Horror enthusiasts rejoice! The Criterion Channel, known for its curated collection of classic and contemporary films, offers a treasure trove of chilling and thought-provoking horror movies. Here’s a list of the 11 best horror flicks available on the streaming platform that are guaranteed to send shivers down your spine.

1.”Carnival of Souls” (1962): This eerie tale follows a woman who becomes drawn to a mysterious abandoned carnival following a car accident. With its haunting imagery and organ score, it’s a cult classic that preys on the psyche.

2.”Eyes Without a Face” (1960): A French-Italian film featuring a surgeon obsessed with restoring his daughter’s disfigured face, no matter the cost. Its poetic horror and gruesome undercurrents have made it an influential part of the genre.

3.”The Uninvited” (1944): One of the first films to take ghosts seriously, this tale of suspense and romance tells the story of siblings who encounter supernatural occurrences in their cliff-top mansion.

4.”Kwaidan” (1964): This Japanese anthology features four ghost stories based on traditional folk tales, each rendered with stunning visuals and captivating narratives.

5.”House” (1977): An avant-garde Japanese film that defines bizarre with its story about a group of girls who travel to a house in the countryside only to encounter surreal, supernatural occurrences.

6.”Eraserhead” (1977): David Lynch’s surreal masterpiece is as much a haunting visual poem as it is a horror movie, exploring the anxieties of parenthood and urban isolation in an industrial dreamscape.

7.”The Night of the Hunter” (1955): A critically-acclaimed thriller with Robert Mitchum playing a sinister preacher hunting two children for their dead father’s hidden fortune. Its expressionistic style adds to the unnerving atmosphere.

8.”Don’t Look Now” (1973): A British-Italian film known for its atmospheric use of Venice and its non-linear storytelling, it follows a couple mourning their daughter while encountering strange occurrences in the city.

9.”Onibaba” (1964): Set in medieval Japan, this film tells the horrifying tale of two women who murder samurai soldiers to survive but are confronted by supernatural forces.

10.”Videodrome” (1983): David Cronenberg’s technicolor nightmare examines the seductive power of media violence with one man’s descent into physical and psychological horror following his discovery of a pirate TV signal.

11.”The Innocents” (1961): Based on Henry James’ “The Turn of the Screw,” this psychological horror delves into the story of a governess who believes her charges are possessed.

Whether you’re looking for gothic scares, psychological thrills, or avant-garde oddities, The Criterion Channel has notable options from around the globe that will satisfy your love for fear without leaving your couch. Each film is not just entertainment but also an artifact offering insights into different cultures’ approach to horror and filmmaking excellence which has shaped this unique genre.