Movies
What Are Some of the Best Beheadings in Horror?
Someone said to me recently, “Heads don’t roll like they used to,” and I took that as a personal challenge. Whatever happened to the good ol’ snap n’ drop? Nothing! Beheadings and decapitation have stayed alive and well in our neck of the woods. Let me highlight a handful of the best beheadings in horror that need to be added to your watch list, or give you a reason to revisit some classics.
The Best Beheadings in Horror
Hereditary (2018)
No, I don’t think Ari Aster is okay. A two-fer of decapitation in only 128 minutes is almost as rare as little Charlie’s (Milly Shapiro) headless body after marinating in the back seat of her brother’s car overnight. The only thing that could possibly trump the infamous nut allergy sequence is a self-inflicted beheading for a cute lil’ nightcap right before the credits roll. Toni Collette eats those wounds like an absolute champ while hoisted 10 feet off the floor.
Saint Drogo (2023)
Saint Drogo is the second feature film to drop out of Monster Makeup Entertainment. The story follows a gay couple going through a rough patch. The two make an effort to heal their relationship by taking a trip to Rhode Island’s P-Town during the winter off-season. While pretending to fix their bond, one of them faces their suspicion of the disappearance of an ex who never returned home.
It’s a tense and uncomfortable slow burn that ends on an even more anxiety-ridden note with some gorgeous body horror. A must-see for queer fans of psychological horror and gore that’ll leave your head spinning as the heads on screen are rolling.
Deadly Friend (1986)
Before M3GAN, before Anabelle, and even before Chucky, there was Samantha Pringle; the deadliest “girl next door”. Take a stroll down Wes Craven’s catalog, and you’ll find this wildly overlooked piece of gore gold- which includes one of the best clapbacks of the decade.
Paul is the new robotics prodigy in town, and his creation, a bot named BB is all the proof he needs. When there’s meddling kids on the block, the mortal enemy can’t be far. In this case, it’s the old Karen down the street, Elvira. When Sam Pringle suffers a critical injury due to domestic violence, Paul places BB’s chip into her brain, turning her into the cutest cyborg around. Maybe ol’ Elvira should’ve thought twice before stealing the neighborhood kids’ basketball- Sam Pringle shoots a nasty free throw, knocking her head clean off and into a bloody pulp.
The Coffee Table (2022)
You don’t know true stress if you haven’t seen The Coffee Table. Director Caye Casas is one sick dude who just delivered the blackest horror comedy you’ve ever experienced. The film explores the fragile familial relationships between Jesus, his wife Maria, and his brother Carlos. It’s an equal opportunity horror in here- no one is granted immunity. I’m sure you’re wondering how decapitation and family drama mix. I’ll quietly throw this on the list and leave you to your trauma. I’ve already said too much.
The Omen (1976)
Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen was a fun time, but nothing could ever compare to the crater-sized impact that was left in viewers after the late David Warner’s incredible death scene. Warner stars as the photographer Keith Jennings, assisting in the investigation to determine whether the boy Damian is the Antichrist.
During an assassination attempt, Jennings becomes distracted and fails to notice the industrial glass truck heading full speed towards him. A sheet of glass comes loose, slicing his throat with the precision of a Michelin star chef’s knife, popping his head clean off the stem. Just to rub it in, viewers get the play-by-play from at least four different angles in glorious slow motion. The 70s couldn’t have been ready for all that.
I Saw The Devil (2010)
This beheading comes at the finale of a masterclass of revenge. Director Kim Jee-woon is extra generous with flesh and violence. Around these parts, we’re all game, but to the Korea Media Rating Board, absolutely not. The board had forced a recut on two separate occasions to avoid a “restricted” rating, which would prevent the film from having a theatrical or home video release. Lucky for us, the international cut puts all the squishy stuff right back in.
Lee Byung-hun stars as Soo-hyeon; a professionally trained agent on a revenge mission against his finance’s “decapitator”, Jang Kyung-chul (Choi Min-sik). Decapitation plays a special role in this film, as that’s where our story starts and ends. After 144 minutes of an extreme level cat and mouse chase, Kyung-chul finally meets his demise by decapitation from his own personal guillotine. And the best part? Soo-hyeon invites the maniac’s parents and son to watch the show.
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)
I’m not the biggest slasher fan, but I’m a New Yorker, which means my pride forces me to pretend that Friday the 13th Part VIII is good. I won’t lie and say it’s not worth a watch- there are some great moments in here. One of my favorites being Julius’ (Vincent Craig Dupree) hilarious knockout scene.
Squaring up for a rooftop fist fight is a very New York thing to do, but picking a fight with Jason? It’s grade-A comedy camp. All it takes is one swing to send poor Julius’ head flying off the rooftop with immaculate aim into the dumpster below. Swoosh.
