7 new horror movies for November 2023 on Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus and more
The spooky season may be officially over, but that doesn’t mean November won’t have a slew of must-see horror films. October brought a plethora of brand new titles to the top streaming services and while we have a handful here – a body horror from a first-time director on Shudder is worth checking out – the majority are a mix of classics, modern classics and recent releases that you might like missed in the cinema.
So don’t worry about the Halloween spirit being gone, because it’s always there if you want to see it, that is… Especially if you have access to Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, and Shudder.
The Omen (1976)
When: November 1st
Where can you stream it: Hulu (US), Disney Plus (UK, AU)
“It’s all for you, Damien!” shouts a young babysitter before ceremoniously hanging herself at a five-year-old’s birthday party. The Omen remains a horror classic for good reason and this shocking moment gives an early indication of what awaits the Thorn family. The Antichrist comes in the form of a young boy who happens to be the son of an American ambassador, played by Gregory Peck. It is he who changes his child at birth and unfortunately chooses the evil incarnation as a suitable replacement. Filmed a few years before director Richard Donner went there Superman territory, it’s a masterclass in building tension and releasing it in the most gruesome of ways – thanks in large part to Jerry Goldsmith’s score, which won the composer his only Oscar.
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
When: November 1st
Where can you stream it: Netflix (US), Stan (AU), Rent or Buy (UK)
After dedicating years to the Spider-Man trilogy, Sam Raimi returns to the little genre that could for a delightfully mean-spirited dive into the world of curses. Drag me to hell follows poor bank loan officer Christine (Alison Lohman) who, after denying a mortgage extension to an old woman, finds herself in a series of unpleasant circumstances. Following the spirit of Evil Death, the film is almost gleeful in its treatment of Christine, which should appeal if you like horror with a dash of malice amidst comedy. With a final image that still haunts this writer to this day, add it to your watchlist immediately.
Scream 4 (2011)
When: November 1st
Where can you stream it: Paramount Plus (UK, US, AU)
You could be forgiven for wondering if this is really new to streaming. But it was removed from Paramount’s Scream collection due to rights issues and has now returned fresh for November, making it eligible for our list. Craven’s latest foray into the Scream franchise continues to age like a fine wine and is perhaps where the series should have ended. Way ahead of its time, that’s the central thesis Scream 4 revolves around the concept of fandom as cultural currency, with the Ghostface killers seeking notoriety for their series of copycat murders. Campbell, Cox and Arquette return to support the cast of newcomers who are hacked and slashed like never before – this is undoubtedly the bloodiest part. While some of Ehren Kruger’s script punch-ups infuse a slapstick comedy he could do without, it still remains a top-notch slasher sequel with a performance from Emma Roberts to die for.
Birth/Rebirth (2023)
When: November 10
Where can you stream it: Shudder (UK, US, AU)
Another slam dunk from Shudder, this 2023 horror film comes from first-time director Laura Moss and seems to challenge our concepts of life, death, and motherhood. A loose adaptation of Frankenstein, it follows pathologist Rose Casper (Marin Ireland) who decides to resurrect the corpse of nurse Celie Morales’ (Judy Reyes) young daughter when she ends up on her slab. She soon discovers that she will have to make sacrifices to keep her alive. With flashes from Cronenberg’s body horror era, Birth/rebirth was a critical hit when it hit theaters earlier this year, proving Moss is a filmmaker on the rise.
Renfield (2023)
When: November 17
Where can you stream it: Now (UK), Prime (US), Amazon Video (AU)
Chris McKay’s quasi-sequel to the original Dracula combines action and comedy, making it a perfect Friday night horror. Nicolas Cage stars in one of his traditional set-chewing roles of excess as Dracula, the iconic vampire with an oversized ego. Most of the film focuses on his long-suffering acquaintance Renfield, played by Nicholas Hoult, who actively takes steps to separate himself from Dracula through a self-help group. Things go wrong and it isn’t long before Renfield finds himself in the crosshairs of a crime family. It leans more on the action elements than horror, but it’s not devoid of gore by any means, as Dracula wipes out an entire 12-step meeting in a geyser of blood.
Evil Dead Rise (2023)
When: November 23
Where can you stream it: Amazon Prime (US), Netflix (UK), Amazon Video (AU)
How do you match the wonderfully unhinged mania of Sam Raimi’s original Evil Dead trilogy? You do not do that. For Lee Cronins Evil dead rise, shifts the focus from B-movie Schlock and anchors itself in the trauma and heartbreak of familial disharmony. That doesn’t mean it’s unrecognizable; it carries the gruesome, gross and vicious body horror of the franchise with its action also confined to a single location. This time an apartment building becomes infested with Deadites after young Danny (Morgan Davies) discovers the book of the dead and takes it home. Alyssa Sutherland steals the show as matriarch Ellie, a wild, demonic turn that matches Bruce Campbell’s manic performance in Evil Death 2. A welcome addition to the canon.
Beau is scared (2023)
When: November 25th
Where can you stream it: Now (UK), Amazon Video (AU, US)
Only three films into his career and already an Ari Aster release are cause for excitement. Heir apparent And Midsummer tackles deep-seated trauma in women, and for his third outing, Aster puts the spotlight on one man’s experience during this three-hour odyssey. A heady brew that’s part horror, part drama and whatever the third act may be – somewhere off the charts and confused, which might describe Joaquin Phoenix’s titular character. It’s impossible to take your eyes off his performance, absent-minded and wild-eyed as he makes his way through the world after his mother’s death. This is indulgent filmmaking at its best, one that shocks and laughs in equal measure.