10 Underrated Ghost Story Movies You Need To See

1. Lake Mungo (2008)

The Innkeepers
Arclight Films

The ghosts in Australian mockumentary horror Lake Mungo are unlike anything else on this list. The result is a ghost story which is as atmospherically chilling as it is deeply saddening.

After the death of their teenage daughter Alice (Talia Zucker), the Palmer family are overcome with grief, unable to comprehend the events which led to her drowning. However, the discovery of her ghostly apirition lurking within grainy photos and video footage prompts the family to wonder what the significance of her presence could mean as they attempt to articulate the pain her death has caused them.

From here, director Joel Anderson’s only film descends into a deeply personal reflection of death and loss. Unlike more conventional big screen ghosts, Alice isn’t malevolent or inherently evil. Rather, this spirit acts as a vehicle to explore themes of bereavement.

Here, after a series of shocking discoveries (which should never be spoiled), Lake Mungo descends into a far more existential kind of terror. Each new revelation only opens more questions as viewers are taken further into this rabbit hole about what happened to the teenager.

When Alice's story is eventually discovered, viewers will be left thoroughly shaken by what they find.

Contributor
Contributor

Glasgow-based cinephile who earned a Masters degree in film studies to spend their time writing about cinema, video games, and horror.