The genre of horror has always been individualised. There are moviegoers who want nothing to do with it and ardent admirers who wait in queue to see every release. People often underestimate how many subgenres and topics are included in the horror genre. Horror can be combined with comedy, thriller, fantasy, and drama; while not all of these pairings succeed, many of them are worth watching. Over the years, horror has provided moviegoers with some of the most iconic films and characters in movie history and has consistently kept theatre seats occupied.
There are many horror films that we all enjoy, but there are probably just as many obscure horror films that are equally worthy of horror fans’ attention. Indie horror has produced some of the most engaging, thought-provoking, and amusing stories in the genre. The top 20 independent horror films are listed below:
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
The residents of Bad City, an Iranian ghost town that exudes a sense of desolation and loneliness, are unaware that a lone vampire prowls the streets after dusk. In addition to being unlike any other vampire film you have ever seen, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is also unlike any other horror film.
The film, which was exquisitely shot in black and white, is hypnotic and ominous. Although the story and imagery are very simple, the viewer is captivated the entire time. The title character solely hurts those who have hurt others while silently waltzing through the barren streets. She wants company more than blood. The movie is unlike any other vampire movie ever put on film since it is a neo-noir vampire western.
Cam (2018)
Cam follows a young cam lady named Alice (Madeline Brewster) as she frantically tries to climb to the top 50 positions in her online video chat room. After reaching the top 50, Alice discovers that her account has been locked and that another person who resembles her has taken control of her chat room and is streaming live videos under the guise of her online alter identity, Lola.
Even though Cam contains some bloody scenes, they are not what you might anticipate. In this movie, there are no killers, monsters, or jump scares. The terror of having your identity stolen on any internet site without being able to prove it is the real horror depicted in the film. Instead, as you desperately attempt to pick up the pieces, you are forced to watch as your life is taken from your control slowly but surely.
Funny Games (1997)
A mother, father, and son are travelling to their holiday home when two violent young men who at first seem to be nice neighbours kidnap them inside the house. For their own enjoyment, the two men compel the family to engage in cruel games with one another. The original Funny Games by Michael Haneke is a nasty movie that will make you uneasy in your own home. This family is tormented by these intruders merely because they are able to and merely because they want to. The family is compelled to treat one another cruelly and to make fun of itself. It provokes thought, is disturbing, and capitalises on people’s basic desire to be helpful. Nobody will predict the ending twist, which will force you to reevaluate the entire movie.
Halloween (1978)
John Carpenter’s Halloween must be mentioned when discussing independent horror films. Jamie Lee Curtis’s film career was established by an independent picture that went on to inspire several sequels, reboots, and remakes. It is undoubtedly one of the best slashers ever produced and gave rise to the most recognisable slasher antagonist of all time.
Halloween, much like Texas Chainsaw, contributed to the slasher trend of the 1980s and served as an example for all subsequent films in the genre. One of the best last females in horror film history, if not the best, is frequently recognised as Laurie Strode. No other horror theme is even close to being as eerie as this one, and the score alone has tormented viewers for 45 years.
Hereditary (2018)
Annie (Toni Collette) and her family all experience varying levels of grief following the passing of their mentally ill mother. Soon later, a horrible, unusual accident happens, and Annie starts to explore for other methods to grieve. She and her relatives start to learn mysterious and horrifying mysteries about their ancestry. The phrase “elevated horror” has recently become popular, in part thanks to Ari Aster’s psychological horror masterpiece Hereditary.
The movie is frightful, but not in the conventional sense. It is unrelenting in its efforts to disturb the audience, and even after several viewings, it continues to stick in your memory. This family is not the target of any monsters or serial killers because everything that happens to them is a result of their own actions. The final act is really unsettling, and Toni Collette and Alex Wolf skillfully capture the feelings of a mother and kid going through a truly horrible circumstance.
It Follows (2014)
The first time Jay (Maika Monroe), 19, slept with her boyfriend, her life started to change. Strange visions afflict her, and she constantly has the sense that someone or something is watching her. She is being followed, but only those who have contracted the infection can see the wicked force that wants Jay dead. The suspense and tension in It Follows are increased by exploiting the worry that something is constantly observing your every move. It scares people psychologically more than physically, but it will undoubtedly cause them to reconsider the people they choose to be in any kind of relationship with.
Let the Right One In (2008)
In 1982, 12-year-old Oskar lives in the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg and dreams of getting right with his bullies. He falls in love with a strange girl named Eli who lives in his block after meeting her. Eli needs to be invited inside a room because she can’t bear the sun or eat regular food. She empowers Oskar to stand up to his bullies, but he soon finds that Eli must consume human blood in order to exist.
