In the last couple of decades,horrorhas taken a leap like we hadn’t seen before. From “elevated horror” to the return of classic franchises, horror has gone through all kinds of fads, but the basics of it remain untouched.
The 2020s are still going strong, and in the decade thathas brought modern classicslikeNope,Smile,and the new generation ofScream, there are several movies that simply fall off people’s radar. Luckily, we love those, and to help you fill those watchlists, we dug through the bins of the 2020s and found an awesome list of underrated horror films you can watch today. The best thing about them? They’re absolutely free to watch.
10’History of the Occult' (2021)
Free on Tubi
Argentina, the 1980s. The country is in political turmoil, and the crew of a talk show60 Minutes Before Midnightdecides to do something different for the final episode: expose the government’s association with murder, black magic, and witches. Naturally, things get out of control during the taping.
Latin American horrorhas seen a few winners recently, but few are as mysterious and interesting asHistory of the Occult. Written and directed by newcomer Cristian Ponce, this conspiracy horror gem plays with many subgenres. It’s subtle at exposing what’s behind its cryptic premise, but it remains mysterious until the end. This one is recommended for fans ofLate Night With the DevilandGhostwatch.
9’The Outwaters' (2022)
The Outwaters
InThe Outwaters, filmmaker Robbie asks his brother and friends for help in the shooting of a music video in the Mojave Desert. Of course, they camp in the middle of nowhere, and when night falls, they begin experiencing creepy stuff that goes from the scariest of cosmic horror tropes to… time travel? We couldn’t explain what happens here, even if we wanted to.
The Outwatersis not only one of the best found footage films in recent years, but also one of themost underrated films ever made in the format. The film is a creation of Robbie Banfitch, who basically does everything in the film, even designing the very unnerving prosthetics you will see in the movie’s final moments.The Outwatersis a truly unique film experience that you will either hate or love, but one thing’s for sure: it’ll keep you thinking long after the credits roll.
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8’Broadcast Signal Intrusion' (2021)
Free on The Roku Channel
Broadcast Signal Intrusion
James is a video archivist working for a TV station where he comes upon something rather eerie in one of the tapes: a video that has a broadcast signal intrusion, the famous hijacking technique in which a TV station signal gets taken over by “pirates.” The video James finds has some clues that could point to what happened to several women who have disappeared, including his own wife.
The hijacking videos are creepy enough to give you nightmares, but beyond that,Broadcast Signal Intrusionis anextremely disturbing adaptationof the concept because James’ story blends well with the conspiracy subplot. This one will be enjoyed by fans of creepypastas and other unsettling analog horror pieces found online.
7’She Dies Tomorrow' (2020)
She Dies Tomorrow
She Dies Tomorrowtells the story of several people whose lives are intertwined by an irrational fear of dying. First, we meet Amy, who has recently bought a house. In a panicked state, she implies to her friend Jane that she will die the next day. Then, Jane also starts saying that she will die tomorrow. Eventually, the eerie “prediction” spreads like wildfire.
It’s OK if you shrug your shoulders at first and sayShe Dies Tomorrowis just a small-scalefilm about paranoia. However, when the idea is quickly expanded into what can only be labeled as an epidemic, the movie becomes a unique take on themes explored in films likeIt Follows. The film also has arguably the best cast on this list: Kate Lyn Sheil, Josh Lucas, Adam Wingard, Michelle Rodriguez, and Chris Messina, among others.
6’My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To' (2020)
My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It Tofollows Jessie and Dwight, a couple of siblings who must commit crimes in order to help their bedridden brother, Thomas. The ill teen must consume human blood for survival. When Thomas shows signs of rebellion, Jessie just wants to keep him hidden and restrained. Nevertheless, Dwight starts seeing a way out of a lifestyle he’s desperate to leave behind.
