Originally published January 9, 2022. Updated August 15, 2025.
Hasitha Fernando with a selection of horrors from the past decade that you might have missed…
Horror films are a dime-a-dozen, but really good ones? Now that’s a rare commodity. As always some of these good horror films have a tendency of flying under the radar of audiences due to them being indie-films with limited engagements or simply because they were swept under the gigantic tsunami of blockbuster madness, eventually becoming forgotten. And so – in no particular order – are eighteen such horror films which debuted during the past decade which are absolutely worth your time. In compiling this list, I have steered clear of all mainstream horror franchises, as well as more well-known independent affairs such as The Witch, Hereditary and The Babadook.
Berberian Sound Studio (2012)
Directed by Peter Strickland
Starring Toby Jones, Antonio Mancino, Fatma Mohamed
SYNOPSIS:
A timid sound engineer gets more than he bargained for when he unexpectedly starts working for an Italian Giallo film.
One of the most underrated British horror films out there, Berberian Sound Studio received high praise during its debut, eventually going on to nab multiple prizes at the British Independent Film Awards held the same year. The film functions as a deliciously twisted tribute to the Italian Giallo horror sub-genre which achieved popularity in the 70’s. But its biggest impact is demonstrating the instrumental role ‘sound’ plays in the context of a horror film. There are three elements to a film’s soundtrack- music, sound effects and dialogue-and the narrative of Berberian Sound Studio is set around this intricate postproduction process. Featuring a captivating central performance by Toby Jones bolstered by some excellent technical contributions, Berberian Sound Studio will immerse your senses in its icy-cold atmosphere of perpetual dread and pummel you senseless with its psychedelic phantasmagoria as you get sucked into its vortex-of-madness, just like its innocuous protagonist.
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
Directed by Ana Lily Amirpour
Starring Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Marshall Manesh
SYNOPSIS:
In an isolated Iranian ghost-town, the townspeople are unaware they are being stalked by a lonesome female vampire.
Undoubtedly the more famous film on this list, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night still deserves a mention simply because more people need to see this singularly unique horror-western hybrid hailing from Iran. What makes this film stand out from the rest of its ilk, is how it interprets the concept of the vampire and what it represents as a character. The decision by Amirpour to treat the vampire as something of an anti-hero was a brilliant move, because it makes the character seem human and more relatable. In Amirpour’s on words, ‘A Vampire is many things; a serial killer, a romantic, a historian, a drug addict-they’re sort of all these things in one.’ And in this neo-noir gothic horror drama the vampire is all that and much more. There’s a lot to admire in this heady brew of weirdness but the exquisite cinematography by Lyle Vincent and the haunting soundtrack composed of well-placed needle drops are clear stand outs, along with the strong performances dished out by the lead performers. Even if you’ve watched this do give this a second viewing. I assure you, that you won’t regret it.
A Dark Song (2016)
Directed by Liam Gavin
Starring Steve Oram, Catherine Walker
SYNOPSIS:
A determined mother and a broken occultist enact an ancient Abramelin ritual, with dire consequences.
Like Berberian Sound Studio, this indie film also falls into the category of horror films that will unsettle you with its foreboding atmosphere and ominous visuals. Starting off more as a traditional psychological horror affair the movie metamorphoses into full-scale theological horror film by its third act as the dysfunctional duo of grief-stricken mother and emotionally volatile occultist try to enact an ancient Abramelin ritual. This sudden shift in tone, although an unexpected surprise, works well within the context of the narrative and expands on the themes of grief, loss and redemption explored through the film. The tremendous performances by the leads only add to this unforgettable journey, making it that more impactful. Seek out this underrated gem, right now.
Ghost Stories (2017)
Directed by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman
Starring Andy Nyman, Martin Freeman, Paul Whitehouse, Alex Lawther
SYNOPSIS:
A skeptical professor embarks on a terrifying journey to find the truth about three unexplained cases of the paranormal.
Based on their 2010 stage play of the same name, Ghost Stories is an anthology of creepy supernatural tales which harkens back to British horror films of the past. Although there are plenty of unnerving moments and frightening imagery scattered throughout the story, its main focus is on the exploration of past traumas and the eventual toll they take on all of us. Ghost Stories doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but it achieves much by subverting genre tropes and adding its own brand of macabre twists; all of which culminate in a brilliantly unanticipated finale that will make your head spin. If unsettling psychological horror is your particular brand of Vodka, go for this one.
The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
Directed by André Øvredal
Starring Emile Hirsch, Brian Cox, Olwen Catherine Kelly
SYNOPSIS:
Two coroners stumble upon a dark secret while trying to determine the cause of death of an unknown young woman.
