Editor's Pick: 9 best horror movies on Stan

Scary movies aren't just for Halloween! Any day is a good excuse to get your fright on. If you don't know where to start, Stan has a whole heap of terrifying titles available on demand, and we've picked out our favourites freaky flicks. 

The Neon Demon

Alex's analysis: You'll either find it hauntingly surreal or unnecessarily pretentious, but The Neon Demon is - at the very least - a feast for the eyes. As disturbing as it is stylish. 

Alex's rating:

The Neon Demon is sensory cinema at its best. Narrative beats play second fiddle to overarching theme in the film's surreal take on an aspiring model seeking stardom in LA. Some might be be put off by a thin narrative and characters, but the film is a masterclass in cinematography, editing, and sound design. While The Neon Demon can be a somewhat obtuse psychological slow burn, it's backed up some truly shocking gross out moments. Whether you love it or hate it, The Neon Demon sure is an experience - Alex Choros

Scream

Alex's analysis: This self-aware slasher expertly subverts the horror genre without sacrificing scares.

Alex's rating:  

Directed by horror master Wes Craven, Scream skewers and subverts horror tropes and clichés while still being a thrilling slasher in itself. Set in a small Californian town, high school student Sidney Prescot becomes the target of a horror-loving serial killer. To survive, Sidney and her friends turn to the "rules" of the genre. While Scream is a little tame by modern standards, this sinister satire is a must-watch for any horror fan - Alex Choros

The Silence of the Lambs

Tara's take: One of the best and most-awarded films of the 1990s, The Silence of the Lambs is truly unforgettable. 

Tara's rating:

If you haven’t already steeled yourself to sit through this terrifying classic, now is the time. Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster both received Oscars for their performances in this adaptation of Thomas Harris’ 1988 acclaimed novel, a chilling look at the relationship between cannibalistic serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lector and FBI agent Clarice Starling. When Starling requests the assistance of the imprisoned Lector in tracking down another, as-yet uncaptured murderer, she finds herself trapped in a twisted ‘quid pro quo’ deal: information in exchange for emotional trauma. With brilliant performances, an outstanding script, and a near-constant state of suspense, The Silence of the Lambs is a must-see masterpiece - Tara Donnelly 

Deep Blue Sea

Jacqui's gist: Good value '90s horror for lovers of the creature feature. 

Jacqui's rating:

If you thought no one would ever be foolish enough to genetically modify sharks to make them smarter, you'd be wrong. Because that's exactly the mission of this group of scientists, working on an isolated marine lab out at sea. But when a freak storm floods the research facility, the sharks escape and start hunting their creators, one by one. 

I'm not going to lie, Deep Blue Sea is not a masterpiece. But it's great entertainment and the sharks in a flooded research base is a genuinely cool concept. And there's one incredibly good value scene with Samuel L. Jackson. I'm not going to tell you why or what happens. You're just going to have to watch it and find out - Jacqui Dent

Let the Right One In

Alex's analysis: Eat your heart out Twilight, this is how you do vampire romance.

Alex's rating:

Oddly heart-warming yet creepy and unnerving, Let the Right One In effortlessly juggles romance and horror. This critically acclaimed Swedish masterpieces balances brutal violence with the burgeoning relationship of a 12-year-old boy and a child vampire. A true work of art - Alex Choros

Army of Darkness

Tara's take: The ultimate horror-comedy cult classic. Shop smart, shop S-Mart!

Tara's rating:

If not for Sam Raimi’s iconic Evil Dead series, many horror comedy films may have never existed. Army of Darkness is the third film in the trilogy; bypassing the all-out violence of the original for ramped-up comedy and unforgettable one-liners, this cult classic sees demon-killing antihero Ash stranded in Medieval England, low on gas and surrounded by the dead - Tara Donnelly

You're Next

Tara's take: If Home Alone was a horror flick. Bloody, fast-paced, You're Next is a must-see for slasher fans.

Tara's rating:

"The Final Girl" is a time-honoured tradition in the horror genre, but You’re Next makes it extra satisfying by introducing a female lead that relies on more than just dumb luck to take down the big baddies. Aussie heroine Erin shows an unexpected aptitude for killing, when her American boyfriend’s extremely irritating family become the targets of a mysterious group of masked murderers. Watching Erin gorily turn the tables on the would-be killers is almost as fun as watching her paramour’s idiot siblings get taken out one by one - Tara Donnelly

Paranormal Activity

Alex's analysis: Kinda dumb, but somehow still kinda scary. Really didn't need all those sequels though. 

Alex's rating:

Strictly speaking, I don't know if I'd call Paranormal Activity a good movie; I can't watch it without giggling all the way through. It can be a bit dumb, in the way that many found footage horror movies are. But at the same time, it's one of the few horror movies that's kept me up at night, that's genuinely stressed me out when I've been trying to sleep. "Oh shit, I don't know what actually happens when I'm sleeping." While Paranormal Activity can be a bit over the shop, it's a great example of creative filmmaking on a shoestring budget, and it sure gets under your skin - Alex Choros

The Woman in Black

Jacqui's gist: A fantastically creepy haunted house story for lovers of the Victorian gothic.

Jacqui's rating:

Rolling mist. A dilapidated mansion full of cobwebs and strange trinkets. Rumours of a ghostly woman who brings accidents and death. If that sounds like a gothic lover's dream to you, that's probably because it is. The Woman in Black is the quintessential Victorian ghost story, despite or perhaps because the original book was written in 1983 as an homage to the genre. Hardcore horror lovers might find it a little tame but for those of us who scare easy it's as gorgeous as it is frightening - Jacqui Dent

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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