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Looking for interesting horror movies on Netflix to watch? Wounds is a psychological paranormal thriller about a New Orleans bartender who becomes entangled with a cursed cell phone. Directed by Babak Anvari and released in 2019, this understated horror film explores demonic possession through modern technology.
Note: While Wounds is available on Netflix in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, US viewers can stream it on Hulu.
Plot Summary and Character Development
The film follows Will (Armie Hammer), a bartender who serves beer to underage teenagers at his New Orleans establishment. When a violent fight breaks out between regular customer Eric (Brad William Henke) and his friend, the frightened teens flee, leaving behind a mysterious cell phone.
What begins as a lost property becomes a supernatural nightmare. The cursed phone systematically haunts Will, Eric, and Will’s girlfriend Carrie (Dakota Johnson). Despite Will’s persistent efforts to return the device, the entity possessing it grows increasingly aggressive, ultimately consuming all three characters.
Performance Analysis
Armie Hammer delivers a compelling performance as Will, bringing authenticity to his portrayal of a working-class bartender. Having worked as a bartender’s assistant myself, I can attest that his mannerisms and customer interactions feel genuinely realistic.
The supporting cast provides solid performances that complement Hammer’s central role. One character who particularly resonated with me was one of the bartender’s friends, whose loyalty becomes crucial during the climactic third act when Eric abandons Will at his lowest point.
Setting and Atmosphere
The decision to set Wounds in New Orleans proves to be one of its strongest elements. The Big Easy provides an ideal backdrop for supernatural horror, with its rich history of occult traditions and mysterious folklore.
The choice to center much of the action in a neighborhood bar demonstrates excellent storytelling instinct. In Hindu tradition, bars can be considered temples of Lord Shiva, who is the Lord of Ghosts, making this setting perfect for horror narratives.
Thematic Elements and Supernatural Concepts
Wounds works as more than a simple possession story, incorporating elements of Gnostic demonology into its supernatural framework. When Will researches his situation, he discovers information about Gnostic demons referred to as aeons.
The film also incorporates Hindu superstitions, specifically the belief that when skin breaks and blood is drawn, it attracts demonic entities. However, the movie’s presentation of this concept as Gnosticism rather than acknowledging its Hindu origins feels culturally problematic.
Pacing and Narrative Structure
While Wounds succeeds in creating a compelling supernatural thriller, it suffers from pacing issues that prevent it from reaching its full potential. The film feels notably short for such an engrossing premise and would have benefited from an additional 15-20 minutes of screen time.
The story concludes satisfactorily, but crucial questions remain unanswered. What exactly were the teenagers doing when the phone became haunted? Why does the entity behave in specific ways toward those who possess the phone?
Technical and Artistic Merit
As an art-house horror film, Wounds prioritizes atmosphere and psychological tension over traditional jump scares and gore. Director Babak Anvari demonstrates skill in building dread through subtle visual cues rather than conventional horror techniques.
The film’s cinematography effectively captures both claustrophobic interior spaces and atmospheric New Orleans exteriors. This understated approach places it firmly within art-house horror territory, making it somewhat of an anomaly among mainstream Netflix offerings.
Art-House Elements and Atmospheric Storytelling
Wounds operates within a liminal space between mainstream horror and art-house sensibilities, never fully committing to either approach. This hesitation between commercial and artistic ambitions creates both the film’s greatest strengths and its most frustrating weaknesses.
Director Babak Anvari employs visual symbolism throughout the narrative, particularly in his use of wounds as metaphorical gateways. The recurring imagery of broken skin serves as both a literal plot device and a symbolic representation of psychological vulnerability. These visual motifs echo the work of directors like David Cronenberg, though Anvari’s execution lacks the surgical precision of body horror masters.
The film’s sound design deserves particular recognition for its contribution to the oppressive atmosphere. Anvari layers ambient noise from the New Orleans streets with subtle electronic distortions that suggest supernatural interference. The bar’s acoustic environment feels lived-in and authentic, from the clink of glasses to the murmur of regular patrons, creating an immersive soundscape that grounds the supernatural elements in reality.
Lighting choices throughout Wounds deliberately avoid traditional horror movie aesthetics. Instead of dramatic shadows and stark contrasts, Anvari opts for naturalistic lighting that gradually becomes more sickly and distorted as the supernatural influence grows. This subtle approach to visual horror requires patience from viewers accustomed to more aggressive stylistic choices.
The pacing reflects European art-house traditions more than American horror conventions. Scenes linger on character interactions and environmental details, building dread through accumulation rather than shock. This deliberate rhythm may frustrate audiences expecting conventional horror beats, but it serves the film’s psychological focus effectively.
Anvari’s background in Iranian cinema influences his approach to supernatural horror, emphasizing suggestion over explicit revelation. The director treats the cursed phone as a malevolent presence rather than a mere plot device, imbuing it with an almost sentient quality through careful framing and sound design. This anthropomorphization of technology reflects contemporary anxieties about our relationship with digital devices.
The film’s exploration of masculinity and vulnerability adds thematic depth beyond surface-level scares. Will’s profession as a bartender positions him as both observer and participant in human weakness, making his supernatural downfall more psychologically resonant. His inability to simply discard the phone reflects deeper character flaws and moral compromises.
New Orleans functions as more than a mere backdrop, becoming an active participant in the supernatural narrative. Anvari captures the city’s unique blend of beauty and decay, using architectural details and street scenes to reinforce themes of spiritual contamination. The location shooting avoids tourist-friendly imagery, instead focusing on working-class neighborhoods that feel authentically lived-in.
The film’s restraint in showing supernatural manifestations aligns with classic horror traditions while serving its art-house aspirations. Anvari understands that suggestion often proves more effective than explicit imagery, though this approach risks leaving viewers feeling unsatisfied. The director walks a careful line between atmospheric horror and pretentious obscurity.
Wounds ultimately succeeds as an atmospheric piece of those not easy to find among the horror movies on Netflix, while struggling as conventional horror entertainment. Its commitment to mood and character over traditional scares places it closer to psychological drama than genre filmmaking. This approach will appeal to viewers seeking something different from standard Netflix horror offerings, though it may disappoint those expecting more conventional thrills.
Final Recommendation
Wounds represents a solid entry among the best horror movies on Netflix for international viewers, though US audiences will need to seek it out on Hulu. The film succeeds in creating a unique supernatural thriller with its New Orleans setting, strong performance from Armie Hammer, and incorporation of Gnostic mythology.
However, potential viewers should understand this is decidedly art-house horror that prioritizes mood over explicit scares. The film’s deliberate pacing and ambiguous ending may frustrate viewers who prefer clear explanations and definitive resolutions.
Those who appreciate New Orleans’ atmosphere and horror storytelling should watch Wounds for its location work alone. Conversely, viewers of horror movies on Netflix who cannot forgive narrative omissions and art-house elements should approach this film with caution.
Know Any Other Good Art-House Horror Movies on Netflix?
Horror art-house movies remain relatively rare, representing more of an exception than the rule among the best horror movies on Netflix. If you’ve discovered other atmospheric, understated horror films that you enjoyed, please share their titles in the comments section below.
Media Credits
Netflix
© Bholenath Valsan 2020-2025—Wounds: Horror Movies on Netflix
