Top 5 Underrated Horror Movies to Watch With Your Friends
A good group horror movie is not the scariest one. It is the one that gives everybody something to react to: a jump, a bad decision, a twist nobody saw coming. And it should be short enough that the person who "isn't really into horror" doesn't leave at the halfway mark.
These five are underrated in the way that matters: far fewer people have seen them than the ones that keep topping every "best horror" list. Put one on this weekend and you will probably be the person who introduced your friends to it.
1. Tumbbad (2018)
Directed by Rahi Anil Barve, Tumbbad is set in a rain-soaked village in 1918 and follows a man who goes looking for a cursed treasure and pays for his greed over decades. It is a Hindi film, but it plays like nothing else Indian cinema has made in the genre.
Why it's underrated: it did modest business on release, then built a loyal audience through word of mouth. It still gets mentioned far less than it deserves, which is a shame because the production design alone is worth a big screen.
Good for a group because: it is atmospheric rather than gory, so you can talk about the world it builds as much as the scares.
2. Hush (2016)
Mike Flanagan directed this tight home-invasion thriller, co-written by and starring Kate Siegel as a deaf writer living alone in the woods. A masked stranger shows up at her door and she has no way to call for help or hear him coming.
Why it's underrated: it went straight to streaming and was overshadowed by Flanagan's later hits. At about 82 minutes it is the leanest film on this list.
Good for a group because: the sound design puts you inside her head, and every group has someone who shouts "just run!" at the screen.
3. Creep (2014)
Patrick Brice directed and Mark Duplass co-wrote and stars in this found-footage two-hander. A videographer answers an ad to film a stranger for a day, and the stranger turns out to be far stranger than advertised.
Why it's underrated: found footage has a bad reputation, and this is the film that proves the format can still surprise you. It is also unexpectedly funny in an uncomfortable way.
Good for a group because: it is 78 minutes, and the laughs and the dread keep trading places.
4. Pontypool (2008)
Bruce McDonald's film takes place almost entirely inside a small-town radio station while something strange spreads outside, and the idea behind the outbreak is the clever part. Stephen McHattie plays a veteran shock jock who slowly realises the broadcast is part of the problem.
Why it's underrated: it has a tiny budget and a very odd premise, so it never got a wide release in most places. It is the film on this list that people are most likely to say they have never heard of.
Good for a group because: nobody can predict where it is going, so you will spend the second half comparing theories.
5. The Wailing (2016)
Na Hong-jin's Korean horror starts as a murder mystery in a mountain village and keeps getting stranger. At 156 minutes it is the longest film here, so save it for a night when nobody has to be up early.
Why it's underrated: many people only know Korean cinema through Parasite and Train to Busan, and this is one of the best the country has produced in horror. It rewards a second viewing.
Good for a group because: the ending will start an argument, and that is the best possible outcome of a group watch.
How to pick the right one for your group
- Mixed group, short evening: Hush or Creep.
- People who like atmosphere over scares: Tumbbad.
- Group that loves a strange idea: Pontypool.
- Everyone is committed and nobody works tomorrow: The Wailing.
Each film above has a page on Underrated Flixhub where you can check where it is streaming in your country. If you want to see what else we think deserves more attention, browse the full list or find out how we rate underrated movies.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good underrated horror movie to watch with friends?
Hush and Creep are short and tense, so nobody drifts off. If your group likes slow-burn mystery, try Tumbbad or The Wailing.
Are these horror movies very gory?
Hush and Creep lean on suspense more than gore. The Wailing has some disturbing scenes and Pontypool has a few. Tumbbad is more eerie than bloody.
What is the shortest movie on this list?
Creep runs about 78 minutes and Hush about 82, so both fit easily into one evening.
Written by Hardik Kamboj.