10 Perfect Psychological Horror Movies You've Never Heard Of

Give an underrated horror movie enough time and it's bound to turn into a classic. The Thing, They Live, and Annihilation initially underperformed, but have since developed a cult following. Still, Repulsion remains mostly unknown despite being released over half a century ago. 

This palpable thriller follows man-hating manicurist Carol (Catherine Deneuve), who lives with her sister, Helen. Helen's relationship with a married man exasperates Carol's neuroses, which is why she's relieved when the couple go on a trip, leaving her in the apartment by herself. However, Carol begins to suffer horrific nightmares and hallucinations while in solitude, forcing her to come to terms with her dark past.

Though Repulsion is tremendously directed and has an airtight script, it's the performances that stand out, especially from the scene-stealing lead. Carol's psychotic break is so believable, it's haunting to bear witness to, and director Roman Polanski utilises sharp transitions, clever edits, and repetitive sound effects in the score to further emphasise Carol's descent into madness.

It may have been released in 1965, but Repulsion still puts most modern psychological horrors to shame. For this reason, it's disappointing how this gem hasn't endured as much as it should.