10 Underrated Horror Movies That Should Be Halloween Staples

Every year as horror fans and movie lovers get ready for Halloween, they start looking for scary movies to watch. They often choose popular favorites like Halloween, Trick ‘r Treat, and Night of the Demons. But beyond these well-known classics, there’s a whole collection of amazing, lesser-known films that should be on everyone’s list for October. Even though they haven’t gotten as much attention, these movies are great at creating a spooky mood, delivering chills, and building a fitting atmosphere – and they all take place on or around Halloween.

Here’s a collection of fantastic, but often overlooked, horror movies that would be perfect for Halloween. These films range from hidden gems to movies that didn’t get the attention they deserved when they first came out, and even a few that are gaining a dedicated cult following. Whether you enjoy spooky supernatural stories, intense gore, or independent low-budget films, these scary movies will give you the Halloween spirit this October.

Here are 10 underrated horror movies that should be Halloween staples.

‘The House of the Devil’ (2009)

Before Ti West created characters like Maxine Minx and Pearl Howard, he directed the retro horror film The House of the Devil. In the movie, Samantha (Jocelin Donahue) needs money to move into her own place, so she takes a babysitting job at a secluded house in the woods. When she arrives, she discovers the person she’s supposed to watch – someone who must not be disturbed – is actually an elderly woman. Though hesitant, Samantha agrees to stay, but strange things begin to happen, and she soon regrets her decision.

A Highly Stylized Film Dripping in ’80s Nostalgia

Set in the 1980s and filmed using 16mm film, The House of the Devil beautifully captures the look and feel of classic horror movies from that time. The film perfectly evokes the spirit of Halloween, with its immersive atmosphere, unsettling Victorian house, and a palpable autumn chill. West expertly creates suspense through extended, quiet moments, a sense of underlying dread, and deliberate camera movements, slowly building tension before the final act descends into mayhem. Though it hasn’t always received the recognition it merits, this stylishly retro film deserves to be considered a Halloween essential.

‘WNUF Halloween Special’ (2013)

WNUF Halloween Special taps into the feeling of ’80s nostalgia. The film is shown as the only remaining recording of a 1987 live Halloween broadcast from a local TV station. Reporter Frank Stewart (Paul Fahrenkopf) looks into the infamous, supposedly haunted Webber House-the location of a violent double murder-accompanied by paranormal investigators and a Catholic priest who performs exorcisms. This leads to a frightening and unpredictable situation.

An Offbeat, Spooky Experience

The movie uses news clips and commercials from the time period, which really pulls you into the story and makes it feel incredibly real. The somewhat fuzzy sound and simple visuals create a feeling that’s both comforting and strangely creepy. It begins with a lot of humor and very mild scares, but the horror gradually increases until the ending becomes quite chaotic. WNUF Halloween Special isn’t simply a hidden gem in the found footage genre; it’s perfect for watching on a spooky October night.

‘The Houses October Built’ (2014)

The often-overlooked The Houses October Built really showcases the potential of found-footage horror. The film uniquely combines the scares of found-footage with a documentary feel, following five friends as they road trip across the US to visit the scariest Halloween attractions. During their travels, they talk to the people who run these haunts, discovering a disturbing underbelly to the industry. This is how they learn about Blue Skeleton, a secretive and ever-moving haunt rumored to use actual torture methods. They decide to track it down, a decision they quickly come to regret.

Like a Real-Life Nightmare

The movie includes genuine interviews with people working in the haunted attraction industry, as well as real news footage of tragic events that have happened at these locations. Filmed partly in several genuinely creepy, real-life haunted houses, this found footage film feels very authentic, which effectively creates a spooky atmosphere and builds suspense. Although it received mixed reviews and didn’t gain widespread attention, The Houses October Built uniquely and disturbingly captures the spirit of Halloween.

‘Tales of Halloween’ (2015)

Tales of Halloween presents ten brief horror stories, each helmed by a different director. They all unfold in the same neighborhood on Halloween night, and are framed as spooky stories being told on a late-night radio program. The movie features many familiar faces from the horror genre, including Adrienne Barbeau, Lin Shaye, Alex Essoe, Caroline Williams, and Madison Iseman. The stories themselves vary quite a bit – some are genuinely frightening, while others are more lighthearted and over-the-top. There’s also some humor and, naturally, plenty of gore.

An Anthology That Captures the Spirit of Halloween

The film’s strength lies in its diverse range of stories, which is what makes it so fun to watch. All 10 segments perfectly capture the eerie spirit of Halloween. Though designed around the holiday, Tales of Halloween didn’t achieve the same popularity as other horror anthologies, it absolutely should have. This spooky and affectionate tribute to Halloween is pure October entertainment and is definitely worth checking out.

‘Boys in the Trees’ (2016)

Boys in the Trees is an Australian horror drama that follows young people growing up in the suburbs of Victoria. The story takes place on Halloween night in 1997, the night before high school ends for Corey (Toby Wallace) and his friends, known as The Gormits. After the group’s leader, Jango (Justin Holborow), picks on and injures his former friend, Jonah (Gulliver McGrath) at the skate park, Corey walks Jonah home. During their walk, they remember old times and think about what’s next. They pass the bridge where they played as children, and Jonah leads Corey in a game from their youth, telling spooky stories and making it hard to tell what’s real and what’s not.

