20 Lesser-Known Horror Movies That Deserve More Love

Horror films have never been more accessible. With streaming, home media releases, and general discourse bringing more attention to the genre than ever before, it’s only natural that some films will get more attention than others. Unfortunately, this also means that plenty of lesser-known horror films eventually fall through the cracks.

These are not necessarily the most obscure horror films you’ve never heard of. These are those movies that you’ve maybe put on your watch list, but they keep on moving down your watch list, because you’re just not in the mood, or maybe because you just don’t know that much about them. It could be they were hard to find on streaming, too expensive to rent, you just missed them at the theater — whatever the reason, it’s time to remedy the situation, and check out the following 20 horror films that deserve a little love.

Updated January 24, 2025: This collection of lesser-known horror movies has been updated with brand-new information, including where to find each movie on streaming.

20

Possession (1981)

More than 30 years after this psychological horror film was released, momentum is finally gaining for Possession, propelling it towards cult status, and rightfully so. Mark (Sam Neill) and his wife (Isabelle Adjani) are a couple in a crisis, to put it mildly. As if Mark’s job as a spy isn’t stressful enough, he’s just returned home from a mission to find Anna demanding a divorce, but providing no reason — just that she wants the apartment and their son, Bob. She swears there’s no one else involved, which is proven the next day to be untrue. Anna’s behavior becomes more erratic and violent and Mark lashes out in return, while still having very little understanding of what’s going on.

A Bizarre Cult Classic

The movie is full of bizarre twists and turns, and depicts with brutal brilliance the breakdown of a marriage. It’s intense, shocking, and bloody, with stellar performances from both Neill and Adjani. Though a severely butchered United States cut limited the film’s popularity when it originally debuted, the availability of the original cut in the modern day has allowed Possession to be more thoroughly appreciated for all of its unique strengths. A remake helmed by the director of Smile, Parker Finn, is currently in production. Stream Possession on Shudder.

19

Them (2006)

If home invasion horror is your thing, then Them is for you. Clémentine (Olivia Bonamy) and Lucas (Michaël Cohen) have moved from France to Lucas’ native Romania, finding a lovely home in the remote countryside. One night, they went outside to check on music that was mysteriously playing. Their car is not where they left it, and as they approach, it is driven off. Fleeing back inside, they must confront a growing number of unknown intruders who intend on inflicting brutal violence at all costs.

Home Invasion At Its Most horrifying

The film’s success comes from being set in the relatively small parameters of a house and its surrounding woods, with the couple repeatedly trying to escape but being driven simultaneously apart and back inwards by an increasing number of attackers. Sharing some notable similarities with future films like The Strangers, Them grounds itself with some incredible pacing, authentic scares, and some genuinely haunting performances by its two leads. It will make you think twice about that charming little Airbnb in the middle of nowhere. Stream Them on Shudder.

18

Ghost Story (1981)

Don’t let this movie’s older cast fool you: Ghost Story is not for the faint of heart. It’s based on Peter Straub’s novel of the same name, and stars old Hollywood favorites Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as part of a quartet of accomplished old men. They belong to what they call the Chowder Society, and they gather weekly to tell scary stories. Unfortunately, one of the four men passes away after the mysterious death of his son, and the other son comes home to consult with the remaining members about an enigmatic young woman named Alma. As it turns out, the men have a similar enigmatic woman in their past that they prefer not to discuss.

Old But Gold

Set in often-snowbound New England, the movie has an overall aura of doom, punctuated by a number of genuinely good jump scares. Directed by John Irvin, whose other works include Hamburger Hill and the beloved Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, this classical horror film melds the final performances of Fred Astaire and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. with a somewhat simplified version of the original Peter Straub tale, which makes for an effective paranormal feature. Combined with some impressive practical effects, Ghost Story is perfect for a cold winter night. Buy or Rent Ghost Story on Prime Video.

17

Hush (2016)

Mike Flanagan directed his wife Kate Siegel in this twist on the home invasion trope. Hush tells the story of Maddie (Kate Siegel), a deaf-mute horror writer (in a cute little Easter egg, she’s written a book called Midnight Mass) living alone in the woods with no one but her cat for company. Tragically, a visit from her friend Sarah ends badly as she runs into an attacker with a crossbow, with no way to attract Maddie’s attention. Once Maddie realizes there is a killer after her, she must find a way to outsmart her relentless pursuer.

