10 Perfect Horror Movies You've Never Heard Of
These horror films have gone unnoticed for too long.
Since the dawn of cinema, there've been many great horror films that failed to receive the attention they deserved. But over the years, gems like The Man Who Laughs, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and They Live have become cult-classics.
For many horror fanatics, there's nothing better than being blown away by an obscure slasher or Lovecraftian scarefest you stumbled upon by chance. And thanks to streaming, we have more avenues than ever to hunt down underrated creature features, spook stories, and kaiju flicks. Because of this, you'd safely assume every horror film that went unappreciated in its time has been discovered.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Even with Amazon, Netflix, Shudder and more at our disposal, there are still masterful horrors that have slipped through our radar. Some entries on this list have stayed hidden to the masses for years. Others have remained unknown for decades.
But no longer. If you've been seeking out a lesser-known film where bodies are hacked, entrails are devoured, and heads are lopped off, you're in luck. Here are ten perfect horror films you've never heard of.
10. Excision
Excision is such a tour-de-force of tight writing and visceral imagery, it's hard to believe this is Richard Bates Jr's first feature. This underrated body-horror centres around delusional misfit, Pauline, who serves as the poster child for teenage angst. Butting heads with everyone she sees - primarily her domineering mother - Pauline hopes to win the approval of others by pursuing a career in medicine. Because of her less than stellar grades and psychotic tendencies, this is easier said than done.
Thanks to the staggering amount of gore, it's easy to perceive Excision as a mindless splatterfest. But Richard Bates Jr ensures the twisted violence is always relative to our protagonist's plight, rather than relying on it for shock value.
On the surface, we shouldn't be cheering for Pauline - especially after seeing her head is brimming with images of her peers being mutilated - but AnnaLyne McCord is astonishing in the role, making her surprisingly relatable. Because of the witty script, cerebral action, and McCord's towering performance, Excision feels like a cult-classic waiting to happen.
Also, it stars John Waters and Malcolm McDowell. What more could you want?