10 Horror Movies On OTT: Friday The 13th Special!

Deepa Gahlot picks 10 Bollywood horror flicks to mark Friday the 13th.

In many societies, Friday the 13th is considered unlucky for their superstitious beliefs.

In popular culture, however, the date is famous for the Friday The 13th horror franchise, beginning with the 1980 slasher film, directed by Sean S Cunningham, featuring the killer Jason Voorhees at Camp Crystal Lake. There were 12 films in the franchise, and a long running television series.

Bollywood horror has evolved from gothic spookfests like Mahal (1949), Woh Kaun Thi (1964) Kohra (1964), to the rampaging monsters in Ramsay Brothers movies, to the recent comedy horror genre kicked off by Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films.

The popularity of horror films just goes to show that there is a section of the audience that may not believe in the supernatural or be put off by slasher gore, but enjoys the chills and thrills of the genre.

Purana Mandir (1984)
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

The low-budget schlock of Ramsay Brothers films is not sophisticated by today's standards, but some of them are now considered cult movies. In this film directed by Shyam and Tulsi Ramsay, with Mohnish Behl and Aarti Gupta in the lead, an ancient curse unleashes a demon called Samri (Anirudh Agrawal). Even without the use of CGI, the film was scary as hell.

Raat (1992)
Where to watch: Z5

In this Ram Gopal Varma film, after a family moves into a new house, their daughter (Revathi) begins acting strangely when a cat is killed. When all else fails, a tantric is summoned to help.

​Regarded as one of the best films on a person getting 'possessed', this film, inspired by Hollywood's The Exorcist, was shot simultaneously in Telugu as Raatri.

Raaz (2002)
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

An unofficial remake of the Hollywood film What Lies Beneath, this Vikram Bhatt film starred Bipasha Basu and Dino Morea as a couple moving to Ooty to save their failing marriage, only to be haunted by a ghost from the husband';s past. The success of this film led to Bhatt almost making a career out of ghoulish movies.

Bhoot (2003)
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Still in his horror phase, Ram Gopal Varma made this eerie film about a couple (Urmila Matondkar and Ajay Devgn), who move into a high-rise apartment where the previous tenant had committed suicide.

Soon, the wife becomes possessed and commits a murder in a frenzy. Unlike most Bollywood films of its time, Bhoot had no songs to ensure the tension remained unbroken.

Tumbbad (2018)
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

This truly blood-curdling blend of folklore and superstition, directed by Rahi Anil Barve, was such an excellent addition to the genre that it did well when re-released in 2024.

Vinayak (Sohum Shah) searches in a decaying rural mansion for a hidden treasure guarded by Hastar, a monster deity not meant to be worshipped. When Vinayak breaks the rules, he discovers the horrific price of greed. This was the first Indian film to premiere at the Critics' Week section at the Venice International Film Festival.

Stree (2018)
Where to watch: Netflix & JioHotstar

The success of Amar Kaushik's film made horror comedies popular. In a small town, a female spirit abducts men at night during a festival, leaving only their clothes behind.

Based on the Karnataka urban legend Nale Ba (Come tomorrow), in the film residents write the phrase 'O stree kal aana' on their doors to ward off spirits.

A simple tailor (Rajkummar Rao) is forced to be the town's saviour, with Shraddha Kapoor playing his ghostly love interest.

Bhool Bhulaiya (2007)
Where to watch: Netflix & JioHotstar

The first film in the franchise, directed by Priyadarshan, starred Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan, battling the ghost of a vengeful dancer, Manjulika, who is inadvertently released in a mansion believed by locals to be haunted.

The next two films in the franchise may have been successful at the box office, but there original remains the most effective.

Bulbbul (2020)
Where to watch: Netflix

Anvita Dutt's beautifully shot film was set in 19th century Bengal, where a child bride grows into an enigmatic woman (Tripti Dimrii) ruling her household, while her village is plagued by mysterious murders of men. The film uses a distinctive red palette to symbolise the 'blood moon' and the protagonist's transition.

Munjya (2024)
Where to watch: JioHotstar

The story of Aditya Sarpotdar's film is rooted in the folklore of the Konkan. A young boy killed before he could marry his beloved turns into a restless spirit.

A timid Bittu (Abhay Verma) visits his ancestral village and unwittingly releases Munjya, who attaches himself to the young man, demanding that he help him find his lost love. Funny as well as spine-tingling with a wicked CGI ghost.

Shaitaan (2025)
Where to watch: Netflix

In Vikas Bahl's film, a family's weekend getaway turns into a living nightmare when an evil stranger (R Madhavan) uses black magic to control a teenager (Janki Bodiwala). Her parents (Ajay Devgn-Jyothika) have to fight dark forces to save her.

A remake of the Gujarati film Vash, it had a bone-chillingly sinister performance by Madhavan.

Photographs curated by Satish Bodas/Rediff