4 Scary Serial Killer Movies Streaming on Netflix This May
“People don’t realize that murderers do not come out in the dark with long teeth and saliva dripping off their chin. People don’t realize that there are killers among them. People they liked, loved, lived with, work with and admired could the next day turn out to be the most demonic people imaginable.” — Ted Bundy
It’s hard not to be fascinated by serial killers. Not only do we want to learn information that may protect us from becoming victims, the mystery of why anyone would commit such heinous crimes and inflict suffering on others is unfathomable. These are the reasons why serial killer movies are a perennial favorite, especially among horror fans.
These serial killer movies are currently streaming on Netflix, as of May 2025:
The Clovehitch Killer (2018)
Leaving Netflix May 14.
In a film that is very loosely based on the real-life story of Dennis Rader—AKA the bland-looking Middle American family man who lived a secret life as the “Bind, Torture, Kill” serial killer —a family patriarch named Don (Dylan McDermott) is a Scout leader and an inspiration to his young son Tyler (Charlie Plummer) until Tyler starts to suspect that his dad is responsible for the piles of corpses that start showing up around town. Noting how the idea of a seemingly normal man being a serial killer can be more unsettling than the usual horror tropes, The Artful Critic writes, “Evil hiding in a picturesque Bible Belt town can be much more disturbing and frightening than a masked killer with a butcher knife in plain sight.”
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)
This movie is a biographical crime drama about prolific serial killer Ted Bundy, played by Zac Efron. However, it is told from the perspective of his longtime girlfriend Liz (played by Lily Collins) and based on her memoir. As Liz begins to suspect her boyfriend Ted may be the “Ted” police believe is responsible for a string of murders, he gaslights her into remaining silent.
Woman of the Hour (2024)
A crime thriller directed by Anna Kendrick in her debut, Woman of the Hour fictionalizes several women’s stories about encountering serial killer Rodney Alcala. Kendrick portrays Sheryl, an aspiring actress who goes on the game show The Dating Game, where she meets Alcala as “Bachelor #3”. Like the real life story, despite selecting Alcala as the winner, Sheryl declines to go on the “prize” date with him because of his creepy behavior.
Trap (2024)
90s heartthrob Josh Hartnett portrays a serial killer named Cooper who is known as “The Butcher” for dismembering his victims. While at a concert with his daughter, Cooper discovers he has been caught in a trap — the police know that The Butcher is at the concert and are interviewing every man who meets the profile before they can exit the area. The audience follows Cooper as he tries to find a way to escape, something he proves to be pretty adept at.
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