Coming off the success of the Norwegian found-footage mockumentary Trollhunter director André Øvredal decided to ditch the shaky-cam aesthetic in favour of a more traditional approach, for his next effort. And to say that his decision panned out, is a little bit of an understatement. The Autopsy of Jane Doe is a fantastic, nail-biting scare fest from start to finish filled with some great chilling moments. Atmosphere is the key here, and Øvredal has done an amazing job by creating the right atmosphere which in turn ratchets up the tension and sense of unease. The setting itself-an old-fashioned underground coroner facility- is the stuff of nightmares. Hirsch and Cox, both talented actors in their own right, deliver powerful performances as an estranged son and father trapped in a carnival of hellish horrors they cannot escape from. If you thought immobile corpses aren’t scary, think again.
Goodnight Mommy (2014)
Directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala
Starring Susanne Wuest, Elias Schwarz, Lukas Schwarz
SYNOPSIS:
Two twin brothers begin doubting their mother, when she returns home from a life-altering facial reconstruction surgery.
This psychological horror film was Austria’s official submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards a few years back. Despite not garnering a much-deserved nomination the film received universal acclaim from critics the world over. At its core it is a deep-dive exploration of the extremes people go to, in order to cope with grief and loss. The ambiguous tone with which the narrative unspools makes us suspect all the characters inhabiting its story and therein lies its true genius. The violence which borders on torture-porn territory maybe a tad excessive at face value, but in the end, you will realize it too has a purpose within the context of the film. A deeply unsettling suspense-thriller from start to finish, Goodnight Mommy is certain to get under your skin and stay there… long after the credits roll. It’s that good.
Under the Shadow (2016)
Directed by Babak Anvari
Starring Narges Rashidi, Avin Manshadi, Bobby Naderi, Ray Haratian, Arash Marandi
SYNOPSIS:
A mother and daughter are tormented by a malevolent entity, as they shelter from the fallout of the Iraq-Iran war.
An expertly crafted first effort by Iranian-born London based film-maker Babak Anvari, Under the Shadow became UK’s official submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars that year. Narges Rashidi perfectly embodies the frustration of a modern woman trapped by her obligations to family and religion. Like all human beings she too has grand dreams and lofty ambitions, but as a mother it also means that she must turn her back on these. Although Under the Shadow is by and large, very much a ‘horror film’ it addresses myriad themes that range from gender based cultural conformity, freedom of expression (and lack thereof) as well as existential angst. At its core this harrowing drama is about a family struggling to keep their bonds intact, whilst being besieged by forces both worldly and supernatural. An absolute must see.
The Wailing (2016)
Directed by Na Hong-jin
Starring Kwak Do-wan, Hwang Jun-min
SYNOPSIS:
With the arrival of a stranger a mysterious sickness starts spreading in a small village. A policeman caught in the crossfire must solve the mystery before it is too late.
There are more than mere shades of The Exorcist, Ringu, Ju-on and I Saw the Devil in South Korean director Na Hong-jin’s cleverly crafted supernatural yarn The Wailing. Cherry picking the best aspects of the aforementioned, the film seamlessly amalgamates East-Asian mythology, noir-detective thrillers and familiar horror tropes into one unique tale fraught with darkness and sprinkled with humor. Even with its deliberately slow pace and lengthy runtime there’s still never a dull moment in the film, which speaks volumes of Hong-jin’s skill as a director. He takes his time and trusts the audience will stay with him, which we certainly do. The performances all-round are top-notch, with each selling their respective characters in a convincing manner. The moody cinematography by Hong Kyung-pyo (Parasite) is worth a special mention here. In a cinematic landscape choking on subpar horror films filled with predictable jump scares and nonsensical creative choices The Wailing is akin to a breath of fresh air.
The Eyes of My Mother (2016)
Directed by Nicolas Pesce
Starring Kika Magalhães, Olivia Bond, Diana Agostini, Paul Nazak
SYNOPSIS:
A little girl’s idyllic life is shattered by a traumatic childhood incident, which gives rise to dark urges that seep into her adulthood later on.
The Eyes of My Mother is a bit of an unusual concoction, in that it infuses a vivid array of vastly disparate influences in to one fairly satisfying whole. These different elements range from Gothic romance, torture-porn, twisted-family drama and psychological horror. Clearly taking a page from the monochromatic visual aesthetic Ana Lily Amirpour so brilliantly adopted for her debut film A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, filmmaker Nicholas Pesce too has crafted some equally arresting imagery that somewhat offsets the film’s disturbing content. Kudos to cinematographer Zach Kuperstein for his tremendous contribution here. So, if you are in the mood for some twisted-horror complemented by stunning imagery look no further.
The Invitation (2015)
Directed by Karyn Kusama
Starring Logan Marshall-Green, Tammy Blanchard, Michiel Huisman, Emayatzy Corinealdi
SYNOPSIS:
A man accepts an invitation to a dinner-party hosted by his ex-wife, which sets off an unexpected chain of events.
