10 Underrated War Horror Movies

Indonesian creature feature Orang Ikan centres around two WWII prisoners, Japanese soldier Santo and British infantryman Bronson. When the pair are left stranded on a remote island inhabited by aquatic beasts, they must unite to stay alive.

Despite playing out like a standard monster movie, the historic side of Orang Ikan cannot be ignored. Even when Saito and Bronson band together, it's obvious the war has hardwired their minds to view one another with unbridled hatred. But as the danger increases, the duo's personal issues slowly deteriorate, causing them to form a genuine friendship. And the fact these former enemies are willing to risk their lives for each other makes the story so impactful.

Another aspect of Orang Ikan that deserves appreciation is the fight choreography. Whether the human characters are pummelling each other or the monsters, every brawl is packed with visceral action and tight editing, so every punch, bite, and slash looks painful.

Then there's the monsters themselves. They may give off Creature from the Black Lagoon vibes, but these fishmen are creepy as hell thanks to their animalistic screams and erratic movements. Even though the scaly horrors have a cool design, they're rarely seen directly, accentuating the paranoia.

It might've got somewhat lost in the shuffle but Orang Ikan is well worth seeking out.