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10 Scariest Movies You’ve Never Heard Of

Published

2 weeks ago

23 November 2025

10 Scariest Movies You've Never Heard Of

The horror genre is full of terror, so much so that it’s no wonder a couple of great films have slipped under most people’s radars. Admittedly, when we think of horror cinema these days, the first to come to mind are the scariest and most iconic examples, like Halloween, Alien, and The Exorcist. Each one packs unforgettable moments and imagery that continue to feel timeless. However, there’s a plethora of terrifying films that the vast majority (and even some of the hardcore horror buffs) haven’t even seen.

For those looking for intense dread and relentless terror without constantly having to rewatch some of the more notable classics, these 10 films below may just be what you’re looking for. These are those that don’t get brought up as much when considering the scariest movies of all time, but certainly deserve a mention. Whether it’s because they bombed upon release or just haven’t made a huge impact, they deserve more recognition now for how frightening they truly are. From recent examples to ones from the silent age, these are the 10 scariest horror movies you’ve never heard of.

10

‘Saint Maud’ (2019)

A woman dresses herself in a robe and stands in front of a mirror

Religious horror has really kicked up in recent years. Meant to be much more than just gore, jumpscares, and over-the-top violence, it’s a thought-provoking approach to the ideas of religion and creation that can lead to some really brilliant terror. No project does this better than Rose Glass‘s Saint Maud, a 2019 indie horror project about a young hospice nurse whose intense piousness triggers a descent into madness.

Aside from delving heavily into the themes of faith and religious fanaticism, Saint Maud stands out tremendously because it hits all the nerves to trigger a slow-building feeling of terror. Its story takes things slowly to create more tension, then it ramps up as it progresses, leading to a shocking escalation of scares and quite a horrific finale. Though not brought up as much, it’s slowly become more recognized as the slow-burning modern masterpiece that it is. It’s also honestly one of the most underrated horror films of the 2010s.

9

‘The Dark and the Wicked’ (2020)

Marin Ireland looking scared in Dark and the Wicked.

Who doesn’t love a good haunted house story? Well, besides The Conjuring movies, 2020’s The Dark and the Wicked may just be the most horrifying one in recent memory. Directed by Bryan Bertino and starring Marin Ireland and Michael Abbott Jr., this story is one of unrelenting shock as it follows two estranged siblings as they return to their decaying family farm to be by their dying father’s bedside. But a dark presence surrounds them, as they realize something unholy has latched itself onto their father and now wants them.

The Dark and the Wicked wasn’t a flop, but it didn’t really make much of an impression upon release. It’s slowly garnered more attention lately for how intense, dramatic, and truly one-of-a-kind it is. It’s more than just being a haunted house story, as it is also a deep exploration of the themes of generational trauma and grief, all powerful ideas that the story executes flawlessly, thanks to the talented cast. Its terror is truly unimaginable, and you’ll never forget it even after seeing it once.

8

‘Session 9’ (2001)

Phil and Jeff sitting on the floor and looking up with confused expressions in Session 9.

Taking terror to mind-bending extremes, the 2001 cult classic Session 9 is right for those looking for striking psychological horror. Director Brad Anderson fills the audience with an unsettling and sinking feeling that something terrible is about to happen as the story follows an overworked asbestos abatement crew as they experience bizarre activity while clearing out a decaying mental asylum.

Nothing is what it appears to be in this movie, and that is what makes it so spine-chillingly brilliant. For fans of Stanley Kubrick‘s The Shining, Session 9 is definitely for them, as it’s a mind-blowing thriller that uses ambiguity and psychological warfare to constantly keep the viewers on edge and question what is real. Its ending, in particular, will have you shivering with fear as it’s shockingly unexpected and certainly memorable. While not a critical or commercial success upon release, Session 9 is a worthy watch that earned its cult status.

7

‘Pontypool’ (2008)

Lisa Houle with blood coming out of her mouth in Pontypool.

Zombies are arguably the most popular monsters in the horror genre. They’ve appeared in plenty of notable classics, from revered masterpieces to less compelling ones. But then there is 2008’s Pontypool, perhaps the most unique zombie film of them all. It terrifies without giving too much away, as it’s a bottle story about a radio host and his crew as they become trapped in their studio and report terrifying events as their town has come under attack by a mysterious virus that’s transmitted through speech, turning victims into mindless killers.

Through the great performances and dialogue, Pontypool offers a different and terrifying take on a zombie outbreak story. There’s no telling what dangers await the characters outside the radio station, as it mostly just centers around them being stuck in one single place. It all makes anyone who’s watching feel just as confused and unsettled as the poor characters. Then there is how the virus spreads, which is not only incredibly creative but also unsettling, as it’s never explained how it formed and where it all started. Pontypool thrives on making the audience fear the unknown, and that’s what makes it one of the better zombie films in recent years. It’s only a shame it’s taken several years since it initially flopped to recognize its brilliance.

6

‘Opera’ (1987)

Cristina Marsillach tied up in Opera (1987).