This one is a real slow-burn, and perhaps that’s the reason why it has been criminally overlooked. But in spite of its slow build-up, like a proverbial David Lynch film there’s always a palpable sense of dread that permeates the proceedings from the get go. With the exception of The Invitation, all of Kusama’s other films have strong feminist themes. But that doesn’t make this any less good. In fact, The Invitation still remains Kusama’s best effort thus far. It is a far more nuanced, character driven affair which takes its time with the narrative. The third-act though, is another story altogether. Exploding with an unexpected Samurai-esque ferocity in a series of violent blood-soaked acts it climaxes in an unforgettable finale, that will have you searching for your jaw on the floor.
Kill List (2011)
Directed by Ben Wheatley
Starring Neil Maskell, Michael Smiley, MyAnna Buring
SYNOPSIS:
After a botched job, an ex-military man becomes a gun-for-hire trying to adjust to civilian life. Little does he know that the next assignment he takes on, will lead him down a darker path.
Filmmaker Ben Wheatley has come a long way since Kill List debuted in 2011. In between cult-classics like A Field in England and Sightseers, Wheatley also has several mainstream efforts lined up as well. This month will see his feature length adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca debut on Netflix and 2021 will see the Tomb Raider sequel helmed by him hitting theaters. Looking at the recent developments it’s safe to say that this British auteur has done quite well for himself during the past decade. But there’s a reason why Kill List still remains one of his best efforts to date. Like Down Terrace a few years prior, this too possesses a sort of kitchen-sink social realism blended with a dissonant off-kilter tone. It’s hard to pin down Wheatley’s to a specific genre even though its most certainly a horror film. But there are so many different cogs and wheels from various other genres at play here, that at times you wonder where does one finish and the other begin? In the end though, anyone who watches Kill List will undoubtedly agree that it is an utterly unsettling film which overturns the established conventions of horror on its proverbial head, in a very violent fashion.
Mandy (2018)
Directed by Panos Cosmatos
Starring Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache
SYNOPSIS:
A man gets driven over the edge when his girlfriend is kidnapped by a nightmarish hippie cult.
Wow. Where do I begin with this one? For starters I can state that this film brilliantly capitalized on Cage’s tendency for over-the-top craziness unlike his other recent efforts, barring 2017’s jet-black comedy Mom & Dad. No one, I mean no one, does crazy like this man and that be the truth. But in this nightmarish, hallucinatory landscape of acid-spiked weirdness, Cage’s unhinged performance seems almost normal. Cosmatos’ equally trippy debut film Beyond the Black Rainbow too was heavily stylized and visually arresting, but nothing will prepare you for the psychedelic insanity of this film. Infusing extreme cinema elements along with blood-soaked acts of violence further intensifies the madness at display here. Mandy is also one of the last films scored by Academy award winning Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson and his synth-heavy musical contribution here perfectly complements DOP Benjamin Loeb’s contribution to the film. Coming off as an odd lovechild of Clive Barker, John Carpenter and David Lynch, this surreal horror-thriller revenge caper is definitely an experience not to be missed.
Possum (2018)
Directed by Matthew Holness
Starring Sean Harris, Alun Armstrong, Simon Bubb, Andy Blithe
SYNOPSIS:
A disgraced children’s puppeteer must revisit his childhood home and confront his traumatic past.
Possum is the feature length adaptation of a short-story from the same name also penned by film maker Matthew Holness. Having helped co-create the British horror-parody television series Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place, Holness can certainly be described as an individual who has a firm grasp on the subject of horror. He therefore brings the wealth of knowledge and experience he’s amassed over the years regarding the genre in crafting his debut film. And what he’s created is a fascinatingly disturbing character study on the dark repercussions of childhood abuse and past traumas. Mission: Impossible alum Sean Harris brings his A-game to this unnerving tale, perfectly embodying the fractured, mentally unstable young man forced through his emotionally raw performance. Shot on 35mm film stock, this is old-school British horror at its finest, replete with atmosphere and nuance that is sure to leave a lasting impression on you. Also, if you have arachnophobia and creepy puppets…good luck.
The Void (2016)
Directed by Jeremy Gillespie and Steven Kostanski
Starring Aaron Poole, Kenneth Welsh, Daniel Fathers, Kathleen Munroe
SYNOPSIS:
A police officer starts experiencing strange and violent occurrences after delivering a patient to a local hospital.