By now, you probably already guessed that this underrated horror piece is a vampire movie. Not only that, it’sone of the best vampire films in recent years. There are no fancy or sexy vampires doing the bloodsucking. Instead, we get a glimpse at a family in complete disarray and their descent into inevitable disaster. Patrick Fugit, Owen Campbell, and Ingrid Sophie Schram are impressive in the film as the three siblings with radically different views and agendas.
5’We Summon the Darkness' (2020)
we summon the darkness
It’s the summer of 1988, and three heavy metal-loving friends are attending a show by one of their favorite bands. Alexis, Val, and Bev seem to be the perfect match for Ivan, Kovacs, and Mark, a trio of boys who happen to love the same band. After the show, Alexis invites them over to her father’s mansion, where something wicked awaits.
We Summon the Darknessfeatures a tone shift that shows its screenwriter’s skill to turn a basicheavy metal scary filminto a multilayered horror approach with a clever and funny script. Alexandra Daddario leads the movie as an obviously “sexy” character who conceals something sinister, and when the metalheads find out the truth,We Summon the Darknessturns into an original take on a tale of fundamentalist religion.
4’The Beach House' (2020)
The Beach House
The Beach Housetells the story of Emily and Randall, a young couple who decide to spend the weekend at the beach house owned by Randall’s parents. Another couple is already at the house, but they’re friends of Randall’s parents, so the two couples decide to spend the weekend together. What they don’t know is that a mysterious parasite has washed ashore, andthe weekend getaway turns into a gory nightmare.
The Beach Houseis a slow-burn scary movie that’s not for the squeamish. Body horror tropes are pretty graphic, and eventually, the awkward encounter between the two couples becomes the least relevant aspect of the plot. The performance by Liana Liberato as Emily is the best in the career of the young actor. WhatJawsdid for skinny-dipping, this one will do for going to the beach with your loved ones.
3’Gretel & Hansel' (2020)
Gretel & Hansel
InGretel & Hansel, teenager Gretel is banished from her home along with her brother because their mother believes they’re not worthy of her care. Gretel takes care of the younger Hansel, and when they get lost in the woods, a mysterious woman invites them over to her hut, where they can stay and eat if they work for her. This ends the exact way you remember.
There are, however, a few twists to the original story by the Brothers Grimm. BeforeLonglegs,Oz Perkins was still indulgingin all kinds of horror subgenres, including the “fairy tale on steroids” one.Gretel & Hanselis an atmospheric horror journey that’s more style than substance, but it’s still an interesting modern approach to the fairy tale about the lost siblings sought by a witch in a forsaken forest. The score by ROB is an unforgettable piece of horror ambiance.
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2’Behind the Sightings' (2021)
Behind the Sightingsis yet another underrated found footage film on the list. Todd and Jessica are a couple of filmmakers who come up with the idea of shooting a documentary about strange sightings that have been occurring all over the country. “Evil” clowns are appearing in the middle of public gatherings and scaring the pants off of everybody. Go ahead and guess if the creepy clowns show up while the couple are making the documentary.
The clowns inBehind the Sightingsdeserve a spot among thescariest clowns in film history. While it isn’t a perfect found footage entry, the use of unnerving clowns always works, and this one will stay with you for days, especially if you’re creeped out by clowns. It’s obviously not based on a true story, but it was inspired by the real creepy clown sightings of 2016.
1’The Mortuary Collection' (2019)
The Mortuary Collection
InThe Mortuary Collection, young Sam knocks on the door of Raven’s End Mortuary. Montgomery Dark answers the door and interviews her for an assistant position, offering her the creepy stories of the corpses he performed funerals for. Eventually, she reveals her agenda, which doesn’t exactly involve becoming a mortician.
The Mortuary Collectionis a fine example of the difficult craft of making consistenthorror anthologies. Some anthologies just don’t work, but Ryan Spindell’s approach to the format feels inspired and different. If you’re into horror anthologies, then you know that not always all the segments work, andThe Mortuary Collectionis the exception. Veteran character actor Clancy Brown is Montgomery Dark, and he performs the best role of his career.
