All year long, many of us horror fans ride the wave of new weekly releases, maneuvering a mixed bag of genre efforts that vary greatly in budget, style, and quality of execution. More than a few of these are expectedly terrible, while others shine as newfound classics within the majority of the horror community.
Sometimes, though, you catch a film that was perhaps never on your radar before. Whether you find it buried in the “Horror” category on Netflix or read about it in passing on a fan forum, it happens at least a couple of times a year that one of these quieter efforts finds its way to you and truly knocks you back with its refreshing enjoyability. Soon you’re wondering: Why the hell don’t more people know about this movie?
The below list encompasses a nice crop of these overlooked and underrated horror films of the past five years that we feel deserve a viewing — or even a second chance! Many of these entries cater very specifically to certain tastes and subgenre fanbases, so while it’s likely that you won’t see these on “All Time Best” lists any time soon, you just might find something that is right up your alley here.
On that note, don’t forget to sound off in the comments below and let us know which horror films you think are criminally underrated!
1. Banshee Chapter (Dir: Blair Erickson, 2013)
Banshee Chapter, loosely based on H. P. Lovecraft’s short story “From Beyond,” follows a journalist who seeks to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of a friend who was researching an experimental mind control drug. This film features government conspiracy theories, otherworldy beings, and one of the creepiest uses of a numbers station I have seen to date. Katia Winter (“Sleepy Hollow”), Ted Levine (“Shutter Island”), and Michael McMillian (“True Blood”) star.
Who will enjoy it? Followers of Lovecraftian horror and conspiracy theories
Where can I watch it? Netflix
2. Absentia (Dir. Mike Flanagan, 2011)
Absentia is an independent thriller that tells of a pregnant woman who is preparing to declare her missing husband dead in absentia with the support of her sister. When he suddenly reappears, however, the two sisters are thrown into a supernatural mystery somehow linked to a nearby tunnel. Taut and atmospheric, Absentia is a refreshingly original story that also features some great dramatic moments.
Who will enjoy it? Fans of psychological thrillers and supernatural mysteries
Where can I watch it? Amazon Video
3. At the Devil’s Door (Dir. Nicholas McCarthy, 2014)
In the midst of a heap of cruddy possession films to come out last year, At the Devil’s Door went sadly unnoticed. Shirking a lot of the religious horror tropes, this film is a slow burn about an evil force slithering its way into the lives of three women. Starring Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace), Naya Rivera (“Glee”), and Ashley Rickards (“One Tree Hill”), it is a uniquely chilling interpretation of an age-old Biblical tale.
Who will enjoy it? Religious horror aficionados who appreciate a less-is-more approach
Where can I watch it? Netflix
4. Frozen (Dir. Adam Green, 2010)
Although he has made a solid name for himself with the Hatchet franchise, Adam Green’s Frozen is probably his most tension-laden directorial effort to date. The story of a group of friends who get stuck on a ski lift is dialogue-heavy, but rich with characterization and a very authentic script that never feels dull. While some of the film’s critics find it tedious, it is one I’ve always felt could have found stronger supporters among casual viewers in for some very understated suspense.
Who will enjoy it? Fans of “bottle episodes” and suspense with an emotional flare
Where can I watch it? Amazon Video
5. ChromeSkull: Laid to Rest 2 (Dir. Robert Green Hall, 2011)
High art it isn’t, but ChromeSkull: Laid to Rest 2 is one of the most wholly entertaining slashers and horror sequels out there. You don’t necessarily have to watch Laid to Rest to enjoy this amped up continuation of ChromeSkull’s story, which develops a very cool backstory for our killer and features some of our favorite genre staples (Danielle Harris and Thomas Dekker, delivering here). With killer death scenes and top-notch gore from makeup-guru-turned-director Robert Hall, ChromeSkull is the kind of slick slasher that will leave you wondering why this franchise hasn’t taken off yet.
Who will enjoy it? Lovers of practical effects, inventive death scenes, and a great villain
Where can I watch it? Amazon Video
6. American Mary (Dir. Soska Sisters, 2014)
Horror mainstay Katharine Isabelle is perfection in this freaky thriller about a medical student who survives a sexual assault, drops out of school, and rises to underground fame as a go-to body modification surgeon. Jen and Sylvia Soska deliver a female-empowered gore story with an aggressively beautiful execution, and thrills and jaw-dropping imagery are aplenty here.
Who will enjoy it? Dark horror fans who love a kick-ass female lead
Where can I watch it? Netflix
7. Mother’s Day (Dir. Darren Lynn Bousman, 2010)
A loose remake of the 1980 film of the same name, Mother’s Day is heavy on the crazy and violence, enacted here on unsuspecting home owners during a party by a twisted family. Rebecca De Mornay, the family’s matriarch, delivers in her desperately insane role, teetering the line between pitiable and absolutely unhinged masterfully. The film’s final moments caused for a few complaints, but De Mornay’s performance alone makes this one worth the watch.
Who will enjoy it? Fans of thrillers with kooky villainesses
Where can I watch it? Amazon Video
8. Mr. Jones (Dir. Karl Mueller, 2013)
Mr. Jones is an admittedly polarizing found footage film that is certainly not for everyone. It tells the story of a couple that moves into the woods to film a nature documentary, only to begin encountering strange occurrences that they ultimately tie to a mysterious artist named Mr. Jones. The frantic found footage approach may irk some by the final act, but Mr. Jones makes up for its sometimes shoddy directorial approach through a rather creative story that explores the universal fear of the unknown (think Lovecraft on a budget).
Who will enjoy it? Fans of eerie, low-key thrills with an otherworldly element
Where can I watch it? Netflix
9. Maniac (Dir. Franck Khalfoun, 2012)
There’s something truly special about seeing some of our favorite mainstream actors take a dip into horror — especially when it seems like they’re loving it, too! Elijah Wood goes all in here, playing the titular role in this remake of the 1980 cult classic that follows a deranged killer who scalps his victims. Shot almost entirely from the killer’s POV, Maniac is one of the most technically impressive films on this list, and it features some truly unsettling moments to boot. While remakes will always divide horror audiences, Maniac is undoubtedly one of the more masterfully handled remakes that I will always highly recommend.
Who will enjoy it? Anyone looking to see Wood get psycho over an amazing score
Where can I watch it? Amazon Video
10. Honeymoon (Dir. Leigh Janiak, 2014)
One of my personal favorites on this list, Honeymoon is an impressively emotive debut from director Leigh Janiak, who has recently been tasked to remake The Craft. The story follows Harry Treadaway (“Penny Dreadful”) as a young man on his honeymoon who begins to suspect that something is very wrong with this new wife, played by Rose Leslie (“Game of Thrones,” The Last Witch Hunter). Honeymoon succeeds as a story of paranoia with a significant emotional impact as we witness Leslie and Treadaway’s newfound union skewed and tormented by an unknown force. It’s a simple story of terror that boasts strong performances and an ending that is equally chilling and heartbreaking.
Who will enjoy it? Fans of science fiction with a dash of tragic romance
Where can I watch it? Netflix