A Fun Flick by Mike Flanagan

Hush is a definite bright spot in a genre that can feel clichéd, and Siegel is excellent as Maddie. Mike Flanagan utilizes Maddie’s condition in an effective way via the film’s score and sound effects, allowing you to really sink into her quiet surroundings while making the killer’s intrusions all the more harrowing. In a fun twist, Maddie is also extremely competent in her efforts to survive, avoiding the typical pitfalls of other horror protagonists in exchange for some more palpable tension. Stream Hush on Shudder.

16

Saint Maud (2019)

British director Rose Glass has set a very high bar with her debut, Saint Maud, which is about a zealous Roman Catholic convert/palliative care nurse who believes she is on a mission from God to save the souls of those she cares for. Maud (Morfydd Clark) is hiding a dark past, and saving her new patient Amanda (Jennifer Ehle), a terminally ill former dancer and atheist, is Maud’s way of doing penance for her former sins.

A Fantastic Debut by Rose Glass

We’ve got some old-school Catholic self-mortification providing a good deal of body horror, and Glass masterfully combines themes of religion and mental illness, wrapping it all up in a dark, gothic atmosphere. Clark’s performance is not to be missed as the tortured, driven Maud. This is especially true once you see the film’s shocking ending, a perfect climax to wrap up Saint Maud‘s unsettling escalation of tension throughout. Stream Saint Maud on Prime Video.

15

The Wailing (2016)

This intense South Korean horror film came out within a few months of the blockbuster Train to Busan, which explains why it may have gone a bit under the radar. Train to Busan might have its ravaging hordes of zombies, but The Wailing focuses on a smaller nightmare closer to home: a small mountain village where something is causing people to lose their minds and violently attack their families. Officer Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won) is baffled, especially as the culprit seems to be a recently arrived Japanese man, who has an eerie shrine in his house with photographs and items belonging to the victims. Most horrifying of all, Jong-goo’s young daughter is showing signs of being afflicted.

A Layered Horror Film

The Wailing is a film that leaves a lot of things unsaid, melding mythology with horror in a way that’s sure to stick with you long after it’s over. The film doesn’t even veer too directly into overt horror sequences; for instance, there is an equally beautiful and brutal scene of a shaman performing an exorcism, but it only makes Jong-goo’s daughter worse. It’s a film that relies heavily on its symbolism and ambiguity, making for a story that’s sure to reward you with plenty to think about. Don’t expect easy explanations, but do expect a gripping, unique horror movie from the same mind behind The Chaser. Stream The Wailing on Netflix.

14

The Changeling (1980)

George C. Scott is the unlikely star of this Canadian cult film that deserves a much wider viewership. In The Changeling, he’s John Russell, a grieving composer who lost his wife and daughter to a car accident. He has just moved into a long-vacant house, where he quickly begins to experience inexplicable phenomena. Hidden rooms, ghostly music, and frightening visions push him to hold a seance, where he finds that the house is haunted by the ghost of a child named Joseph who was murdered and then replaced by his father with a child from an orphanage. From the sinister backstory to trying to track down the now-grown-up changeling child, Russell tries to exorcise his own demons by finding justice for Joseph.

More Than a Typical Haunted House Story

It’s a film that takes the haunted house trope and gives it a purpose. It’s all elevated by a fantastic cast, with George C. Scott delivering yet another award-winning performance after his work in films like Dr. Strangelove and Anatomy of a Murder. While its popularity nowadays may have been diminished over the years, most consider The Changeling to be one of the most influential Canadian horror films in terms of its storytelling, cinematography, and overall impact on the genre. Stream The Changeling on Peacock.

13

The Orphanage (2007)

J.A. Bayona’s gothic Spanish debut, The Orphanage, is a supernatural horror that doubles as a heart-wrenching drama. Laura (Belén Rueda), her husband (Fernando Cayo), and their adopted son Simón (Roger Príncep) have moved into the house where Laura grew up, when it was a small orphanage, and she hopes to help children like Simón, who is HIV-positive. Laura hides tragic secrets from her time at the home, and is already on edge when Simón makes a friend no one else has seen, who tells him things he’s not meant to know. But when Simón disappears, Laura has no choice but to confront the terrors of the past.