A Swedish vampire love story that is unlike any vampire film is called Let the Right One In. It follows some vampire conventions, such as not being able to be in the sun and needing blood to survive, but it adds a unique twist to the traditional vampire story. The two teenage characters completely carry the tale, and the film does a fantastic job of creating tension. It’s ironic that this came released the same year as Twilight, despite the fact that both interpretations of a vampire love story are very different.
Midsommar (2019)
A struggling couple le aves for Sweden to attend a renowned midsummer festival after experiencing a family tragedy. An pleasant getaway from the daily grind initially develops into a violent competition at the hands of a pagan cult. Midsommar, a psychological horror film by genius Ari Aster that is bathed in unending sunlight, forces the viewer to witness gruesome ritualistic behaviours against a vibrant, bright background in a stunning Swedish field. It takes unwavering devotion to one’s profession to be able to produce something so gruesome that viewers aren’t turned off by the picturesque setting in which these wicked characters are set. The movie is a must-see because it is both breathtakingly beautiful and profoundly disturbing.
Pearl (2022)
Mia Goth plays Pearl, a young newlywed who lives on her parent’s farm while her husband is away serving in World War I. Teetering on the brink of insanity, Pearl has hopes to become a Hollywood star to escape the tedium of life on the farm. Her deepest wants and darkest secrets collide as she tries desperately to leave.
The legendary villain of the X series has an exceptionally well-crafted origin tale that reveals exactly how evil she has always been in Pearl. As the title character, Mia Goth excels, presenting a multifaceted figure that you are tempted to root for while yet finding her to be absolutely disturbing. Your eyes are drawn to the screen for Pearl’s nearly eight-minute, uninterrupted rant, which is electrifying and clearly insane. As if that weren’t clever enough, the closing credits make an effort to surpass her outstanding remarks.
Raw (2016)
Justine, a veterinary student, is made to consume raw meat for the first time in her life after having always been a vegetarian as part of a hazing ceremony. She quickly realises she has a severe appetite for meat, which makes her ravenous all the time. She is thrust into a mysterious realm of animalistic inclinations driven by an insatiable need for flesh. French horror movie Raw, directed by Julia Ducournau, is so abhorrent that it’s impossible to turn away. When Justine has a craving, she will actually take a small amount of whatever is placed in front of her.
The movie is incredibly gruesome and makes no attempt to hide Justine’s cannibalistic tendencies. Despite this, the movie is so masterfully made that you will be equally enthralled by what you are watching unfold in front of you even as you cringe at every horrifying and revolting moment.
Resurrection (2022)
Doting mother Margaret (Rebecca Hall), a successful executive at the top of her game, is haunted by her past. Margaret’s life seems to be going as planned; her daughter, who is 17, is getting ready to go off to college. Up until a conference where she gets a glimpse of her abusive background. To face the terrifying figure willing to reenter her life after more than two decades apart, she must summon every ounce of courage she possesses.
Rebecca Hall is at the height of her abilities in Resurrection, while Tim Roth is completely out of it. Every scenario is more ludicrous than the last, and Hall’s uninterrupted monologue of seven minutes is astounding. You don’t even realise the camera hasn’t cut away for seven minutes since it is so powerful. As you root for this loving mother to defend what matters most to her in the most unlikely of ways, the film plays with your emotions.
Spree (2020)
Kurt Kunkle (Joe Keery), a 23-year-old Spree ride-sharing driver with a desire to become famous online by becoming viral on social media. He will essentially do anything to garner a following because of his extreme desperation to become famous on the internet. He equips his car with cameras, begins livestreaming his trips, and uses the hashtag #thelesson to refer to his infamous spree. The only person who can stop Kurt from acting desperate is a stand-up comedian he meets on one of his deadly journeys to stardom. She has her own viral agenda.
Even though this satirical horror-comedy is not for everyone, Kurt’s obvious contempt for anyone or anything that can prevent him from going famous online is both funny and alarming.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Since its 1999 premiere, The Blair Witch Project has served as the model for discovered footage horror films. Few have been able to capture the same atmosphere despite the fact that it has inspired many copycats. Three actors and the directors, Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez, spent a week in the Maryland woods gathering material that would eventually become the most well-known found-footage movie.
The movie is undoubtedly a slow-burning, unusual horror movie, but it is also one of the reasons it has had such a big impact on the genre. Even though it takes a while to get going, the ending is one of the most memorable in horror movie history and for some viewers, it was the only factor in their level of fear after watching.
