14 documentaries on Netflix that are scarier than fiction

Amanda Knox (Netflix)

When you think of scary movies, images of monsters and unstoppable killers come to mind. But documentaries can also tell some horrific stories, too.

With Halloween around the corner, we delved into Netflix to highlight some of the most chilling non-fiction movies and TV series. We found everything from Errol Morris' classic that looked inside the mind of a killer, to a UK series that explores nurses who kill their patients.

Here are 14 documentaries that we dare you to binge late at night.

Note: Numerous Netflix titles drop off the streaming service monthly so the availability of titles below may change.

1. "Amanda Knox" (2016)

Believe her or not, the murder surrounding Amanda Knox is a chilling piece of modern-day pop culture. This documentary takes a deep dive into all the people surrounding the murder.

2. "Blackfish" (2013)

(Magnolia Pictures (Magnolia Pictures)

It's the documentary that ended the orca whale shows at SeaWorld. We follow the horrific capture of the whales and how they lashed out over the years while being captive performers at the amusement park.

3. "The Confessions of Thomas Quick" (2015)

This documentary looks at Sweden's most infamous serial killer who confessed to more than 30 murders then shockingly recanted.

4. "The Confession Tapes" (2017)

This TV series looks at a collection of true crimes in which the people convicted claim they were coerced or gave false confessions.

5. "Jesus Camp" (2006)

A photo of Sister Cathy from "The Keepers." (Netflix)

Documentary filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady give us a look inside the Christian summer camp where kids are taught that they have "prophetic gifts." A troubling and incredible viewing experience.

6. "The Keepers" (2017)

A decades-old murder in Baltimore of Sister Catherine Cesnik is investigated in this true crime doc series.

7. "Making A Murderer" (2015)

The Netflix series that helped launch the current true crime series craze. We follow the case of Steven Avery, who was arrested for murder in 2005 after serving 18 years in prison for a wrongful conviction.

8. "The Nightmare" (2015)

Director Rodney Ascher follows up "Room 237," his deep dive on "The Shining," with a look at the horrors of sleep. Here he explores sleep paralysis, a disorder where you're trapped between waking and sleep.

9. "Nurses Who Kill" (2016)

The title kind of says it all. This UK series looks at why some nurses kill rather than heal.

10. "Rats" (2016)

Morgan Spurlock ("Super Size Me") gives us the deep dive about rats that we never asked for but can't turn away from watching. From the streets of New York City to post-Katrina New Orleans, Spurlock shows why rats will be around forever (and are growing in numbers). Pleasant dreams!

11. "Team Foxcatcher" (2016)

(Netflix (Netflix)

If you were a fan of the 2014 movie "Foxcatcher," go watch what it really was like to be near John du Pont. This doc shows the relationship between du Pont and wrestler Dave Schultz that then leads to a tragic murder.

12. "The Thin Blue Line" (1988)

Errol Morris' doc that proved a man was wrongly convicted of murder also looks at the man who actually did it. It's a chilling exploration inside the mind of a killer that is also one of the best non-fiction works ever created.

13. "Whitey: United States of America vs James J. Bulger" (2014)

Director Joe Berlinger ("Paradise Lost" movies) looks at one of America's deadliest criminals, James "Whitey" Bulger.

14. "Who Took Johnny" (2014)

The disappearance of Johnny Gosch scared the heck out of America in 1982. He was the first missing child to ever appear on a milk carton. This doc follow's a mother's decades-long quest to find the truth.

Scary docs beyond Netflix

'The Bridge' (IFC Films)

These documentaries aren't available on Netflix, but we recommend you seek them out if you're still looking for disturbing non-fiction movies to watch.

"Cropsey" (2009) follows two filmmakers who investigate a real-life boogeyman that tormented Staten Island. WATCH: Amazon Video | iTunes

"Hell House" (2001) looks at the creation and opening of a Christian-themed haunted house in Texas that is run annually every October by a youth group. Inside are depictions of everything from drug use to abortion. WATCH: Amazon Video

"The Bridge" (2006) is one of the most disturbing documentaries you'll ever see. It highlights the high number of suicide attempts on the Golden Gate Bridge every year. There are numerous scenes that show people jumping to their death. WATCH: Amazon Video | iTunes

Read more:

• How much the best paid workers in 20 professions earn
• Seven outdated men’s style ‘rules’ that you can now ignore
• 16 skills that are hard to learn but will pay off forever

Read the original article on Business Insider UK. © 2016. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.