Top 8 Underrated Psychological Horror Movies to Watch on Halloween

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The horror genre is one of the most-watched genres worldwide. This is thanks to world-famous directors investing their craft and to movie franchises that have drawn audiences to theatres for years. Acclaimed moviemakers like Stanley Kubrick, Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola all ventured into this genre and gave some mind-blowing masterpieces. Not to forget the Father of the genre, Alfred Hitchcock. Each of his films calls for a detailed study. While the horror genre has many subdivisions, I tend to align more towards Psychological Horrors. The first name that comes to my mind whenever talking of psychological horror is Kubrick’s The Shining. The other movies that have made a mark in the audience’s mind are The Others, The Sixth Sense, Us, Hereditary, Get Out, etc. Today, I have listed a few psychological horrors that I considered quite intriguing, despite not being that widely acclaimed. They could be a great inclusion in the Halloween Weekend watchlist:

1.     The Cell: Director Tarsem Singh’s eye for beautiful magnificence is undeniable. The Cell brings out the best of this part. Starring Jennifer Lopez, this movie explores a comatose serial killer’s mind through an investigative psychologist who has entered his mind. The plot is one of a kind, and the intense direction leads the audience into a complex mental world of a criminal. The movie presents the killer’s mind as a Devil’s Workshop that traps any potential prey. If danger can be beautiful, this movie is a shining example of it.

2.     1408: Why don’t people talk much about this masterpiece? Mikael Håfström’s horror fantasy had John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson in the lead. An author’s quest to get a feel for real horror in the haunted room of the Dolphin Hotel turns into his worst nightmare. The screenplay is outstanding, with each scene bringing out a new twist throughout its runtime. I am not going to explain much. If you enjoy watching psychological horror, this is a must-watch.

3.     Heretic: Another insane plot, with Hugh Grant scaring the mind out of two young Nuns at his cleverly designed house. This movie, directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, is only for those who love slow-burning mind-churners. If you love to follow intense conversations rather than physical horror, this is a must-watch. I never knew that the once-incredibly-charming Grant could be so scary.

4.     Midsommar: When it comes to female actors, one of the most talented individuals of our time is definitely Florence Pugh. This movie brings out the best in Pugh. The story and its execution, with the constant underlying tension, present the in-depth psychological turmoil each character goes through.  The gentle, fantasy-like atmosphere used to hide a gruesome cult almost feels hypnotising. Ari Aster, as a director, is a class apart, and this movie is a bright example.



5.     Secret Window: Okay, it may not be the finest film in Johny Depp’s illustrious career, but let me be honest. Johny Depp is such a marvellous actor who can bring life to any role, even that of a dead man. In this movie, directed by David Koepp, he plays an author who has locked himself inside a small cabin to finish his novel. A few characters visit him and often threaten him, prompting him to question his reality. This is a decent watch, although one can easily assume the unrevealed twist.

6.     Vivarium: Imagine a young couple planning to buy a home, who are lured, captivated and forced to raise a baby, who grows only to overpower them and suck all their energy. This is the crazy plot of this film, directed by Lorcan Finnegan. It has Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots in the lead roles. The gradual weakening and almost decaying of two lively individuals with dreams and hopes is tremendously disturbing.

7.     The Midnight Meat Train: I have read some people tagging this movie as mindless gore and a bloodbath. However, I would like to see this as a photographer’s intense obsession over his subject/muse, who happens to be a serial killer. The obsession turns him into a behaviour and action similar to the muse. Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura, this movie stars Bradley Cooper in the lead role.

8.     Lovely Molly: A demonic possession turns a lovely young, newly married woman into a terrifying, monstrous killer. What makes it different from other films about possession is the slow, tormenting transformation of the jovial woman. Some really insane scenes will make one turn their head or close their eyes. They are not gory, but they are too disturbing. More than the physical transformation, Molly's mental decline is terrifying to watch, and leading actress Gretchen Lodge has done it very convincingly. I was shocked to find that the film by Eduardo Sánchez had low ratings.

 These are a few underrated psychological horror films that I feel have not received the love they should have. Perhaps we can watch a few this Halloween Weekend to pay their due. 

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