Most Underrated Scary Movies

Horror movies tap into our most primal desires to survive. They put us in life-or-death scenarios with the odds stacked against us only to see if we can make it out alive. There’s something about being scared that just draws us in despite knowing that what we’re seeing isn’t real. We all have our favorite horror movies that we can watch over and over again, but what about the underrated ones? The ones that don’t get as much recognition. If you’re looking for horror movies that have flown under the radar, check out this list of the 6 most underrated scary movies.

6 Best Lesser-Known Horror Movies

6. Absentia (2011)

Mike Flanagan has earned a reputation as an effective horror director in recent years with hits like Doctor Sleep, Gerald’s Game, and Haunting of Hill House. Every filmmaker has their beginnings and Flanagan started out directing low-budget horror movies like Absentia. Absentia is about a woman and her sister who begin to link a mysterious tunnel to a series of disappearances, including that of her own husband. Fans of Mike Flanagan’s work or the horror genre will appreciate this early 2010s underrated film.

Where To Watch Absentia

Tubi

5. Triangle (2009)

Written and directed by Christopher Smith, Tringle is a layered horror-thriller that succeeds in telling a clever story. The horror film follows Yacht passengers as they encounter mysterious weather conditions that force them to jump onto another ship, only to have the odd havoc increase. Triangle is mind-bending in all of the right ways and even though it’s not a traditional horror movie, the film still has plenty of elements that are haunting.

Where To Watch Triangle (2009)

Tubi
Peacock
Pluto TV
The Roku Channel
Vudu
Crackle
Prime Video
YouTube
Plex

4. Trick ‘r Treat (2007)

The anthology movie is a film that consists of a series of short stories. Typically, the stories are disconnected and other times they’re weaved together to create one continuous narrative. Trick ‘r Treat is an underrated horror movie that brings the anthology approach into modern horror cinema. The film is about a couple, high school principal, college virgin, group of teenagers, a wife, and a mean old man who all have interwoven stories that occur on the same block, on the same night. Trick ‘r Treat is a fun movie that captures the spirit of Halloween perfectly.

Where To Watch Trick ‘r Treat

Prime Video
YouTube
Google Play Movies & TV
Apple TV
Vudu

3. Housebound (2014)

Horror comedy is a tricky genre to get right but when it’s done well, it can create some of the most enjoyable experiences. The genre has had a growing audience in recent years but Housebound is a different type of horror-comedy. Instead of being a comedy with horror elements, the film is a horror that happens to be funny. Housebound is about a young woman who is forced to return to her childhood home after being placed under house arrest, where she suspects that something evil may be lurking. Housebound has genuinely suspenseful moments along with hilarious black humor.

Where To Watch Housebound

Tubi

2. The Innocents (2021)

Children are often perceived as innocent, but they might unintentionally do something cruel to others. A childhood staple is for boys to pour salt on a slug just to watch it die. The Innocents is a film that takes this concept to a whole new level. The film is about a group of children during the bright Nordic summer who reveal their dark and mysterious powers when the adults aren’t looking. In this original and gripping supernatural thriller, playtime takes a dangerous turn. The Innocents is dark, original, and intense.

Where To Watch The Innocents

YouTube
Google Play Movies & TV
Apple TV
Vudu
Prime Video

1. Black Christmas (1974)

John Carpenter’s Halloween is credited as starting the slasher movie craze of the 80s. However, before Halloween was released, there was Black Christmas. Black Christmas is considered by many as being the catalyst for the slasher movie genre. The horror is about a group of sorority girls during their Christmas break who are stalked by a stranger. Not only is Black Christmas important to the legacy of slasher movies, but it’s also an authentically creepy horror movie in its own right.

Where To Watch Black Christmas

YouTube
Google Play Movies & TV
Apple TV
Vudu
Prime Video

Lesser-Known Horror Movies Are The Best Hidden Gems

Sometimes the less you know about a film, the better it is. The horror movie experience works best not when you have the right expectations going into the theater, but when you don’t have any expectations at all. This is the value of watching lesser-known horror movies. There isn’t a lot of opinions, hype, or buzz surrounding these films so you can go into them completely blind. If you want more horror movie gems, check out our blog post about the best horror movies that subvert your expectations.