An Underrated Coming-of-Age Horror

The film has a dreamy, sad quality and is filled with a longing for the past. The Halloween setting is beautifully shown, complete with decorated yards, fog, carved pumpkins, and kids and teens in costumes, all set on spooky neighborhood streets. This creates the ideal atmosphere for a deeply emotional story about memories, regrets, the difficulties of growing up, losing innocence, the importance of friendship, and learning to forgive. Although it doesn’t use jump scares, the unfolding mystery is perfect for a thoughtful evening in October. It’s a film that really sticks with you.

‘Hell Fest’ (2018)

Hell Fest takes the familiar slasher movie elements and sets them within a Halloween-themed amusement park. A year after a young woman was violently attacked and displayed as a prop in a haunted house, Natalie (Amy Forsyth) and her friends go to the traveling horror carnival known as Hell Fest. As the night goes on, Natalie repeatedly sees a masked figure following them, but they assume he’s just part of the act, an employee trying to frighten visitors. However, they soon realize they are being hunted by a real serial killer in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

A Solid, Stylish Slasher Tailor-Made for Spooky Season

The movie didn’t receive great reviews, and while it’s certainly not flawless and has some problems, it’s better than many people think. The world it creates is incredibly detailed, featuring impressive haunted house sets, bright neon lights, scary mazes, people in costumes, and all sorts of creepy imagery. Hell Fest is full of Halloween spirit, and has plenty of atmosphere and suspense to make it a classic for the season.

‘The Mortuary Collection’ (2019)

If you’re building your October horror watchlist, you absolutely need to check out The Mortuary Collection. It’s a really fun and creepy anthology set back in the 1980s. The story centers around Montgomery Dark, played by Clancy Brown, who runs this wonderfully gothic, Victorian mortuary in the tiny town of Raven’s End. It all kicks off when a young woman, Sam (Caitlin Custer), answers his “Help Wanted” sign. While he’s interviewing her, Montgomery starts telling her these incredibly strange stories about the various deaths that have happened in town. And as these tales unfold, you slowly start to learn what’s *really* going on with everyone involved.

A Wonderful Horror Anthology With a Clever Twist

Every story is beautifully shot and creates a strong, immersive mood, and each one takes place in a different time period. It offers something for all horror fans-from Lovecraftian dread and graphic violence to gothic atmospheres and pure wickedness. The Mortuary Collection is just as deserving of praise as Trick ‘r Treat, and should become a yearly Halloween tradition for horror lovers. This skillfully made anthology feels like a dark fairytale, offering a range of frightening moments and a haunting visual style that doesn’t feel dated.

‘Haunt’ (2019)

The movie Haunt takes place on a spooky Halloween night in Carbondale, Illinois. It features Katie Stevens (The Bold Type) as Harper, a college student trying to get away from a harmful relationship. After another attack by her boyfriend, her roommate convinces her to end things via text and go out with friends. Their night takes a terrifying turn when they visit an intense haunted house, which proves to be genuinely dangerous and deadly, as they find themselves targeted by a cult wearing masks.

A Blood-Soaked, Wild Ride

Haunt is a quick and brutal slasher film, perfect for a scary Halloween night. This excellent but overlooked horror movie didn’t get much attention when it came out in 2019, even though it’s one of the most frightening films of that year. It offers a new spin on stories about haunted houses, with consistently high tension, a creepy mood, and some truly shocking deaths. Watch this movie when you’re ready to be seriously scared.

‘Dark Harvest’ (2023)

I’m really excited about Dark Harvest ! It’s inspired by Norman Partridge’s 2006 novel, and it’s set back in 1962 in this quiet Midwestern town with the most unsettling Halloween tradition ever – it’s called the Run. Basically, every year this terrifying, supernatural being called Sawtooth Jack comes out of the cornfields, and the teenage boys in town have to try and stop him from getting to the church. The reward? A brand new Corvette and a ticket to leave town – something a lot of these guys are willing to risk everything for. But what’s really interesting is that nobody actually knows the *whole* story behind the Run.

A Future Halloween Classic

Dark Harvest truly captures the feeling of Halloween and autumn, with the holiday woven into the story’s foundation. This often-overlooked horror film is likely to become a beloved Halloween tradition for many. While it’s not perfect, it fully delivers on the spooky atmosphere of October. Its roots in mythology make it a great choice for viewers who enjoy a touch of fantasy alongside their supernatural thrills.

‘Totally Killer’ (2023)

Totally Killer offers a fresh and entertaining experience by combining the thrills of slasher horror with the imaginative possibilities of science fiction. The film stars Kiernan Shipka as Jamie Hughes, a teenager whose mother, Pam (played by Julie Bowen currently and Olivia Holt in flashbacks), was the sole survivor of a horrific Halloween killing spree in 1987, where she lost her closest friends. Years later, the same killer resurfaces, targeting Pam again on Halloween night while Jamie is at a concert. When the killer then sets his sights on Jamie, she finds herself seeking shelter in a school project – a homemade time machine – and unexpectedly travels back to 1987. There, she encounters her teenage mother and attempts to prevent the tragedy that claimed her friends’ lives.

A Fun Slasher Homage

If you’re not a fan of really frightening films, this horror comedy is a great choice. Totally Killer is very funny and doesn’t try to be overly serious, but it’s also willing to get a little intense when the story calls for it. By combining the feel of the ’80s with traditional slasher movie tropes, it creates a lighthearted and playfully over-the-top atmosphere that’s ideal for Halloween.

2025-10-02 05:07