10 Hidden Gem Indie Horror Movies You MUST Watch

2. Saloum

Set in Senegal, Saloum follows a three mercenaries, Chaka, Raffa, and Minuit, who are hired to extract a drug lord. As soon as the mission begins, the trio find themselves running into a myriad of problems.

What makes Saloum so unnerving is the fact it doesn't initially feel like a horror movie. In fact, the genre-bending film comes across as a Western heist thriller at first. Sure, there are supernatural elements sprinkled throughout but Saloum still feels reasonably grounded .

So, when the paranormal begins playing a more prominent role, it's jarring and therefore, more frightening.  

Saloum's strength lies in its atmosphere, pacing, and striking visuals. The Senegalese landscape appears beautifully menacing, while the chilling score accentuates the mounting dread. The characterisation is superb, especially surrounding Chaka, whose hidden motivations makes the overarching narrative more tragic.

Despite being only 80 minutes, Saloum explores a lot of hard-hitting topics, including PTSD, colonial violence, and child soldiers, and effortlessly interweaves them into the story. 

Although horror purists may feel like they've built up a resistance to the genre, Saloum is sure to leave a lasting impression on almost anyone.