It is time for Halloween once more. But now at an even scarier time, horror-related media has been sprouting out and finding new fans to appreciate the genre. From grounded series to mainstream hits, they are here to prove that the genre is more than just a jump scare fest.
But it's the perfect time to consider these hidden indie gems. These horror films prove that, in spite of the limitations, the storytelling possibilities are endless in the genre. Here are just a few independent horror classics, and where they can be found.
Wildling (2018) – Netflix
Wildling is a horror-fantasy film that first premiered in the 2018 SXSW Festival. It features Bel Powley as Anna, a teenager who worries about puberty and, in the process, unearths a dark secret from her harrowing past. She has no other choice but to deal with her irrepressible bloodline.
Where the film excels is in its unique twist on lycanthropic folklore in a bygone setting that becomes a subtle testament on female empowerment and redemption. From there, Powley is explosive as Anna, who balances from being innocent to startling.
Girl on the Third Floor (2019) – Netflix
The acting debut of MMA fighter Phil “CM Punk” Brooks, Girl on the Third Floor tells the story of Don Koch, a man with a criminal past who purchased a derelict mansion and planned to renovate it for his new family. However, he discovers a paranormal presence living there.
While it is yet another haunted house trope, director Travis Stevens puts a spin on it by flipping the ethical dynamics between the characters, commanded by a convincing CM Punk. And the film shines with its gory and suspenseful terrors.
Thelma (2017) – Hulu
This Norwegian supernatural drama was submitted as the country’s entry to the 90th Academy Awards for the Best Foreign Language Film category. Thelma chronicles the internal struggles of a devout young woman as she tries to deny longing for a fellow student from her university, causing her concealed telepathic powers to manifest.
While director Joachim Trier excelled on illustrating its timely themes, he embraced the Gothic setting and let its despairing aura manifest the scares. For fans of Suspiria, Thelma is the closest equivalent to get engrossed in.
Sea Fever (2020) – Hulu
A timely horror film, Sea Fever centers on the crew of a marooned Irish fishing trawler who discover that their vessel has been infested by a parasite residing in their water supply. Along with the crew going stir-crazy aboard their vessel, this arrived at a serendipitous moment.
Director Neasa Hardiman almost checked the boxes of any claustrophobic horror fare like The Abyss and Alien, down to having a Ripley in scientist Siobhán (Hermione Corfield). But it is necessary to bring the sensation of confined dread and restlessness.
1BR (2019) – Netflix
1BR centers on promising costume designer Sarah (newcomer Nicole Brydon Bloom), who moves to a one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles. However, behind the simple residential complex are her neighbors who plan to immerse Sarah into their cultish community, much to her horror.
This film employs the clichéd template (and horror themes) of The Stepford Wives and takes cues from Midsommar on crafting a cultish sect who believes their actions are not evil. The end result is a small, thought-provoking millennial tale, filled with horrifying stakes and drama.
Mom and Dad (2017) – Hulu
One of the few projects where Mom and Dad revolves on the premise wherein a mysterious mass hysteria causes parents to turn against their own kids. Selma Blair and Cage play the titular mom and dad, Brent and Kendall Ryan, who became unwilling victims to the phenomena, triggering some violent tendencies.
Like his other crazy roles, Cage embraced his part, going full gonzo in every scene he is in. And with the help of Ghost Rider collaborator Brian Taylor, the film is terrifying.
Hush (2016) – Netflix
After the success of Oculus, horror maestro Hush. The film stars future The Haunting star Kate Siegel as a deaf and mute horror writer who resides in the woods. But in an unfortunate moment, a masked killer (John Gallagher Jr.) readies to kill her.
With these restrictions, Flanagan found inventive ways to make every scene fresh in delivering slasher suspense. But it would not be possible without Siegel and Gallagher Jr. in their intense struggle to stay alive in the middle of the woods.
Green Room (2016) – Netflix
The breakout film from director Jeremy Saulnier, Patrick Stewart’s Darcy Banker).
Saulnier envisioned the film as a thriller set in a green room, and it grew to become a gory clash between to extremes. That said, the cast delivered on the blood-splattering thrills, with Stewart, Imogen Poots and the late Anton Yelchin excelling in their parts.
Host (2020) – Shudder
Another timely horror film, Host is set during the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, centering on six friends who hired a medium to conduct a séance on Zoom. However, in the process, a mysterious presence was unleashed to bring terror among the friends.
Host is one of the latest offerings from the horror-specialty service Searching), it truly delivered on the isolated yet inventive scares.
In Fabric (2018) – Prime Video
In Fabric takes the classic horror trope of a cursed dress and weaves it to a blissful ghost story, sewn with dreads and hoots. From director Peter Strickland, the film follows an elegant red gown as it is seamlessly ed on from one owner (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) to another (Hayley Squires).
Strickland embraces the premise and brings his own take with a twisted execution, and the cast gloriously plays along with gory fun and terrifying hexes by the dress.
