5 Cozy Horror Movies To Cuddle Up To This Fall

Cozy and horror aren’t two words you typically see together in a sentence, but there is definitely a difference between nightmare-fueled splatter horror and a cozy but chilling and spooky horror film.

If you’re not someone who enjoys the jump scare or a ton of gore but still wants to be spooked, cozy horror is absolutely the subgenre for you. Here are five cozy horror movies to watch while cuddled under the blankets with a cup of pumpkin spice hot chocolate. 

The Others (2001)

The Others is a 2001 ghost story starring Nicole Kidman that really hits those cozy fall vibes. The whole movie is drenched in fog and set in an old mansion during World War II. This movie is quite the epic ghost story, featuring all of the eerie whispers in the halls, an overwhelming sense of dread, and a perfect slow burn story. The movie is about a religious and overprotective mother (Kidman) who moves her photosensitive kids to the countryside while they wait for any news on their missing father. While all of this is occurring, it becomes obvious to the three that there is something more sinister going on in the house. The Others is available to rent on Apple TV+.  

Coraline (2009)

If you want something that isn’t fully scary but just a little creepy, Coraline is a great choice for you. Coraline is a stop-motion film directed by Henry Selick set in a world of knitted sweaters, cozy meals, and a fall color palette with pops of blue. Coraline is about a young girl exploring a new home while her parents are preoccupied with other things. Coraline finds a secret door that transports her to “The Other World” that mirrors her world, but appears to be better in Coraline’s eyes. Everything is great until her Other family tries to keep her in the alternate universe forever. Coraline can be rented on Prime Video.

The Witch (2015)

The Witch (The VVitch) is the ultimate folklore and slow burn horror movie that will have you questioning everything as inauspicious things keep happening. The Witch is set in 1630 New England as a family’s world is rocked when their youngest son goes missing. The family suspects the oldest daughter, Thomasin, of foul play. She was watching the boy as he vanished and her younger sisters think that Thomasin is practicing witchcraft. The religious horror of this film really showcases a testament of trust, strength, and family togetherness. It’s creepy, full of dread, and every corner of the film lurks with malevolent forces. The Witch can be rented on Prime Video.

Crimson Peak (2015)

Crimson Peak is a Guillermo del Toro masterpiece dripping with gothic horror and romance. The story is about a young woman named Edith who is swept away to an isolated gothic mansion after marrying. After she moves into the mansion, she gets an overwhelming sense that the house is alive and full of secrets. Edith is able to communicate with the dead, so she makes it her mission to figure out what has happened in the house and the dark secrets that her new family has buried. The velvet gowns, candlelit rooms, and snow-ladden landscape will be the perfect film to cozy up with. Crimson Peak is available to rent on Apple TV+. 

The Village (2004)

M. Night Shyamalan is excellent at capturing the creepy cozy vibes through his rustic palettes and slow burn movie plots. The Village is one of his films that perfectly encapsulates the cozy horror vibe. The setting of The Village has quite the harvest feel and the weather is drab and rainy almost consistently. The movie is about an Amish-style community that lives away from the world in the middle of the woods. The one rule of where they live is that they have an unspoken rule between them and the creatures that live in the surrounding woods. If they stay out of their land, the creatures won’t bother them. Unfortunately, a young boy breaks the rule when he travels to the next town to get medicine for the girl he loves. The Village is available to watch on Hulu.