The 10 Most Underrated Horror Movies of the 2010s
The state of horror in the 2000s, following the post-Scream resurgence, was one full of experimentation. Without it, we may not have seen the undeniable diversity that rose in the decade after. Boundaries were pushed and morals had changed. There was a deeper conversation waiting to happen, and horror was the avenue that many progressive thinkers would take.
Whether or not a decade is better than the last depends on your outlook. Film is very much seen in the same way. Although horror may never get a fair chance in the public eye, there are a number of films that have successfully crossed over the threshold. They’ve gone from obscure to fully recognized, and they’re deemed ‘important’ in the grand scheme. This list of horror titles is not necessarily made for those movies. They have had their time, and, more likely than not, they will continue to be heralded for years and years to come.
“There was a deeper conversation waiting to happen, and horror was the avenue that many progressive thinkers would take.”
These days, the term ‘underrated’ is thrown around with little provocation, much less, afterthought. We call something ‘underrated’ whenever it’s significantly underestimated or forgotten by the masses. And, there are various factors as to why we apply that word to, say, a movie. Mainly because it’s a film that hardly gets talked about outside of the inner circle.
Now, horror is one notable genre that puts ‘underrated’ to frequent use. We shout it from the rooftops when a movie misses its mark either financially or critically—sometimes both. We haphazardly apply it to films that have, more or less, found success in one or way or another. That’s not to say movies deemed underrated are not; many of them are. Over time, however, that status shifts to where we have to ask, “Are these films really underrated anymore?”
The movies that follow are ones that you might have heard of, but perhaps you haven’t seen them. Or, if you did, you didn’t give them much of a second thought once the credits rolled. If the latter is the case, you’re implored to reconsider.
Without further ado, here are just ten of the decade’s most severely underrated horror movies. To keep things diverse, there will only be one film per year.
The 10 Most Underrated Horror Movies of the 2010s
DREAM HOME (2010)
Directed by Pang Ho-cheung
Dream Home (2010)
The real estate market may be tough where you live, but imagine how challenging it must be if you have to kill for your dream home. That is exactly what the protagonist is forced to do when her ambition to be a homeowner is snatched away.
Crushed by her soul-sucking caregiver role, Lai-sheung’s only hope is getting out from under a life she never asked for. And, buying an apartment is how she plans to move on. That, of course, doesn’t pan out, and she aims to lower the property values however she sees fit.
What Lai-sheung does is undoubtedly wrong. There’s no ands, ifs, or buts about that. Moreover, one would be remiss to not feel some empathy for someone whose life is this much of a mess. The desperation is near palpable, especially if you’ve ever felt like everything is within reach but so far away.
HARD LABOR (2011)
Directed by Marco Dutra and Juliana Rojas
Hard Labor (2011)
Slow burns are becoming more and more appreciated nowadays. This Brazilian obscurity is from the masterminds behind Good Manners, a folk-horror that was well-received upon its release not too long ago. Hard Labor, on the other hand, remains in the shadows.
Having a story that is mostly geared towards family drama with only spurts of horror along the way may be a reason as to why this film isn’t highly regarded. Be that as it may, it’s an insidious story with a more than adequate payoff. You’re left with more questions than answers, but we should cherish movies that dare to go out like this one. The lack of hand-holding or a spoon-fed conclusion is bracing.
UNDER THE BED (2012)
Directed by Steven C. Miller
Under the Bed (2012)
Steven C. Miller is a director who can add a lot of meaning to undue violence. By that, he doesn’t have his characters simply hurt one another without the act serving some kind of higher purpose. This is the case for his coming-of-age horror Under the Bed, a pensive film about two siblings confronting their childhood boogeyman.
Under the Bed is relatively slow. It spends a large chunk of time getting to understand our pubescent heroes. Which is actually a good thing because this helps us grasp their trauma, and how they are finally going to fight back.
Once the brothers’ mortal enemy takes physical form, it’s a sight to behold. Anyone who misses practical effects in horror will love the look of this nightmare-fueled monstrosity.
FINAL PRAYER (2013)
Directed by Elliot Goldner
Final Prayer (2013)
The attitude towards found-footage movies is borderline contemptuous. Don’t get us wrong; there are some stinkers in the bunch. Yet, when a great one like Final Prayer (or The Borderlands) comes along, you should set aside your preconceived notions.
In the film, a pair of men who go around investigating religious miracles comes across one that eludes all explanation. And, the further they delve into this mystery, the more they wish they hadn’t.
Final Prayer is a shrewd character study of men of the cloth who have lost their way. It has elements of folk horror, too, and the ending is utterly shocking.
