Finish Off 2018 With These 10 Underrated But Terrifying Horror Films

Look, let’s get straight to the point here. 2018 was an incredible year for horror films. It really was. Consider the fact that a film like ‘Get Out’ was nominated for an Oscar in 2017 shows us that great horror is definitely out there. We just have to dig a little deeper, through the skin to really get to the flesh and bone (pardon the pun). And, this year was no different as we had excellent horror films that broke box office records and solidified the genre as one that constantly produces quality.

Here are 10 of the scariest, most terrifying horror movies of 2018 that you may have just missed!

1. Upgrade

Made with a measly budget of 5 million dollars, ‘Upgrade’ is a high-octane action film with bits of body horror mixed in for good measure. The story is as follows; a man loses the use of his legs after a vicious attack by criminals that leaves him paralyzed and his wife dead. Desperate for a solution, he is approached by a billionaire inventor who promises to change his life through a spinal implant called STEM that will literally ‘Upgrade’ his body. It’s a tight action movie that has buckets of gore and a ton of violence to please even the most hardcore gore hounds. A must watch for fans of ‘Robocop’ and ‘Videodrone’.

2. The Endless

For fans of cosmic horror and being overwhelmed by the unknown forces that creep just out of our peripheral consciousness, ‘The Endless’ is right up your alley. Two brothers who have escaped a weird cult in the middle of the desert find themselves unable to cope with the pressures of society and return to the cult in a desperate bid to connect with someone, something, even. As soon as they arrive though, they notice weird things happening at the camp. Suffice to say, things aren’t as rosy as they seem and the brothers find themselves trapped in a waking nightmare that only seems to get more intense. If you’re a fan of twisted and rewarding horror films, ‘The Endless’ is tailor made for you.

3. Overlord

Nazis and zombies? More like Nazi Zombies out to kill you and everything you hold dear! ‘Overlord’ doesn’t waste time and shoots you straight into one of this year’s best action horror films. All you need to know is that American paratroopers are air dropped behind enemy lines in France and have to destroy a strategic Nazi stronghold. What they find in that base is anything but strategic as they have to mash their way through a maelstrom of terror and action. This is an extremely well made movie that could easily be the best video game film ever made (except that it’s not based on any preexisting property).

4. Mandy

Nicholas Cage trapped in a neon nightmare, filled with leather wearing demons and a guy with a 10 foot chainsaw? Yeah, count us in for the ride and what a bloody awesome ride it was. ‘Mandy’ is simply a film about a guy who has lost the love of his life to a strange cult leader and obviously is out for revenge. Cue the 80’s aesthetic, nightmarish visuals and the pulsating synthwave soundtrack, chuck in a ton of gore and you’re all set for one of the most electrifying films of the year in ‘Mandy’. Do not miss this film if you’re a fan of ‘Neon Demon’ and ‘Drive’.

5. Cargo

We really like our zombie films here at Goodtimes so we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to check out ‘Cargo’ when it came out on Netflix, earlier this year. Starring Watson himself, Martin Freeman plays a father who has to deal with the fact that the apocalypse has arrived and he’s stuck with his baby daughter in the middle of the Australian outback. After he is infected, he must try and find someone who can actually take care of his little girl before he completely turns. It’s a sad and thoughtful film that is beautifully shot as well. Also, what’s with Australian landscapes looking absolutely picture perfect, all the time?

6. The Night Eats The World

Yep, we’ve got another zombie film on the list but this one comes with a cool and unique twist. After an insane party in Paris, a man wakes up all alone and notices that the city has been infected and overrun with zombies. Naturally, he’s terrified and barricades himself into a large apartment complex where he spends his days scavenging for food and looking for a way out. A haunting portrayal of loneliness and survival, ‘The Night Eats The World’ is one of the most unique and awesome zombie films in the last 10 years. If movies like ‘28 Days Later’ and ‘The Girl With All The Gifts’ are on your watch list then you can’t go wrong with the horror of ‘The Night Eats The World’.

7. Incident in a Ghostland

From the mind that brought you horror classics like ‘Martyrs’ and ‘The Tall Man’ comes another violent and nasty little film that grabs you by the scruff and refuses to let go. ‘Incident in a Ghostland’ is not an easy film to watch. It goes straight for the jugular with any warning. Basically, the film begins with a brutal home invasion in which two deranged killers traumatize and viciously attack a mother and her two daughters. Sixteen years later, the two sisters return to the scene of the crime and experience strange ad unexplained events. Not a film for the faint-hearted, ‘Incident in a Ghostland’ is an uneasy but necessary watch.

8. Summer of 84

A period piece with a difference, ‘Summer of 84’ is the coolest serial killer film we’ve seen in a long time. After a strange encounter with their local police officer, a bunch of teenagers begin suspecting the officer of being a notorious serial killer. They begin tailing and stalking him and find way more than they bargained for. This is not a kid’s movie, far from it. It’s creepy and it’s also got some of the coolest synthwave tunes out there. The ending is nasty and not at all what you’re expecting so do watch out for this one.

9. Apostle

Directed by the guy who shot to fame with two of the most awesome action movies ever in ‘The Raid’ and ‘The Raid 2’, ‘Apostle’ is a lean, mean horror film with more action than you can shake a closed fist at. Violent, bloody and kind of mysterious, ‘Apostle’ tells the tale of a young man who ventures out into an isolated community on an island to find his missing sister. Of course, the community turns out to be an insane cult and well, things go straight to hell from there onwards. Dan Stevens is the standout in Apostle and his performance is unsettling, to say the least. If you liked ‘The Wicker Man’ (the original) and ‘Kill List’, ‘Apostle’ is the right pick for you.

10. The House That Jack Built

The last movie on our list, ‘The House That Jack Built’ is essentially Lars Von Trier on crack cocaine. The movie literally begins with a gruesome murder and just gets progressively more insane until the unbelievable climax. Before you watch this film, beware! If you’re sensitive and have a problem with children and animals being murdered, then you should definitely stay away. The film chronicles the life and crimes of Jack, who is an ‘artist’ and sees beauty in his vicious kills. It is a mean spirited film that does not pull any punches. If you’re looking for something that will kick your teeth in while presenting you with some of the prettiest cinematography out there, then check out ‘The House That Jack Built’.