The 2020s have been brimming with horror hit after horror hit, with many works that have sparked massive cultural conversations, and some that have earned their titles as masterpieces. While movies like The Black Phone, Nosferatu, and Weapons have garnered both widespread attention and critical acclaim, there are some gems that haven’t. These films may not have gotten their due praise or mainstream notice, but they, too, are some of the most daring and unnerving titles of the decade.
From creature features to body horror to psychological terror, these movies have pushed boundaries and represent some of the most bold artistic work of the last years. Unfortunately, some have flown under the radar, others have had limited distribution, and a few aren’t rated as high as they deserve. They are all a must-watch for every fan of the genre.
These are 10 of the most underrated horror films of the 2020s so far.
‘Gretel & Hansel’ (2020)
Directed by Oz Perkins, this dark fantasy horror reimagines the classic Grimm fairy tale as a slow-burning gothic fable. Sophia Lillis (It and It Chapter Two) stars as a teenage Gretel, and Sam Leakey plays her younger brother, Hansel. The film follows the pair of siblings as they get lost in the forest and take refuge in the cottage of a mysterious woman (Alice Krige) who harbors sinister secrets of the dark arts.
An Occultist Coming-of-Age Horror Story With Artistic Vision
Gretel & Hansel received average reviews upon release, and didn’t garner the attention it was worthy of. With a surreal set design and atmospheric tension, the film is tailor-made for fans of arthouse horror. Each frame is meticulously composed, bathed in eerie lighting, and drenched in mood. Instead of taking the traditional scarefest route, the film brims with exquisite tension, exploring themes of survival, female empowerment, and what lingers in the shadows.
‘The Wolf of Snow Hollow’ (2020)
Written by, directed by, and starring Jim Cummings, The Wolf of Snow Hollow is part werewolf horror, part character study, and part pitch-black comedy. The film follows Officer John Marshall, a sheriff in a small town in Utah, who is struggling with alcoholism, a recent divorce, and a rebellious teenage daughter. As he investigates a string of brutal killings tied to full moons, it becomes more and more clear werewolves are real, and he starts to unravel.
A Razor-Sharp, Emotionally Rich Story
Despite its originality, the film flew under the radar for most upon release. It was, however, highly rated by critics. Cummings masterfully crafts a genre-defying movie that is as unsettling as it is hilarious. The film’s terror doesn’t come from the monster, but from never-ending paranoia and heavy loneliness, focusing more on emotion and character than jump scares and gore.
‘The Last Matinee’ (2020)
The Last Matinee is an international co-production between Uruguay, Mexico, and Spain. Set in 1983 in Montevideo, it follows Ana (Luciano Grasso), an engineering student and the daughter of a projectionist. On a rainy night, she takes over her father’s shift at a declining movie theater. When a mysterious, masked killer infiltrates the last showing of a B-horror movie adaptation of Frankenstein and locks everyone inside, she must fight to survive and stay alive.
A Stylish and Blood-Soaked Giallo Tribute
The film pays homage to old-school giallo films, recalling the saturated color schemes of Dario Argento and Mario Bava, and depicting creative, over-the-top kills. With minimal dialogue and a heightened visual flair, the greatness of this movie relies on suspense, atmosphere, and practical effects. Not only is the slasher a giallo tribute, but it functions as a love letter to cinema, particularly the communal experience of movie theaters.
‘Resurrection’ (2022)
Written and directed by Andrew Semans, Resurrection stars Rebecca Hall in a powerhouse performance as Margaret, a highly successful executive whose tightly controlled, carefully constructed life begins to unravel when her abusive ex, David (Tim Roth), reappears in her world. Margaret was groomed by David at a young age, and faced psychological and physical torture throughout their relationship. Twisting and turning in unpredictable ways, the story goes from psychological thriller territory to full-on horror, descending into something incredibly dark and sinister.
A Haunting Meditation on Trauma and the Insidious Nature of Abuse
The movie was quietly praised by critics, but it didn’t get the mainstream attention it deserved, flying under the radar for most genre fans. Its emotional weight, unnerving atmosphere, surreal climax, and haunting ambiguity make it, hands down, one of the most daring horror films of the decade. Resurrection isn’t interested in scares. What it does is drill into your nerves with unbearable psychological tension, and leaves you feeling utterly disturbed by a horrifying ending.
‘Hatching’ (2022)
Hailing from Finland, Hatching is a coming-of-age creature feature that blends body horror and dark fairy tale elements. Directed by Hanna Bergholm, the story centers on Tinja (Siiri Solalinna), a 12-year-old gymnast living under the suffocating expectations of her perfection-and-image-obsessed mother (Sophia Heikkilä). Stumbling upon a mysterious egg in the woods, Tinja decides to take it home and nurture it. What hatches is a grotesque bird creature who’s fiercely protective of her, but who also turns her life into an increasingly living nightmare the more it grows.
An Original Film With Disturbing Visuals
Despite being revered by critics, Hatching flew under the radar for mainstream audiences, receiving fairly little buzz on an international scale. The film is a masterclass in metaphor and symbolism, using its premise to reflect on suppression, puberty, and complex mother-daughter relationships. It also gives gut-wrenching commentary on generational trauma. This hidden gem is sure to become a favorite among fans of allegorical horror.
