30 Hidden Gem Horror Movies You Should Not Miss

I am an absolute horror movie fanatic. I’ve been obsessed with horror since I was 7, when I saw my first horror movie, “The Hand”, which I will never forget because it gave me nightmares for years! But that didn’t stop me from catching the horror movie bug.

My sister and I would scour the video store shelves every weekend looking for any horror movie we could find that we haven’t already seen, which was near impossible, since we had seen them all (multiple times).

So, when I say I’ve seen just about any horror movie worth seeing, I am not exaggerating. And my favorite horror movies are the ones that have flown under the radar of the mainstream. The ones I’ve just stumbled upon or decided to take a chance on, that turned out to be true hidden horror movie gems.

It’s these sleeper horror films that I am sharing here.

I have handpicked 30 hidden gem horror movies that every horror fan needs to checkout!

Don’t forget to download the FREE MOVIE CHECKLIST to keep track of what movies you want to watch!

Hidden Gem Horror Movies: Lesser Known Horror Films You Should Add to Your Watch List

1. Hills Run Red (2009)

• Director: Dave Parker
• Cast: Sophie Monk, Tad Hilgenbrink, William Sadler
• IMDb: ‘Hills Run Red’ on IMDb

A film fanatic hunts down a legendary lost slasher movie called “The Hills Run Red,” only to uncover the twisted truth behind its disappearance and the horrifying secrets surrounding its creation.

2. Appendage (2023)

• Director: Anna Zlokovic
• Cast: Hadley Robinson, Emily Hampshire, Kausar Mohammed
• IMDb: ‘Appendage’ on IMDb

Reminiscent of 1980s movies like “Basketcase” and “Its Alive”, Appendage is about a fashion designer who begins to grow an appendage that takes a horrifying but delightful turn! A must see horror film for those who like something different and quirky.

3. The Girl in the Photographs (2015)

• Director: Nick Simon
• Cast: Kal Penn, Claudia Lee, Kenny Wormald
• IMDb: ‘The Girl in the Photographs’ on IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi

When a series of haunting photographs depicting brutal murders emerge in a small town, a young woman finds herself at the center of a serial killer’s twisted game, unleashing a chilling chain of events.

4. May (2002)

• Director: Lucky McKee
• Cast: Angela Bettis, Jeremy Sisto, Anna Faris
• IMDb: ‘May’ on IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi

May, a socially awkward and isolated woman, yearns for companionship. As she tries to connect with people, her desperate longing spirals into a disturbing obsession, leading to macabre and unsettling consequences.

5. Grace (2009)

• Director: Paul Solet
• Cast: Jordan Ladd, Samantha Ferris, Gabrielle Rose
• IMDb: ‘Grace’ on IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi

After a tragic accident, a grieving mother carries her unborn child to term against all odds, only to realize that something unsettling and otherworldly may be happening with her newborn daughter. Stars Jordan Ladd from “Cabin Fever”.

6. Sleepaway Camp (1983)

• Director: Robert Hiltzik
• Cast: Felissa Rose, Jonathan Tiersten, Karen Fields
• IMDb: ‘Sleepaway Camp’ on IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi

Angela, a shy and traumatized young girl, heads to summer camp with her cousin. Strange and gruesome accidents start happening around the camp, revealing a disturbing secret and leading to a shocking, unforgettable conclusion.

7. Hatchet (2006)

• Director: Adam Green
• Cast: Kane Hodder, Joel David Moore, Deon Richmond
• IMDb: ‘Hatchet’ on IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi

A group of tourists embarks on a haunted swamp tour in New Orleans, only to encounter the legendary Victor Crowley, a vengeful ghost seeking retribution for a decades old tragedy. What ensues is a gory and darkly humorous fight for survival.

8. The Exorcist III (1990)

• Director: William Peter Blatty
• Cast: George C. Scott, Ed Flanders, Brad Dourif
• IMDb: ‘The Exorcist III’ on IMDb

A police lieutenant investigates a series of brutal murders that mirror the methods of a deceased serial killer. As he digs deeper, he uncovers a chilling connection to a past exorcism and a force of evil he thought was long gone.

9. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

• Director: Tommy Lee Wallace
• Cast: Tom Atkins, Stacey Nelkin, Dan O’Herlihy
• IMDb: ‘Halloween III: Season of the Witch’ on IMDb

Departing from the Michael Myers storyline, this installment follows a doctor investigating the mysterious activities of a sinister corporation producing Halloween masks that hold a terrifying secret.

