10 Best Horror Movies on Netflix Instant Play

It's Halloween night. Every horror movie in the video store has been snatched up, and the cable networks aren't showing any horror movies you like. And you forgot to move a horror movie to the top of your Netflix queue.

Relax. Halloween isn't ruined.

Even if you have a Netflix subscription, you may not have tried the Instant Play feature. Initially, the Instant Play selections were limited to poorly-rated or obscure movies and television series. But the Netflix Instant Play selection has come a long way in the past year or so, thanks in large part to the company's deal with Starz to play more recent and highly-rated movies.

Now, with a Netflix subscription, you can watch these classic horror movies on your computer anytime. With certain Netflix-ready devices like a Wii, TiVo, or certain HDTV televisions, you can stream movies instantly to your TV.

Visit the Netflix website for more information, and in no time, you could be watching these 10 Best Horror Movies.

The Exorcist (1973)

Based on the novel by William Blatty, The Exorcist follows the efforts of two priests as they attempt to rid a young girl of an evil spirit possessing her. Blatty won an Academy Award for the screen adaptation.

Jaws (1975)

Director Stephen Spielberg managed to scare the wits out of his audience with not much more than a mechanical shark (that sometimes didn't work) and a haunting musical score that most people recognize 35 years later.

The Omen(1976)

"Look at me, Damien! It's all for you!" cries the young nanny as she flings herself from a rooftop, her tribute to the little boy whose adoptive parents realize is the spawn of the devil.

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

Winning an Academy Award for Best Makeup, An American Werewolf in London was at the cutting edge of special effects at its time. The first transformation scene as David becomes the werewolf is a testament to the talents of special effects artist Rick Baker .

Carrie (1976)

Stephen King's novel about an ostracized teen with telekinetic ability was directed by famed suspense and thriller director Brian De Palma, who also directed Scarface and Mission: Impossible. Sissy Spacek stars as Carrie, who gets revenge against her abusers in the end.

The Evil Dead (1981)

Director Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead was so controversial for its graphic violence, it was initially turned down for U.S. distribution and later given an NC-17 rating. The rating on Netflix is official NR (not rated). Only for extreme gore enthusiasts!

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Wes Craven's slasher classic about a monster who kills teenagers in their sleep. The monster, Freddy Krueger went on to terrorize teens in several sequels, but it all began here.

The Crazies (2009)

A fantastic remake of George Romero's classic about a plane crashing and releasing a toxic substance into a small town, causing the inhabitants to turn on each other in homicidal madness.

Zombieland (2009)

A humorous, but still creepy, story about the fight for survival after a zombie apocalypse, Zombieland was critically praised for being the kind of bloody fun most horror fans go for.

The Amityville Horror (1979)

Though not loved by critics, the haunted house movie The Amityville Horror, based on the book by Jay Anson, was a box office success and resulted in a sequel and a 2005 remake.

[Related: The Best Classic Horror Novels]

Also worth mentioning, though not technically a horror film, is the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show available on Netflix Instant Play. What Halloween movie marathon would be complete without it?