From the masterful mind of Giallo horror, Dario Argento, comes one of his most underrated and truly disturbing classics, Opera, a 1987 mystery slasher film. Just as shocking, brutal, and notably bloody as his more notable films like Deep Red and Suspiria, it’s an unforgettable nail-biter that follows a scared young soprano (Cristina Marsillach) terrorized by a deranged hooded killer with a twisted fascination with murdering people right in front of her.

It’s full of Argento’s scarily creative camera techniques and storytelling elements, making for an unsettling experience. Though originally not as revered or successful as his greatest efforts, today, Opera is steadily becoming recognized as one of his best, as its violence and shocking suspense aren’t to be ignored.

5

‘Kuroneko’ (1968)

A woman spreading her arms in front of a window at night in Kuroneko 1968 — Kuroneko 1968

Kuroneko (or A Black Cat In A Bamboo Grove) is a 1968 Japanese folk horror classic that packs one terrifying supernatural punch. It’s a surreal, ghostly thriller with timeless dread, following an eerie tale of two vengeful spirits who, after being brutally murdered by a group of wandering samurai, target any lone samurai that crosses into their territory.

Kuroneko takes audiences on a nightmare-fueled journey full of bizarre yet beautiful visuals and haunting suspense. It’s a dark fantasy where the lines between reality and a dream are blurred, and the terror comes from never knowing what appears to be real and what isn’t. It’s a shame it’s not brought up much, because there’s enough in this story to leave you completely disturbed long after the credits roll.

4

‘Carnival of Souls’ (1962)

A sinister-looking man looking at the camera in Carnival of Souls — Carnival of Souls

Independent horror owes a lot of gratitude to one of its most notable early classics, Carnival of Souls, a frightening supernatural and psychological thriller that helped define horror in the 1960s. Made on a minuscule budget and directed by Herk Harvey, it’s a strange, bizarre mystery that follows a young organist (Candace Hilligoss) as she moves to a new community after barely surviving a fatal car crash and becomes strangely drawn to an abandoned pier carnival full of ghostly apparitions who want her to join them.

Who needs big budgets and an established cast to create horror history? Carnival of Souls certainly didn’t, and although it might not be so recognizable to casual viewers, it’s a must-watch for anyone wanting to get into the horror genre. It’s endlessly suspenseful and frightening, keeping the audience on edge with its eerie tale of a woman constantly being plagued by supernatural forces. And its iconic twist ending will surely have your jaw dropping to the floor after experiencing it for the first time.

3

‘Eyes Without a Face’ (1962)

A woman wears an expressionless white mask in Eyes Without A Face (1960)

One of the most disturbing, tense, and legendary horror films of French cinema, 1962’s Eyes Without a Face is a compelling classic that might be too intense for some audiences. Blending psychological suspense with disgusting body horror, it follows an ambitious surgeon (Pierre Brasseur) as he kidnaps innocent young women to perform dangerous surgeries to reconstruct his disfigured daughter’s (Édith Scob) face.

It’s truly one of the most remarkable international horror films ever, as it’s perfectly acted, well-paced, and full of terrifyingly iconic imagery. The surgery scenes in particular are the stuff of nightmares and truly hardcore for a black-and-white classic that came out more than 60 years ago. While its gore and grotesque imagery might be too much for some, for those who are willing to give Eyes Without a Face a chance, it’ll seriously leave your skin crawling.

2

‘Wait Until Dark’ (1967)

Alan Arkin as Roat and Audrey Hepburn as Susy Hendrix in Wait Until Dark — Alan Arkin as Roat standing over Audrey Hepburn as Susy Hendrix holding a knife in Wait Until Dark

Looking for an edge-of-your-seat thriller with the epic feel of watching an Alfred Hitchcock classic? Then 1967’s Wait Until Dark is right for you. Starring Academy Award winners Audrey Hepburn and Alan Arkin, the story follows a blind woman who fights against a sadistic criminal and his associates who are trying to recover a doll stuffed with drugs hidden somewhere in her apartment.

This highly underrated nail-biter is full of intense suspense, amazing performances, and even some shocking jump scares. Hepburn and Arkin’s characters play one of the most stressful games of cat and mouse ever brought to screen, and by the end, you’ll feel just as exhausted and terrified as the protagonist. It’s truly a shame that Wait Until Dark isn’t brought up as much as some other compelling classics of its genre. Give it a try, and be amazed at how tense you’ll feel right afterward.

1

‘Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages’ (1922)

A stone statue of a devil in the film Haxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages — Haxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages 1922

Finally, don’t let the age of this last one fool you. Sometimes, a horror movie can be so frightening that it becomes timeless. Released in 1922, Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages is an eerie classic of silent cinema, one that’s significant today for its unique storytelling and powerful messages. Half-documentary and half-fiction, it explores the history of witchcraft throughout the centuries and into modern times, all told with, at times, bizarre imagery and striking visuals.

It’s not bound to one specific genre either, as it has fantasy elements and fictional moments mixed with historical photos and facts about real accounts. Its terror doesn’t just come from the fantasy moment featuring the Devil or demons, but from what is shown about the extreme belief in witchcraft that has left tragedies throughout history, including the terrible persecution of women. It has a bleak, disturbing message about human history and how their actions can be much more terrifying than any fictional monster or ghost.