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!
Halloween season is over, and many streamers have forgotten about us horror kids. While they take their 11-month hiatus from the genre, we can be grateful that we still have an app that cares. We are so lucky that Shudder remains that girl year-round. Whether you’re finishing their new original show Guts & Glory, catching up on The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans, or running at some of their deep cuts like I am, Shudder has your best interests at heart. As usual, she has quite a few titles fighting for our attention. Which is why I am here with five titles I think should be at the top of all of our watch lists this November. So, cancel your holiday plans and pick up your remote because we have got horrifying things to watch.
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
Habit (1995)
An alcoholic unwittingly enters into a relationship with a succubus in New York City. If you ever wondered what Larry Fessenden was getting up to in his youth, you need to see this ’90s gem. I lucked out and caught it at Brooklyn Horror Film Festival last year, and I lived my best life. While watching it on the small screen will not be the same, I plan to hit play anyway. Mostly because I love to see 1990s succubi leaving their mark on men…and also the horror genre. Shudder is also adding The Last Winter and Depraved, so we can spend a whole day with Uncle Larry’s work.
Sew Torn (2024)
A seamstress happens upon a failed drug deal and steals a briefcase. She soon finds herself caught in a deadly situation where all roads lead to death. I caught Sew Torn at SXSW last year and have been wondering what happened to it. So, I am very happy this odd little bird has found her way to Shudder. I cannot wait to make my friends who are looking for something cute and deadly watch. I knew nothing when I hit play on this, and I encourage you to know as little as possible, too. I fear I have already written too much in this blurb to be completely honest.
You can watch Sew Torn on November 1st.
The Retreat (2021)
A couple goes on a pre-wedding retreat and unwittingly becomes targets of a group of serial killers. We have seen too many movies about retreats, and I thought this one would be more of the same. This title does not completely reinvent the wheel, but it does set itself apart within this oversaturated subgenre. The Retreat is a surprisingly fun and tense little thriller that feels made for the winter watches. Come for the lesbian characters leading the film, and stay for the violence. I also encourage you to check it out while it is on Shudder, because it is usually on apps with ads.
You can watch The Retreat on November 1st.
The Creep Tapes (Season 2)
Peachfuzz returns with more tapes, chaos, kills, and WTF moments. Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice have reentered the TV arena and are making things weird again. If award shows were real, this duo would be leading the Emmys charge. I saw the first three episodes, and Josef/Peachfuzz is still the serial killer after our own hearts. Our Wolfie is still cutting up (literally and figuratively) in the most amazing ways. Guest stars in danger this season include David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil), Katie Aselton (The League), and Robert Longstreet (The Haunting of Hill House).
You can watch The Creep Tapes (Season 2) on November 14th.
Krampus (2015)
A kid accidentally summons demons during the holidays in this horror comedy. Krampus remains one of the top-tier Christmas horror titles for me. It is also my favorite Michael Dougherty film. Not only because it has the star power of Adam Scott and Toni Collette, either. This movie is wicked, and even the kids are in danger. I do not have many holiday horror movies I revisit every year, but Krampus is one of the very few. It still holds up, and I cannot wait to rewatch it with a festively boozy beverage.
You can watch Krampus on November 15th.
Those are a few reasons I am grateful for Shudder this holiday season. While the rest of you are fighting with your family and friends, I will be parked in front of my TV. You can have your turkey because I would rather gorge myself on episodes of The Creep Tapes anyway.
Let me know what Shudder shenanigans you have got your little eye on. I am nosy and want to make sure I am not missing anything on my favorite streamer.
The year is winding down, and I don’t know about you, but I am trying to pack in as many 2025 horror movies as I can. Is this because I love making end-of-the-year lists? Yes. Is it because I am an unhealed overachiever? Also, yes. So, I am assuming some of you are also cruising the streamers to see what you may have missed. While Netflix has had my favorite new slasher Heart Eyes for a bit, and I have mentioned that in previous streaming guides, they also have other new horror titles to show you.
I do not talk about them as much because I did not have a good time with them. However, that does not mean you won’t enjoy some of these titles. That’s why I am taking the high road and finding something to be grateful for about each of them. That way, you will know there is a silver lining if you do watch them. Allow me to help you figure out what to prioritize this month and what to skip. Check out this chaotic Netflix hitlist below!
The Best Movies to Stream on Netflix This Month
28 Years Later (2025)
A group of survivors on a small island has built a fortress to protect them from the rage virus. However, a young boy discovers what is really outside the walls of their community and sets off to find a cure for his sick mother. We all loved 28 Days Later, and some of us liked 28 Weeks Later. So, 28 Years Later was never going to live up to the hype with almost thirty years of anticipation. While I didn’t love it, I did enjoy seeing Danny Boyle helm another zombie installment. What he does in the subgenre is top-tier, and we are welcome (even if the script left me wanting more). That might have gotten buried in all the talk about the dicks seen in the movie, though.
Fear Street: Prom Queen (2025)
A group of girls competing for prom queen starts disappearing, leaving the underdog to figure out what is happening to her competition. I had a lot of thoughts about this lackluster installment in Netflix’s Fear Street adaptations. As someone who grew up reading Fear Street books and wanting to adapt them myself, I do not understand how this movie came out so badly. Which made it hard to find something nice to say about this title. However, the soundtrack slaps, and it is not the soundtrack’s fault that it was wasted on a low-energy bottom-tier slasher. So, if you hit play on this, you can at least look forward to hearing some retro bangers selected by music supervisor Nora Felder. If you are familiar with her work on Yellowjackets and Stranger Things, you know Felder does not miss.
Maa (2025)
To battle a demon’s curse, a mother transforms into the legendary goddess Kali. As usual, Netflix did not advertise an international horror movie that seemed to have some potential. If they had told us Maa was an Indian Hindi-language mythological horror movie, most people who yell for intersectionality and originality would have run at it. Instead, we had to find out about it months later while looking for something we hadn’t already seen on the app. This movie is too long, and I cannot say it is good by any stretch of the imagination. However, it also made me realize how little I know about the goddess of destruction. If you are a nerd like me, this might lead you down a cool rabbit hole. You can also say you gave a view to a horror movie starring Brown people. Who knows, maybe you could be one of the few who enjoy this chaotic film.
Until Dawn (2025)
A group of friends find themselves trapped in a time loop where they keep getting killed in gruesome ways. I love the video game and was so bummed this adaptation was so bad. However, the practical effects are very cool and should be celebrated more. I think the stuff that the SFX team pulled off might be the only reason to watch the movie personally. I’m happy the actors whose work I enjoy got paid, and that’s another positive thing I can say. However, if we want to see young people in deadly time loops, we have so many movies that do it better. Excuse me as I look right at Happy Death Day and all of the movies that have tried to copy her.
Ziam (2025)
A Muay Thai fighter battles through a zombie apocalypse to save the woman he loves. Netflix fumbled the advertising for this one too, because who doesn’t want to see a Thai zombie film? So, I was excited to watch it, but then sad I did not like it. However, I think this one is on me. It is an action-horror with a lot of heartfelt moments, and that’s not my bag. I wanted more violence and zombie action because I am a broken and heartless ghoul. So, Ziam might be the only movie on this list that does not deserve my bombastic side eye. I am waiting for other people to watch it and let me know if they have a better time with it, though.
While I was not the audience for these movies, I am assuming some of you will dig them. Worst-case scenario, you cross off a few more 2025 horror movies and have something to talk about at Friendsgiving. Happy Horrordays! I will see myself out now…
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