Horror and Valentine’s Day go hand in hand, with movie options that extend far beyond My Bloody Valentine (though that is certainly a seasonal classic, especially that “heart in a chocolate box” scene). Head to your streaming home screen and find one of these scary flicks with just enough romance to satisfy the requirements of the holiday.
Sinners
Sinners is a critical smash, a box-office hit, a record-breaking Oscar nominee, and—lest we forget—a movie unafraid to work a lot of passion into its tale of twin brothers (Michael B. Jordan, who earned one of those Oscar noms for his performance) battling an invasion of vampires in 1930s Mississippi. Ryan Coogler’s tale is as steamy as it is gory, with first love and rekindled romances helping propel Sinners’ deeply felt emotional stakes. (HBO Max)
Queens of the Dead
Yes, it’s a zombie movie—Tina Romero’s affectionate and often very funny homage to her famous father’s signature genre. But Queens of the Dead also celebrates the power of community, as a ragtag group of drag performers and bar workers take refuge together and draw upon their unique fighting skills when a brain-chomping apocalypse looms. Two big questions emerge: will the pregnant Lizzy make it to the club to find her wife, Dre, before it’s too late? And why didn’t we realize the undead could look so sparkly and fabulous? (Shudder)
The Conjuring 2
The love between Ed and Lorraine Warren—built on a foundation of faith and support for each other—was always their greatest weapon when fighting all manner of vengeful ghosts, demonic nuns, and toys come to life in The Conjuring movies. The second film in the series is maybe the scariest and the sweetest; somehow it finds room for both Lorraine’s terrifying visions of Ed’s violent death and Ed’s tender rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” (HBO Max)
Heart Eyes
A serial killer wearing a mask that looks like you-know-which emoji targets Seattle couples on Valentine’s Day—including a pair of co-workers with chemistry but no romance… yet. Slashers do love to strike around February 14, but this 2025 release is the most recent example, with a fun cast that includes new Scream star Mason Gooding and ‘90s horror icon (Idle Hands, Final Destination) turned Chucky star Devon Sawa. (Netflix)
Witchboard
Vecna superfans will absolutely want to seek out the 2024 Witchboard remake, which features Jamie Campbell Bower in a scenery-devouring role. But the original, written and directed by Kevin Tenney (Night of the Demons), is campy through and through, with music video temptress Tawny Kitaen starring as a newly engaged woman whose playful Ouija board experiments open the door to unholy terror. There’s also a love triangle element between Kitaen’s character, her fiancé, and her ex—with the affections pulling in ways you might not expect, especially for a movie released in 1986. (Shudder)
Your Monster
Melissa Barrera stars as a heartbroken actress who still longs for her ex, a playwright, despite him callously dumping her while she’s being treated for cancer. She accepts an understudy role in his new play, and the humiliations continue… until she discovers a curious monster living in her closet. This Beauty and the Beast situation helps our heroine gain confidence and a backbone, with a twist ending that suggests loving yourself is what really matters. (Rent on Prime Video)
The Mummy
The 1999 version, mind you, though the 1932 version has its charms. For Valentine’s Day, the best choice adjacent to Egyptian tomb raiding and creepy yet lovelorn creatures emerging from sarcophaguses (sarcophagi?) also involves a swashbuckling romance between Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. We’ve been promised a new sequel, remember, so there’s no better way to prepare than by seeing where it all started. (Hulu/Disney+)
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consensual Suicidal Person
If you believe in the power of quirky couples (Harold and Maude, for instance), this 2023 indie with a lengthy title just might suit. A young vampire’s reluctance to kill has prevented her fangs from sprouting, a situation her family has grown very impatient with. She thinks she’s found the perfect solution when she meets a guy battling suicidal thoughts—but, of course, feelings interfere in various endearing ways. (Shudder)
Together
Real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie star as a duo who become inseparable in every uncomfortable, body-horror sense of the word. It’s a gimmick, but it is a very gross one, and the movie features a very clever use of one of the Spice Girls’ most underrated hits. (Hulu/Disney+)
Cemetery Man
This 1994 entry from Italian horror director Michele Soavi (Stage Fright) stars Rupert Everett as a cemetery caretaker who falls in love with an alluring young widow—which would already be complicated enough without all the dying, rising-from-the-dead, and actual Death involvement that follows. It’s also stuffed with quirky humor and has rightfully become a cult classic. (Shudder)
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