After watchingSquid Gameseason 2, audiences may be craving even more horrific stories, and luckily, Netflix has several great movies to check out. Among Netflix’s vast catalog of movies and shows,Squid Gameis one of the most unique entries.The South Korean show centers on a series of deadly children’s games, where the poor and vulnerable compete for a life-changing amount of money. In season 2, audiences got to see even more bloody games, alongside Gi-hun’s newfound mission to take down the Front Man. Yet,the end ofSquid Gameseason 2may leave viewers wanting more.
Because ofSquid Game’sdistinct premise, it may feel impossible to find another movie or show that evokes the same feelings. Though there arecountless K-dramas to watch, many of them lack the dark edge ofSquid Game.Similarly, American thrillers are incredibly easy to find, yet few have the intense trials that are at the core ofSquid Game.Fortunately,there are some strong follow-ups toSquid Gamethat are currently streaming on Netflix. These projects are intense, grim, and will hopefully have audiences just as captivated as they were bySquid Gameseason 2.
Circle
Cast
Circle (2015) is a psychological thriller that places fifty strangers in a mysterious chamber, where they awaken in a circle with no recollection of their arrival. Facing an ominous device, they must confront the reality that one of them will die every two minutes until only one remains.
Though not a critical darling, a perfect follow-up toSquid Gameis the 2015 sci-fi horror film,Circle.In this movie, 50 strangers wake up in a mysterious room where they are arranged in two circles around a looming black dome. The people quickly realize that if they move from their positions, the dome will kill them. Yet,even more terrifying is the fact that each person is able to vote on who they think should die next. Every two minutes, another individual must die, forcing the strangers to become allies or enemies.
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Circlehas a rather disappointing 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences should not let that deter them. In terms of plot,Circlemay be the closest viewers can get toSquid Game.The movie showcases the same scenario of strangers either supporting each other, or throwing each other under the bus, proving how far humans will go for survival. As a result,Circlewill not only thrill audiences, but will also make them think about their own moralsand how they judge others in real life.
The Watchers
Based on A.M. Shine’s novel, The Watchers follows Mina, a twenty-eight-year-old artist stranded in the middle of a forest in Ireland. Her momentary relief when she finds shelter is shattered when she discovers other strangers in the same predicament - but they’re stalked each night by unseen creatures.
A movie that was recently added to Netflix that could make for a good watch afterSquid GameisThe Watchers.This 2024 movie follows Mina, a young woman who finds herself lost in the forest. Soon enough, she meets another woman who urges her to find shelter in a mysterious bunker to avoid the violent entities in the woods. However,Mina quickly discovers that she is stuck in this safe space for good, and all the while, is being surveyed by creatures known simply as the Watchers.
AlthoughThe Watchershas a more supernatural tilt, it still includes some solid parallels toSquid Game.The most obvious connection between the two is that Mina is being watched just as Gi-hun and his fellow players are being watched.The distinct relationship betweenSquid Game’splayers and guards comes to lightin this horror movie. Plus, the film isthe directorial debut of Ishana Night Shyamalan, giving it a notable eerieness that feels similar to the Korean series.
Don’t Move
A grieving woman must escape a serial killer in the remote forests of Big Sur after being injected with a paralytic agent. With only 20 minutes before her body shuts down, she embarks on a desperate race against time, battling fear and her fading physical strength in this tense survival horror thriller.
Part of what makesSquid Gameso special is that it puts its characters into nearly impossible situations. This leaves viewers at the edge of their seats, desperate to know what happens next. Another horror movie that hasthe same effect is 2024’sDon’t Move.In this film,a young woman is injected with a paralytic agent by a killer, and must run and hidebefore time runs out, and she is unable to move any longer.
Bread and Lottery
Mingle
Special Round (Lights Out)
Don’t Movemay not have any children’s games,but the protagonist certainly has a massive task to overcome. Just likeSquid Game’scontestants, she must race against the clock in order to save herself from a horrifying death. In this way,those who loveSquid Gamewill almost certainly feel the same heart-pounding dreadthat they felt during the Six-Legged Pentathlon or the Mingle Game.
#Alive
Alive is a South Korean horror-thriller film directed by Il Cho. The narrative follows a video game live streamer, portrayed by Yoo Ah-in, who is trapped in his apartment as a zombie apocalypse unfolds outside. Isolated and cut off from communication, he must use his wits to survive the growing threat. The film also stars Park Shin-hye and explores themes of survival and human resilience.
It would be wrong to create a list of movies to watch afterSquid Gameand not includeanother Korean horror project.One perfect film to add to your watchlist is#Alive.The movie followsa video game live streamer who locks himself in his apartment when a horrifying virus plagues his city, turning everyone around him into zombies. However, just as all hope seems to be lost, the protagonist discovers that another survivor was hiding in plain sight all along.
A zombie apocalypse may feel quite different from the dystopic world ofSquid Game,but fortunately, both situations evoke the same emotions: fear.
A zombie apocalypse may feel quite different from the dystopic world ofSquid Game,but fortunately, both situations evoke the same emotions: fear.#Alive’smain character is struggling as much as anySquid Gameplayer, as he must figure out which moves will keep him alive, and which will inevitably lead to his death. With a strong 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, this movie is invigorating and proves that the zombie genre still has some new stories to tell.
The Platform
The Platform is a Spanish sci-fi movie that takes place in a vertical prison where prisoners on the upper levels get the most food and those on the lower levels are left to starve. The 2019 dystopian thriller was released on Netflix to worldwide acclaim.
Last but not least, there is 2019’sThe Platform.This Spanish horror movie takes place in a prison, where inmates are fed using a platformthat descends from the ceiling. Because the prisoners near the top take more than they need, the prisoners near the bottom are left to starve. That is, until one man decides to change the system so that he is the one who benefits, not the men upstairs.
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Aside from having an incredibly interesting premise,The Platformis the ideal follow-up toSquid Gamebecause it perfectly captures social issues. In the same way thatSquid Gamedelves into class problems and morality,The Platformshows the darkest sides of humanity. Though not an easy watch,The Platformis sure to leave audiences thinking, and more than that, will keep them scared.
Squid Game
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
