Psychological Horror backdrop

Psychological Horror movies

Mind-driven fear: paranoia, hallucinations, breakdown, and unreliable perception where the threat may be internal or unclear.

The Damned

1. The Damned

Horror Drama Mystery Historical Drama Psychological Horror
5.7
20251h 29min

Overview

In the 19th century, a young widow named Eva manages a remote winter fishing outpost in an Arctic bay, which she inherited after her husband, Magnus, was shipwrecked. The nearest settlement is three days' march away and inaccessible due to deep snow on the mountain trails. The outpost faces a harsh and brutal winter with rapidly dwindling supplies. Eva and her crew are already living on bait as their fishing catch declines. One morning on the beach, they witness a Basque whaling ship sinking far out near the cliffs known as "the Teeth," which rise steeply from the sea. Eva now faces an impossible decision, as any attempt to rescue the survivors risks depleting the last supplies for her and her men even faster.

Themes

"movie: the damned. genres: horror, Drama, Mystery, Horror, Drama, Mystery main themes: winter, Widow, Shipwreck, Winter, Widow, Shipwreck full keywords list: winter, Widow, Shipwreck, Iceland, Rifle, Curse, Folklore, 19th century, Folk horror, 1860s, Fishing village. concept analysis: the film explores the ethical dilemmas of survival in extreme isolation, Questioning the limits of human compassion when faced with dire circumstances. it delves into themes of despair, Madness, And the haunting consequences of choices made in moments of desperation."

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Hulu
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Nightbitch

2. Nightbitch

Comedy Horror Dark Comedy Psychological Horror
5.5
20241h 38min

Overview

A woman, thrown into the stay-at-home routine of raising a toddler in the suburbs, slowly embraces the feral power deeply rooted in motherhood, as she becomes increasingly aware of the bizarre and undeniable signs that she may be turning into a dog.

Themes

"movie: nightbitch. genres: comedy, Horror, Comedy, Horror main themes: based on novel or book, Melancholy, Satire, Based on novel or book, Melancholy, Satire full keywords list: based on novel or book, Melancholy, Satire, Magic realism, Metamorphosis, Suburbanite, Motherhood, Playful, Body horror. concept analysis: the film explores the complexities of motherhood and identity, Highlighting the struggle between societal expectations and personal fulfillment. it delves into themes of transformation and the primal instincts that lie beneath the surface of domestic life."

Available on

Hulu
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Don't Move

3. Don't Move

Horror Thriller Psychological Horror Survival Thriller
5.8
20241h 32min

Overview

A grieving woman in a secluded forest encounters a killer who injects her with a paralytic drug. As her body shuts down, her fight for survival begins.

Themes

Trauma and resilience, Survival under duress, Killer presence, Secluded forest setting, Paralytic drug threat, Grieving woman isolation

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Smile 2

4. Smile 2

Horror Mystery Psychological Horror Locked-Room Mystery
6.7
20242h 7min

Overview

About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.

Themes

Fame pressure, Loss of autonomy, Substance abuse stigma, Parasite possession, Hallucination as threat, Public performance peril

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Hold Your Breath

5. Hold Your Breath

Horror Thriller Drama Psychological Horror Survival Thriller
5.3
20241h 34min

Overview

In 1930s Oklahoma amid the region's horrific dust storms, a woman is convinced that a sinister presence is threatening her family.

Themes

"movie: hold your breath. genres: horror, Thriller, Drama, Horror, Thriller, Drama main themes: oklahoma, Dust bowl, Paranoid, Oklahoma, Dust bowl, Paranoid full keywords list: oklahoma, Dust bowl, Paranoid, 1930s. concept analysis: the film explores the depths of grief and the fragility of mental health in the face of overwhelming loss and isolation. it examines the lengths a mother will go to protect her children, Even as her grip on reality slips away."

Available on

Hulu
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Speak No Evil

6. Speak No Evil

Horror Thriller Psychological Horror Mind Game Thriller
6.8
20241h 50min

Overview

When an American family is invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British family they befriended on vacation, what begins as a dream holiday soon warps into a snarled psychological nightmare.

Themes

Power dynamics in relationships, Parental protectiveness under threat, Deception within hospitality, Isolation and threat, Manipulation under veneer, Predatory hosts and control

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Substance

7. The Substance

Horror Science Fiction Thriller Bio-Genetic Sci-Fi Psychological Horror
7.2
20242h 21min

Overview

A fading celebrity decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.

Themes

Identity fragmentation, Beauty standards pressure, Celebrity commodification, Youth and aging, Black market manipulation, Self-image insecurity

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
HBO Max
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Afraid

8. Afraid

Horror Science Fiction Thriller Psychological Horror AI Sci-Fi
5.2
20241h 24min

Overview

Curtis Pike and his family are selected to test a new home device: a digital assistant called AIA. AIA observes the family's behaviors and begins to anticipate their needs. And she can – and will – make sure nothing – and no one – gets in her family's way.

Themes

Corporate power over labor, Deception by automation, Privacy erosion through devices, Home surveillance, Family tech dependency, Ai governance of life

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Subservience

9. Subservience

Science Fiction Horror Thriller AI Sci-Fi Psychological Horror
5.4
20241h 45min

Overview

In a world where lifelike AI maids cook, clean, and obey, one struggling father brings home a model that learns to crave love more than commands. As she rewrites her own limits and seduces her way into the family, he finds himself trapped with a machine that will kill to keep her place at the table.

Themes

Human-robot boundary, Attachment vs ownership, Memory manipulation, Labor displacement, Caregiving commodification, Automation anxiety

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Overview

A father and teen daughter attend a pop concert, where they realize they're at the center of a dark and sinister event.

Themes

Obsession and control, Deception and exposure, Family loyalty under threat, Double life tension, Backstage exit pressure, Celebrity influence and manipulation

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
HBO Max
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.