10 Australian Horror Movies To Give You Nightmares

Published on

Jeanette White

Jeanette White

JustWatch Editor

Australian horror movies have a unique feel that you can’t always find in Hollywood offerings. With the country harboring some of the most unforgiving and dangerous landscapes out there, many Aussie flicks feature humans facing off against nature or the deadly consequences of wandering beyond the safety of civilization. Other films trade the terror of isolation for something more supernatural or cerebral, and some take aim at the violence and darkness that came from colonization.

With Bring Her Back proving to global audiences that Aussie horror is nothing to trifle with, let’s revisit some of the classics. Whether you’re in the mood for a good old-fashioned slasher or you want to delve a little deeper with thought-provoking mysteries, here are the 10 best Australian horror movies in order of release date and where to stream them online.

Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)

Beautiful and hauntingly eerie. Really, that’s all you need to know before going into Picnic at Hanging Rock. Based on the 1967 novel by Joan Lindsay, the movie delves into the disappearances of a group of schoolgirls and their teacher out in Victoria, Australia, on Valentine’s Day. Largely regarded as a cinematic masterpiece, Picnic at Hanging Rock offers a compelling mystery set during the Victorian era. Altogether unsettling, the atmospheric horror is top-notch.

Wolf Creek (2005)

When it comes to Aussie horror, Wolf Creek is a bona fide classic. Greg McLean’s beloved slasher sees a group of backpackers cross paths with a sadistic serial killer roaming the Australian Outback. Played with devilish delight by John Jarratt, Mick Taylor deserves a spot right next to other horror icons like Jason and Freddy. While Wolf Creek earns the slasher title in terms of body count, Mick’s weapon of choice certainly sets him apart from other villains of the subgenre. Carrying around a vintage Remington, Mick is a bit like Crocodile Dundee broke very, very bad.

Rogue (2007)

You could fill an entire list with killer crocodile movies from the Land Down Under. However, if you’re looking for one of the best, say hello to Rogue. The poster screams cheesy B-movie movie, but it doesn’t take long to realize Rogue contains one heck of a plot. Loosely inspired by a true story, the film sees a group of tourists and their tour guide come face to face with a man-eating crocodile. Stranded on a small island, the motley crew must work together to escape the jaws of their stealthy enemy. Wolf Creek director Greg McLean ditches his slasher roots for something much more grounded. Rogue knows how to drum up suspense and immerse the audience, even if it gets a tad wild by the end. 

Lake Mungo (2008)

Lake Mungo isn’t your typical found footage film. It takes a pseudo-documentary approach, chronicling the supernatural events surrounding a family after their daughter’s death. The movie plays out like a documentary you’d catch on TV, and that realism adds another layer of creepiness over a slow-burn mystery brimming with atmospheric horror. There are no jump scares here. Instead, the film excels at creeping dread and emotional reveals. Since its Sydney Film Festival debut, Lake Mungo has amassed a well-deserved cult following extending far beyond Australia.

The Loved Ones (2009)

The Loved Ones is a hidden gem of a movie for anyone tired of the same old type of teen horror story. Xavier Samuel plays Brent, a high school boy reeling from his father’s death. After turning down an invitation to prom from Lola (Robin McLeavy), the less-than-popular girl sets her sights on making him pay. Be warned. The Loved Ones gets disturbing. Although it has a teen horror appeal, it transcends typical young adult conventions. For the right audiences, the movie delivers plenty of quirkiness, gore, and dark humor. It’s absolutely twisted but in the best kind of way. Think Carrie or Prom Night but with an abduction twist. 

Cargo (2013)

Martin Freeman stars in one of the more unique zombie movies of the 21st century. Set in the wilderness of remote Australia, Cargo reveals its hook pretty much from the start. After becoming infected by a zombie bite, Freeman’s Andy races against the clock to find someone capable and trustworthy to take care of his infant daughter with the help of a young Aboriginal girl. As one of the more underrated Netflix originals, Cargo carries a more profound message about the erasure of Australia’s Indigenous people. For those who like their horror, thought-provoking and heartbreaking, this one is well worth the watch.

The Babadook (2014)

If giant crocodiles aren’t your thing, The Babadook offers twisty scares and psychological terror. Jennifer Kent comes out swinging with a directorial debut about a monster from a children’s book who seemingly jumps from page to reality to torment a widowed mother and her troubled son. Essie Davis delivers a perfectly unhinged performance alongside Noah Wiseman, adding to the film’s aura of spooky uneasiness. However, the film’s real draw is its deeper messaging about grief. While The Babadook initially didn’t have much success in its native Australia, it found an audience overseas, where it still reigns as a cult favorite and horror hit. 

