10 Perfect Psychological Horror Movies You've Never Heard Of

10. Under The Shadow

Even though Under the Shadow centres around a Tehrani woman and her child being tormented by a Djinn spirit, it's so much more than a mere ghost story. 

Despite being Babak Invari's first full-length feature, the Iranian filmmaker effortlessly tackles multiple genres, powerful political subtexts, and thought-provoking themes. Instead of focusing on the wicked spectre, the narrative revolves around Shideh and her relationship with her daughter, Dorsa. Watching Shideh deal with her past and her inner demons is so captivating, it's easy to forget about the very real demon lurking in her apartment.

Under the Shadow may rely on jump-scares, but the Persian thriller gets away with it since these moments are legitimately heart-pounding.

Since the Djinn often takes the form of a human-shaped shroud, it could come across as intentionally funny in the hands of an inferior director. (After all, being tormented by a blanket doesn't sound particularly scary.) Fortunately, Invari utilises a mix of seamless special effects and claustrophobic close-ups to make this dark entity incredibly unnerving.

Though comparisons to The Babadook have been made, there truly is nothing else like Under the Shadow.