One of my favorite things about having all these amazing streaming services pretty much at my fingertips these days is that not only do they help fill in a lot of gaps when it comes to horror titles new and old, but many of them also feature many of the brilliant horror documentaries that have been coming out over the last decade or so that have helped redefine what is possible when you take a moment to examine the various facets of horror, including real-life horrors and live events. As someone who relishes the history of our horror in all its forms, I think it’s absolutely amazing that these digital avenues now exist and provide a platform for all these awesome genre docs to be enjoyed by fans everywhere.
So, for today’s “From Streams to Screams” list, I thought I’d round up 13 brilliant horror documentaries currently available to stream that fans should undoubtedly make some time for before we say goodbye to the month of October. And while there will probably be some documentaries featured here that are expected entries, I dug up a few quirky choices that still offer up a fun way to get you into the Halloween spirit.
To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story (Streaming on Amazon Prime)
Directed by Derek Dennis Herbert, To Hell and Back tells the harrowing story of famed stuntman and actor Kane Hodder, who overcame a dehumanizing childhood filled with torment and bullying in Sparks, Nevada, and later survived a near-death burn accident to eventually go on to don the infamous hockey mask of Jason Voorhees, the horror icon of the Friday the 13th series. An on-screen legend, Hodder has killed more people on screen than any other actor ever!
Leviathan (Streaming on Shudder)
A feature length documentary uncovering the history and the making of Hellraiser.
78/52 (Streaming on Hulu)
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the shower... Discover how Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho changed film history.
Haunters: The Art of the Scare (Streaming on Netflix)
They tap into that facet of human nature that drives people to look for entertainment in the experience of fear.
Unearthed and Untold: The Path to Pet Sematary (Streaming on Amazon Prime & Shudder)
This documentary is a detailed look into the making of Pet Sematary one of the most enduring cult-horror classics of our generation.
Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film (Streaming on Tubi TV)
Part one of a multi part documentary series with distinguished actors, directors, writers, composers and special effects mavens examining the history of the horror, fantasy and science fiction films from the groundbreaking silent 1920s through the Golden Age of Universal, the Silver Age of Hammer and up through the 1980s and beyond.
Never Sleep Again (Streaming on Shudder)
Explore the legacy of “dream demon” Freddy Krueger in this award-winning documentary.
Killer Legends (Streaming on Netflix)
What if some of the most terrifying horror stories you were ever told turned out to be true?
Birth of the Living Dead (Streaming on Tubi TV)
The story of a college drop-out who went to Pittsburgh, gathered real townspeople to help make ‘Night of the Living Dead,’ and put zombies on the map.
You’re So Cool, Brewster: The Story of Fright Night (Streaming on Shudder)
This supersized horror doc explores the making and success of Fright Night 1 & 2.
Nightmares in Red, White and Blue (Streaming on Tubi TV)
Genre-giants directors Joe Dante (Gremlins), John Carpenter (Halloween), and George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead) appear in this documentary that explores appeal of horror films.
Crystal Lake Memories (Streaming on Shudder)
From Mrs. Voorhees to Mr. Krueger, this delectable doc offers and in-depth look at every entry in the Friday the 13th franchise.
The Devil & Father Amorth (Streaming on Netflix)
The director of the classic “The Exorcist” discovers a new kind of horror: the kind that’s real.
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Looking for more ways to get into the spooky spirit this October? Check here to read all of our 2018 special features celebrating the Halloween season!
Heather A. Wixson was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, until she followed her dreams and moved to Los Angeles in 2009. A 14-year veteran in the world of horror entertainment journalism, Wixson fell in love with genre films at a very early age, and has spent more than a decade as a writer and supporter of preserving the history of horror and science fiction cinema. Throughout her career, Wixson has contributed to several notable websites, including Fangoria, Dread Central, Terror Tube, and FEARnet, and she currently serves as the Managing Editor for Daily Dead, which has been her home since 2013. She's also written for both Fangoria Magazine & ReMind Magazine, and her latest book project, Monsters, Makeup & Effects: Volume One will be released on October 20, 2021.
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