9 Great Horror Films You Probably Haven't Seen

1.

Under the Bed is a newer indie flick that may not have gotten its recognition, but will make you feel bad you couldn't see it in theaters. Playing on everyone's childhood fears is always a great premise. But pair that with a focus on less CGI and far more practical, tangible creature effects and you've got yourself a scary film worth watching.

2.

Although it's another in the trend of found footage-mockumentary horror films, the Aussie-made Lake Mungo actually exemplifies how such movies SHOULD be made. By the time you're finished you'll be hard pressed to convince yourself the entire thing was made up. Creepy as hell with a great fake missing girl story and scares when you least expect them.

3.

Bloody Reunion is one of my personal faves. This Korean gem is fresh, original, and genuinely terrifying. You're constantly kept off-kilter between watching dramatics unfold between former students and their aging teacher, and suddenly witnessing the brutal, gory deaths of them all. You want to know who's behind it, but by the twist ending, you suddenly won't even care. Considering you always want the opposite when watching such a film makes this one a psychological A plus.

4.

Inside was a French-made film never released in the U.S., and one of the reasons may be its extreme gore and sensitive subject matter. It's one of those films people will mention as something they just couldn't look at or wouldn't watch again, if it weren't for the fact the movie has great suspense and character development. The story of a madwoman going after another pregnant girl for her unborn baby will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time.

5.

There were some titles considered too unsuitable for audiences going all the way back to the dawn of Hollywood. Tod Browning's Freaks was one of them. Almost immediately MGM pulled the film and up til today it remains an obscure work. This movie took the viewer right inside the circus sideshow and into the lives of various deformed performers, including pinheads, human skeletons, and siamese twins. It does have an interesting story, aberrations aside.

6.

John Carpenter holds our heart when it comes to perfect little films encompassing the best of everything: action, suspense, visuals, soundtrack. He proves great film doesn't need to follow trends or massive dollar signs, and you can see that easily in PoD. If you're one who thinks Big Trouble was obscure, I guarantee you completely missed this one. "Wang" and "Egg" even have roles in this creeper about a professor who moves his graduate students into an old church for a case study involving a giant, whirling tube of intelligent green liquid that is actually Satan.

7.

Probably the first film of the genre to tackle the subject of a failing economy, Dream Home is not for the squeamish. And female serial killers are rare, even for horror movies - but don't think it'll be any less gruesome. Cheng Li-sheung is a woman so fixated on keeping her home she'll slash through anyone - including her neighbors. Gratuitous nudity and surprise attacks abound. If you don't mind Chinese boobies or gore, give it a shot.

8.

The Children isn't your usual "freaky kid" movie. Although it goes without saying UK children have always been a bit more disturbing than not. This film follows a family driving out for a nice Xmas vacation with hopes of fun, when suddenly all the kids around just go insane. It's the better acting that makes this one likeable.

9.

For those who love zombies and boobies, get the best of both worlds with Nightmare City. This one is an Italian film from 1980, long before the recent influx of unsatisfying, drawn-out, dime-a-dozen zombie flicks and network shows would flood our media as a cash cow trend. Umberto Lenzi gives us the simple premise of zombies busting out of a plane and wreaking havoc. Not only that, he answers the call of the dong by having them spend as much time ripping off girls' shirts - and their boobies - as they do biting.