Five scary haunted house horror movies to stream this week

‘Tis the time of year to draw inspiration from all things Halloween, and haunted houses are a staple of the holiday. And with good reason, because few things are as inherently frightening as an intrusion into the very place where you should feel safest: your home.

Dealing with a paranormal presence isn’t quite as easy as dealing with masked maniacs or a more tangible threat. It is often the fear of the unknown that creates the most nerve-wracking anxiety, and a haunted house is full of unknowns. This week’s streaming selection is dedicated to one of horror’s most fundamental subgenres: the haunted house film.

These five titles range from classic haunted house fare to modern horror films that reimagine what a haunted house can be. All aim to instill maximum fear, perfect for this Halloween season.

You can stream it this week here.

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The changeling – AMC+, Fandango at Home, Midnight Pulp, Peacock, SCREAMBOX, Shudder, Tubi

George C. Scott stars in this groundbreaking horror classic as a music professor trying to make a fresh start after the deaths of his wife and child. He moves to Seattle and moves into a historic Victorian mansion with plans to work on his music, but he immediately experiences strange phenomena. As the paranormal activity increases, he finds himself drawn into a decades-long mystery surrounding a child. The changeling is a quiet chiller based on a fantastic lead role and a fascinating crime thriller. Above all, it’s full of terrible and scary moments – no other horror film will make you as afraid of bouncing balls as this one.

The darkness and evil – AMC+, Hoopla, Shudder

Bryan Bertino, a filmmaker known for gritty horror, creates unrelenting horror and evil in the vacuum of loss. His latest work is full of crushing fear, disturbing images and a haunting atmosphere. Siblings Louise (Marin Ireland) and Michael (Michael Abbott Jr.) return to their childhood home to say a final goodbye to their dying father, much to their mother’s disappointment. She had warned them not to come, and it didn’t take long for her to figure out why; An evil presence has taken up residence on the family’s rural land and wants them all. Whether the house is haunted or the family itself is irrelevant when it comes to this fleeting, frightening and nihilistic viewing experience. Bertino takes no prisoners with his vision of haunted house horror.

The deep house – Prime Video, MGM+

Urban explorer Ben (James Jagger) drags his girlfriend Tina (Camille Rowe) on his latest adventure in search of a legendary house preserved at the bottom of a lake. They find it with the help of a local, but also find themselves in a race against time when they become trapped inside. Oxygen levels aren’t the only problem. The underwater house is haunted. Inside Directors Alexandre Bustillo And Julien MauryThe latest version may not delve as deeply into the narrative, but its commitment to practice makes for an eerie, atmospheric and exciting new twist on the haunted house. It’s equal parts creepy and otherworldly.

The orphanage – Paramount+

What a debut from director JA Bayona (A monster is calling, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom). As an adult, Laura moves back to the closed orphanage where she grew up, with plans to reopen it as a center for disabled children. But when her HIV-positive son learns that he was adopted and soon disappears, strange things begin to happen in the sprawling orphanage. Laura’s former childhood friends may have never left. The orphanage is haunting, moving and takes a few unexpected plot twists. Horror children are scary, but child ghosts? Even scarier. However, make sure you have tissues ready for this.

The Guardian – Netflix

Shockingly, sometimes you choose the perfect home for yourself. The desire to strike out on her own drives Allison Parker to live in a beautiful brownstone that has been converted into apartments in Brooklyn. It’s a fantastic property, but the place is full of bizarre neighbors and strange activity. Allison is soon haunted by memories and unwanted visitors, and shortly afterwards she realizes that the house has chosen it this way her. Religious horror collides with haunted house fare in an unusual way. The haunted house tropes are there, but it’s Catholicism, sin, and a gateway to hell that create an oppressive sense of doom and make this haunted house story special. The star cast includes Ava Gardner and Burgess Meredith.