An Emotional Horror Story

The Orphanage is that rare horror film that might also make you cry, and with a bonus appearance from Geraldine Chaplin as a medium. Cinematographer Óscar Faura made his feature-length debut here as well, later going on to work on films like Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and The Imitation Game. The raw emotional stakes here will make the accompanying horror all the more tragic, leaving you just as misty-eyed as terrified by the time the credits roll. Buy or Rent The Orphanage on Apple TV.

12

In My Skin (2002)

If you can stomach In My Skin, a graphic New French Extremity film, it explores some pretty interesting themes. Esther (Marina de Van, also the film’s writer and director) is living her best life with a home, a career, and a loving boyfriend, until a random accident at a party leaves her with a gash in her leg, a wound she doesn’t really feel at the time. She soon becomes obsessed with first just looking at the wound, then probing, and eventually cutting into it. As her obsession spirals out of control, so does the rest of her life, isolating her from anyone who may be able to help.

Extreme and Interesting Body Horror

This is pretty extreme body horror, but it’s an intriguing watch about a woman on the verge of losing everything. It’s a film that’s as authentic in its vision as possible, as Marina de Van allows for a thorough examination of disassociation through some genuinely horrifying sequences. If you can handle the film’s extreme moments, you’re in for a fascinating time. In My Skin is currently unavailable on streaming.

11

Phenomena (1985)

Just a year before Labyrinth, a young Jennifer Connelly starred in Dario Argento’s supernatural giallo film, Phenomena. A police inspector has teamed up with an entomologist (horror favorite Donald Pleasence) to investigate the violent murders of a number of young girls. Connelly plays Jennifer, the daughter of a movie star who’s been dropped off at a Swiss boarding school. She witnesses a murder while sleepwalking, and then, after being rescued by the entomologist’s chimpanzee (that’s right), it’s discovered that she can telepathically communicate with insects. This, of course, will lead her to find the serial killer.

A Bizarre Giallo Film

It’s violent, gory, bizarre, and highly enjoyable. A fun twist on the classic Dario Argento formula with plenty of original ideas, Phenomena manages to incorporate the best of his style with plenty of off-kilter charm. Even going beyond the enjoyable performances of Donald Pleasence and his monkey companion, the dreamlike atmosphere and its escalating beats of surreal storytelling make for one of Argento’s most befuddling, yet entertaining films. It even has a terrific score by Goblin (Suspiria) to boot. Stream Phenomena on Shudder.

10

Daughters of Darkness (1971)

A nearly deserted Belgian hotel? Check. Innocent newlyweds? Check. A glamorous countess named Elizabeth Báthory and her secretary Ilona? Daughters of Darkness really does have everything. The gorgeous Delphine Seyrig plays the countess, who is only too happy to recount the notoriously vile misdeeds of her namesake and ancestor, even though the newlywed couple are reeling after stumbling upon the murder scene of a young girl. The couple’s relationship deteriorates quickly as they are drawn into the web of what turns out (of course) to be a couple of vampires.

Equally Bloody and Campy

It’s bloody and campy and over the top, making this a perfect example of what to look for in an erotic horror film. This particular film would be the one that put director Harry Kümel on the map for many a burgeoning film critic and horror fan. John Karlen does a fantastic job in his role here as well, following his lengthy stint on ABC’s Dark Shadows. If you want a sultry vampire film, this is the one you ought to see. Stream Daughters of Darkness on Shudder.

9

The House by the Cemetery (1981)

Lucio Fulci’s The House by the Cemetery starts out strong. A young woman searches an abandoned home for her boyfriend, only to find him stabbed to death, a fate which also befalls her almost immediately afterward. Cut to Norman (Paolo Malco) and Lucy Boyle (Catriona MacColl) who, along with their little boy Bob (Giovanni Frezza), are moving into the previously abandoned house. It was apparently previously owned by Norman’s co-worker who murdered his mistress and killed himself there, something which doesn’t bother anyone as much as it should.

Bob, largely left to his own devices, meets a nice little girl who is probably a ghost, and Lucy finds the gravestone of Jacob Freudstein in the house. Norman, who researches old houses, says this is probably normal. That’s about when the killing starts, as the truth emerges that Freudstein was a Victorian surgeon with poor ethics who is possibly still alive and living in the basement.

