Horror Gems to Watch Before Halloween By Kayla Doria Ward

By Kayla Doria Ward

As October comes to a close, so does the casual viewing of horror and thrillers for most. I’m sure Halloween and Scream have enjoyed the spotlight the past few weeks. But what about the gems from the past decades that get swept under the rug after their initial release? I’ve seen it happen to Talk to Me, and I refuse to let it happen to my other favorite thrillers and horrors I’ve joyfully rewatched this month.

I’ve put together a short list of my favorite overlooked horror and thriller picks you can watch before Halloween! I want to preface this list by saying these aren't the cream of the crop by any means. A few of my picks still aren't loved by the majority, but I have had a frightening and fun time with each of them over the past few weeks.

In hopes of not spoiling plot twists or climaxes, I’ve used the description from each movie's IMDb page to introduce the basic plot.

What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

The basic premise: Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav are vampires who are struggling with the mundane aspects of modern life, like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs, and overcoming flatmate conflicts.

If you're a fan of mockumentary-style shows like Abbott Elementary or The Office, deadpan/satirical humor, and vampires, this will be the best 1 hour and 26 minutes of your life. I truly love the offbeat modern twist this movie brings. I think this is great for any time of the year because it is more of a comedy than anything. But I love watching it around Halloween if my blood pressure can’t handle any more jump scares that week.

If you do end up falling in love with the cast and mockumentary-style, the spinoff series on FX Hulu has a complete six seasons. It also includes returning cast members from the movie. If you're a fan of Workaholics, Kyle Newacheck is an executive producer and director on the series.

As Above, So Below (2014)

The basic premise: When a team of explorers venture into the catacombs that lie beneath the streets of Paris, they uncover the dark secret that lies within this city of the dead.

Speaking of mockumentary-style shows, Ben Feldman, who played Jonah on Superstore, is one of the main characters in this movie. If you want a more lingering, setting-based thriller, this will tickle that itch. For the most part, the movie is filmed in a found-footage style inside Paris's catacombs. The claustrophobia and hallucinations, paired with the eerie silence, are arguably more frightening than a classic slasher or jump-scare horror.

I think this is a unique found-footage thriller because of its dreaded moments of silence and well-set-up plot twist. If you need a break from nostalgic movies and want a true mystery until the very last second, I highly recommend this movie.

장화, 홍련 (The Tale of Two Sisters) (2003)

The basic premise: After being institutionalized in a mental hospital, Su-mi reunites with her sister, Su-yeon, and they return to live at their country home. But strange events plague the house, leading to surprising revelations and a shocking conclusion.

You may have heard of the American remake The Uninvited (2009). I still think this is a movie you only hear about through word of mouth or a Letterboxd rabbit hole. The director does an amazing job of twisting truth and leading the viewer astray as the movie goes on. When this movie wants and tries to be, it is terrifying. But most of the time, you will be left questioning everything until the “grand reveal”. The best way to start with this movie is to go in blind and just enjoy the ignorant bliss. It is one of those you wish you could erase from your memory so you can watch it for the first time again.

I will warn, at times, the topics implied or presented can be heavy for some viewers. I personally love it when movies go all in on heavy, emotional topics. But if you get easily uncomfortable or triggered by certain topics, a bit of spoiler-free research could help.

The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

The basic premise: Five teens visit a remote cabin and explore its cellar, finding strange items. When Dana reads from a book there, she unleashes zombie killers. But the situation is more complex than it appears.

This is arguably one of the most uniquely rewatchable movies of the 2000s, or dare I say, of all the movies I’ve seen. This movie walked so Until Dawn could run! I love the campy, cheesy, ridiculous premise throughout. I like to compare the ending to Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) because it's so ridiculous, but you truly can’t come up with another ending that fits the plot.

This is another movie that leans into the comedy, absurdist sides of things but still gets in some decent jump scares and creepy creature moments.

Creep (2014)

The basic premise: A young videographer answers an online ad for a one-day job in a remote town to record the last messages of a dying man. When he notices the man's odd behavior, he starts to question his intentions.

With the release of the series and the newest season of The Creep Tapes, this movie has finally found its way into the cult classic category. I’m a true sucker for found-footage. I believe the realism it portrays is scarier than any shadow in the hallway or masked slasher in the window. Mark Duplass embodies his character so well through his facial tics and movements.

The beauty of this low-budget indie horror is that neither the original nor the sequel had a traditional theatrical release. It truly had its claim to fame through word of mouth. I remember scrolling through Netflix and finding the Peachfuzz mask so terrifying. I just had to know more.

This is another movie that is great if you're sick of traditional slashers and satanic-panic thrillers. I personally think the plot twist isn’t as mind-blowing as it is disturbing. It does a great job of making you even more uncomfortable and frightened for what comes next, rather than using it as an ending.

Little Monsters (2019)

The basic premise: A washed-up musician teams up with a teacher and a kids'-show personality to protect young children from a sudden outbreak of zombies.

I stumbled across this on Hulu back in the 2020 lockdown. I really had no idea what to expect other than I got to watch Josh Gad curse. And honestly, that was all I needed to hear. I was pleasantly surprised it wasn’t a horrible zombie horror slop. Pin it against Zombieland, and it has no chance. But if you take it at face value as a zombie comedy, you’ll have a blast!

When Evil Lurks (2023)

The basic premise: In a remote village, two brothers find a demon-infected man just about to "give birth" to evil itself. They decide to get rid of the body, only to end up unintentionally spreading chaos.

This list has been very lighthearted and fun, but this movie is the polar opposite. I honestly rewatch this to remind myself what horror means, due to new American horrors turning into corporate slop. Keep this in mind if you're up for a gruesome watch. I saw a Letterboxd review saying, “This is the meanest horror movie I’ve ever seen. It makes Speak No Evil look like Paw Patrol.” Going in blind, this was the most helpful comment. The plot really spares nobody and treats characters as humans instead of immune characters.

Honorable mention: Uriel, the long-lost twin of the Resident Evil (2026) sewer chud.