Obscure Horror Movies to Watch this October

By: Ayrwyn Cousins

One thing I enjoy doing is watching horror movies that are not very well known, or perhaps watching some that most people have forgotten about. So with that being said, Here is a list of some great horror/thriller movies to watch this month that you may or may not have heard of/remember!

The Farm - Director Hans Stjernwärd

This movie is thrilling, but not necessarily terrifying (in my opinion). The movie is about a couple who end up being kidnapped and taken to a farm where humans farmed themselves. The film is not too gorey, nor is it full of jumpscares. Rather, it aims to make you uncomfortable and think about what the message behind the film really is. If you enjoy films that tie into a bigger issue in society by using twists and some suspense, you’ll love The Farm. 

Hostel - Director Eli Roth 

This movie is essentially the Saw Franchise but way less gorey. It is about three friends staying in a hostel in Europe where people start going missing. There are lots of random twists, and shocking moments in this film with a fair amount of gore, so if blood and guts aren’t your thing–  perhaps you should pass on this one. This movie is terrific as it also speaks on a part of society that many don’t talk about (Key idea: the thrill in traumatization). 

Alone - Director John Hyams

This movie is about a woman who gets kidnapped in the middle of the forest with seemingly nowhere to run. The main thing I enjoyed about this movie is how the main character is actually smart and strong-willed. Too many horror/thriller films dumb the main characters down so that they would actually end up in the predicaments they are in–  but the main character in this film is much more calculated. It is excellent if you like the setting of Twilight and enjoy ‘the thrill of the hunt’! 

Seven - Director David Flincher

This movie needs a trigger warning as it deals with many VERY intense topics with visuals to boot. This film is not for the faint of heart and has an incredible message behind all of the intensity. This movie is about two detectives working to solve a case of a murderer who targets people he thinks represent one of the seven deadly sins. I highly recommend this film despite its intense fear factor as the acting, soundtrack, and story itself are incredible and very entertaining. 

American Psycho - Director Mary Harron 

While this movie is not necessarily a ‘horror film’ and nor is it ‘obscure’- it just had to make the list. This movie is about a sophisticated man who lives a double life where he becomes a serial killer by night. You watch the movie through his eyes and hear his thoughts as he navigates through life with thoughts of murder and death. It is very well done and is actually quite humorous– in an uncomfortable kind of way at certain points. This movie also has a deeper message which will leave you thinking about the movie for days after having watched it. 

Shutter Island - Director Martin Scorsese. 

This movie is one of Scorsese’s lesser-known ones, but I would argue one of his best. This movie will make you question your reality after you are done. Again, not much of a horror film, although it does have a jumpscare or two and some disturbing scenes that are definitely a little freaky. This movie is about an FBI agent who goes to an island to investigate some of the issues that have been occurring in the asylum there. Once you're done with this film, you will wish you could watch it for the first time again. 

Now enough with the obscure ones, here is just a random list of some horror movies that are perhaps classics, or very well known that are definitely worth checking out this October:

Slasher Films: 

Friday the 13th Series, Halloween 1 and 2 - and some of the modern ones, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Sleepaway Camp, the Fear Street movies on Netflix (1, 2 & 3), and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (the original). 

Paranormal Films: 

The Insidious series, The Annabelle series, The Paranormal Activity series (look online for the actual order of the story line as the order in which they were released does not correlate with the timeline), The Nun one and two, and Lights Out.

Sci-Fi Films: 

Alien Isolation (the first one), Signs, Nope, and Life. 

Suspenseful Films: 

Don’t Breathe 1 and 2, A Quiet Place 1 and 2, Barbarian, Us, The Captive, and Split.