The Evil Dead (1981)
One of the most significant independent, low-budget horror films of all time would almost certainly be included in this list. With just 13 crew members, Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead was made on a tight budget in the Tennessee woods. The horror genre has now irrevocably been changed by it, and it has developed a huge cult following. The Evil Dead series has become known for its dizzying Dutch angles and quick cuts through the woods, and the movie is a classic example of a “cabin in the woods” tale.
Every horror comedy that has come after it has been inspired by the way it combines nauseating gore and campy humour. This movie launched an enduring franchise that is still expanding more than 40 years later, most recently with Evil Dead Rising. Each movie has added its own twist to the fundamental conceit of opening the Book of the Dead and releasing parasitic demons established in the original.
The Invitation (2015)
Will (Logan Marshall Green) brings his fiancée to his ex-home wife’s for dinner on a gloomy night. During the course of the meal, he observes that his ex-wife is acting even stranger than the other guests. The other visitors have an evil motive, and something nasty is cooking in that mansion.
Another slow-burning horror movie, The Invitation takes its time guiding the spectator through the eerie events taking place in that house. Although its methodical approach might be too slow for some, the movie’s ending is one of the most effective in independent horror films and will probably stay with you long after the credits have rolled.
The Neon Demon (2016)
The young aspiring model Jesse (Elle Fanning) is followed in Nicolas Winding Refn’s horror-thriller as she relocates to Los Angeles to start her career. She is sent to pose for a seasoned photographer because of the fashion industry’s tremendous interest in her beauty and youth. However, the ferocious jealousy that Jesse inspires also manifests as fascination and turns out to be sinister.
The Neon Devil is a contentious movie that is saturated in neon lights and graphic violence. It is both fascinating and repulsive. The story unfolds like a dream, and the imagery is both vivid and detailed. A dark, sarcastic reflection on an industry that preys on the naiveté of young people desiring to be a part of that world may be found in Refn’s view of the poison of the fashion industry. On paper, it doesn’t seem like horror and fashion would go well together, yet on film, it results in a stylized, engrossing story.
The Night House (2020)
Beth (Rebecca Hall), a grieving high school teacher, returns to the huge lake house her late husband had built for her. Beth begins to see enigmatic shadows and reflections that taunt her as she works to put her husband’s death into perspective. Beth has been having increasingly vivid dreams. With the exception of her coworkers when she is at work and one neighbour, the main character of The Night House lives alone in a lakefront home in the woods. The remote setting puts the audience in Beth’s shoes and gives the movie a mysterious, frightening sense. The rationale behind why Beth is going through these horrible events is cleverly and carefully explained.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre by Tobe Hooper, in particular with slashers, has had a huge impact on the horror genre. It’s incredible to think that a minor production shot in a remote Texas location once had such a significant influence on an entire genre. It sparked numerous remakes and a sequel, but none of them compare to the original’s influence on culture. This movie, along with Black Christmas, which came out the same year, helped spark the slasher frenzy in the 1980s and has permanently influenced the genre. It is horrifying, nasty, and expertly filmed.
The Witch (2015)
One of today’s most intriguing filmmakers, Robert Eggers made a strong impression on moviegoers with his debut feature. In New England in the 1630s, a Puritan family is compelled to leave their community and settle on the fringes of a forest where they are ripped apart by witchcraft, black magic, and demonic possession.
The Witchis a meticulous nightmare set against the backdrop of dreadful woods during the Salem witch hunt. It is equal parts historical drama and otherworldly terror. We see how this formerly close-knit family begins to feud. Instead of delivering overt scares, the movie has the audience dwell uncomfortably in the limbo of wondering what will happen to this family next.
X (2022)
The first book in Ti West’s trilogy follows a group of friends as they travel to an isolated farmhouse in rural Texas to utilise the setting for their 1979 adult film. It turns into a full-scale battle for their life to get out of the farmhouse when their old, reclusive visitors catch them in the act. In addition to paying respect to the slashers that came before it, X offers its own spin on one of horror’s most cherished subgenres. The hosts are ugly and repulsive to look at, and it is obvious that they are envious of the filmmakers for being young and in good shape.
When it comes to the slasher elements, the movie doesn’t hold back, and the camera work was done on purpose to make the movie appear magnificent. We are even more interested to see what West has in store for us with MaXXXine later this year as a result of the parallels between Maxine and Pearl that are masterfully worded and which are realised later in Pearl.