Day of the Dead (1985)
I’ll always be down for a hate-watch, but I’ve never wished painful deaths on any cast of characters to the degree that I have while watching Romero’s Day of the Dead. I’ve got to believe that was intentional; George Romero was definitely a conduit of on-screen divine karma. Luckily we’ve got the legendary special fx duo, Tom Savini and Greg Nicotero on board to deliver the inevitable with style and satisfaction. This death is drawn out to the absolute max, leaving Private Torrez howling before, during, and after his head is forcibly ripped from his body by classic Romero zombies.
House of Wax (2005)
The list needs a little more love from the 2000s. This star-studded soft “remake” doesn’t have much connection to its 1953 namesake, but we love her anyway. In a House of Wax situation, I’d much rather lose my head in a quick death, than be damned to starvation and solitude by becoming a wax figure. Dalton (Jon Abrahams) gets the easy out. While looking through the museum for Wade (Jared Padalecki), Dalton discovers his petrified (and still very much alive) body coated in wax. After making a hysterical attempt at freeing Wade, Dalton is chased down the stairs by the wax-bandit, where his throat meets a pair of chef’s knives. He has no idea how easy he had it.
Final Destination 2 (2003)
In my opinion, the best kind of beheading is the kind where all you can do is lean in and wait for the inevitable. Even better in a time sensitive situation like an elevator ride. I think every horror fan has had the “what if” notion when riding the elevator- a rite of passage for the fandom, if you will. I’d like to thank Nora (Lynda Boyd) for her contribution to our intrusive thoughts. If you don’t know what happens when getting your head stuck in a pair of elevator doors, now you know!
My New Year’s resolution is to spend more time watching my favorite app. Luckily, Shudder is not taking it easy on us this holiday season, so I may meet my quota this January. The streamer is bringing in the new year with quite a few bangers. We have classics from icons, a new title from the first family of indie horror, and a couple of lesser-known films that have finally found a home. So, I am obviously living for this month’s programming and think most of you will too. I have picked the five films that I believe deserve our collective attention the most. Get into each of them and start your 2026 off on the right foot.
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
Carrie (1976)
A sheltered teen finally unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated for the last time. Carrie is the reason I thought proms might be cool when I was a kid. This Brian De Palma adaptation is one of my favorite Stephen King adaptations. It is also an important title in the good-for-her subgenre. I cannot help rooting for Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) when I watch her snap at this prom and then head home to accidentally deal with her mom. The only tragedy of this evening is that Carrie had to die, too. I said what I said, and I will be hitting play again while it is on Shudder. This recommendation goes out to the other recovering sheltered girls who would be the problem if they had powers. I see you because I am you.
You can watch Carrie on January 1st.
Marshmallow (2025)
A shy 12-year-old gets sent to summer camp and finds himself in a living nightmare. While Marshmallow did not land for me, I know plenty of people who love it. Which makes this the perfect addition to the Shudder catalogue. I am actually excited to see more folks fall in love with this movie when it hits the streamer. If nothing else, it will help a few folks cross off another 2025 title if they are still playing catch-up with last year’s movies. It also gets cool points from me for not taking the easy route with the mystery it built. I hope you all dig it more than I did, and tell your friends about it. Perhaps you could even encourage them to sign up for the app.
You can watch Marshmallow on January 1st.
Chain Reactions (2024)
Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre cemented his horror legacy over fifty years ago. So, it is long overdue for a documentary where horror royalty can discuss its impact on them and their careers. I have been waiting for a couple of years to hear Karyn Kusama and Takashi Miike talk about Hooper’s work and how he inspired them. So, I am super geeked that Shudder is finally giving me the chance to see this film. The streamer is also helping the nerds out by adding The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 2 (1986) this month. If you are also an overachieving couch potato, I will see you at the finish line next week.
You can watch Chain Reactions on January 9th.
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
An insurance investigator discovers the impact a horror writer’s books have on people. I love chaos, and John Carpenter chaos happens to be one of my favorite kinds of chaos. While we talk about The Thing and Halloween all the time, this maestro has given us plenty of horror to celebrate. In the Mouth of Madness is very much one of those titles vying for a top spot among the best of his filmography. To sweeten the batshit pot, this movie features Sam Neill. You know that he only shows up in our genre if the movie is going to be legendary. You cannot tell me this is not a Shudder priority this month.
You can watch In the Mouth of Madness on January 10th.
