5 scary modern horror to watch on Netflix this week (January 8, 2024)

The start of a new year is a great time to watch some outstanding horror on Netflix. The streamer offers a wide range of horror movies and shows giving viewers great options within the genre. This week we are watching some amazing modern horror; check out the list below.

Netflix has a long list of new releases in January, including Dan Levy's Good Grief, the Spanish drama Society of Snow and Lift, a new Kevin Hart movie, and much more.

New horror releases on January 1 include Annabelle, Dawn of the Dead, The First Purge, and The Purge: Election Year.

Modern horror to watch this week on Netflix

Modern horror is a sub-genre that put aside the traditional monsters and slashers and introduced elements of other genres, such as sci-fi, drama, and comedy, creating a new type of horror. This category features new scares, unexpected twists, and open-ended conclusions and can also take viewers on a psychological journey of fear.

Silent Hill (2006)

Silent Hill is a supernatural horror written by Roger Avary, known for his work on Pulp Fiction, and directed by Christophe Gans, who specializes in horror and fantasy films. Introduced in 2006, the film is based on the Silent Hill video game series and tells of a mother and daughter who travel to the town of Silent Hill after her daughter begins crying out the town's name in her sleep. After a car crash, her daughter comes up missing, and her search within the town of Silent Hill uncovers something dark and nightmarish. This film series has a sequel, Silent Hill: Revelation, and another installment, Return to Silent Hill, is currently in production.

The First Purge (2018)

The dystopian horror franchise, The Purge, consists of five films and a series that presents a crime-free, although dystopian, America set in the near future. But there is a catch: each year, "The Purge" is held, a 12-hour event where all crimes, including murder, are decriminalized. Netflix recently added The First Purge, the fourth installment that is a prequel to the previous movies and sees a new political party come to power. This story tells of the origins of the annual event, which is initially confined to Staten Island, with participants receiving a hefty payout for participation. Netflix also offers the third film, The Purge: Election Year.

The Strangers (2008)

One of the best psychological horror films is Bryan Bertino's The Strangers (2008). The story follows an average American couple, played by Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman, who, during a stay at a vacation home, are terrorized by three masked strangers. The movie is suspenseful and focuses on psychological torment as opposed to blood and gore. Since its release, the film has become a cult classic with a sequel, The Strangers: Prey at Night, released in 2018, and a trilogy of films to follow.

Annabelle (2014)

Inspired by the true story of a possessed doll by paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, featured in The Conjuring. Annabelle tells of the beginnings of the doll before the Warrens come in contact with it when a husband gifts it to his wife, which then becomes a conduit for an entity capable of unspeakable evil. This film is the second of The Conjuring universe, which has a prequel, Annabelle: Creation and Annabelle Comes Home, and is tied to the other movies.

Lights Out (2016)

Lights Out is another fantastic supernatural horror that is the directorial debut of David F. Sandberg, who also directed Annabelle: Creation, part of The Conjuring Universe. Based on Sandberg's same-titled horror short, this movie features an entity only visible when the lights are out. A woman must protect her younger stepbrother from a force that has haunted her family in the past. The movie will give viewers chills during this fright-filled battle against a supernatural being.

Be sure to check out the above titles and more in Netflix's long list of modern horror.