10. Hard Candy (2005)

• Director: David Slade
• Cast: Ellen Page, Patrick Wilson, Sandra Oh
• IMDb: ‘Hard Candy’ on IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi

A tense and psychological game unfolds between a teenage girl and a seemingly charming photographer she meets online. What begins as flirtation takes a dark turn as the girl’s intentions reveal a chilling agenda.

11. Feast (2005)

• Director: John Gulager
• Cast: Balthazar Getty, Krista Allen, Navi Rawat
• IMDb: ‘Feast’ on IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi

In a remote bar, a group of eccentric individuals finds themselves besieged by monstrous creatures. As they fight for survival, alliances shift, revealing unexpected heroism and darkly comedic moments amidst the chaos.

12. Slither (2006)

• Director: James Gunn
• Cast: Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Rooker
• IMDb: ‘Slither’ on IMDb

When a small town is invaded by an extraterrestrial parasite, chaos erupts as the townsfolk fall victim to grotesque transformations. The fight against the alien threat takes a blend of humor and horror as an eclectic group battles to save humanity.

13. Teeth (2007)

• Director: Mitchell Lichtenstein
• Cast: Jess Weixler, John Hensley, Hale Appleman
• IMDb: ‘Teeth’ on IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi

A high school girl discovers she has a rather unique biological defense mechanism, teeth in a rather unexpected place. As she navigates adolescence, her newfound ability takes a darkly humorous and unsettling turn.

14. Splinter (2008)

• Director: Toby Wilkins
• Cast: Shea Whigham, Jill Wagner, Paulo Costanzo
• IMDb: ‘Splinter’ on IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi

A couple’s camping trip takes a horrific turn when they encounter an infectious parasite that turns its hosts into savage, splintered creatures. Trapped in an isolated gas station, they must find a way to survive this relentless and mutating threat.

15. Audition (1999)

• Director: Takashi Miike
• Cast: Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Tetsu Sawaki
• IMDb: ‘Audition’ on IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi

A widower holds auditions for a fake movie to find a new partner but becomes fixated on one enigmatic and seemingly perfect applicant. However, as their relationship deepens, unsettling truths emerge, leading to a disturbing and shocking climax.

16. The House of the Devil (2009)

• Director: Ti West
• Cast: Jocelin Donahue, Tom Noonan, Mary Woronov
• IMDb: ‘The House of the Devil’ on IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi

A college student struggling for cash takes a seemingly straightforward babysitting job in a remote mansion. However, as the night progresses, she realizes the job is not what it seems, plunging her into a nightmarish ordeal.

17. Jug Face (2013)

• Director: Chad Crawford Kinkle
• Cast: Sean Bridgers, Lauren Ashley Carter, Sean Young
• IMDb: ‘Jug Face’ on IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi

In a secluded rural community, a girl discovers she’s the next sacrificial victim chosen by the community’s eerie supernatural entity, represented by a mysterious jug shaped sculpture. Desperate to escape her fate, she faces a harrowing struggle against the village’s ominous traditions.

18. The Devil’s Candy (2015)

• Director: Sean Byrne
• Cast: Ethan Embry, Shiri Appleby, Pruitt Taylor Vince
• IMDb: ‘The Devil’s Candy’ on IMDb

A struggling artist moves his family into a new home, unaware of its dark history. As he becomes consumed by his macabre artwork, a sinister force takes hold, leading to a terrifying battle for their souls against an evil presence.

19. The Ritual (2017)

• Director: David Bruckner
• Cast: Rafe Spall, Arsher Ali, Robert James-Collier
• IMDb: ‘The Ritual’ on IMDb

A group of friends embarks on a hiking trip in the Scandinavian wilderness to honor a deceased friend. When they deviate from their path and seek shelter in an eerie forest, they encounter malevolent forces that begin to prey upon their deepest fears and regrets.

20. Session 9 (2001)

• Director: Brad Anderson
• Cast: David Caruso, Stephen Gevedon, Paul Guilfoyle
• IMDb: ‘Session 9’ on IMDb

A crew tasked with asbestos removal at an abandoned mental hospital uncovers a series of chilling audio recordings. As tensions rise within the team, disturbing secrets about the hospital and their own pasts begin to unravel, leading to a haunting and psychological descent.

