Underrated Horror Movies List
Horror cinema often thrives in the darkness, lurking beyond the spotlight cast by blockbuster franchises and mainstream releases. While we all know the iconic slashers, haunted houses, and supernatural terrors, there exists a hidden realm of spine-chilling gems waiting to be discovered. These films, like ghosts whispering in the night, beckon us to explore their eerie corridors and unravel their mysteries. In this article , we dip into the underrated horror movies—the unsung heroes of fear, the overlooked specters that deserve their moment in the moonlight.
These are not your typical scream-fests; they are the enigmatic whispers that send shivers down your spine when you least expect it. So, grab your flashlight, sharpen your wits, and step into the shadows as we unveil tales that defy convention and redefine terror.
From spirals that ensnare minds to allegorical possessions that tear at the fabric of sanity, our journey will traverse time and genre. We’ll encounter a disfigured noble seeking revenge, a morbid family saga entwined with incest and murder, and more. Brace yourself the path ahead is treacherous, but the rewards are spine-tingling revelations that will haunt your dreams.
Last Night in Soho
Teenage design student Eloise comes from small town Cornwall to London to pursue her dream of fashion design, but when she can’t get along with the people at her dorm, she takes up residence in a nearby bedsit owned by an elderly woman. Once she starts living there, she’s transported back to the 1960s where her alter ego Sandie. Which is an aspiring singer, is trying to navigate into her chosen career path. But instead finds herself working as a prostitute. As the movie goes forward and Eloise soon rises to the top of her design class, she instead constantly finds her life being intruded upon by visions of Sandie’s descent into desperation. Eloise becomes certain that an elderly man who frequents girlie spots in her neighborhood is Sandie’s former pimp and had murdered her decades before.
Throughout the film, director Edgar Wright uses his command of visual filmmaking to lay out the entire story for the audience . And gives you clues throughout as to what’s happening while leading red herrings down the garden path for both you and Eloise to follow. There are also tons of parallel scenes involving Eloise in the present and Sandie in the past going through the same processes for different purposes. In particular finding a new name to reflect their new status.
It’s a wonderfully compelling film that hits you in the side of the head several times . Before letting you know what’s happening and leaves you guessing at every stage.
His House (2020)
A couple whose whole family was slaughtered in war-torn South Sudan flees to the UK to start a new life. Only, their past doesn’t want to leave them yet, and follows them across the ocean.
There are some legit scares. The children in the wall, the couple’s application for citizenship almost being rejected, for instance.
I think it’s really about the guilt people feel when they leave their family behind in danger to find better lives for themselves; it’s also about having difficulty adjusting to a new environment, trying to fit into a new culture and way of life that wasn’t your own.
It’s similar to The Babadook (another great horror film) in that the nature of the ghost/evil entity is not apparent, or is something that is already known to the viewer. It’s not your average demon; it’s something else entirely, something new, something strange. The laws behind what to do aren’t clear-cut, a simple call to the priest and exorcism won’t solve the problem.
From the beginning till the end of the film, it’s not and never fully clear whether the thing is malevolent or benevolent. It presents itself to the wife as a friend, and to the husband as an enemy, and the audience won’t easily get what is its real ultimate motive, to help the couple or hurt them.
Tremors Horror Movie
It’s not the best movie ever, but nobody talks about it except the small cult following it garnered for being such a smart, intelligent, and funny horror movie.
It under-performed at the box office as well, so Universal never made a theatrical sequel. But this was an honest-to-goodness great horror comedy with a solid cast, intelligent writing, and even some minor Scifi cojones in explaining the monster and its mechanisms.
It’s a movie about monsters in an isolated town in the middle of nowhere that kill through sound, so if you make noise you’re dead. Compared to the modern hit A Quiet Place, this was the original “sound kills” movie. Unlike A Quiet Place which is full of Plot Induced Stupidity to get the story going, this movie relies on nothing but solid, well-written characters, clever dialogue, and a natural progression of events, and smart, intelligent monsters to keep the ball rolling.
No, leaving the doors open so monsters can sneak into your house while you’re pregnant in the bathtub. No going out camping with your son leaving your pregnant wife home alone. And no plot contrivances like nails on a stairway that you forgot to hammer in even though it was in use daily.
And most of all, no morons who can’t think of simple plans to deal with creatures you know only operate on sound. It’s always great to find a horror movie where the people in it aren’t blathering idiots whose stupid actions are required to force the plot onward.
Tremors had intelligent monsters that always pushed the action and kept the heroes on their toes, and even smarter heroes who fought them all, came up with ingenious plans and beat them.
But the first film was exceptional and a genuinely good movie.
The Platform (2019)
For this film, all I had to go by was the concept. The director was some obscure Spaniard who mainly stuck to making commercials, and the Spanish actors were entirely unknown to American audiences. Come to think of it, they were probably largely unknown to Spanish audiences as well… Everyone else attached, from the writers to the production companies also hailed from the mire of obscurity. I did recognize Netflix as the distributor, and although there have been stellar, high-quality projects released from this platform, I won’t watch a movie just because Netflix is involved.