Ridiculously Entertaining

It’s absolutely ridiculous, and incredibly entertaining. Featuring the same oodles of gore you’d expect from Fulci’s other films, along with surprisingly melancholic themes found in its presentation, The House by the Cemetery serves as an excellent conclusion to his thematic Gates of Hell trilogy. By eschewing the more ludicrous elements of its predecessors, it makes for a film that not only stands on its own merits, but one that delivers a comparatively straightforward horror experience that hits just as hard. Stream The House by the Cemetery on Shudder.

8

The Lure (2015)

The Lure, a sinister Polish musical, takes Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid with all of its original darkness and then doubles down on it. Golden (Michalina Olszańska) and Silver (Marta Mazurek) are sister sirens who join and front a nightclub band, while also appearing as a sort of novelty stripper act. One sister falls in love, the other discovers a taste for killing.

A Morbid Musical

The music is great and the dark, grimy film pulls no punches, exploring the dark sides of love and identity and whether people can be monsters. The cinematography by Jakub Kijowski is the biggest highlight here, with his work on future films like Nocebo and The Silent Twins really expanding upon the gorgeous style he developed here. To add to that, critic David Ehrlich from IndieWire called The Lure “the best goth musical about man-eating mermaids ever made.” Stream The Lure on Max.

7

Next of Kin (1982)

Australia has put out a surprising number of effective horror films, often playing on the unforgiving landscape and isolation of the country. Next of Kin focuses on Linda (Jackie Kerin), a young woman suddenly saddled with the giant retirement home that her mother ran until her death. Bad omens upon Linda’s takeover include a drowned resident and the discovery of the unsettling diaries Linda’s mother kept when Linda was a child. There is also the mystery of the death of Linda’s aunt Rita, as some documents have called the date of her death into question. In fact, there have been quite a few drowning deaths at the home, and as anyone watching a horror film knows, investigating a thing like that will only lead to trouble. The bodies are stacking up, as Linda races to untangle the secrets of her past while there’s still time.

An Underrated Aussie Classic

Dripping with atmosphere, Next of Kin oozes style and grace with every frame, building tension through the development of its world rather than relying on loud jump scares or abrupt events. It’s almost dreamlike to a degree, melding paranoia with trauma in a deeply disturbing tale that’s sure to haunt you. Not only that, Jackie Kerin’s performance in the lead role is nothing short of engaging. Stream Next of Kin on Plex.

6

Sisters (1972)

Margot Kidder does double duty in Sisters, playing twins Danielle and Dominique. Danielle is a fashion model who wants to introduce a new paramour to her sister on their birthday. Dominique celebrates by stabbing him to death. Danielle’s ex helps her dispose of the body, but a reporter is quickly suspicious of the story, suspecting that Danielle is hiding a killer, even though Danielle swears she was alone and has no knowledge of the killing.

Brian de Palma Brings the Terror

Brian de Palma’s stylish, Hitchcockian psychological horror has a good few twists and turns. But we are not going to reveal them here, as you will want to see them for yourself. Margot Kidder pulls off an impressive feat by playing two separate characters, later going on to star alongside Olivia Hussey in the now-infamous Black Christmas. There was a 2006 remake of Sisters, but we recommend sticking with the original. Stream Sisters on Max.

5

Attachment (2022)

Don’t sleep on this Shudder Original with the great Danish actress Sofie Gråbøl, who starred in the TV drama that kicked off Scandi-noir, Forbrydelsen (The Killing). In Attachment, a sweet yet aimless Danish woman, Maja (Josephine Park), falls head over heels for a visiting English student named Leah (Ellie Kendrick), and they crash into a relationship. But Leah suffers a horrific accident during a seizure, and Maja spontaneously decides to escort her back to England, where she shares a home with her grim, forbidding, Orthodox mother Chana (Gråbøl), who also happens to be Danish. Chana and Maja tussle over Leah’s care, and Maja’s attempts to get Chana to accept her wane as it becomes apparent that something about Chana is more than a little off.

You’ll Get Attached

Themes of religion, love at first sight, and demon possession combine for one hell of an unsettling movie as it’s revealed that maybe Leah is the one with the problem. Director Gabriel Bier Gislason did a stellar job in their feature-length debut, as its unconventional approach to a familiar story really made Attachment stand out in a sea of other Shudder Originals. Josephine Park and Ellie Kendrick also do a stellar job of portraying their developing relationship, coming off as convincing more often than not. Stream Attachment on Shudder.