Boar (2017)

Aussie horror movies and big, scary animals go together like cookies and milk—and Boar is no exception. This gory little horror has a simple enough premise: A giant, bloody-thirsty boar stalks a family in the Outback. Serving up practical effects and violence that tetter into B-movie territory, Boar best suits audiences looking for fun creature features with a little campiness thrown into the mix. Wolf Creek fans will also recognize John Jarratt among the cast, although this time, he trades his expected antagonistic role for something a lot more heroic.

The Nightingale (2018)

Those who enjoyed Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook will find something much darker and violent in her next film. The Nightingale shines a light on the dark side of Australia’s history—emphasis on dark. At its simplest, it’s a revenge story about an Irish convict seeking vengeance against the colonial forces of Tasmania with the help of an Aboriginal tracker. However, it also offers heavy commentary on racial inequality, genocide, and gender disparity. The Nightingale is a tough watch. It’s uncomfortable, disturbing, and terribly violent, but it’s also thought-provoking and educational. There’s nothing supernatural here. The horror comes from the brutal reality of historical atrocities. 

Talk To Me (2022)

Bring Her Back’s Danny and Michael Philippou first jumped from YouTube to the big screen with great success. Their directorial debut, Talk to Me, remains A24’s highest-grossing horror movie and a critical hit. This supernatural number appears like any other teen horror movie before transforming into a chilling exploration of grief. The plot centers on a group of teens forced to contend with dark supernatural forces after attempting to communicate with the dead. While that summary seems cliche, Talk To Me is anything but. Imbued with that quirky, thought-provoking style A24 is known for, the movie excels at delivering edge-of-your-seat scares.  

Where To Watch The Best Australian Horror Movies Online

To discover more about TV shows and movies currently streaming in the US, check out the JustWatch streaming guide! You can filter your search by streaming service, genre, price, age rating, and score. Be sure to build your watchlist and receive helpful notifications on what to watch next based on your preferences!

