15 Lesser-Known Horror Movies to Watch on Halloween 2023

1. The Ritual (2017)

Hiking with friends – not so fun after all. Four pals trek through a Swedish forest to commemorate a friend's death, only to find an ancient Norse evil lurking between the trees. Without giving too much away, let's just say those woods aren't filled with just animals. When night falls, the trees seem to whisper and the shadows hide secrets that our group is unprepared for. Camping trip gone wrong? Classic.

2. Baskin (2015)

Five cops in Turkey respond to a distress call in the middle of the night and, boy, they should've stayed away. They stumble upon a scene straight out of hell. Cults, gore, and surreal sequences – it's like walking through a horrifying dream you can't wake up from. A tip? Maybe don't munch on that popcorn when things get, well... messy.

3. Terrified (2017)

Set in a neighborhood in Buenos Aires, paranormal occurrences start freaking out the residents. Think your bed creaking at night is unsettling? Try having ghostly figures sit at the foot of it! Several paranormal researchers try to unravel the mystery, but they're way out of their league. Haunting scenes, eerie sounds, and unexpected jolts – this one's not for the faint of heart. Remember those childhood fears? They're baaack.

4. Lake Mungo (2008)

Following the drowning of a teenage girl, Alice, her grieving family starts experiencing a series of chilling events. The documentary-style filming adds to the realism, making it feel eerily possible. Is Alice trying to communicate from beyond? Dive into the family's investigation as they dig deeper into Alice's secret life and what she left behind.

5. The Wailing (2016)

In a small South Korean village, a stranger's arrival coincides with a series of mysterious illnesses and deaths. Suspicion grows when a bumbling cop's daughter becomes ill. The blend of horror, mystery, and bits of humor, the film dives into Korean folklore, exorcism, and a father's desperate bid to save his child. Who's good? Who's evil?

6. The Void (2016)

A policeman stumbles upon a wounded man and rushes him to a nearby hospital. But, surprise, surprise, things spiral. Outside, white-robed cult-like figures surround the place, and inside? Well, otherworldly creatures, menacing rituals, and a descent into absolute chaos. Nostalgic 80's horror vibe combined with cosmic horror elements.

7. Under the Shadow (2016)

Set in 1980s war-torn Tehran, a missile crashes into an apartment building. No big explosion here, but what follows is more insidious. The tenant, a mother, becomes convinced that the missile has brought with it malicious spirits that target her daughter. Combining real-world terrors with the supernatural, it's about war, cultural oppression, and a mother's determination.

8. A Dark Song (2016)

Grief can drive us to extremes. Sophia, consumed by loss, hires an occultist in a bid to perform a ritual that'll let her speak to her dead child. Secluded in a house, their commitment to the grueling ceremony is tested. The mood? Thick with tension. Every creak, every shadow carries weight. It's about sacrifices, redemption, and the boundaries of the spiritual realm.

9. Raw (2016)

Vegetarian veterinary student Justine is forced to eat raw rabbit liver during a hazing ritual, triggering a ferocious craving for flesh. Yep, you read that right. Her descent into cannibalism, juxtaposed against the backdrop of college life, is...an experience. This French-Belgian film is a visceral exploration of self-discovery, sibling rivalry, and taboo appetites.

10. The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015)

Ever been left alone in a quiet, vast school during break? This atmospheric chiller sees two girls stranded in their prep school when their parents don't show up to take them home. Meanwhile, a mysterious woman heads towards the institution. With satanic panic vibes and a moody winter setting, it's all about loneliness, possession, and dread.

11. Starry Eyes (2014)

Ah, Hollywood. The dream, the glamor, the...dark occult rituals? Aspiring actress Sarah discovers the sinister lengths she might have to go to land her breakout role. Her transformation, both psychological and physical, is haunting. The dark side of ambition and fame is under the spotlight in this nightmarish take on "making it big".

12. The Eyes of My Mother (2016)

Growing up in a secluded farmhouse, young Francisca witnesses a traumatic event that shapes her bizarre tendencies. This black-and-white film weaves loneliness, curiosity, and morbid fascinations into a tapestry of discomfort. It's not just about the jump scares; it's the eeriness of a quiet countryside and the depths of human obsession. Silence can scream, you know.

13. Noroi: The Curse (2005)

Japanese horror brings us this found-footage style docudrama. Paranormal investigator Masafumi Kobayashi delves into a series of strange events linked to an ancient demon. With missing people, mysterious symbols, and eerie sounds, the tension builds up, bit by bit.

14. Berberian Sound Studio (2012)

A British sound engineer works on an Italian horror film and starts to lose his grasp on reality. The movie is all about the sounds – the slashing, the screaming, the eerie silences. It's a horror film about making a horror film. An auditory journey through paranoia and the uncanny. Ever thought sound alone could unnerve you? Time to rethink.

15. Excision (2012)

High school outsider Pauline has dreams of a career in medicine...and some really disturbing surgical fantasies. Trying to win her strict mother's affections and cope with her sister's illness, Pauline's delusions become more vivid and alarming. It's macabre, it's darkly comedic, it's a bloody ride.