21. Kill List (2011)

• Director: Ben Wheatley
• Cast: Neil Maskell, MyAnna Buring, Harry Simpson
• IMDb: ‘Kill List’ on IMDb

A hitman, struggling with both professional and personal issues, takes on a new assignment. However, as he delves deeper into the job, he uncovers a sinister and nightmarish conspiracy that leads to a shocking and brutal revelation.

22. Possession (1981)

• Director: Andrzej Żuławski
• Cast: Isabelle Adjani, Sam Neill, Margit Carstensen
• IMDb: ‘Possession’ on IMDb

A woman’s abrupt and erratic behavior leads her husband to investigate her strange actions. What he discovers goes far beyond a mere affair, descending into a surreal and nightmarish realm of possession and psychological torment.

23. Midnight Meat Train (2008)

• Director: Ryuhei Kitamura
• Cast: Bradley Cooper, Leslie Bibb, Vinnie Jones
• IMDb: ‘Midnight Meat Train’ on IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi

A photographer becomes obsessed with capturing the city’s nocturnal life and unwittingly stumbles upon a brutal underground world. As he investigates further, he discovers a horrifying secret involving a murderous subway train and its insidious conductor.

24. Hell House LLC (2015)

• Director: Stephen Cognetti
• Cast: Gore Abrams, Alice Bahlke, Danny Bellini
• IMDb: ‘Hell House LLC’ on IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi

A group of friends sets up a haunted house attraction in an abandoned hotel. As opening night approaches, strange occurrences and unexplained events escalate, turning their Halloween venture into a terrifying nightmare.

25. The Wicker Man (1973)

• Director: Robin Hardy
• Cast: Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland
• IMDb: ‘The Wicker Man’ on IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi

A devout police sergeant investigates the disappearance of a young girl on a remote island known for its peculiar pagan rituals. As he delves deeper into the island’s customs, he uncovers a disturbing and macabre secret.

26. Titane (2021)

• Director: Julia Ducournau
• Cast: Agathe Rousselle, Vincent Lindon, Garance Marillier
• IMDb: ‘Titane’ on IMDb

A woman with a mysterious and twisted relationship with automobiles becomes involved in a series of bizarre and macabre incidents. As her reality blurs, the film takes unexpected and unsettling turns into a world of body horror and psychological complexity.

27. American Mary (2012)

• Director: Jen Soska, Sylvia Soska
• Cast: Katharine Isabelle, Antonio Cupo, Tristan Risk
• IMDb: ‘American Mary’ on IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi

A medical student, burdened by financial struggles, enters the world of underground surgeries for quick cash. As she becomes more deeply involved in this illicit world, her skills lead her down a path of revenge and transformation.

28. Peeping Tom (1960)

• Director: Michael Powell
• Cast: Karlheinz Böhm, Moira Shearer, Anna Massey
• IMDb: ‘Peeping Tom’ on IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi

A disturbed cameraman with a twisted fascination for fear and death captures his victims’ final moments on film. As he documents his gruesome acts, the film explores the psychological depths of voyeurism and obsession.

29. Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)

• Director: Shinya Tsukamoto
• Cast: Tomorô Taguchi, Kei Fujiwara, Nobu Kanaoka
• IMDb: ‘Tetsuo: The Iron Man’ on IMDb

A man’s body begins to transform into a grotesque fusion of flesh and metal after an encounter with a mysterious metal fetishist. This surreal and visually striking film explores themes of technology, body horror, and the human psyche.

30. The Lure (2015)

• Director: Agnieszka Smoczyńska
• Cast: Marta Mazurek, Michalina Olszańska, Kinga Preis
• IMDb: ‘The Lure’ on IMDb

Two mermaid sisters are drawn into the world of humans, seduced by the nightlife of 1980s Warsaw. However, their quest for love and acceptance takes a dark turn as their true natures clash with the complexities of human emotions.

BONUS Hidden Gem Horror Movies Streaming FREE

Possessor (2020)
Excision (2012)
Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers (1988)
Hatchet II (2010)
I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
Ginger Snaps (2000)

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Thanks for reading this article for hidden gem horror movie inspiration!

If you love horror, than checkout our other articles on horror movies!

If you like FREE horror movies, than checkout our article 25 Free Horror Movies to Stream on Tubi: Horror Fan Favorites.

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