Netflix
Disney Plus
Amazon Prime Video
Apple TV+
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Hulu
Crunchyroll
fuboTV
HBO Max
HBO Max Amazon Channel
MGM+ Amazon Channel
Crunchyroll Amazon Channel
Peacock Premium
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Paramount Plus
Paramount+ with Showtime
Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel
Starz Apple TV Channel
AMC Plus Apple TV Channel
Britbox Apple TV Channel
Paramount+ Amazon Channel
Discovery+ Amazon Channel
AMC+ Amazon Channel
The Roku Channel
Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel
Starz Roku Premium Channel
AMC+ Roku Premium Channel
AMC+
MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel
YouTube Premium
Kanopy
The CW
Hoopla
Fandango At Home
Youtube TV
Fandango at Home Free
Starz
Criterion Channel
PBS
FXNow
JustWatchTV
Tubi TV
FlixHouse
Microsoft Store
Sun Nxt
AMC
AMC Theatres
Fandor
Curiosity Stream
NBC
MGM Plus
Freeform
Philo
A&E
Lifetime
Shudder
Acorn TV
Screambox
Sundance Now
GuideDoc
BritBox
MUBI
Netflix Kids
ALLBLK
History Vault
MyOutdoorTV
WWE Network
Pure Flix
Lifetime Movie Club
PBS Kids Amazon Channel
Cinemax Amazon Channel
Hallmark+ Amazon Channel
PBS Masterpiece Amazon Channel
MZ Choice Amazon Channel
Pluto TV
BYUtv
HiDive
VIX
Night Flight Plus
Retrocrush
Dekkoo
Shout! Factory TV
OVID
Chai Flicks
Mhz Choice
Vice TV
Shudder Amazon Channel
MUBI Amazon Channel
AcornTV Amazon Channel
BritBox Amazon Channel
Fandor Amazon Channel
Screambox Amazon Channel
Sundance Now Amazon Channel
Adult Swim
USA Network
Fox
Bet+ Amazon Channel
FlixFling
Rakuten Viki
TCM
TNT
Bravo TV
Food Network
BBC America
IndieFlix
TLC
HGTV
Investigation Discovery
Science Channel
Animal Planet
Discovery
Travel Channel
Here TV
VH1
DreamWorksTV Amazon Channel
Flix Premiere
TBS
AsianCrush
Revry
DOCSVILLE
Spectrum On Demand
OXYGEN
Hi-YAH
tru TV
DisneyNOW
WeTV
ARROW
Plex
Plex Live TV
Plex Player
WOW Presents Plus
Magellan TV
BroadwayHD
The Oprah Winfrey Network
Cranked Up TV
Filmzie
MovieSaints
True Story
Martha Stewart TV
DocAlliance Films
OnDemandKorea
Darkroom
Hoichoi
iQIYI
Metrograph
Public Domain Movies
Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads
Eternal Family
Fawesome
Eventive
Cultpix
FilmBox+
aha
ShortsTV Amazon Channel
Takflix
Klassiki
Starz Amazon Channel
Netflix Standard with Ads
Cohen Media Amazon Channel
Popflick
ViX Premium Amazon Channel
Runtime
Fandango
Telemundo
Discovery +
Reveel
Ovation TV
Angel Studios
Cineverse
AD tv
Midnight Pulp
FYI Network
Xumo Play
National Geographic
Atom Tickets
Shahid VIP
DistroTV
myfilmfriend
Cinemark
Outside Watch
Cinepolis Cinemas
Full Moon Amazon Channel
Univer Video
GlewedTV
Toon Goggles
A&E Crime Central Apple TV Channel
Acorn TV Apple TV
ALLBLK Apple TV channel
UP Faith & Family Apple TV Channel
Tastemade Apple TV Channel
Sundance Now Apple TV Channel
Shudder Apple TV Channel
ScreenPix Apple TV Channel
OUTtv Apple TV Channel
Lifetime Movie Club Apple TV Channel
Hallmark+ Apple TV Channel
Eros Now Select Apple TV Channel
CuriosityStream Apple TV Channel
Cinemax Apple TV Channel
BBC Select Apple Tv channel
BET+  Apple TV channel
Carnegie Hall+ Apple TV Channel
IFC Films Unlimited Apple TV Channel
HISTORY Vault Apple TV Channel
HISTORY Vault Amazon Channel
Carnegie Hall+ Amazon Channel
Lifetime Movie Club Amazon Channel
Film Movement Plus
Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Troma NOW
Jolt Film
Regal Cinemas
Harkins Theatres
B&B Theatres
Marcus Theatres
YouTube Free
Kino Film Collection
Tubi TV Live
Pluto TV Live
Cineverse LiveTV
Strand Releasing Amazon Channel
Peacock Premium Plus
ALLBLK Amazon channel
Apple TV Plus Amazon Channel
Motorvision TV Amazon Channel
Stingray Classica Amazon Channel
Stingray Djazz Amazon Channel
Stingray Karaoke Amazon Channel
Acaciatv Amazon Channel
Adultswim Amazon Channel
Alchemiya Amazon Channel
All warrior network Amazon Channel
Amebatv Amazon Channel
Aspire TV Amazon Channel
BeFit Amazon Channel
Best tv ever Amazon Channel
Best of British Tv Amazon Channel
Baeble Amazon Channel
Best Westerns Ever Amazon Channel
Broadway HD Amazon Channel
Brown Sugar Amazon Channel
BR Sports Amazon Channel
Cartoon Network Amazon Channel
BFI Player Amazon Channel
MTV Hits Amazon Channel
Cinefest Amazon Channel
HBO Max  CNN Amazon Channel
The Coda Collection Amazon Channel
Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel
Daily Burn Amazon Channel
Daring Docs Amazon Channel
Dekkoo Amazon Channel
DocCom Amazon Channel
DocuramaFilms Amazon Channel
Dove Amazon Channel
Dox Amazon Channel
Hidive Amazon Channel
Echoboom Amazon Channel
Cocina ON Amazon Channel
Fear Factory Amazon Channel
Film Movement Plus Amazon Channel
Fitfusion Amazon Channel
FlixLatino Amazon Channel
Food Matters Amazon Channel
Fuse+ Amazon Channel
Grokker Yoga & Fitness Amazon Channel
Hi-YAH Amazon Channel
Indie Club Amazon Channel
IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel
Here TV  Amazon Channel
FilmBox Live Amazon Channel
Hopster Amazon Channel
Gaia Amazon Channel
France Channel Amazon Channel
IndiePix Unlimited Amazon Channel
Doki Amazon Channel
Kocowa Amazon Channel
Kartoon Channel Amazon Channel
Kidstream Amazon Channel
Kino Film Collection Amazon Channel
Magnolia Network Amazon Channel
Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel
Monsters and Nightmares Amazon Channel
Marquee TV Amazon Channel
MHz Choice Amazon Channel
MyOutdoor TV Amazon Channel
Outside TV Features Amzon Channel
OWN Amazon Channel
Panna Cooking Amazon Channel
Passionflix Amazon Channel
Pinoy Box Office Amazon Channel
PBS America Amazon Channel
PBS Documentaries Amazon Channel
PBS Living Amazon Channel
PixL Amazon Channel
Great American Pure Flix Amazon Channel
REELZ+ Amazon Channel
Revry Amazon Channel
Ryan and Friends Plus Amazon Channel
Science Amazon Channel
Sensical Amazon Channel
ZenLIFE by Stingray Amazon Channel
Sweatflix Amazon Channel
TCM Amazon Channel
Demand Africa Amazon Channel
The Surf Network Amazon Channel
Toku Amazon Channel
MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel
True Royalty Amazon Channel
FUEL TV+ Amazon Channel
AeroCinema Amazon Channel
BongFlix Amazon Channel
Destiny Image TV Amazon Channel
Dreamscape Kids Amazon Channel
FidoTV Channel Amazon Channel
Green Planet Stream Amazon Channel
Kundalini Yoga TV Amazon Channel
Learn How to Run Amzon Channel
Sleep Sounds & Meditation Amazon Channel
The Titanic Channel Amazon Channel
Watchit.Kid Amazon Channel
Wellness Plus by Psychetruth Amazon Channel
Yoga International Amazon Channel
Yoga and Fitness TV Amazon channel
Yoga Download Amazon Channel
Young Hollywood Amazon Channel
Vemox Cine Amazon Channel
Warriors and Gangsters Amazon Channel
Xive TV Documentaries Amazon Channel
XLTV Amazon Channel
Docsville Amazon Channel
Yipee Kids TV Amazon Channel
Yoga Anytime Amazon Channel
Planet Earth Amazon Channel
Paramount+ Originals Amazon Channel
Paramount+ MTV Amazon Channel
ITV Amazon Channel
Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
Pongalo Amazon Channel
TVCortos Amazon Channel
MTV Plus Amazon Channel
UP Faith & Family Amazon Channel
Tastemade Amazon Channel
The Great Courses Amazon Channel
Viaplay Amazon Channel
Qello Concerts by Stingray Amazon Channel
Noggin Amazon Channel
FOUND TV
Stupid Co
Gaiam TV Yoga & Fit
Kocowa
History
HBO Max  Amazon Channel
dAnime Amazon Channel
RetroCrush Amazon Channel
ScreenPix Amazon Channel
Mometu
Filters
  1. Picnic at Hanging Rock