4

Burnt Offerings (1976)

In Burnt Offerings, Oliver Reed is Ben, a writer who takes his family to stay at a run-down mansion for the summer. He got the mansion at a cut-rate price because he will also be looking after the sibling owners’ elderly mother (Bette Davis) who lives a hermit-like existence in the attic. The family soon notices that although a number of accidents and mishaps continue to befall them, it somehow seems to improve the house, such as when the son hurts himself in the garden and a previously dead plant comes back to life. Ben’s wife, Marian (Karen Black), becomes dangerously obsessed with the house, but by the time Ben realizes it’s time to take their son and flee, they can’t.

Haunted Houses Make for Great Scares

Burnt Offerings is haunted house horror at its best. With some drawing parallels to The Shining, this terrific slow-burner features some chilling performances by Karen Black and Oliver Reed, with the latter going on to star in films like David Cronenberg’s The Brood. Director Dan Curtis has his own impressive background in horror as well, having directed films like Dead of Night, House of Dark Shadows, and even 1974’s Dracula, among a slew of other terrific projects. Stream Burnt Offerings on Pluto TV.

3

Pontypool (2008)

You should always pay attention to the crazy person everyone ignores in the first scene of a horror film, and Pontypool is no exception. Grant (Stephen McHattie) is a radio DJ who’s on-air when reports from the station helicopter come in of a riot outside a doctor’s office that has resulted in loss of life. But the reports get cut off. When the station is able to get back in touch, the report grows more gruesome, with mentions of cannibalism and even self-cannibalism. A station assistant is able to translate a French report coming in, instructing people to stay inside and avoid terms of endearment, as well as translating the message. As the town of Pontypool is put under quarantine and matters get invariably worse, the doctor at the center of the riots manages to reach the station, believing that a virus has affected certain words in the English language, which leads to infecting people who then infect each other.

A Bonkers Canadian Horror Flick

It’s a frenetic, bizarre movie, made all the more horrific by the main characters being effectively trapped in a radio station. Being stuck in a single location for most of the film means its dialogue is its biggest strength, with Stephen McHattie pulling off such a difficult lead role almost effortlessly. Not that the supporting cast doesn’t pull their own weight, though. Pontypool is a fantastic time if you ever want to see how far you can stretch a single location in a horror film. Stream Pontypool on Shudder.

2

Relic (2020)

An increasing number of horror films have explored dementia, and Relic does this to great effect. Emily Mortimer is Kay, who takes her daughter Sam (Bella Heathcote) with her when Kay’s mother Edna (Robyn Nevin), already suffering from dementia, goes missing. Upon entering Edna’s home, they find it covered both with Edna’s post-it notes and a mysterious black mold.

Edna turns up a mess the next day. However, she’s unaware that she’s been gone, and with symptoms typical of dementia, runs alternately hot and cold with her daughter and granddaughter, fearful that there is someone else lurking in the house. But the film dips into true horror when Sam finds a secret, labyrinthine passage in the house, and the black mold starts to leech into Edna’s skin.

A Chilling COVID Film

Due to being released near the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, Relic may have unfortunately been lost in the ensuing societal shift that came only months after its release. Still, this beautiful film is worth a watch. Dread comes from every innocuous moment, and when combining the threat of something supernatural with the sadness of a terrifying real-life scenario, you get a movie that’s as chilling as it is saddening. Stream Relic on Shudder.

1

Bedevilled (2010)

A hit in South Korea, Bedevilled went sadly under-the-radar internationally. It starts off with Hae-won (Ji Sung-won), an uptight bank employee who gets fired for a staunch lack of empathy towards others. She decides to visit a friend on the remote island where she spent time as a child. Her friend, Bok-nam (Seo Young-hee) is delighted to see the old friend who has callously ignored her for so long, and Hae-won is startled to find that Bok-nam is treated as a veritable slave by her husband and the community on the island. An accident involving Bok-nam’s daughter pushes her over the edge, and unable to stand the vicious treatment she’s withstood for so long anymore, Bok-nam goes on a violent rampage.

A Bitter Revenge Film

It’s a hard movie to watch, a revenge film gone mad, and Hae-won’s role in the tragedy is eventually revealed. There’s no pleasantness to be found here, leaving only raw emotion and unbridled terror to be found in every subsequent scene. It’s a hard watch, but one that’ll put you through an emotional wringer that’ll leave you hollow on the inside. Stream Bedevilled on The Roku Channel.