Mother of Flies (2025)
A terminally ill young woman and her dad head to the woods to seek out a recluse who claims she can cure her cancer. The Adams Family has been holding court on Shudder for years, so it feels right that Mother of Flies is a Shudder Original. More importantly, this fest favorite has one of the best performances of 2025. Which makes it a great time for people to finally get to see it and get in line to give Toby Poser her flowers. Whatever you think your favorite Poser role is, it is about to change when you see her as Solveig. I am being serious when I say that this movie might be the first family of indie horror at their best.
You can watch Mother of Flies on January 23rd.
New year, but same Shudder. I would not want to go into 2026 any other way, personally. I hope these horrific recommendations bring you the good kind of anxiety. Or at least distract you from the state of the world for a bit.
I’m happy Netflix knew I would be back on my bull shit. Now that we’re in January, and the end-of-year lists are done, I’m trying to cram as many 2025 titles into my eyeballs as I possibly can. I know it sounds backwards, but it’s sadly a yearly tradition now. No matter how many titles you cram into a year, there are always a ton more you missed. Because I am broken, I need to know if I missed anything that should have been on my lists ASAP. Then I can drag myself for not getting my eyeballs on things sooner. Or worse, seeing titles that came out after my deadline and would have definitely been on there. I need to feel resentment for their schedules not letting me be great.
Luckily for me, the streamer has dropped quite a bit of new stuff recently. This includes movies and shows that I put off, or that legitimately premiered a couple of weeks ago. So, now I can spiral in the comfort of my own home as I binge all of these titles like a maniac. If you are also trying to walk into the new year stressed out, then maybe this streaming guide is for you, too.
City of Shadows (2025)
When a burned body is put on display on the facade of an iconic building, two inspectors must work together to solve the crime. I don’t know much about this Spanish thriller, but I know winter is the time for an unsettling mystery. The show is based on the first book of the Milo Malart tetralogy written by Aro Sáinz de la Maza. So, if it’s as good as I hope it is, there is a whole world with this inspector awaiting us in print. I’m ready to take all six of these episodes in one setting if the streaming Gods allow.
Frankenstein (2025)
Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Christoph Waltz are among the names in this newest adaptation of the beloved Gothic horror classic. Guillermo del Toro’s take on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is clearly one of the top priorities this month. While I skipped it in festivals because of the runtime, I knew I would have a date with it on Netflix this winter. While it has been on the streamer for a minute, I wasn’t able to dedicate two and a half hours to it. I also had watched my friends’ mixed reviews come in, and couldn’t take another disappointment last year. So, I saved this treat for the holiday. Fingers crossed, it is better than people are saying it is.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)
A new group of friends is tormented by a new stalker in this sequel to Kevin Williamson’s other ’90s slasher. I’m indifferent to the I Know What You Did Last Summer movies. Some are less awful than others, and I think this one was fine, but I know the original source material. Which means I know just how far they stray from what the original author, Lois Duncan, was about. So, I look at these movies and the flimsy premise they repeat differently than a lot of my friends. I think it’s an interesting look at how IP gets handled in Hollywood, but I don’t usually get much out of these. Which is another reason I’m kinder to this Jennifer Kaytin Robinson film than some people. While I won’t be rewatching it this January, I think a lot of people who missed it in theaters are going to have fun with some of these kills now that it’s on Netflix.
Stranger Things: Season 5 (2025)
The long-awaited conclusion to Stranger Things is finally upon us! Will Vecna take out some of this ridiculously large cast on the way out? I hope so. Will we pretend to be surprised when Eddie Munson gets a few seconds of screentime? I refuse to play this game. However, are we all going to tune in to see how this epic ride ends? You betcha! I hate that they’re breaking this final season up into three chunks, but I will be sitting for all of them.
The first four episodes hit in November. The next three landed on Netflix on December 25, and the finale premiered on December 31. I don’t know what to expect, but I know I am so ready to close this chapter of my relationship with Netflix and the Duffer Brothers. If it is even half as good as season four, then I will be a very happy nerd.
Troll 2 (2025)
A new troll awakens, causing Nora, Andreas, and Captain Kris to find new allies to take it down. This Norwegian monster flick almost got by me, so I’m happy Netflix dropped the trailer for this one. I’m using this as an excuse to finally watch the first one. I’m thinking a double feature is in order, so I can spend a whole day with these trolls. This is not my usual type of party, but after Troll Hunter won me over, I figure anything can happen. So, I will not judge you if you’re not feeling this out of left field pick. Just know that I’m running at it with an open mind and hoping to see some carnage as a reward.
These are just the Netflix titles I’m prioritizing. This is in no way a complete overview of all of the new shows and movies they’ve added this winter. We also know that they usually have a ton of international bangers that they refuse to advertise. So, I end up stumbling over Korean titles every January and then trying to tell people we missed some really excellent stuff. So, pick up your remote and turn your phone off. It’s time to Netflix and Chill in the less sexy and more nerdy way.
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