Six Underrated Horror Films to Watch This Halloween Season

Six underrated horror films have been selected to expand horizons during the Halloween season, offering alternatives to more widely viewed classics like Friday the 13th and Scream.

Suspiria and Bones and All Offer Distinct Cinematic Terrors

Released in 1977, Suspiria stands as a classic Italian horror film known for its unsettling score and colorful lighting. The story follows a young American ballerina who joins a German dance company, only to watch her fellow dancers get horrifically killed by an unknown force. The film delivers 1970s special effects, big hair, and bloody deaths.

Bones and All mixes romance and horror in an adaptation of Camille DeAngelis’ novel. The film follows a young girl named Maren who is abandoned by her father because she is a cannibal. Maren wanders the Midwest and meets a boy named Lee, joining him on his travels. The film portrays love in an emotional and vulnerable way through the main characters’ relationship, featuring substantial gore despite lacking jump scares.

Teenage Death and Sex at Camp Miasma and Phantom of the Paradise

Teenage Death and Sex at Camp Miasma brings a fun take to the slasher genre as the newest film on the list. The story follows a young director tasked with making a film for a summer camp slasher franchise who meets with the actress playing the final girl from the first movie. The narrative descends into candy-colored chaos as the two women become part of the movie itself and explore themselves through their relationship.

Phantom of the Paradise operates as a 1970s cult classic providing a glam rock twist on Phantom of the Opera. The film follows the plot of the musical while introducing vibrant colors, funky costumes, and new characters. It leans into eccentricity rather than traditional scares.

Fear Street and Leviticus Complete the Seasonal Lineup

Fear Street is a trilogy that follows a group of teens trying to break the curse of the witch Sarah Fier. The three movies follow a different timeline, but connect characters across centuries to maintain a mystery. Meanwhile, Leviticus stands as one of the most critically acclaimed horror films this year, following two teenage boys haunted by an entity that takes the form of the other. The film blends horror and romance by tying the entity’s form to the characters’ desires.

The selection provides audiences with multiple viewing paths for the autumn holiday, contrasting with standard October marathons of franchise staples.