Classics are usually acclaimed and adored some horror fanatics, for example, The Shining or The Exorcist, still there are several great macabre movies which are less known, perhaps because they have fallen north of any release or due to the fact that they are outshone by some other popular film. Here is a list of the top underrated horror movies which have ratings and reviews from the viewers of IMDb but still go unrecognized as themselves are worth a mention.
Must-Watch Underrated Horror Films with Top IMDb Scores – Explore a list of lesser-known yet critically acclaimed horror movies that deserve a spot on every horror fan’s watchlist.
1. The Wailing (2016) – IMDb: 7.4
Director: Na Hong- jin
Synopsis: A police officer is determined to solve the puzzle of the mysterious diseases and gruesome murders which haunt a small Korean village and connect them to an otherworldly force.
Why It’s a Must-Watch: This South Korean horror film executes the prime themes of ancient folklore, shamanism, and psychological horror and intertwines them with an interesting (read unpredictable) plot. One thing that I liked in particular would be the formulaic nature of this film in that it creates an eerie atmosphere and utilizes tight narrative to deceive and surprise the audience making it one of the better horrors I’ve seen.
2. Session 9 (2001) – IMDb: 6.4
Director: Brad Anderson
Synopsis: A group of men who are laborers and clean asbestos inside one of the abandoned, haunted, and creepy asylums start to have feelings of sinister images.
Why It’s a Must-Watch: It is hard to pin Session 9 as a film filled with creepy jumps as it is more psychological in nature which keeps viewers on an edge creating a chilling watch at the same time.
3. Lake Mungo (2008) – IMDb: 6.3
Director: Joel Anderson
Synopsis: After their teenage daughter’s accidental death the family begins to notice strange and ghostly figures and events which they start to film, while developing intensification of emotion, even more horrifying events occur.
Why It’s a Must-Watch: It’s an entry that looks and feels like a real documentary film and is incredibly spooky. It really works with what could be quite a stereotypically bleak and negative subject matter, pulling it off without feeling any way cheap or schlocky at all.
4. The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016) – IMDb: 6.8
Director: André Øvredal
Synopsis: Father and son coroner duo initiate autopsy processes in a dead, unidentified woman, only to find dreadful supernatural unnaturalities inside her.
Why It’s a Must-Watch: It’s an uncomfortable and very niche horror mystery; its atmosphere amalgamates body horror, suspense, and supernatural elements pretty well.
5. The Orphanage (2007) – IMDb: 7.4
Director: J.A. Bayona
Synopsis: A woman revisits her childhood orphanage with her son who suddenly vanishes, leading to a nightmarish search.
Why It’s a Must-Watch: This gothic Spanish horror film prides itself on evoking pathos through supernatural jolts. It’s trying to embody the visitor through the house genre and it has some really strong scary scenes.
6. The Ritual (2017) – IMDb: 6.3
Director: David Bruckner
Synopsis: A misdirected group of friends embarks on a hiking trip through Sweden and winds up crossing over into a forest steeped in an ominous presence.
Why It’s a Must-Watch: The Ritual is an engaging Finnish folk horror that would keep audience in awe. Mixing personal trauma, Nordic mythical elements, and suspense made the show stand out among the rest.
7. I Saw the Devil (2010) – IMDb: 7.8
Director: Kim Jee-woon
Synopsis: A spy goes on a hunt for the serial killer who killed his girlfriend leading him into a game of revenge where the other party is ready.
Why It’s a Must-Watch: Alongside its horror-thriller, this South Korean masterpiece presents a psycho-killer with disturbing horror elements.
8. The Dark and the Wicked (2020) – IMDb: 6.1
Director: Bryan Bertino
Synopsis: A brother and his sister come back home against their dying father only to know that there is an evil entity haunting it.
What Makes It a Must-Watch: It is a slow-paced horror film with atmospherical horror and includes one of the most heart-rending scare-creating demonic encounters of recent horror.
9. Pontypool (2008) – IMDb: 6.6
Director: Bruce McDonald
Synopsis: A local radio presenter terms it a wee mysterious virus that affects language and makes people violent also finds new ways to kill.
What Makes It a Must-Watch: Pontypool is a delightful horror setup where the bereft radio horror is more hideous than traditional ones due to the dialogues.
10. House of the Devil (2009) – IMDb: 6.3
Director: Ti West
Synopsis: A college girl redeems her companion who has an appointment of keeping watch at the remote mansion with horrors beyond all rituals in store.
What Makes It a Must-Watch: It is the scary part of how a slow burn horror picture was set up in a dreadfully authentic horror film, and then turn it into a classic horror film fortune.
11. It Comes at Night (2017) – IMDb: 6.2
Director: Trey Edward Shults
Synopsis: A family isolated by a mysterious plague has to decide whether they can trust outsiders, who are asking for their help.
What Makes It a Must-Watch: If the film falls into any category, it’s that of exceptional psychological horror-drama allowing it to delve into human nature and the unseen terrors of paranoia.
12. The Endless (2017) – IMDb: 6.5
Director: Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead
Synopsis: The two brothers return to the same cult from which they escaped years ago, but to witness a cosmic horror that far exceeds all comprehension.
What Makes It a Must-Watch: An excellent Lovecraftian horror gem delivers mind-bending horror and sci-fi.
13. Under the Shadow (2016) – IMDb: 6.9
Director: Babak Anvari
Synopsis: During the Iran-Iraq war, a mother-daughter duo starts realizing their war-ridden apartment being terrorized by the work of a djinn, an evil spirit.
What Makes It a Must-Watch: This Persian horror combines real with supernatural horror to provoke further emotional disturbance.
14. Possession (1981) – IMDb: 7.3
Director: Andrzej Zulawski
Synopsis: The unruly behavior of a woman denounced by her current boyfriend plunges her husband into the discovery of a dark monstrous secret that lies beneath.
What Makes It a Must-Watch: Dark, dangerous, uncomfortable, Possession is the result of mixing psychological horror with body horror and surrealism.
15. The Night House – 2020; IMDb: 6.5
Director: David Bruckner
Synopsis: A widow, grieving for her husband who committed suicide in this strangely mysterious way, discovers the horrific secrets buried in their lake house.
What Makes It a Must-Watch: The slow burn psychological horror that envelops The Night House provides unsettling atmosphere and unforgettable twist.
Conclusion
These underrated horror movies may not have reached the mainstream popularity that current hits do-they offer experiences that are terrifying. It can almost be said that some of the less-known horrors are better than the best of its genre. These terrifying yet underrated horror movies offer unforgettable scares and storytelling that horror lovers shouldn’t overlook.
