22 Best Horror Movies To Watch On HBO Max Feb 2022

“When a 12-year old girl is possessed by demons, a young priest takes it upon himself to selflessly save her at the behest of her famous movie-star mother.”

I didn’t really like it the first time, but adored it the second time. It’s such a great slow burn of a horror film. Frightening images with some superior acting. I’ve said it in other posts before that I think Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeill is one of the best/underrated performances in any horror film. 

“Jack Torrance becomes winter caretaker at the isolated Overlook Hotel in Colorado, hoping to cure his writer’s block. He settles in along with his wife, Wendy, and his son, Danny, who is plagued by psychic premonitions.”

A lot of people look at this as one of the best of all time, and I’d agree that it is up there. The performances are fantastic and does not rely heavily on “jump scares” and focuses on more horrifying elements. If you’ve never seen it, life is short, and I suggest you do. The past three years I’ve been watching universally popular horror films that I thought I wouldn’t be into, and I’ve loved them.

“A church organist battles demons and delusions after a deadly car accident.”

One of my all-time favorites. Definition of an “oldie but a goodie.” A weird story with some unsettling moments and an even freakier ending.

“Paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren confront a powerful demonic entity when they try to help parents and children being terrorized in their secluded farmhouse.”

The one that started it all. This film has become very underappreciated over time because it has expanded into its own little universe, but man, this film is spooky.

“Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren look into a terrifying case of murder and demonic possession.”

An underappreciated sequel and really went for something different in the Conjuring trilogy. I like risk-taking, and this movie was unexpected…I just wish it had a few more scares.

“Four friends are attacked by a demon while on a picnic, due to possession of a tome of mystic information.”

Quite the fever dream of a film, but overall enjoyable. It just screams 70’s horror and you can tell it inspired plenty of other horror movies that followed it. A classic and a must-watch you need to add.

“In 1977, paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren travel to north London to help a single mother of four and her possessed daughter.”

An excellent movie that is filmed beautifully terrifying. An underrated Christmas horror film and a haunting ghost story.

“A drilling crew stranded on the ocean floor encounters a monstrous deep-sea terror in this terrifying thriller.”

A really cool film. I know it is not what horror looks for, “cool,” but I loved the whole vibe from this film. The colors. The gear. It was a “cool” flick. I would like to see Kristen Stewart in more horror.

“Twenty years after a student is accidentally hanged during a play, a high school tries to put on the same show–with horrific results.” 

I did NOT expect to like this one, but there was something about it that was very compelling. A little predictable at times, but still a fun ride.

“Student filmmakers encounter a poacher who kills trolls for the Norwegian government in this clever mockumentary.”

This movies was ridiculous and absolutely fantastic. The troll designs are goofy, but a lot of people on the Internet actually find them terrifying. A movie that seems like it’s a joke, but it actually has a really captivating story.

“A phony psychic gets a very real taste of evil when a malevolent spirit possesses her daughter by way of a Ouija board.”

I still haven’t seen the first one, but this prequel was superb. It had little twists and turns that I loved. Overall, it did a great job building tension from start to finish.

“Moving into an old house to be closer to their son’s cancer treatments, a family soon learns the place is infested by sinister spirits.”

This one is a tough watch just because it is really depressing. A very unique film for its time and some interesting visual effects that really standout.

“Vatican officials send a priest and a novitiate to investigate the suicide of a young nun in Romania. They soon find themselves in a fight for their lives when they encounter a demonic force that takes the shape of a nun.”

Some actually really good moments that are “goose-bump” worthy. Not a perfect film, but if you are into the Conjuring films, give it a shot.

“A social worker investigating the disappearance of two children discovers her own family might also be in danger.”

The legend of the weeping woman is one of most universally known urban legends around the world. A little underwhelming of a film, but the legend alone is worth the watch.

“Six childhood friends reunite in their small hometown in Maine to once again confront an evil entity they thought they had destroyed 30 years earlier.”

A bold movie to split the book in half and although I didn’t love it, it’s worth watching if you have seen the first one. The two Bills are brilliant in this film (Hader and Skarsgård).

“Two orphan girls found after five years in the woods are followed by an ominous presence in this old-school ghost story.”

Based on the awesome short-film, Mama brings a full-length story that is sure to make you jump out of your seat. The combo of Jessica Chastain and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as the parents made for an interesting mix. 

“In a crime-ridden future America, the government has set aside one night a year where all criminal activity–including murder–is legal.”

I was never huge into the Purge series, but you should definitely give it a shot. Example: I had avoided Halloween for years thinking, “that’s not my jam,” and now it is one of my all-time favorites. 

“A group of young people race to survive a giant monster’s attack on New York City in this harrowing ‘found footage’ thriller.”

If you can handle shaky-cam films, this one is very popular. It’s rare to see found-footage films with big budgets, but this one is on another level.

“A little boy who loves to tell ghost stories has an encounter with a real ghost that marks him as a child-killer’s next victim.”

It’s high up on my watchlist, so I thought it was worthy of mentioning. I love the atmospheric look of this film and it feels very…well, ghostly!

“Determined to keep Annabelle from wreaking more havoc, demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren bring the possessed doll to the locked artifacts room in their home placing her ‘safely’ behind sacred glass and enlisting a priest’s holy blessing.”

Didn’t love this one, but they did take the time to introduce some new potential haunted items for their Conjuring universe. I loved the haunted coins.

“Blood-sucking extraterrestrial clowns invade a small-town to make cotton-candy food pods out of hapless humans in this campy horror flick.”

Shocking, but a lot of people are actually terrified by this ridiculous film. The designs are fantastic and they really scared people over the years. It’s the perfect late-night popcorn horror film filled with laughs and gags.

“A teen magically swaps bodies with a serial killer in this entertaining, genre-bending horror comedy.”

It’s Freaky Friday but with a serial killer. Queued up in my watchlist, so it may climb higher.