Horror remains one of Hollywood’s most consistently profitable genres, capable of turning modest budgets into massive box office returns. This year has been a testament to that enduring power, with original stories like Sinister and Weapons proving that fresh ideas can still captivate horror fans. At the same time, sequels such as The Conjuring: Last Rites and Black Phone 2 demonstrated the sustained strength of familiar fears, scoring big with audiences eager to revisit their favorite ghostly encounters. The horror wave shows no signs of cresting, as the highly anticipated release of Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is set to close out the year this December, all but guaranteeing that 2025 will be remembered as another banner year for the genre.
Yet, for every blockbuster that terrifies its way to the top of the charts, countless other films fail to find the audience they deserve. These hidden gems often get lost in the shuffle, hampered by limited distribution or relegated to the festival circuit where they are seen only by a dedicated few. Nevertheless, for horror aficionados willing to look beyond the mainstream, these underseen films offer some of the most innovative and genuinely frightening experiences in modern cinema.
7) Absentia
Image courtesy of Phase 4 Films
Mike Flanagan has become one of modern horror’s most respected voices, but before he was a household name, he directed the deeply unsettling independent feature Absentia. Released in 2011, the film was a micro-budget production funded in part through a Kickstarter campaign, a factor that contributed to its extremely limited initial reach. It primarily made its way through the film festival circuit, building a strong critical reputation but never achieving a wide theatrical release that would have brought it to a larger audience. The story follows a pregnant woman (Courtney Bell) who, after seven years, is finally ready to declare her missing husband (Morgan Peter Brown) dead in absentia, only for him to mysteriously reappear. Absentia is a haunting exploration of grief, loss, and the unexplainable forces that exist just beyond the veil of our understanding, deserving of a place among Flanagan’s more celebrated works.
6) Attachment
Image courtesy of Shudder
Attachment is a brilliant Danish horror film that cleverly subverts genre expectations by blending a heartwarming queer romance with ancient Jewish folklore. The film follows Maja (Josephine Park), a Danish actress who falls for Leah (Ellie Kendrick), a Jewish academic from London. When Leah has a violent seizure, Maja accompanies her back to her home, only to meet her secretive and overbearing mother, Chana (Sofie Gråbøl). Attachment avoids easy scares, instead building a creeping sense of dread as Maja slowly uncovers the dark secrets hidden within the family’s apartment. It is a refreshingly original take on demonic possession that doubles down as a genuinely compelling relationship drama. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2022 and played at several other festivals before landing on the horror streaming service Shudder in early 2023. While this gave it a platform, it missed the broader cultural conversation it deserved.
5) Luz
Image courtesy of Yellow Veil Pictures
A German arthouse horror film shot on 16mm as a film school thesis project, Luz was a bold debut from director Tilman Singer. The film follows a young cab driver (Luana Velis) who enters a police station, dazed and confused, while a demonic entity that has been pursuing her possesses a psychotherapist (Jan Bluthardt) to get close to her. The story unfolds in a non-linear fashion, demanding the viewer’s full attention as it pieces together its surreal narrative. Luz premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2018 and became a festival circuit darling, earning praise for its unique vision and retro aesthetic that pays homage to 1970s and 80s European horror. However, its experimental nature and limited release prevented it from reaching a wider audience.
4) Good Manners
Image courtesy of Imovision
Good Manners is a stunningly original and ambitious Brazilian horror-fantasy film. Directed by Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra, the movie, begins as a social drama about a lonely nurse named Clara (Isabél Zuaa) who is hired by the wealthy and mysterious Ana (Marjorie Estiano) to be the nanny for her unborn child. The first half of the film is a beautifully observed character study, but a genre-bending twist transforms it into a modern-day fairy tale with a monstrous secret at its center. The film’s unique structure and blend of genres likely made it a difficult sell for mainstream distributors, causing it to remain largely unseen outside of the festival circuit, where it won numerous awards. Yet, Good Manners is an unforgettable piece of filmmaking that deserves to be recognized as a modern classic of Latin American horror.
3) Final Prayer
Image courtesy of Metrodome Distribution
Premiering at a time when the found-footage subgenre was oversaturated, the 2013 British horror film known in the UK as The Borderlands was tragically overlooked. The movie, released in the United States as Final Prayer, follows a team of Vatican investigators sent to a remote church in the English countryside to debunk claims of a miracle. What they find is far more sinister than a simple hoax. The film distinguishes itself with strong performances and a script that focuses on the dynamic between its cynical characters, making the escalating terror feel more grounded. Its slow-burn pacing, which patiently builds a suffocating sense of dread, may have alienated viewers looking for more immediate thrills. However, those who stick with it are rewarded with one of the most genuinely shocking endings in modern horror history. As a result, Final Prayer is a prime example of how effective found footage can be when used to serve a well-crafted story.
2) Hagazussa: A Heathen’s Curse
Image courtesy of Forgotten Film Entertainment
Hagazussa: A Heathen’s Curse is a German-Austrian folk horror film that is less concerned with scaring its audience and more interested in plunging them into a state of profound unease. Set in a remote Alpine village in the 15th century, the story follows Albrun (Aleksandra Cwen), a goat herder who is ostracized by the deeply superstitious locals who believe her to be a witch. Based on this premise, the film is a brutal examination of isolation, misogyny, and the psychological toll of being an outcast. Plus, director Lukas Feigelfeld uses painterly visuals and an atmospheric score to create a nightmarish experience, giving horror fans one more good reason to watch it. Hagazussa: A Heathen’s Curse premiered at Fantastic Fest in 2017 and received critical acclaim, but its deliberate pace and challenging subject matter made it a difficult watch for mainstream audiences. However, for fans of atmospheric horror like The Witch, this is an essential movie.
1) A Dark Song
Image courtesy of IFC Midnight
Liam Gavin’s 2016 directorial debut, A Dark Song, is a masterpiece of occult horror that is as emotionally devastating as it is terrifying. The film centers on Sophia (Catherine Walker), a grieving mother who hires an occultist (Steve Oram) to guide her through a grueling and dangerous months-long ritual to get revenge on her son’s killer. Confined to a remote house in Wales, the two must navigate a perilous spiritual journey that’s surprisingly realistic. Despite rave reviews from its festival run, A Dark Song only received a limited theatrical and VOD release, preventing it from gaining the widespread recognition it deserved. Still, the film is a meticulously researched depiction of ritual magic, treating its subject with a rare authenticity that makes the supernatural elements feel terrifyingly real. In addition, A Dark Song is a slow-burning story that explores the depths of grief and the lengths one will go to for closure, culminating in a mind-blowing finale.
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