Buzz
While fictional ghosts and masked killers can be frightening, true horror lies in reality. These 10 documentaries are so chilling that they could easily pass as works of fiction, but the fact that they are based on real events makes them utterly terrifying.
The Nightmare (2015)
In the 2015 documentary The Nightmare, director Rodney Ascher explores the phenomenon of sleep paralysis, interviewing individuals whose nights are plagued by horrors far worse than nightmares. By recreating these nocturnal episodes using horror film techniques, Ascher brings the terror to life in a way that is both visceral and deeply unsettling.
Some particularly spine-chilling details from The Nightmare: Many sufferers of sleep paralysis report eerily similar visions of shadowy figures, with some entities, like The Hat Man, appearing in the dreams of people who have never encountered each other. Additionally, some individuals only begin experiencing sleep paralysis after learning about it, hinting at a strange, almost contagious quality to the phenomenon. If you watch this and find yourself visited by shadow people, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Where to watch: Tubi
Wild Wild Country (2018)
Netflix’s documentary series Wild Wild Country chronicles the arrival of a religious group, led by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and his followers, known as the Orange People, to a vast ranch near a small Oregon town. Initially met with distrust and disdain by the locals, the ranch transforms from a peaceful hippie haven into a fortified compound where fanatical members engage in poisonings and murder plots. The tension escalates brilliantly across six episodes, and the insights from former cult members are both gripping and unsettling.
Where to watch: Netflix
The Act of Killing (2013)
Joshua Oppenheimer’s bold documentary, The Act of Killing, delves into the depths of political evil by having Indonesian death squad leaders reenact their atrocities on camera. Decades after the mass executions of up to a million communists, the perpetrators, now free from fear of retribution, openly discuss their crimes. They enthusiastically recreate their brutal acts as if filming a blockbuster, yet the lingering trauma in the eyes of their fellow citizens serves as a haunting reminder of their past horrors.
Where to watch: Hulu
Tickled (2016)
What begins as a quirky exploration of the bizarre world of Competitive Endurance Tickling in Tickled quickly spirals into a chilling investigation of the internet’s dark underbelly and human psychology. The filmmakers find themselves pursued by a mysterious and vengeful figure at the center of this strange subculture, revealing a disturbing tale of exploitation and obsession lurking beneath the surface of this seemingly harmless activity.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Cropsey (2009)
Cropsey delves into the chilling true story of child abductions and murders on Staten Island in the early 1980s, which spawned numerous urban legends. The crimes, linked to Andre Rand—a man rumored to inhabit the tunnels beneath the abandoned Willowbrook State School—are terrifying enough. However, the unsettling possibility that Rand, still alive and incarcerated, might be innocent adds an extra layer of horror to this already grim tale.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Gimme Shelter (1969)
This vérité documentary captures the Rolling Stones’ ill-fated Altamont Free Concert, unfolding with the tension of a horror film. From the outset, the event is doomed, culminating in drug-induced violence, a murder, and the collapse of 1960s idealism. Watching the series of poor decisions that lead to chaos evokes a sense of dread akin to a thriller, leaving viewers desperate to shout warnings at the screen as mistakes pile up.
Where to watch: HBO Max
A Certain Kind of Death (2003)
Death lies at the heart of most horror, and this understated, observational documentary reveals why by focusing on individuals who pass away with no one to claim their remains. Stripped of the cultural rituals of funerals and memorials, the film lays bare the stark, mundane, and inescapable reality of death. The state steps in to handle these unclaimed bodies, attempting to identify them and locate next of kin. When unsuccessful, they are buried in mass graves, their lives uncelebrated and their memories forgotten. It’s a haunting portrayal of true horror.
Where to watch: YouTube
Let the Fire Burn (2013)
This gripping documentary, composed entirely of archival footage, unfolds like a tense horror thriller. Through news clips and deposition recordings, it meticulously details the standoff between a radical political group and the Philadelphia police. The escalating tensions culminate in a devastating fire that consumes three city blocks and claims 11 lives. Let the Fire Burn avoids simplistic conclusions—no heroes or villains emerge—instead leaving viewers with a disturbing look at the extremes authorities may resort to under pressure.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness (2021)
This gripping true-crime series explores two chilling narratives. If Maury Terry, the writer and investigator at its center, is to be believed, the Son of Sam killings were not the work of a solitary postal worker but rather a coordinated group of satanic cultists who remain unpunished.
If Terry was mistaken (and evidence suggests he was), the story shifts to a talented journalist whose obsession with an improbable theory consumes his life. Regardless of the truth, the series delivers a captivating and spine-tingling experience.
Where to watch: Netflix
Dr. Death: The Undoctored Story (2021)
This documentary taps into a universal fear: the dread of placing your life in the hands of an unqualified surgeon. Dr. Christopher Duntsch, the focus of Dr. Death, epitomizes this nightmare. His surgical incompetence, coupled with his overconfidence, led to a series of disastrous operations, leaving patients permanently injured or dead. The film reveals the shocking extent of his negligence and the devastation he caused, making it a harrowing watch.
Where to watch: Peacock
