Whenever you get a craving for a horror movie, finding the right one can be a challenge. Of course, all the usual suspects come in handy, but their scary selections are often underwhelming.
So, where do you go if you've found yourself bored of Netflix's horror section, having already seen most flicks and having zero interest in seeing the rest?
Amazon Prime Video has a vast library, but most features can cost you and add up in price. So an excellent alternative is YouTube. The platform has many channels offering free and legal horror. Let's look at some of them.
1. Kings of Horror
Kings of Horror offers a glimpse into the world of independent horror. The channel fosters a community for filmmakers and hardened horror fans who enjoy visiting some of the scariest corners of the internet.
You can find a full roster of trailers and full-length movies on this YouTube channel. There are also often scheduled upcoming events for horror flicks, giving you something to wait around for and allowing you to turn it into a big thing. So you can have a movie premiere night, start a virtual watch party with friends and enjoy some indie horror together.
Kings of Horror presents fully legally licensed features, so you're free to enjoy the content guilt-free.
2. Popcornflix
Popcornflix is a pretty well-known movie channel on YouTube and beyond—it also offers a streaming platform and an app.
Though Popcornflix doesn't explicitly focus on horror flicks, you can certainly find some scary features browsing its roster. The YouTube channel has a wide selection of TV shows and full-length films under every genre you can imagine, and content gets uploaded frequently enough to keep the selection fresh.
Popcornflix's channel offers licensed content, making it one of the best YouTube channels for watching free movies and shows legally.
3. Horror Central
The Horror Central channel is one of the best places to watch horror movies online. It offers a ton of full-length features and uploads regularly, so you're unlikely to run out of horror flicks.
The playlist section is excellent and comes in pretty handy if you're feeling up to a binge and crave a specific trope or subgenre of horror. For example, there's a separate playlist called Shark Attacks.
Once you press play, you can relax and enjoy the list of movies where sharks are the big bad. It begins with Sharknado, of course—the campiest of camp horror, but a classic nonetheless. After all, what's wrong with visiting sites to get your dose of cheesy horror from time to time? Everything Horror Central lists is under legal license, so you're clear to consume its content scot-free.
4. Watch Movies Now!
Watch Movies Now! curates horror, thriller, and sci-fi movies for its roster. You can find features that range from half an hour to an hour and a half in length. And the videos are pretty prolific in their genre.
Watch Movies Now! showcases anything from your typical slasher flick to alien horror, found footage, ghostly terror, and more. The channel uploads different scary movies and videos pretty regularly, so you'll never run out of content to watch. Plus, everything you see on the YouTube channel is legal.
5. V Horror
V Horror offers a variety of horror flicks ranging in length. Most films are about an hour and a half but scattered throughout, but you will also find shorter content, too.
The channel's playlist section isn't the best, but it still offers a curated playlist of movies in 4k, as well as one that hosts all of the flicks you can watch in English, which will help you pitch what to watch next.
Everything featured on the V Horror YouTube channel is legal to view, so dive in and explore. Maybe you'll find your next favorite indie horror.
6. FilmIsNow Horror Movies
FilmIsNow Horror Movies provides a vast selection of horror in every style you can imagine, preferring to avoid the blockbuster movies in favor of the back-to-basics kind. The channel offers everything from long movies to short films, so you'll find something you will enjoy in a few clicks.
Going through the FilmIsNow Horror Movies, you can see a ton of ready-made playlists to browse. There are separate playlists to cater to all your moods. You can find Evil Toy, Anthologies, Clowns, Vampires, and Found Footage playlists—whatever your specific mood, you're likely to find a playlist to match it.
The YouTube channel uploads new content regularly, so it's doubtful you'll run out of new features to see.
7. Movie Central
Movie Central doesn't only stick to horror with its features but offers a wide array of movie genres. However, its playlist section is expertly curated, so if you feel like only watching horror flicks, you'll find them easily. Granted, you may not find as many scary movies here as you would on other channels, but it's still a solid option if you don't want to pay for horror streaming services like Shudder or Screambox.
The YouTube channel holds a Halloween playlist with over 200 films on it. And, if you prefer something more specific, you can check out virus outbreak or monster movies. There are also explicit Horror and Thriller playlists you can browse.
The channel's uploads are frequent, and movies tend to last about an hour and a half. Of course, everything on Movie Central is under legal license, so watch away.
Switch Up Your Horror From a Visual to an Auditory Experience
Horror flicks are sometimes just what the doctor ordered. However, if you're looking to switch up your horror routine and spice it up, why not try out a new spooky podcast? Instead of watching horror, why not listen to it?
Put on your headphones, set the atmosphere, and give into your imagination by hearing about of haunted places, paranormal events, and scary fiction inspired by real-life stories. Find the right podcast to feed your fears and give in to the eeriness.
Streaming services aren't going anywhere, so why not try something new and listen to a horror podcast next?