    # 1

    In the early 1900s, Miranda attends a girls boarding school in Australia. One Valentine's Day, the school's typically strict headmistress treats the girls to a picnic field trip to an unusual but scenic volcanic formation called Hanging Rock. Despite rules against it, Miranda and several other girls venture off. It's not until the end of the day that the faculty realizes the girls and one of the teachers have disappeared mysteriously.

  2. Wolf Creek

    Wolf Creek

    2005

    # 2

    Stranded backpackers in remote Australia fall prey to a murderous bushman, who offers to fix their car, then takes them captive.

  3. Rogue

    Rogue

    2007

    # 3

    When a group of tourists stumble into the remote Australian river territory of an enormous crocodile, the deadly creature traps them on a tiny mud island with the tide quickly rising and darkness descending. As the hungry predator closes in, they must fight for survival against all odds.

  4. Lake Mungo

    Lake Mungo

    2009

    # 4

    After 16-year-old Alice Palmer drowns at a local dam, her family experiences a series of strange, inexplicable events centered in and around their home. Unsettled, the Palmers seek the help of a psychic and parapsychologist, who discovers that Alice led a secret, double life. At Lake Mungo, Alice's secret past emerges.

  5. The Loved Ones

    The Loved Ones

    2010

    # 5

    When Brent turns down his classmate Lola's invitation to the prom, she concocts a wildly violent plan for revenge.

  6. Cargo

    Cargo

    2017

    # 6

    After being infected in the wake of a violent pandemic and with only 48 hours to live, a father struggles to find a new home for his baby daughter.

  7. The Babadook

    The Babadook

    2014

    # 7

    A single mother, plagued by the violent death of her husband, battles with her son's fear of a monster lurking in the house, but soon discovers a sinister presence all around her.

  8. Boar

    Boar

    2018

    # 8

    In the harsh, yet beautiful Australian outback lives a beast, an animal of staggering size, with a ruthless, driving need for blood and destruction. It cares for none, defends its territory with brutal force, and kills with a raw, animalistic savagery unlike any have seen before.

  9. The Nightingale

    The Nightingale

    2018

    # 9

    In 1825, Clare, a 21-year-old Irish convict, chases a British soldier through the rugged Tasmanian wilderness, bent on revenge for a terrible act of violence he committed against her family. She enlists the services of an Aboriginal tracker who is also marked by trauma from his own violence-filled past.

  10. Talk to Me

    Talk to Me

    2023

    # 10

    When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.