Movies
The Best Zombie Films You Can Watch on Shudder Right Now
A list of the the best zombie horror films you can stream on Shudder right now.
Howdy, Horror Press reader! You know usually I’d start the article with a folksy aphorism, or a fun story, but Editor James-Michael said “think fast” and threw some sort of rat-monkey into the basement where I type these articles up before shutting the door.
Long story short, I’ve been bitten by it and I’m having trouble focusing, so right to brass tacks. Today we’ll be highlighting the best zombie films you can watch on Shudder, to make that movie night selection just a little bit easier.
I will also clarify, there are a lot of zombie-like movies on Shudder, with films like Demons, Azrael, and The Sadness filling those ranks. So, for the purpose of defining the zombies, we’re going with ravenous, mindless, undead creatures who specifically infect others by biting or scratching or eating them. So, while Night of the Living Dead technically never calls them zombies (they’re actually some of cinema’s first “ghouls”), it counts as a zombie film.
The Best Zombie Horror Films You Can Stream on Shudder
ZOMBIE (1979)
“You’re not actually going to start the list with that movie right?”
It’s a list of zombie movies. It’s called Zombie.
More importantly, Lucio Fulci’s cult classic is the quintessential Italian zombie film. Known as Zombi 2 in the rest of the world (since the first Zombi is the Italian localization of Romero’s Dawn of the Dead), it’s a very simple zombie film executed wonderfully. Beyond the legendary underwater zombie versus shark brawl that has made this movie a bit of a meme among horror fans, this is also the stomping grounds of Fulci’s most frequent collaborator: Giannetto De Rossi, a special effects artist so good I considered putting his name in bold for emphasis.
This is arguably the best of Rossi’s work, made most memorable by the film’s iconic scene of a worm-infested zombie rising from its grave. Really, it’s a top-notch highlight reel of all the skills that made Rossi an invaluable asset on a gamut of films ranging from David Lynch’s Dune to Alexandre Aja’s High Tension. If makeup and effects are what makes a horror movie for you, you have to watch this one.
BLOOD QUANTUM (2019)
Now this, this is a modern zombie movie with a whole lot of substance, and a fair bit of sauce.
When a zombie epidemic rips through the Northern reaches of Canada, it turns out one slice of the country’s demographics is completely immune to the virus: the indigenous First Nations people, who quickly set up a reservation fortress to safeguard the community. Jeff Barnaby uses this premise to skewer the unfortunately all too common divide between white Canadian citizens and their First Nations counterparts, the history of which is soaked in heaps of racial violence and an ugly colonialist legacy.
Beyond its thoughtful narrative, Blood Quantum also delivers on some of the nastiest practicals in a zombie movie from the past decade, with some being on par with Rossi’s work above thanks to an award-winning makeup and visual effects team. The action is good, the story is great, and the films’ thematic underpinnings make for a phenomenal watching experience that sticks with you and makes you want to learn more about the film and the surroundings it came up out of.
DEAD SHACK (2017)
When you have deadbeat parents watching over you that you can’t rely on, and you’re left to fend for yourself on a weekend out in the sticks, what are you to do when you find out your neighbor has zombies in her house? Suit up and try to kill them yourself, to hilarious effect.
One of the two horror comedies on this list, Dead Shack reminds me a lot of another highly underrated Shudder offering, Boys From County Hell. It’s got dark humor that’s more slapstick than the dry Irish flavor from Boys, but like that film, it’s supplemented by a fairly strong and charismatic cast of young actors, thrust into a hilarious situation where things just keep going wrong.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)
And in the softest of softball lobs I’ll ever put in one of my recommendation articles, here’s George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead! It is such a classic, I don’t even know what I can say about it that hasn’t been said; it’s just such a core component of horror cinema, every frame has been pored over like an ancient text on how to make low-budget filmmaking legendary.
Having rewatched it for this article, Duane Jones’ performance in this movie is still unbelievably compelling after all these years, and it feels so fresh still because of the vocal command he projects. It’s a masterclass in acting in general and has cemented him as one of my favorite horror protagonists of all time. He’s simply the blueprint.
PENINSULA (2020)
The oft-forgotten sequel to Train to Busan, I wrote a retrospective article about Peninsula last summer for Horror Press. You can find a more in-depth analysis of the film there, but I’ll give a basic rundown here: Peninsula is a massive departure from its predecessor in tone, plot, action—honestly, its entire cinematography is cut from different cloth. Trading in sentimental horror on trains for pulse-pounding action sequences in zombie-filled car chases, director Yeong Sang-ho weaves a wild action-horror film that’s got a high rewatch value. It is an easy-to-enjoy thrill ride through post-apocalyptic South Korea.
ONE CUT OF THE DEAD (2017)
If there’s any country that knows how to do zombie movies better than America, it’s Japan. An independent horror film in a sea of Japan’s bigger budget splatter films, One Cut of the Dead made waves not just for its 37-minute one-shot that opens the movie and gives the film its title, but for the sincerely heartwarming message it has to send about the struggles of making horror movies. I’ve kind of mentally dissociated One Cut of the Dead as a zombie movie because it’s just one of, if not the most, perfect pieces of meta-horror that I’ve had the pleasure of watching. I can’t guide you through this one without spoiling a whole bunch, but I can guarantee that you will leave this movie glad you watched it.
Also, a small sidenote: Harumi Shuhama’s performance in this makes me smile every time I watch it. She’s deeply talented, we need her in more horror movies.
(POM!)
MADS (2024)
Saving the best for last, last year’s MadS is maybe the film I was least excited to watch and the one I was most impressed with the result of.
For a very long time, I would have stopped being impressed with one-take movies a while back (I know it sounds odd because I just sang One Cut of the Dead so much praise, but stick with me). Because when you watch enough one-takes you can see the clear points where they cut. If the simulation breaks, the gimmick kind of just dies. But MadS is not only a true blue one-take (if it is spliced together takes, it’s unbelievably skilled at hiding it), it uses that one shot to build a kind of tension that made my spine start to tie around itself tight. It’s composed in uncomfortable closeups for most of the runtime, but even when the shots go wide, its composition, its lighting, its sound design, and the way director David Moreau makes the camera move makes you feel like you can’t get far enough away.
It made me unironically feel like I had pressure building on my neck as the film makes you watch the infection spread. MadS above all else serves up one of the most harrowing depictions of a zombie outbreak ever, and its tactile effectiveness is a testament to its cinematography; a cinematography that doesn’t let up until that final shot, and sticks to you like superglue with you after it’s wrapped up.
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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