ARKTOBER ARTICLE - SUNSHINE's Top 20 Horror Movies You Probably Haven't Seen (UPDATED, 2021)

Another year has come and gone and we are back to ARKTOBER, so bring on the horror movies! Every year I like to shout out some of my favorite genre’s hidden gems, so below is my annual article, updated with some new quality flicks. Enjoy 2021’s 20 Best Horror Movies You Probably haven’t seen! 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Not because you can finally get your pumpkin-spiced everything that you’ve been waiting for. Not because the leaves are starting to change to beautiful colors. Tis’ the season of Halloween, bringing with it the annual bingeing of horror flicks, but great horror movies can be hard to find. So I took it upon myself to find some solid horror flicks that you probably haven’t seen (less than 50,000 ratings on IMDB). So let’s get to it. 

20.  Apostle (2018) - 47,960

Slow burn, Folk-horror, with a side of cultish surrealism. Gareth Evans gives us a twisted and bizarre fairy tale with a splash of gore. Let us not forget the wonderful performances of Dan Stevens and Michael Sheen. This Netflix Original is certainly worth your attention. 

19. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) - 46,370

Yes, there is a lot of hate for this movie but poor marketing and no Michael Myers upset fans of the franchise, and for good reason. However, as a stand-alone movie, Season of the Witch provides us with an outlandish story, deranged imagery, and a clever critique of corporate America. 

18. I Trapped the Devil (2019) - 2,450

So let me start by saying that I am fully aware that I am in the minority in regards to my positive feelings about this movie, which, to me, is just silly. Scott Poythress gives us a strong performance in this story that centers around navigating relationships while dealing with our own trauma and guilt. I think this film flat out works with strong moments of genuine fear sprinkled throughout a tense familial drama. 

17. Under the Shadow (2016) - 26,073

This is one of the coolest ghost stories seen in recent memory.  It’s an intimate horror that feeds on the fears of shame and inadequacy, set up against an interesting backdrop and layered with strong performances and deep social commentary.  

16. The Devil’s Candy (2015) 18,309

This isn’t a flick that is likely to give you nightmares or stick with you long after you’ve finished watching but it is a lot of fun and does have a few moments guaranteed to make you feel uncomfortable. It’s a short and stylish homage to occult films and adds another strong film to Byrne’s resume. 

15. Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006) - 22,901

Filled with wit and charm, Behind the Mask perfectly deconstructs the slasher genre which the creators clearly love. It is incredibly intelligent and has plenty of horror elements that will make genre fans pleased. 

14. Possessor (2020) - 27,000

Brandon Cronenberg gives us a fever dream of a film that is cerebral and brutal. This unrelenting venture is outlandish but strangely grounded. Brilliant performances give life to a bloody story that is guaranteed to leave audiences in a state of shock and awe. 

13. Eyes Without A Face (1960) - 29,451

This chilling fairy tale of guilt and obsession, which made audiences faint when it was first released, still holds up almost 60 years later and is poetically horrific. 

12. Lake Mungo (2008) - 20,415

Another strong story that uses the frame of a documentary to help shape a creepy movie-going experience that is guaranteed to satisfy those who are patient.

11. Host (2020) - 23,304

This is not the first time that conference-call cinema has been used but it is certainly the most effective attempt that I’ve seen. Rob Savage and his team have delivered a quarantine flick that is tonally spot-on while delivering genuinely creepy jump scares and some brutal imagery. The short runtime allows for this flick to give you feature-length frights without overstaying its welcome. 

 10. A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014) - 33,393

This unique genre-bending vampire film is equal parts romantic, emotional, and creepy as all of the elements come together to create something truly astounding. Ana Lily Amirpour’s directorial debut is one that surely should not be missed.  

9. Tigers Are Not Afraid (2019) - 6,747

Issa López gives us a wonderfully dark fairy tale about a group of children fighting to survive the violent environment created by drug cartels. The imagery is unforgettable as we watch this story perfectly blend grounded realism with magical fantasy, with a result that is guaranteed to garner an emotional reaction. 

8. Goodnight Mommy (2014) - 48,297

When two kids can’t decide if their mother is who she says she is, they make it their mission to find out in this dark and twisted tale that makes us question our own reality. This movie is shrouded in a cloud of ominous tension and when the ending hits, you are left with your jaw on the floor. 

7. Black Christmas (1974) - 36,624

When you think of incredible slasher movies, very rarely does this movie get mentioned along with the other greats. That is a travesty as this could very well be the best the genre ever was. The imagery is downright terrifying and sets the stage for all those that came after. 

6. The Loved Ones (2009) - 39,178

Sean Byrne has made two movies and they are both on this list. The Loved Ones is horrifically mesmerizing and filled with so many WTF moments that you will wonder why you are still watching but won’t want to turn away. 

5. Honeymoon (2014) - 25,110

This incredibly uncomfortable film will have your skin tingling by the end of it and it’s stars (Rose Leslie and Harry Treadaway) give two all-out performances that make the horror feel so real because of its roots in real-life fears and anxieties. 

4. Titane (2021)

Julia Ducournau follows up her Masterpiece “Raw” (a movie once on this very list), with a sophomore effort that is even more mind-bending than her debut. This absolutely wild and shocking tale depicts very grounded human experiences in a hyperbolic way that sticks with you days after the credits roll. 

3. Thirst (2009) - 44,691

This unique story adds a refreshing breath of life into the Vampire sub-genre that has been poorly done so many times before. Add Chan-Wook Park’s insane ability to make every frame breathtakingly beautiful and you have a movie that shouldn’t be missed. 

2. Murder Party (2007) - 11,196

The Horror/Comedy sub-genre is one filled with incredible films but Murder Party may very well be the best!  The first outing of Jeremy Saulnier is top-notch filled with incredible banter and a gnarly finale that is unlike any other.

 1. The House of the Devil (2009) - 42,926



This is a nostalgic homage to 70’s horror that is downright perfect! Perfect pacing and well-placed scares elevate The House of the Devil to a level rarely achieved. Tension never leaves the air in a story that seems familiar but at the same time, incredibly unique. A Must Watch.