Raw, The Perfection, and the 12 most disturbing horror movies on Netflix right now

With Halloween coming up, many of us are seeking out scary movies to get us into the spirit of the holiday. There are plenty of horror movies on Netflix, but what about disturbing horror movies on Netflix? I’m talking about films like Saw, Hostel, Raw, and even The Human Centipede.

Depending on your interests, the streamer has a surprisingly wide range of horror subcategories. Several unsettling and disturbing horror movies on Netflix might make you feel a little nauseous. You can always watch a palette cleanser afterward with something more lighthearted.

For those who want to get challenged with some a bit sick and twisted, the following list highlights some of the most disturbing horror movies on Netflix right now. And no, The Human Centipede isn’t on Netflix right now, but you can watch it over on AMC+, and the 2017 Spanish film Skins is on Netflix and might be a good match for you if you’re looking for a similar type of body horror.

Most disturbing horror movies on Netflix

Raw (2016)

What happens when you force a lifelong vegetarian to eat meat? In the case of the 2016 French horror film Raw, you unlock a secret cannibalistic desire. Veterinarian student Justine (Garance Marillier) finds herself over her head during a hazing ritual where she has to eat raw rabbit kidneys. This decision has a drastic effect on her body, physically and mentally.

At first, it looks like Justine’s nasty rash will be the extent of it…until her cravings begin. Raw is an excellent movie and a unique, disturbing coming-of-age story, but it might make you queasy. Raw is not a Netflix film, so if you plan to watch it, I would do it soon, in case it leaves the service someday.

The Ritual (2017)

Some might disagree with me categorizing The Ritual as “disturbing” since it’s more of a conventional horror film/creature feature. But The Ritual got under my skin. The creature design alone is haunting and genuinely the stuff of nightmares.

Based on the book of the same name by Adam Nevill, The Ritual follows a group of friends on a hike through Sweden. They stumble upon the hunting grounds of an ancient evil entity that begins stalking them through the woods.

Two (2021)

Two is a strange little Spanish thriller that debuted on Netflix in 2021 and mostly flew under the radar. While it’s not the best movie, it certainly fits the bill if you’re looking for something disturbing, especially if you like body horror. The premise is two strangers wake up one morning and discover that someone has sewn their abdomens together. It only gets weirder from there.

Apostle (2018)

Apostle is a religious folk horror film directed by Gareth Evans and starring Dan Stevens, Lucy Boynton, Michael Sheen, and Paul Higgins. I don’t know about you, but that sentence alone is more than enough to make me want to watch the movie.

Stevens plays a Welsh traveler trying to save his sister from a creepy, secluded island where a mysterious cult has kidnapped her. Tunnels of blood, incest, horrific torture, and much more are all present in this scary, underrated movie. If you’re looking for something similar to Midsommar or The Wicker Man, then Apostle should fit the bill.

The Perfection (2018)

The Perfection is one of my favorite movies on Netflix. Allison Williams and Logan Browning play students at a prestigious music school who are pitted against each other by the head of the academy, Anton. Nothing you see in this movie is what it initially appears to be, as The Perfection is consistent in its desire to subvert audience expectations. It’s full of wild, unexpected twists and some truly stomach-churning sequences.

The Platform (2019)

The concept of The Platform alone is enough to earn it a spot on this list. This Spanish thriller envisions a world where prisoners inhabit vertical cells. Each day, a moving platform filled with food slowly descends through the levels, meaning those on the lower levels might not have any food left at all if the people on top don’t leave leftovers behind.

Skins (2017)

Another Spanish movie, Skins, is a disturbing dramatic movie ideal for those who like body horror. It’s not really a horror movie, it’s actually a drama, but its concepts and sequences are plenty unnerving.

The film follows a few different characters, each one dealing with a deformity as they try to find someone who accepts them as they are. One memorable sequence features a woman with an anus for a mouth and a mouth for an anus if you need an idea of what this movie is like.

The Green Inferno (2013)

It’s a cannibal horror movie by Eli Roth; that’s pretty much the only descriptor you need! Personally, I’m not a big fan of this film, but there are a lot of people who like it. At least, if you want to watch some disturbing horror movies, then a film where someone gets eaten alive is probably a good place to start. Like some other films on this list, The Green Inferno is not a Netflix production, so watch it before it’s gone.

Clinical (2017)

Clinical is a psychological horror film, and it’s best if you go into this movie blind, as in, don’t read the synopsis or watch the trailer if you can avoid it. All you need to know about the movie is that it follows a psychiatrist dealing with PTSD after a violent altercation with a former patient.

Creep (2014)

Creep is a little different from some of the other films on this list in that it isn’t super gory or gross. However, when sh*t goes down, it still packs a powerful punch. The 2014 movie is a found-footage psychological horror flick starring Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice.

It’s very understated, but the way this film builds tension is excellent, and Duplass is incredible in this role. The sequel is just as good, if not better, and a third film is in the works. Both Creep and Creep 2 are streaming on Netflix right now.

Hostel Part III (2011)

There is a lot to be sad about the Hostel series, the first one is most memorable for that damn eyeball scene (or the Achilles tendon one), and then most people forgot about the two follow-ups. As for me, I genuinely like Hostel: Part II, and I didn’t enjoy the first one. Unfortunately, Netflix doesn’t have the first or second movie streaming, so you’re stuck with the third, which most agree is the worst.

Eli Roth wasn’t involved with the third; it was a straight-to-DVD production. However, this should do the trick in a pinch if you want to watch something freaky and gross. Like all the Hostel movies, this one has plenty of violence, although none of the scenes are as visceral as the eyeball scene in Hostel or the literal blood bath in Hostel: Part II.

No One Gets Out Alive (2021)

No One Gets Out Alive is another horror movie based on an Adam Nevill novel, and this one also has incredible creature designs. The movie’s ending is one of the craziest and most unexpected I’ve seen when it comes to Netflix films and horror in general. An undocumented immigrant moves into a boardinghouse and begins hearing strange things at night, leading her to a horrifying discovery.

Which of these disturbing horror movies have you seen? Are there any other horror movies on Netflix that freaked you out or left you feeling a little sick?