Discovering hidden gems in the world of cinema can be thrilling, especially when it comes to indie films, where creativity often flourishes without the constraints of massive budgets. To help movie buffs find these lesser-known masterpieces, we’ve curated a special list of indie horror films. Perfect for those who appreciate the underdog and love to support emerging talent, this list is your gateway to potentially uncovering your next favorite director, actor, or horror franchise. Each entry includes a brief synopsis and, when available, a trailer to give you a taste of the spine-chilling excitement that awaits.

Insane Like Me?

Directed by Chip Joslin, this intense narrative centers on a combat veteran who, upon returning from overseas duty, becomes the prime suspect in his girlfriend’s enigmatic disappearance. Wrongfully convicted and incarcerated in a mental asylum for nine years, he is eventually released and seeks to unravel the truth and seek justice. The cast boasts notable talents including Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts, along with Samantha Reddy, Jack Maxwell, Paul Kolker, and Meg Hobgood.

“Insane Like Me?”debuts on Cable and Digital VOD on June 4, 2024.

Silent Hill: The Room – Short Film

Henry Townshend wakes up in his apartment, finding it chained shut from the inside… A fan film based on the game Silent Hill 4: The Room by Konami.

Key Crew & Cast:

• Writer, Director, Producer, Editor, VFX: Nick Merola
• Starring: Brian Dole as Henry Townshend, Thea Henry
• Director of Photography: Eric Teti
• Production Design: Alexandra Winsby
• Sound: Thomas Wynn
• Music: Akira Yamaoka
• Assistant Camera: Hailey Port
• Gaffer: Prannoy Jacob
• SFX Makeup: Kayla Vancil
• Art PA: Haddie Webster
• Color Correction: Matthew Greenberg
• VFX Collaboration: Kyle Jurgia
• Production Assistants: Brandom Weavil, Lauren Smith, Steve Visbeck

Alien Hunt

On a hunting trip in the wilderness, a group of siblings discovers an abandoned military outpost on their land, but is it what it seems? Their trip takes a sinister turn when they find themselves facing off against a relentless army of extra-terrestrial beings. Suddenly, the hunters become the hunted. The formidable squad of alien soldiers will stop at nothing to wipe out the enemy and in an all-out, brutal battle for survival, it’s kill or be killed in Alien Hunt.

This brand-new sci-fi horror from director Aaron Mirtes (Robot Riot, The OctoGames, The Bigfoot Trap, Painted in Blood) is set for its US Premiere on May 14, 2024.

The Hangman

To mend their troubled relationship, a middle-aged door-to-door salesman, Leon, takes his teenage son on a camping trip into deep rural Appalachia. Little do they know of the mountainous region’s sinister secrets. A local cult has summoned an evil demon born of hate and pain, known to them as The Hangman, and now the bodies have begun to pile up. Leon wakes up in the morning to discover that his son is missing. To find him, Leon must face the murderous cult and the bloodthirsty monster that is The Hangman.

The Hangman will have a limited theatrical run beginning May 31. The film will be available to rent or purchase on video-on-demand (VOD) starting June 4th.

Ever wonder what your favorite horror movies would look like if they had been made in the 50s? Thanks to We Hate Popcorn But Eat It Anyway and their use of modern technology now you can!

The YouTube channel reimagines modern movie trailers as mid-century pulp flicks using AI software.

What is really neat about these bite-sized offerings is that some of them, mostly the slashers go against what cinemas had to offer over 70 years ago. Horror movies back then involved atomic monsters, scary aliens, or some sort of physical science gone awry. This was the era of the B-movie where actresses would put their hands against their faces and let out over-dramatic screams reacting to their monstrous pursuer.

With the advent of new color systems such as DeLuxe and Technicolor, movies were vibrant and saturated in the 50s enhancing primary colors that electrified the action happening on screen, bringing a whole new dimension to films using a process called Panavision.

Arguably, Alfred Hitchcock upended the creature feature trope by making his monster a human in Psycho (1960). He used black and white film to create shadows and contrast which added suspense and drama to every setting. The final reveal in the basement would probably not have been if he had used color.

Jump to the 80s and beyond, actresses were less histrionic, and the only emphasized primary color was blood red.

What is also unique about these trailers is the narration. The We Hate Popcorn But Eat It Anyway team has captured the monotone narration of 50s movie trailer voiceovers; those over-dramatic faux news anchor cadences that emphasized buzz words with a sense of urgency.

That mechanic died out long ago, but luckily, you can see what some of your favorite modern horror movies would look like when Eisenhower was in office, developing suburbs were replacing farmland and cars were made with steel and glass.

Here are some other noteworthy trailers brought to you by We Hate Popcorn But Eat It Anyway:

The free streaming service Tubi is a great place to scroll when you’re unsure what to watch. They are not sponsored or affiliated with iHorror. Still, we really appreciate their library because it’s so robust and has many obscure horror movies so rare you can’t find them anywhere in the wild except, if you’re lucky, in a moist cardboard box at a yard sale. Other than Tubi, where else are you going to find Nightwish (1990), Spookies (1986), or The Power (1984)?

We take a look at the most searched horror titles on the platform this week, hopefully, to save you some time in your endeavor to find something free to watch on Tubi.

Interestingly at the top of the list is one of the most polarizing sequels ever made, the female-led Ghostbusters reboot from 2016. Perhaps viewers have seen the latest sequel Frozen Empire and are curious about this franchise anomaly. They will be happy to know it’s not as bad as some think and is genuinely funny in spots.

So take a look at the list below and tell us if you are interested in any of them this weekend.

1. Ghostbusters (2016)

An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.

2. Rampage

When a group of animals becomes vicious after a genetic experiment goes awry, a primatologist must find an antidote to avert a global catastrophe.

3. The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren uncover an occult conspiracy as they help a defendant argue that a demon forced him to commit murder.

4. Terrifier 2

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County, where his next victims, a teenage girl and her brother, await.

5. Don’t Breathe

A group of teens breaks into a blind man’s home, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime but get more than they bargained for once inside.

6. The Conjuring 2

In one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, Lorraine and Ed Warren help a single mother of four in a house plagued by sinister spirits.

7. Child’s Play (1988)

A dying serial killer uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a Chucky doll which winds up in the hands of a boy who may be the doll’s next victim.

8. Jeepers Creepers 2

When their bus breaks down on a deserted road, a team of high school athletes discovers an opponent they cannot defeat and may not survive.

9. Jeepers Creepers

After making a horrific discovery in the basement of an old church, a pair of siblings find themselves the chosen prey of an indestructible force.