An unabashed throwback to B-movies from the 80’s era, The Void is any gorehounds wet-dream realized. Boasting some insanely impressive practical effects the film is an orgiastic splatter-fest of cosmic horror sharing many similarities to John Carpenters’ seminal effort – The Thing. The writer-director duo of Gillespie and Kostanski were said to have been inspired by Guillermo del Toro’s pursuit of adapting H.P Lovecraft’s At the Mountain of Madness for the big screen. Like del Toro they too wanted to do Lovecraft, but in a way that no one has envisioned or seen before. Looking at the finished product it’s abundantly obvious that they’ve achieved what they set out to do and then some. If blood, gore and tentacles are what the doctor ordered, please be kind and indulge.
I Trapped the Devil (2019)
Directed by Josh Lobo
Starring Scott Poythress, A.J Bowen, Susan Burke, Joceline Donahue, Chris Sullivan
SYNOPSIS:
A man becomes unhinged with paranoia after trapping what he believes to be the Devil, in his basement.
In a lot of ways Josh Lobo’s debut feature owes a debt to Charles Beaumont’s classic short-story and its subsequent adaptation The Howling Man, made for the genre bending TV series The Twilight Zone in the 1960’s. I Trapped the Devil can best be summed up as the feature length version which expands on the concepts explored in that particular Twilight Zone episode. Shot on a minuscule budget but boasting some impressive technical contributions I Trapped the Devil is a succinct but effective exploration on paranoia and its repercussions. Performance wise Scott Poythress was just a revelation. This man singlehandedly carries the entire film, I ain’t lying. His is the most pivotal role and he delivers in spades delivering an utterly convincing performance that will almost make the audience wonder, what exactly is really happening.
The Devil’s Candy (2015)
Directed by Sean Byrne
Starring Ethan Embry, Kiara Glasco, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Shiri Appleby, Tony Amendola
SYNOPSIS:
A down-on-his-luck painter gets possessed by demonic forces, when he and his family move into their dream home.
If you are a metalhead looking for a horror fix, just watch this. There I’ve said it. 2015’s The Devil’s Candy is another indie-gem that flew under the radars of many. Its metal music soundtrack got my undivided attention from the get go, the solid narrative and strong performances by the leads – particularly Ethan Embry and Pruitt Taylor Vance – took care of the rest. Even visually the film is quite impressive, successfully capturing a struggling artists descent into madness through its disturbing hellish imagery and Simon Chapman’s gorgeous cinematography plays an instrumental role in this process. The only minor quibble is that the film has a relatively short run-time, but don’t let that deter you from watching this stylish scare fest this Halloween.
Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017)
Directed by Issa Lopez
Starring Paola Lara, Juan Ramón López, Ianis Guerrero, Rodrigo Cortes
SYNOPSIS:
A gang of children try to survive the cartel violence and the ghosts created through the persisting drug war.
Director Issa Lopez’s Tigers Are Not Afraid has clearly been influenced by Guillermo del Toro’s dark fantasy dramas like The Devil’s Backbone and Pan’s Labyrinth. The themes explored here are not too dissimilar but while del Toro’s efforts were primarily period pieces this film is set within the confines of the modern-day drug war of Mexico. This contemporary setting makes the rest of the film more relatable and less fantastical. There’s a gritty beauty to the camera work which captures the brutality of the cartel violence as well as the beautiful dark-fantasy elements at play here. Although the main cast is composed mainly of children, they do a stellar job in their respective roles. Hardcore horror fans may feel slightly disappointed by the shortage in scares but if you are willing to overlook this minor quibble, a poignant tale that will tug at your heartstrings awaits.
It Comes at Night (2017)
Directed by Trey Edward Shults
Starring Joel Edgerton, Christopher Abbott, Carmen Ejogo, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Riley Keough, Mikey
SYNOPSIS:
A families’ rigid domestic order is tested when a younger family seeks refuge, in the aftermath of a disease outbreak.
This ambiguous psychological horror-thriller is a bit of a divisive one. Marketed as a conventional genre film at first, It Comes at Night turned out to be a real headscratcher for the general audience once it debuted. People came expecting a straightforward horror-thriller but instead what they got was a completely different experience. And in a day and age when movie going audiences prefer their films to be clear cut, this effort clearly didn’t appeal to them. A sad state of affairs because there is a lot to love here. Joel Edgerton delivers a carrier best in an emotionally understated performance that is thoroughly engrossing and convincing. The rest of the supportive cast bolster Edgerton’s excellent work through their exceptional efforts as well. Something that the director excels at is tone, with every ounce of paranoia and fear that the character’s felt being translated effectively to the screen with the assistance of cinematography, music and editing. If slow-burn, psychological horror films are right up your alley, reach out for this one.
Honourable mentions: Maggie, Cargo, The Wind, Belzebuth, Yhe Endless, Spring
Do you have any horror movie recommendations to add to this list? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Hasitha Fernando is a part-time medical practitioner and full-time cinephile. Follow him on Twitter via @DoctorCinephile for regular updates on the world of entertainment.
