The Best Osgood Perkins Movies, Ranked
Osgood "Oz" Perkins might be the son of Psycho (1960) actor Anthony Perkins, but he has made a name for himself as a director. His latest movie, The Monkey (2025), adapts one of Stephen King's lesser-known short stories. However, it's far from the only horror movie in Perkins' filmography.
Perkins got his start in Hollywood as an actor, debuting in 1983's Psycho II alongside his father. While he's played roles in hits like Legally Blonde (2001) and Not Another Teen Movie (2001), he is best known for his writing and directorial work. The Blackcoat's Daughter (2017) marked his directorial debut and earned a "Certified Fresh" badge on Rotten Tomatoes, with his brand of moody horror continuing to impress critics to this day. If you want to delve into his full filmography, here's where you can watch the best Osgood Perkins movies, ranked based on critic and audience reception.
Gretel & Hansel retells the Brothers Grimm's famous fairy tale about a witch intent on devouring two lost siblings. However, in Perkins' version, the story takes a sharp supernatural turn, using only the fairy tale's skeleton to construct its plot. While the cinematography is undeniably gorgeous, the plot lacks pizazz. The movie marked Perkins' first step back from the script, and his absence is felt. Without enough substance for audiences to bite into, Gretel & Hansel earns the lowest spot on this list.
Still, fans of moody, slow-burn horror might find something to like, especially if fairy tale retellings are your thing. It's got a folky, isolated vibe similar to The Witch, just don't expect it to reach the same heights as A24's masterpiece.
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House delivers a solid haunted house story reminiscent of a Shirley Jackson novel. The ghost story kicks off after Lily Saylor (Ruth Wilson) takes a job as a live-in nurse for Iris Blum (Paula Prentiss). What transpires is a slow-burn supernatural tale with a divisive reception. While some dub the movie an underrated gem, others criticize the payoff. What will you think? Really, that depends on your tolerance for slow-burn stories and ambiguous endings.
Similar to Gretel & Hansel (and, honestly, most movies in Perkins' filmography), I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House shines as a moody, dream-like watch that prioritizes atmosphere and aesthetic more than a tightly-constructed plot. If you're searching for the consistent action and jump scares found in movies like The Conjuring (2013), you'll probably walk away disappointed. But if you can handle slow-creeping tension and subtle scares, you just might find yourself a new supernatural favorite on Netflix.
Penned and directed by Perkins, The Blackcoat's Daughter follows two students, Kat (Kiernan Shipka) and Rose (Lucy Boynton), whose time at an isolated prep school gets upended after crossing paths with a mental institution escapee (Emma Roberts). As far as directorial debuts go, Perkins starts with a bang, establishing that atmospheric unease that would become a trademark of his future films. If anything, The Blackcoat's Daughter suffers from being slightly "undercooked," which is why it lingers in the middle of this list.
Again, Perkins proves that atmospheric, slow-burn horror is his forte. Although bleaker than his other movies, The Blackcoat's Daughter was made for fans of pretty, haunting films where the cinematography is the real star (although the performances here are excellent, too). If you want to get a feel for Perkins' vibe, this is the place to start to truly understand the director.
The Monkey adapts one of Stephen King's lesser-known short stories from 1985's Skeleton Crew. Once again, Perkins sits at the writing and directorial helm, this time delivering a gory, dark comedy about a cursed cymbal-clapping monkey toy. Unlike Perkins' other movies, The Monkey does something of a left turn by branching away from atmospheric horror and delving headfirst into pulpy fun.
With such a stark departure, it makes sense that The Monkey might not work for longtime fans of Perkins' work. There is still an element of psychological horror that audiences have come to expect from the director, but really, this one is for the B-movie aficionados who like their horror filled with gore, comedy, and unique kills that are just as stupid as they are creative.
In Longlegs, FBI Agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) sets out to find an elusive serial killer (Nicolas Cage) plaguing Oregon. There's a reason the film remains Neon's highest-grossing movie of 2024 and the highest ranking on this list. Outlandish Nicolas Cage performance aside, Longlegs excels at blending psychological and supernatural elements to an unsettling degree. (Although, this is Perkins' we are talking about, so are we really surprised?)
If you want pure supernatural fodder, consider Gretel & Hansel or I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House. However, if you like serial killer stories and crime investigations steeped in unsettling horror, Longlegs is an easy pick. Think The Silence of the Lambs (1991) or Zodiac (2007), but with supernatural elements that will keep you looking over your shoulder while you watch.
