMC+ and Peacock.
Trick ‘r Treat
2007 • 1h 30m
A murderous high school principal, a cruel prank, a coven of predatory werewolves, and a vengeful Halloween spirit are just some of the inhabitants of Warren Valley, Ohio.
Trick ‘r Treat is available to stream on HBO Max.
The Wailing
2016 • 2h 36m
A policeman tries to save his daughter while investigating a series of mysterious killings and illnesses in a remote Korean village.
The Wailing is available to stream for free on Xumo Play.
Werewolves Within
2021 • 1h 37m
After moving to a small town, the new forest ranger is thrust into a situation where he must uncover the truth before more of the local residents turn up dead.
Werewolves Within is available to stream on AMC+ (or for free on Plex and Tubi).
The Wicker Man
1973 • 1h 34m
While searching for a missing girl on a remote Scottish island, a police sergeant’s investigation leads him to a sinister pagan cult.
The Wicker Man is available to stream on Prime Video (or for free on Plex, Pluto TV and Tubi).
Horror Movies on HBO Max, Netflix, Peacock and more
If you don’t want to pay for additional subscriptions but are already subscribed to HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, Paramount+ or Peacock, the guides below cover the best horror movies available to stream on those specific services.
- Best Horror Movies on HBO Max
- Best Horror Movies on Hulu
- Best Horror Movies on Netflix
- Best Horror Movies on Paramount+
- Best Horror Movies on Peacock
It also might be worth considering signing up to a streaming service like Shudder. Unlike other streaming services, Shudder is a dedicated horror service with a subscription unlocking access to a varied library of terror-filled titles.
- Originals
- Classic Horror
- Podcasts
From $7.99/mo
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