If you’re a dedicated horror fan, then Halloween season is just like any other month. Sure, it’s fun to go the extra mile and dress up as one of your favorite horror icons. Maybe even eat copious amounts of chocolate and candy while wondering why there’s no adult trick or treating. If you’re going out or staying in, maybe a horror movie marathon is in order either way. And the biggest problem there is finding something to watch, being bored of watching the same films, or struggling with the idea of watching something new.
Instead of turning on a classic like Friday the 13th (1980) or another film that you might have seen hundreds of times, expand your viewing experience. It’s a lot of fun to discover new horror films that you might fall in love with. Not to mention there are plenty of underrated horror films out there, just waiting for you to watch them. And you know what? I’m here with at least seven underrated horror gems to recommend.
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7. Lowlifes
Director: Mitch Oliver and Tesh Guttikonda
Writer: Al Kapan
Synopsis: When a family’s RV breaks down while they’re on a road trip, they are forced to stay the night in a rural house.
Tubi originals are hit or miss, just like any streaming platform. But Lowlifes is a hit that most people have missed (see what I did there?) for some reason. If you go into Lowlifes without spoiling anything for yourself or even watching a trailer, you’ll have a blast with the twists. There’s an authentic rural Canada feeling to Lowlifes and the remote setting lends to the chaos that occurs throughout the film. Highly recommend if you like watching road trips run amuck.
Where to watch: Tubi and Apple TV+.
6. Dagr
Director: Matthew Butler-Hart
Writers: Graham Butler, Matthew Butler-Hart, and Tori Butler-Hart
Synopsis: When YouTubers look to steal from a film crew that’s filming in an old mansion, they get caught in the crossfire of spirits that the crew awakened.
Found footage is a relatively underappreciated subgenre as it is, and I’d say Dagr is one of those. Instead of following boring vapid and air headed YouTubers, the pair of friends are just trying to get famous. And unfortunately for them, they suffer because of their pursuits. Dagr is folk horror and is filled to the brim with creepy moments that make you question what’s happening. Turn off your lights, pop some popcorn, and enjoy the found footage chaos.
Where to watch: Hoopla, Amazon Video, and Apple TV+.
5. Sissy
Directors: Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes
Writers: Kane Senes and Hannah Barlow
Synopsis: When a wellness influencer named Cecilia (Aisha Dee) is invited to her former best friend’s bachelorette party, she comes face to face with one of her old bullies. Instead of a weekend of wellness and fun, it turns into a weekend of bloodshed.
Hyping Sissy up is something I do quite frequently because it deserves to be seen by more people. Not only does the film have style, but it’s incredibly queer and darkly comedic. Spoiling why the bachelorette party in Sissy goes awry would be a disservice to you. What I will say is that Cecilia is a complex main character because of her revenge motivations. And it’s a lot of fun when Black femmes are allowed to be complicated in horror. Instead of the sidekick to their white best friend. Overall, Sissy is a gory good time and another example of how stellar Australian horror can be.
Where to watch: AMC+, Shudder, Hoopla, and Apple TV.
4. Last Shift
Director: Anthony DiBlasi
Writers: Anthony DiBlasi and Scott Poiley
Synopsis: When a rookie cop takes on the last shift at a police station that’s shutting down, she’s stuck dealing with a nightmarish situation.
Scary as hell. That’s what Last Shift manages to be very successful at. The imagery throughout Last Shift is disturbing with a capital D and some of it will stick with you. And the story behind why the police station is being closed is also creepy. Last Shift will make you want to turn the lights back on before it’s even over and maybe put salt in front of your door (Supernatural style) for protection. Anyone who likes psychological horror that has a twisted flavor to it will enjoy Last Shift for all that it is.
Where to watch: Hoopla, Plex, Apple TV+, Plex, and Amazon Video.
3. Raze
Director: John C. Waller
Writer(s): John C. Waller, Kenny Gage, and Robert Beaucage
Synopsis: A large group of women are kidnapped by the ultra-wealthy and are forced to fight each other to the death.
Normally when people think of death games in horror, their minds go to films like Saw for instance. But Raze is an entirely different beast. Raze doesn’t hesitate to be dread-inducing and exhausting throughout its runtime. And having the kidnapped individuals be women adds a layer to the conversation. Women being forced to endure hell and death at the amusement of the ultra-wealthy? It’s unsettling and not far-fetched when you think deeply enough. Raze is very overlooked and that might be due to the premise. At the end of the day, Raze is the type of horror film to watch if you’re looking for unapologetic grittiness.
Where to watch: Paramount+, AMC+, Apple TV+, IFC Films, and Amazon Video.
2. Triangle
Director: Christopher Smith
Writer: Christopher Smith
Synopsis: A fun yacht trip turns disastrous for a group of friends, and they find themselves boarding an ocean liner, a mistake that turns deadly for everyone.
The twists and turns in Triangle are executed so perfectly that it’s a surprise the film isn’t more known. There’s something to be said about horror set on boats and how escape isn’t so easily found. Throughout Triangle, the moments of violence feel all too real, and the panic displayed by the characters helps sell the moments. Everything is not as it seems, and Triangle is loosely based on the Greek tale of Sisyphus. It’s a twisty little psychological horror film that delivers as far as being terrifying goes. If you want to have your heart pounding, Triangle is the right film to turn on for the night.
Where to watch: Prime Video, Fubo TV, Apple TV+, Peacock, AMC+, Shudder, Peacock, The Roku Channel, Hoopla, Tubi, Kanopy, Crackle, Pluto TV, Plex, and Freevee.
1. Sugar Hill
Director: Paul Maslansky
Writers: Tim Kelly and Don Pedro Colley
Synopsis: After a woman’s boyfriend is murdered by the mob, she enlists the help of a voodoo priestess who helps her summon Baron Samedi to enact revenge.
As far as ’70s horror goes, Sugar Hill deserves to be discussed more. Sugar Hill is absolutely the perfect example of Blaxploitation, which is a subgenre of the exploitation genre. Black horror has always existed and the Blaxploitation subgenre helped usher in a wave of Black horror films like Blacula. Sugar Hill is very groovy, stylish, and is an interesting flip on zombie horror due to the supernatural elements. And the racist mobsters get their comeuppance throughout, which is also a bonus. Sugar Hill’s underrated status remains, partially because some horror gets lost to time, but it’s worth checking out if you’re in a ’70s throwback mood.
Where to watch: AMC+, Screenpix, Apple TV+, Tubi, and Pluto TV.
