The 7 Most Underrated Horror Movies You Have To See ASAP

Sure, Halloween and A Nightmare on Elm Street are amazing but so are these underrated gems.

7. Suspiria (1977)

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Directed by Dario Argento, Suspiria is a 1977 film about a young woman named Suzy Bannion. She travels to Germany to study at a dance academy and finds out that something horrific is going on. The movie is famous for its use of color and architecture, creating a beautifully surreal atmosphere. Goblin's score is heart pounding and terrifying. While many may not like the acting or the dubbing, it's certainly one of the most gorgeous movies to ever be created. It also got a reimagining in 2018, directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton. The original is part of a trilogy called The Three Mothers, which includes Inferno and The Mother of Tears.

6. House (1977)

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Another 1977 release that is noted for its surrealism and cinematography, House (also known as Hausu) is a Japanese horror comedy directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi and tells the story of a young girl and her friends who go to her aunt's house. There, they have strange encounters with ghosts. House is truly strange with hallucinatory cinematography, special effects, and sequences that feel like a fever dream. House is unlike anything you've ever seen.

5. The Beyond (1981)

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Lucio Fulci — known for films such as Zombi 2 and The New York Ripper, among others — directed The Beyond which is part of the Gates of Hell trilogy along with City of the Living Dead and The House by the Cemetery. The Beyond follows Liza who inherits a hotel where something horrible happened decades ago. The hotel was built over one of the gates to hell and, as you can imagine, mayhem ensues. While the plot may be too nonsensical for some viewers like some of Fulci's other flicks, it works well with the film's tone. Featuring a great soundtrack by Fabio Frizzi, a wonderfully odd atmosphere, and Catriona MacColl giving a committed performance, The Beyond is a delightfully underrated gem.

4. Possession (1981)

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Directed by Andrzej Żuławski and co-starring Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill, Possession is about Adjani's character, Anna, wanting to end her relationship with Mark, Neill's character. They both begin acting in strange ways, leading to a stunning finale. The movie is tough to explain without going into detail because it's one of those movies you should watch with as little information as possible. Adjani's performance is the highlight, both sad and disturbing, horrific yet beautiful. Her and Neill's chemistry is off the charts and almost scary, considering how their characters treat each other. The subway scene will never leave your mind. And you thought Midsommar was the best break-up movie.

3. Black Christmas (1974)

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A Christmas horror movie directed by Bob Clark (who also made the Christmas classic, A Christmas Story), the basic plot of Black Christmas will undoubtedly sound familiar to anyone who hears it; a group of sorority girls are being harassed by someone giving them threatening phone calls. One by one, they're each killed by the unknown assailant. Debuting four years before John Carpenter's Halloween, many see this as one of the first slasher movies ever created. What is special about Black Christmas is how it uses chilling imagery in juxtaposition to the fun, happy, and warm symbolism of Christmas. It also doesn't reveal much about the villain, only giving him dialogue that hints at a vague origin. Already spawning a remake in 2006, another remake made by Blumhouse Productions is set for release in December 2019.

2. Prince of Darkness (1987)

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Another movie on this list that is part of a trilogy (the Apocalypse Trilogy), John Carpenter's weird '80s horror flick is about a team of researchers who find a mysterious cylinder that could prove to be the end of the world as we know it. Prince of Darkness is a film that excels at the odd and unusual. While not as surreal as The Beyond or as indescribable as Possession, it has a fair share of weird goodness going on for all horror lovers. The cast of characters are entertaining, and the acting is good all around.

1. Phenomena (1985)

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The last film on this countdown was also directed by Argento and stars Jennifer Connelly in one of her first roles. Phenomena follows Connelly's character, Jennifer, as she goes to girl's school in Switzerland. However, a killer is on the loose, and Jennifer teams up with Donald Pleasence's character, John McGregor, to find the killer. The movie is considered by some to be Argento's weirdest movie, but others feel like the plot is extremely nonsensical. Who are we to say? We'll leave you with this last little fact: Jennifer can telepathically communicate with insects.