10 Underrated Horror Films of the 2010s
Ari Drew
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All year long, many of us horror fans ride the wave of new weekly releases, maneuvering a mixed bag of genre efforts that vary greatly in budget, style, and quality of execution. More than a few of these are expectedly terrible, while others shine as newfound classics within the majority of the horror community.
Sometimes, though, you catch a film that was perhaps never on your radar before. Whether you find it buried in the “Horror” category on Netflix or read about it in passing on a fan forum, it happens at least a couple of times a year that one of these quieter efforts finds its way to you and truly knocks you back with its refreshing enjoyability. Soon you’re wondering: Why the hell don’t more people know about this movie?
The below list encompasses a nice crop of these overlooked and underrated horror films of the past five years that we feel deserve a viewing — or even a second chance! Many of these entries cater very specifically to certain tastes and subgenre fanbases, so while it’s likely that you won’t see these on “All Time Best” lists any time soon, you just might find something that is right up your alley here.
On that note, don’t forget to sound off in the comments below and let us know which horror films you think are criminally underrated!
1. Banshee Chapter (Dir: Blair Erickson, 2013)
Banshee Chapter, loosely based on H. P. Lovecraft’s short story “From Beyond,” follows a journalist who seeks to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of a friend who was researching an experimental mind control drug. This film features government conspiracy theories, otherworldy beings, and one of the creepiest uses of a numbers station I have seen to date. Katia Winter (“Sleepy Hollow”), Ted Levine (“Shutter Island”), and Michael McMillian (“True Blood”) star.
Who will enjoy it? Followers of Lovecraftian horror and conspiracy theories
Where can I watch it? Netflix
2. Absentia (Dir. Mike Flanagan, 2011)
Absentia is an independent thriller that tells of a pregnant woman who is preparing to declare her missing husband dead in absentia with the support of her sister. When he suddenly reappears, however, the two sisters are thrown into a supernatural mystery somehow linked to a nearby tunnel. Taut and atmospheric, Absentia is a refreshingly original story that also features some great dramatic moments.
Who will enjoy it? Fans of psychological thrillers and supernatural mysteries
Where can I watch it? Amazon Video
3. At the Devil’s Door (Dir. Nicholas McCarthy, 2014)
In the midst of a heap of cruddy possession films to come out last year, At the Devil’s Door went sadly unnoticed. Shirking a lot of the religious horror tropes, this film is a slow burn about an evil force slithering its way into the lives of three women. Starring Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace), Naya Rivera (“Glee”), and Ashley Rickards (“One Tree Hill”), it is a uniquely chilling interpretation of an age-old Biblical tale.
Who will enjoy it? Religious horror aficionados who appreciate a less-is-more approach
Where can I watch it? Netflix
