There’s no getting away from it: horror is the genre of 2019.

From big cinematic blockbusters like Midsommar, Us and It 2, to terrifying TV shows like Haunting of Hill House and Typewriter, we are positively inundated with options to scare ourselves silly with. And now Netflix, hot on the heels of star-studded spook-fest The Silence, has unveiled yet another horror film for us to sink our teeth into.

So say hello, if you dare, to Eerie.

Eerie weaves a spine-tingling yarn about Lucia Academy, an exclusive all-girls private school run by Catholic nuns. So far, so Sister Act 2 – but the story shifts gear when Erika (Gillian Vicencio), one of the school’s students, unexpectedly dies. It isn’t long before Erika’s traumatised classmates are reaching out to clairvoyant guidance counsellor Pat Consolacion (Bea Alonzo) with wild claims that they have seen Erika’s ghost patrolling the grounds - because, yes, this is a horror film that skews decidedly on the supernatural side.

Concerned, Pat launches an independent investigation into Erika’s death. And, judging by the reactions on Twitter, she uncovers something truly horrible in the process…

“Just watched Eerie on Netflix and guess who’ll be sleeping with the lights on for a week?” tweeted one terrified viewer, alongside a raised hand emoji.

“I have basically become a critic when it comes to horror movies. I haven’t watched a good one in a while ‘cause i couldn’t seem to find some good ones [on] Netflix but then Eerie came and I must say that movie is haunting and indeed very eerie,” another added.

And still one more confessed: “I have screamed three times in 20 minutes and there’s still an hour and 20 minutes left.”

Watch the trailer for Netflix’s Eerie below:

The Filipino horror movie – which clocks in at around 100 minutes – was directed by Mikhail Red, and premiered in Singapore during the Singapore International Film Festival. However, it’s only recently landed on Netflix, which explains why so many people are talking about it at the moment.

Our top tip? Watch Eerie with friends – and not just because there’s safety in numbers. As Jeffrey Goldstein, a psychology professor and expert in violence and entertainment at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, notes: “People who consume violent and scary entertainment rarely do it alone. Going as a group helps ground you in reality, and you can compare your reactions with others and show others that you are strong enough to take it.”

Indeed, after observing audiences at horror films for years, Goldstein has seen people scream and cry and even throw up, but often, those same people will appear happy after the movie is over. They’ve also proved to themselves they can handle it.

In short, a terrifying horror session with your pals is the ultimate bonding activity, so maybe it’s time to make like the old days and summon your nearest and dearest round for a movie night, with plenty of popcorn and cuddly pillows to hide behind?

Inspired? No need to thank us, honestly: it’s our pleasure. Fair warning, though, we’re expecting an invite to your viewing party, because we definitely don’t plan on watching Netflix’s Eerie alone any time soon…

Are you brave enough to watch Netflix’s Eerie? It’s available to stream on Netflix now – good luck!

Image: Netflix