LATE PHASES (2014)
Directed by Adrián García Bogliano
Late Phases (2014)
The werewolf movie is hard to pull off. Those who have tried, the results have varied by a large margin. Lycans are appearing less and less these days in horror movies, but the infrequency is helping them re-build their credit after some middling on-screen interpretations in the last decade.
Late Phases manages to do something different with a tale as old as time. This 2014 indie film follows a curmudgeonly, blind veteran sentenced to live in a retirement community by his estranged son. What should have been the man’s golden years ends up being a battle of life and death.
Late Phases is remarkable largely because of its writing. The werewolves are odd-looking, to say the least, but the attention to the main character is worthy. The troubled relationship between the father and son is eerily relatable, too. The depth of the human drama at the core of this monster movie elevates it high above others.
FREAKS OF NATURE (2015)
Directed by Robbie Pickering
Freaks of Nature (2015)
Some might say horror never mixes well with comedy, but anyone who’s seen the likes of Shaun of the Dead or Cabin in the Woods knows better. It’s true, though, that sometimes the combination doesn’t work. Freaks of Nature thankfully defies the odds.
In Freaks of Nature, humans live somewhat peacefully with vampires, werewolves, and zombies. Their ecosystem is then thrown off by the sudden appearance of aliens, whose motive for attacking is yet to be revealed.
Despite royally tanking at the box office and disappearing without much of a trace, this horror-com’s financial shortcoming has nothing to do with its content. In fact, it’s a very likable movie. The cast is talented, the story hardly drags, and, most of all, the humor sticks even upon repeat viewings.
THEY’RE WATCHING (2016)
Directed by Jay Lender, Micah Wright
They’re Watching (2016)
Who doesn’t love a good mockumentary? Soulless people, that’s who. Luckily, those who do enjoy them will be enthused by this hidden gem. What begins as a straightforward satire of any given home renovation show ends up being one of the best kept secrets in horror.
They’re Watching concerns an American home-improvement show doing a follow-up on a past subject, who is now living abroad in Moldova. Meanwhile, the film crew learns of a local legend that may be more than just small-town gossip.
There’s no denying this movie takes its time getting down to business. There’s a ton of exposition that may be lost on you if you’re not keeping track. If you’re patient, though, you’ll be rewarded with a profoundly amazing horror-docucomedy topped off with a gonzo conclusion.
SUPER DARK TIMES (2017)
Directed by Kevin Phillips
Super Dark Times (2017)
Nothing is quite as scary as adolescence. Brains and personalities are works in progress, and judgment is fuzzy at best. Poor choices are actually the impetus for everything that goes wrong in Super Dark Times.
In this indie horror, a crime awaits a group of high school friends. When one of them commits the heinous act, his pals make matters worse by keeping what happened a secret.
Don’t think Super Dark Times is merely cashing in on instant, easy nostalgia just because it’s set in the mid-’90s. There’s a strong script amid the dated clothes and references. And, why the movie frightens its meager following so much is because of how probable the misdeed is. Something like that could easily happen in real life.
BUTTERFLY KISSES (2018)
Directed by Kevin Phillips
Butterfly Kisses (2018)
Found-footage horror’s goal is to make its viewers believe the impossible is possible. One’s skepticism may very well prove to be an asset when watching these movies. Nevertheless, it’s fair to say this genre niche has lost some steam due to its appeal to inept filmmakers. Anyone who’s lost hope in found-footage should seek out Butterfly Kisses. Disregarding the confusing title, this is one creepy movie.
A struggling director is given a box of old tapes that contain two film students’ unfinished project. The pair was documenting an urban legend about Peeping Tom, a spirit rumored to appear at the end of a nearby tunnel given the right circumstances. Little does the director know, his obsession in either validating or debunking the myth might just be the end of him.
Butterfly Kisses crawls beneath the skin of your eyelids and stays there until the end credits roll. Maybe even long after.
I SEE YOU (2019)
Directed by Adam Randall
I See You (2019)
A family of three experiences strange incidents connected to the disappearance of a local boy in I See You. Once the events unfold, we’re shown them again, but through the eyes of someone else. The other side of the story will surely leave you rattled.
This thriller starring Helen Hunt was quietly released in late 2019 with very little notice or fanfare. Which is a shame seeing as it puts the ‘pleasant’ in ‘pleasant surprise’. It starts off as an average haunter before taking a sharp turn. This is when we’re fed a curious and new perspective of everything seen thus far. It’s an unorthodox choice, but, wow, it’s a refreshing one.
Did you pass over I See You while looking for something to watch? Yes? Well, don’t. It’s a dark horse of a horror movie that deserves more attention.
