10 WAR HORROR MOVIES PERFECT FOR YOUR HALLOWEEN FRIGHT NIGHT
From the cheesy to the supernatural and everything in between, the spooky season has plenty of entertainment to offer. It’s not a proper fall season without Halloween, and scary movies are a big part of the celebrations. War horror movies bend genres by combining things you’d expect from a classic military film and put a scary twist to top it all off. Whether they're drawing references from the past or painting a potentially grim future, horror war movies have a lot to offer. Below, we’re breaking down the perfect military horror movies for your celebrations. Suggested read: 5 Items In a Haunted House That Would Scare Veterans
Why Does the Military Never Show Up in Horror Movies?
There’s an army of the undead, so it would make sense that the actual Army shows up, right? Well, sometimes they do! How you frame war horror movies matters, as the U.S. military showing up to the party could just derail a good plot before it ever really gets going. Thankfully, Halloween is the perfect time to embrace the unexplainable and let go of the holds of reality as good movies do. While not exclusive to the American Armed Forces, these are the best military horror movies you’ll want to binge as you celebrate. Related read: Spooky Military Ghost Stories To Share This Halloween
Our Top 10 War Horror Movies You Must Watch
1. Predator (1987)
You can’t make a list of horror military movies and not include Predator. Though the series has evolved in many ways, the original pits Arnold Schwarzenegger against an alien hunter in a film that takes elements from scary films, military flicks, and action blockbusters. Stream it on Max, Hulu, Prime Video, Vudu, Apple TV, and more.
2. Deathwatch (2002)
It’s 1917, on the Western Front. World War I was hell and soon, the nine British troops behind enemy lines are going to learn exactly how hellish it can be. During the night, one by one, fighter after fighter succumbs to their fate as the group quickly realizes they may not be alone. Stream the World War 1 horror movie Deathwatch now on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu.
3. Overlord (2018)
When it comes to World War 2 horror movies, Overlord truly delivers on a number of tropes. There is dark humor, scary sights, twists, cheesy moments, and good old-fashioned gore and violence. D-Day is here and the Nazis have a terrifying secret weapon. Stream it on Pluto TV, Paramount Plus, The Roku Channel, Apple TV, Prime Video, Vudu, and more.
4. Ghost Brigade (1993)
Starring Martin Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, and Adrian Pasdar, Ghost Brigade is a Civil War horror movie where Confederate fighters unleash a voodoo spirit that is capable of evil. Fighters on both sides find themselves possessed and fighting for a new purpose. You can check it out on YouTube TV or Tubi.
5. Dog Soldiers (2002)
Training for military operations is dangerous enough. There’s a lot that can unfortunately go wrong and it's often in remote locations. For the British fighters in Dog Soldiers, a supernatural entity will add to the danger. Trapped in a home under the light of a full moon in Scotland, a werewolf is on the hunt while the group tries to stick together to stay alive. You can stream Dog Soldiers on Hulu, Prime Video, The Roku Channel, Apple TV, Vudu, and more.
6. Bridge of Spies (2015)
Less killer, more thriller, Tom Hanks leads in one of the most respected Cold War horror movies of our time. You’re going to get a lot of drama from the legal setting the film is set as an American Pilot relies on Hanks’s character, a lawyer, to negotiate his release. Bridge of Spies is available to watch on SHOWTIME, Prime Video, The Roku Channel, Vudu, and Apple TV.
7. Ghosts of War (2020)
Spanning a variety of conflicts, Ghosts of War is primarily set in WWII. Everything from PTSD to supernatural settings will take place during the film’s twists and turns. For those looking for horror war movies on Netflix, look no further. However, you can also watch the Allied fighters take on the unexplainable on Vudu, Tubi, Apple TV, and Prime Video.
8. 28 Days Later (2002)
Is this a strict pick for this list? No. Do we care? Absolutely not. The Cillian Murphy-led classic is everything you’d want in a zombie/horror movie. Technically, there are military elements. What are you going to do? Not watch it because it’s a loose interpretation of horror movies with military themes? Yeah, we didn’t think so. Stream 28 Days Later on Prime Video.
9. The Third Part of the Night (1971)
It’s Nazi-occupied Poland as WWII rages on as a man and his father escape an attack from Germans while his family suffers a much crueler fate. If you’re looking for a feel-good scare, this isn’t it as The Third Part of the Night continues its dark trajectory into death and torture as the hero continues to resist against the Nazi regime. Furthermore, you may have to get “creative” to view one of the more plausible horror movies about war. It’s also in Polish.
10. Shadow in the Cloud (2020)
This high-flying adventure features Chloë Grace Moretz playing Maude Garrett, a pilot in WWII who has to deal with a dismissive crew as she delivers top secret documents aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress. However, the crew is not alone, as an evil creature has other plans for their flight. You can find Shadow in the Cloud and other military-themed horror movies streaming on Hulu, Prime Video, Vudu, Apple TV, and more.
War Horror Movies Pale Compared to Harsh Realities
There’s nothing wrong with a good adrenaline rush here and there, but the realities of war are often more cruel. Fortunately, the American Armed Forces help keep such conditions away from the U.S., and war horror movies can serve as a fun form of entertainment rather than a deadly part of everyday life. Read next: 15 of the Best Military Movies in 2023
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