6 Lesser-Known and Forgotten Horror and Thriller Films of the 21st Century Worth Watching
Scientists claim that watching horror movies is an activity that helps distract from everyday routines and release adrenaline without engaging in any physical or psychological exertion. Whether that’s true or not is not for us to decide, but in this selection, you’ll discover or be reminded of films that are definitely worth watching or rewatching.
Darkness (2002)
Even before the multi-faceted success of the [Rec] franchise, Spanish director Jaume Balagueró ventured into the realm of mystical horror à la The Amityville Horror. It’s hard to say he brought anything groundbreaking to the subgenre, but he did manage to attract actors popular from films and TV series to his project.
The plot is fairly straightforward: a family moves into a sinister house where the child soon begins to behave oddly. An investigation begins, leading to “unexpected” and rather unpleasant revelations. Will the manager from Hannibal, Giancarlo Giannini, be able to help them? You’ll find out during the viewing!
Atrocious (2011)
After Paranormal Activity made its big splash, a whole wave of similar creations followed. This Italian horror film was among them (though the plot leans more toward The Blair Witch Project).
According to the story, a brother and sister decide to investigate a local legend tied to their summer house. Armed with a video camera, they begin a clever investigation that ends in terrifying results… By the way, we recently stumbled upon a similar horror vibe while playing at Zet Casino Deutschland. One of the slots there was designed in the style of this film, which was quite amusing.
The Bay (2012)
At first glance, the film seems like your average mockumentary, only shot by the creator of Rain Man with a not-yet-aged Tom Cruise. But… a number of notable figures are involved in the film, with experience in the mockumentary genre — from the cinematographer of Grave Encounters to Jason Blum and Oren Peli themselves!
The Bay tells the story of how Kristen Connolly, playing a journalist, ends up at an Independence Day celebration in a small American town. There, due to a massive dumping of waste from a chicken farm into the bay, some kind of science-defying monstrosity begins to spread in the water. And chaos ensues!
It’s a mix of [Rec] and Carpenter’s The Thing, only set in the bustling streets of America. Bonus — Aside from Connolly, the cast also includes Kether Donohue (You series), Christopher Denham (Oppenheimer, Shutter Island), and Frank Deal (The Outsider, Better Call Saul).
Dark Water (2005)
A horror film from the producers of The Grudge. As it turns out, this is a remake of the Japanese horror of the same name by the creator of The Ring, who also served as producer here.
A young woman begins a new chapter in life. She has a new apartment and a new job and decides to forget the husband with whom things didn’t work out, dedicating herself to raising her daughter. But the new home turns out to be scarier than her old life — strange noises, dark water stains, and inexplicable events begin to drive her insane.
If you’ve seen this film, check out the episode “Dream Cruise” from the anthology Masters of Horror — probably the best and creepiest adaptation of a story by the author of The Ring and Dark Water.
Separation (2021)
The horror film Separation was directed by the filmmaker behind the Brahms doll duology and the early 2000s killer-game horror Stay Alive. The plot: right in the middle of a divorce, the mother is hit by a car, and the father gains sole custody of the daughter — along with a cozy little house. But happiness wouldn’t be complete without a hostile monster showing up in the home.
The film starts off like a typical indie-style horror and ends like another chapter of Insidious, complete with a twist finale. But seriously, the director offers a fairly interesting take on yet another haunted house story.
You Should Have Left (2020)
A supernatural thriller from the screenwriter of the latest Indiana Jones and Spider-Man films, as well as the Shutter Island–esque Secret Window starring Johnny Depp. Featuring a solid cast led by Kevin Bacon (who also co-wrote the script) and Amanda Seyfried. Personally, I decided to watch this film because many of the folks behind it had previously worked on the excellent series The Following — but that’s a story for another time.
A couple moves into a house with non-Euclidean geometry, and the father gradually begins to see things. It’s hard to describe the film without spoilers or comparisons (which are also spoilers)…
Final Thoughts
We hope we’ve satisfied your craving for lesser-known films worth checking out. Of course, some people may have seen all of these already, but maybe there’s one title on the list you haven’t watched yet. That would be a great reason to do so — and maybe even add a few more solid horror films to your collection.
