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The horror genre is incredibly broad and rapidly expanding. After you’ve seen the newest popular horror picture, half a dozen more good movies have already come and gone, leaving you scrambling to keep up.

This implies that even if you work hard to keep up with the major releases, some things will still go between the cracks. Fortunately, this means you can go out and find everything you missed. You can discover a variety of undiscovered gems by spending a little time on streaming services or by being in the right horror circles. These could include overlooked films by the genre’s greatest directors, early productions by its current all-stars, or simply excellent films that were quietly released. We have the movies you’re looking for if that’s what you’re after. These undiscovered gems are worth seeing, ranging from exciting Netflix productions to independent mockumentaries.

1. The 1974 film Eaten Alive
   Although his sequel isn’t quite as well-known, it’s still worth seeing. Director Tobe Hooper would probably never surpass the cultural milestone he achieved in 1974 with the release of his independent horror classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
   Just two years after Chain Saw, Hooper’s Eaten Alive is another Texas horror tale that takes place in the swamps of East Texas. The story follows the strange hotel owner in his murderous rampage, which also includes the amiable local alligator that lives in the water near the guest rooms. In contrast to Chain Saw’s docudrama craze, Eaten Alive, which was shot on soundstages, creates a surrealist nightmare that foreshadows part of what Hooper would achieve with Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 a few years later. You’ll have a spooky evening on the sofa if you include Neville Brand’s shocking portrayal of the antagonist.
2. Thirst (1979)
   Not to be confused with Park Chan-wook’s fantastic 2009 vampire movie of the same name (which you should also see), Thirst blends science fiction, vampire mythology, and a high-concept horror story to create a work that, although maybe not as engaging as other 1970s vampire movies, most certainly qualifies as a cult classic.
   The narrative centers on a hidden organization of vampires called The Brotherhood, who consume human “cattle” as part of their rituals and fundamental social structure. A descendent of the fabled “blood countess” Elizabeth Bathory is what they think they have found. Just the worldbuilding that results from that hook is worth the admission fee.
3. The 1980 film The Changeling
   The Changeling, the haunted home classic starring the great George C. Scott, is undoubtedly familiar to you, but have you ever watched it? It certainly merits a spot on your list if you’ve seen all of the main contemporary horror flicks and want to catch up on some of the best ones.
   The plot of Changeling revolves around a composer (George C. Scott) who, following the untimely deaths of his wife and children, settles into a haunted mansion by himself. He soon finds himself compelled to look into the origin of the night terrors. In addition to having some of the most ambient haunting scenes of its time, Peter Medak’s picture is a brilliant slow-burn exercise in building tension and horror. It also has a gripping emotional plot to back up a strong and creative assortment of scares.
4. Possession (1981)
   Because of its somewhat sporadic distribution, Andrzej Żuławski’s Possession has endured for years among many horror lovers based only on its reputation. However, the movie finally received a stunning 4K restoration and an exclusive streaming home at Metrograph in 2021, marking its 40th anniversary. It is definitely worth your time and attention.
   Sam Neill plays a spy who lives far away and returns home to discover that his wife, Isabelle Adjani, is requesting a divorce. Possession is a terrifying journey into psychosexual dread, combining psychological drama, body horror, and creature features, and it contains a number of images that will stay in your head for a long time. The movie is deserving of its fame, which will only increase in the years to come.
5. The 1986 film Night of the Creeps
   Writer/director Fred Dekker published this purposefully silly ode to 1950s sci-fi B films a year after co-creating the Universal Monsters parody The Monster Squad. Night of the Creeps deserves a lot of affection, even though it hasn’t yet developed a cult following as strong as Monster Squad’s. As they fight an invasion of extraterrestrial slugs that turn their host into mindless zombies, Creeps follows a group of college students and a detective troubled by his past (Tom Atkins in peak form). The final battle against a horde of undead frat dudes is both amusing and strangely socially relevant, as Tom Atkins dominates every scene he’s in. The visual effects are also pure practical ’80s fun.
6. Demon Knight, presented by Tales from the Crypt (1995)
   Horror fans have recently given the first Tales from the Crypt feature film a sort of reappraisal, and it’s easy to understand why they’ve been watching it again recently.
   Demon Knight is a wild trip with of animals, gore effects, and dark comedic moments that are ideal for the Tales from the Crypt style. It blends a diverse ensemble with an entertaining and ambitious theme. The main plot of the film, which is about a mysterious item that actually dates back to God’s creation of the universe, centers on a group of relative strangers who are holed up in a former church that has been converted into a rooming house as demonic monsters outside battle to get inside. There are many reasons to enjoy this full-length spinoff, from Billy Zane’s entertaining portrayal of the Big Bad to the neon-green monster blood that permeates the entire movie.
7. The 9th session (2001)
   Session 9, one of the most eerie horror film experiences of the twenty-first century, was primarily filmed in one incredibly eerie location using a digital video setup and a modest budget. It’s a suspenseful psychological exercise that irritates you and festers there.
   In order to remove asbestos from an ancient mental institution, a blue-collar labor crew must meet a strict deadline. When they enter the institution, however, they discover that the most damaging aspect of it is the proof of a patient’s treatment that appears to begin to permeate every employee’s thoughts. Session 9 is a great example of less-is-more horror filmmaking; it’s tense, atmospheric, full of amazing character work, and has a crazy twist finale.
8. Mungo Lake (2008)
   If there’s one movie on this list that I’ve been pressuring my friends to see more than any other, it’s Lake Mungo, a mockumentary directed by Joel Anderson about a bereaved family who start to think that a part of their deceased daughter may still be with them. The movie starts off as a portrayal of a broken home that also deconstructs spirit photography and false hope, much like something you could see on a public broadcasting service. After then, Lake Mungo delves farther and develops into an existential terror and loss experience, culminating in one of the scariest horror movie scenes ever.
9. (2011) The Awakening
   There’s a reason why classic haunted home sets continue to be used in horror movies. No matter how many times you think you’ve seen this narrative before, if you do it well enough, it just works.
   Rebecca Hall plays a woman who specializes in dispelling supernatural frauds in the spooky, personal 2011 movie The Awakening. However, she discovers more than just a few drafty rooms and hyperactive imaginations when she is called to an all-boys boarding school to look into claims of a ghost. This terrifying movie, which is a cross between The Others and The Haunting of Bly Manor, is worth seeing if you enjoy Hall in The Night House, one of the top horror movies of 2021.
10. Honeymoon (2014)
    I adore horror movies that are able to accomplish a lot with just a few people, the setting, and a lot of atmospheric tension. That kind of movie is Honeymoon, which stars Rose Leslie from Game of Thrones and Harry Treadaway from Penny Dreadful. It’s also a fascinating showcase for Leigh Janiak, who will lead the Fear Street trilogy in the future. Leslie and Treadaway play a couple who go on a post-wedding getaway to a remote cottage, only to discover that they may not be alone in the woods. As suspicions grow between the pair and it becomes evident that at least one of them may not be the same person they were when they arrived, what begins as a few odd lights in the trees quickly turns into something more unsettling. In essence, there is a single, highly unsettling revelation after a protracted build-up. However, when that revelation comes, it hits hard.