Performances and Reviews of this Horror Movie
Yes, the entire film is centered around a mechanical platform that delivers food downwards to prisoners in leveled cells. The prisoners at the top levels of the prison can stuff their faces with however much they please, resulting in them always having full bellies. But as the platform progressively descends from level to level, the food starts to run out, leaving those unfortunate enough to be on the lower levels being forced to resort to cannibalism and/or suicide.
The harrowing thing about it is that supposedly there’s enough food to sustain everyone in the prison, all 300+ levels of it, but by level 50 or so, even the scraps are completely consumed. What’s more, every month, the prisoners are sedated via gas and randomly transferred to different levels of the prison, so you could be eating like a king one month, and dying of starvation by the next, depending on which level you wake up on.
I don’t want to spoil anything about the plot, characters, or even the many additional themes explored, but just know. I was completely blown away by the performances, the gloomy scenery, and the social commentary. It was so disturbing and ultimately rewarding, that this film had me thinking about it for days after the credits rolled.
The concept captured my attention, but everything else about the film kept my eyes glued to the screen. This is a career-launching film for the obscure director, actors and writers involved. And he has been released to rave reviews from critics. Unfortunately, being a Spanish film, it’s not well-known to American audiences. But do yourself a favor now and check it out; It’s available on Netflix.
Under the Skin
An alien seductress stalks the streets of Scotland, prepared to consume the flesh of any man unlucky enough to be charmed by her. I am describing nothing but one of the decade’s best movies, Under the Skin. Anchored by the best work of Scarlett Johansson and superb direction from Jonathan Glazer. This film views how society treats women by painting the perspective of someone completely inhuman.
It starts with Scarlett Johansson as the alien Laura. She is put on the earth for a singular purpose, to seduce men. There are exceptionally entertaining scenes of her driving in a van and attempting to seduce real people. The people in those scenes aren’t actors.
After she manages to seduce someone, the audience is treated to some truly terrifying imagery. Enveloped by darkness, the victims are slowly sucked into a black hole of sorts. Their meat will be grounded for an unexplained purpose.
About halfway through the film, the main character’s viewpoint is changed by a deformed man she attempts to seduce. This leads to a much more contemplative take on horror. It is now about the character who attempts to fit into a world where she doesn’t belong.
This is more relatable. Very few of us are scared about aliens eating us. As we are all scared about being completely unable to fit in.
The Belko Experiment (2016)
A social commentary disguised as a horror flick. No supernatural beasts here, just the raw, terrifying potential for human savagery unleashed in a horrifying office environment. This one might hit a little too close to home for cubicle dwellers everywhere.
20 Million Miles to Earth (1956)
Buckle up for a creature feature with a twist! Instead of the usual American setting, we get a rampaging reptilian visitor in the sun-drenched Italian countryside. And the special effects? A stop-motion spectacle courtesy of the legendary Ray Harryhausen.
The Void (2016)
Think 1980s gore with a healthy dose of cosmic dread. The plot might be predictable, but the effects are surprisingly good for a crowd-funded flick. For fans of body horror and Lovecraftian nightmares, this is a twisted treat.
Don’t Breathe (2016)
Here’s a concept that’ll have you rethinking home invasions. A trio of young punks target a blind man’s house. Only to discover a ruthless war veteran with preternatural hearing lurking in the shadows. It’s a chilling reminder that the real monsters often wear human skin.
It Follows (2014)
This one’s a slow burn with a truly haunting metaphor. An invisible entity relentlessly stalks its victim, a chilling representation of anxieties that never truly fade. Sweet dreams? Not likely.
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
This atomic-age dinosaur rampage paved the way for Godzilla. Watch a giant, grumpy Rhedosaurus wreak havoc on the New York skyline. A cautionary tale about the unintended consequences of messing with nature. Bonus points for the Ray Harryhausen effects!
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Who says horror can’t be hilarious? This rom-com-com (romantic comedy with zombies!) follows a lovable loser navigating a zombie apocalypse. While trying to win back his ex. Shaun of the Dead is a perfect example of how horror and humor can perfectly co-exist.
Apollo 18 (2011)
Found-footage horror meets the moon landing conspiracy. This one might be predictable, but it delivers jump scares and a suitably creepy lunar atmosphere. Perfect for sci-fi horror fans who like their chills with a side of conspiracy theories.
First Man into Space (1959)
This gloriously cheesy sci-fi horror might be the goofiest film on the list. A hotshot pilot’s unauthorized space jaunt unleashes a mysterious, bloodsucking entity. The science is questionable, but the campy charm is undeniable.
Upgrade (2018)
Don’t judge a book (or movie) by its cover. This revenge thriller takes a sharp turn into something more sinister. with a twist ending that cleverly riffs on classic sci-fi tropes. Upgrade is a mind-bending experience that will leave you thinking long after the credits roll.