Horror movies are on the up, and the last ten years have been nothing but stellar progress for the genre.
But while some horror movies hit headlines across the world over the last decade, some great ones flew under the radar.
So, here are the top 10 underrated horror movies of the last ten years.
10. Unfriended (2014)
Stay with me on this one. While its trailer may have gone viral back in 2014 to a cacophony of ironic laughter, Unfriended really doesn’t deserve the reputation it has.
Not only is it an enormously entertaining teen horror, complete with great twists and scares, but it’s actually one of the most groundbreaking films of the last ten years.
With the whole film playing out on the screen of a teenage girl’s laptop, it’s incredible just how much excitement the film delivers through browser windows and Skype calls. And what’s more, it’s a style that might just start to stick, with more and more films telling timely stories through the surprisingly powerful medium of a computer screen.
Read a full review here.
9. Doctor Sleep (2019)
You would have thought that the sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s legendary thriller The Shining would have been a roaring success, but Doctor Sleep inexplicably flew well under the radar.
Even stranger was just how good the film was. The Shining‘s daunting reputation makes it a difficult act to follow, but Doctor Sleep brilliantly forged its own path, balancing its homages to the original film while telling an engrossing and original new story.
Following young Danny Torrance as an adult, the film is a striking psychological thriller that delivers powerfully eerie intrigue, bolstered by enormously effective directing by Mike Flanagan and fantastic performances from Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson and the young Kyliegh Curran.
Read a full review here.
8. The Shallows (2016)
So many shark movies come along hoping to be the best since Jaws, and The Shallows was the one that finally did it.
An enormously entertaining survival thriller that simultaneously delivers gruesome and intense horror, it’s a genuinely brilliant film that’s unfairly thrown in with the endless crowd of terrible shark movies from the last ten years.
Blake Lively stars almost entirely alone with a stunningly physical performance, battling for survival as she’s tormented by a great white shark just metres from the safety of shore. And with arresting visuals and a surprisingly intense atmosphere, it’s a battle of exhilarating proportions that makes for a hugely entertaining watch.
Read a full review here.
7. Tag (2015)
An utterly psychotic thriller from legendary director Sion Sono, Tag blurs the lines between gory horror and abstract masterpiece in exhilarating style.
Yet despite the director’s reputation for classics like Suicide Club and Shinjuku Swan, Tag has really struggled to reach an international audience. But that leaves at its one of the most underseen gems in world cinema, and a treasure that’s just waiting to be discovered.
With the horror sensibilities of Saw combined with a mind-bending narrative reminiscent of Mulholland Drive, this is one of those films that you’ll never truly understand, but will have an absolute riot watching, and then not forget in a hurry.
Read a full review here.
6. Happy Death Day (2017)
One of the biggest surprises of the last decade, Happy Death Day is a hugely entertaining comedy-horror that plays on a classic premise to great effect.
And while it did well at the box office, the film has quickly fallen back into cult circles, too often confused with heavier horrors like The Purge.
In truth, it’s a funny, inventive and even genuinely heartwarming film that follows a college girl becoming a better person as she relives the same day over and over again.
And while its Groundhog Day premise may be familiar, it does nothing to dull the film’s excellent humour, which along with some good scares and an engaging story, make Happy Death Day one of the most enjoyable horrors in recent memory.
Read a full review here.
5. Don’t Breathe (2016)
A blissfully simple thriller that strikes up genuine scares throughout, Don’t Breathe is a film you really don’t want to miss.
The story of a group of teens who break into a blind man’s dilapidated house, this film is an absolute masterwork of excitement, horror and drama, twisting and turning in spectacular fashion as it delivers shock upon shock upon shock.
Its heavier, grittier thrills mean it might not be the perfect watch for a Halloween get-together with friends, but by effectively playing on simple fears as it mirrors legendary thriller Wait Until Dark, Don’t Breathe is a genuinely brilliant piece of modern horror.
Read a full review here.
4. Ready Or Not (2019)
This is how you do comedy and horror properly. An enormously enjoyable yet endlessly gruesome game of cat of mouse, Ready Or Not is one of the most delightful treats of the horror genre.
Powering along with an endlessly hilarious sense of humour, the film balances its surprising level of violence and gore with crowd-pleasing thrills and spills, as well as big laughs right the way through.
Couple that with a sure-to-be cult classic performance from Samara Weaving as a newlywed bride desperate to survive on her wedding night, and you have a film that delivers unforgettable entertainment throughout, and absolutely deserves more recognition as one of the most enjoyable movies of recent years.
Read a full review here.
3. Raw (2016)
Another film that was arguably a victim of going viral, French horror Raw struck up a reputation for sickening scares.
Literally. When the film came out it was reported that people were vomiting in the cinema at the sight of its admittedly gruesome horror. But that reputation hides the reality of what is a genuinely impressive film.
Not only is it an intensely disturbing horror that uses violence and gore to astonishing effect, but it’s a powerful coming-of-age story that follows a teenage girl discovering herself as she starts at university. So while it’s worth the watch for horror fans, those looking for an engrossing drama will also be thoroughly satisfied.
Read a full review here.
2. Suspiria (2018)
Following on from Dario Argento’s legendary cult horror over four decades later, Luca Guadagnino’s harrowing remake was always going to have big shoes to fill.
Yet that’s not what Suspiria is about. Rather than simply rehashing the classic pulp thrills of the ’70s original, it’s an astonishingly bold reimagining of the same story, only injected with a harsh, cagey atmosphere that’s the complete antithesis of the original’s delirious thrills.
Those looking for a faithful return to the original were always going to be disappointed. But by breathing fresh life into a classic story, along with new ideas, modern techniques and an exceptional lead cast, Suspiria showed the world what a really good remake should look like.
Read a full review here.
1. Annihilation (2018)
Annihilation deserves to be considered one of the modern classics of horror. A daring, thought-provoking and staggeringly original psychological thriller, it’s one of the most underappreciated films of recent years.
Brilliantly blending elements of sci-fi, horror and deep, deep drama, the film is a mesmerising and harrowing watch. And with an exceptional lead performance from Natalie Portman as well as gorgeous visual effects, it’s the sort of film that you daren’t blink for fear of missing a moment.
Yet it bombed at the box office, and was released around the world on Netflix. Those who have seen the film know what a transcendent piece of work it is, with Ex Machina director Alex Garland at the helm. If you’re looking for a memorable and powerful horror with good thrills, great scares and even greater depth, Annihilation is without doubt one of the best and most underrated films out there.
Read a full review here.