‘Disappear Completely’ (2022)
Co-written and directed by Luis Javier Henaine, Disappear Completely is a hidden Mexican horror gem that has gone criminally under-watched outside Latin America. It follows Santiago Mendoza (Harold Torres), a crime photojournalist who sells his work to tabloids. After documenting a particularly gruesome crime scene involving a politician, he starts to lose all five of his senses, little by little. As he investigates the curse that has befallen him, he’s faced with occultist, sinister forces.
An Unnerving Descent Into Darkness
Disappear Completely blends social commentary, folk horror, and the psychological. It’s among the most immersive horror movies in the last decade, providing a complete sensory experience for the audience, who are placed in the protagonist’s shoes as he loses his senses. Minimalist but haunting visuals combined with a heavy sense of dread also work to slowly suffocate the viewer, trapping them in a nightmare that lingers at the edges of the mind after the ending.
‘Lovely, Dark, and Deep’ (2023)
Lovely, Dark, and Deep had a quiet release, so it flew under the radar for many, but was met with extremely positive reception by critics. Audiences that did watch, on the other hand, gave the film lower scores on Rotten Tomatoes and Letterboxd. Written and directed by Teresa Sutherland, the movie stars Georgina Campbell as Lennon, a newly assigned park ranger investigating a string of mysterious disappearances which she believes are linked to her sister’s childhood vanishing. As she tries to uncover the origins of the mystery, she begins having strange visions and is faced with a truth, and can’t escape a Lovecraftian terror.
Hypnotic, Dream-Like Terror
Lovely, Dark, and Deep is a must-watch for fans of cosmic horror and wilderness horror. Much of the movie’s strength lies in its mood — a kind of creeping psychological horror that gets under your skin and stays there for long after. It’s a deeply personal story boasting deliberate pacing, haunting imagery, and an ethereal tone.
‘Lisa Frankenstein’ (2024)
Written by Diablo Cody, the same brilliant mind behind Jennifer’s Body, Zelda Williams’ directorial debut is an exciting take on the Frankenstein myth. Set in 1989, it stars Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows, a socially awkward teenage girl still mourning the death of her mother two years prior and struggling to adjust to living under the roof of an insufferable stepmother (Carla Gugino). She spends her lonesome days in an abandoned cemetery, lamenting the lives of the past, but one day one of those lives rises as a reanimated corpse. What follows is a feminist subversion of the mad scientist trope.
Humor and Heart
The film beautifully captures the spirit of the ’80s, impressing viewers with a period-accurate set design and costuming. Masterfully balancing spooky fun with emotional depth, Lisa Frankenstein dazzles and charms. With a breathtaking, colorful aesthetic and smart writing, it’s one of the most underrated horror comedies in existence. Sadly, it didn’t get the praise it deserves, but like Jennifer’s Body, time will be kind to this movie.
‘Grafted’ (2024)
Grafted is a coming-of-age body horror film from New Zealand. The movie follows Wei (Joyena Sun), a teenage girl who moves from China to New Zealand to live with her aunt and cousin, Angela (Jess Hong). Wei has a genetic facial birthmark, which appears as a huge reddish blotch. Her father, who had the same defect, died as the result of skin graft experimentation. Wei continues his work, but her skin-grafting research takes a dark, gruesome turn when she classes with Angela’s mean girl posse.
One of the Best Coming-of-Age Horror Films
Even after being picked up by Shudder, the film received little attention, going under the radar for most. Grafted deserves the same recognition other great contemporary body horror films like The Substance have gotten. Pushing boundaries, it offers a unique take on body horror with well-executed practical effects. Its themes of self-hatred, immigration, cultural assimilation, the dark side of ambition, and unrealistic beauty standards give it depth.
‘The Ugly Stepsister’ (2025)
This Norwegian body horror film is written and directed by Emilie Blichfeldt, and reimagines Cinderella from the perspective of one of the ugly stepsisters. In the 18th-century fictional kingdom of Swedlandia, Elvira (Lea Myren), her mother Rebekka (Ane Dahl Torp), and younger sister Alma (Flo Fagerli) move into her new stepfather’s castle, where he resides with his beautiful daughter, Agnes (Thea Sofie Loch Næess). Shortly after, he dies, and the discovery of no money in either family means hope rests with one girl marrying Prince Julian (Isac Calmroth). Elvira undergoes grotesque, medieval-style body procedures to outshine her gorgeous stepsister.
A Deeply Grotesque but Beautiful Masterpiece
Horror has countless fairy tale retellings, but very few hold a candle to The Ugly Stepsister. Just like Grafted, the movie deserves The Substance levels of recognition. Using visceral gore, it highlights the damaging pressures of a beauty-obsessed culture and objectification under the male gaze. Elvira is one of the most compelling horror protagonists in recent years. Despite transforming from sweet to wicked, she’s neither a heroine nor a villain. Instead, she’s depicted as a tragic figure who loses herself on a desperate journey for love and acceptance.