15 great horror movies that never made it to theaters

While witnessing a truly terrifying horror film in theaters is a special experience, there have been some fantastic horror films that never made it to the big screen. While the advent of the Internet meant that many horror movies came straight to streaming, over the years there have also been excellent straight-to-DVD or even straight-to-VHS horror films. These often low-budget releases didn't have to live up to box office expectations, and in some cases ended up being more ambitious and unique.

Some of the best non-theatrical films were in the horror genre, as incredible horror films were often produced with little funding or support from major studios. In some cases, the direct-to-video series even surpassed their theatrical predecessors, gaining a cult following among horror fans years after their release. These are incredible non-theatrical horror films have proven that filmmakers don't need to deliver their films to theaters to achieve great artistic success..

15 The Last Turn (2014)

Directed by Anthony DiBlasi

Last Turn It was an excellent psychological horror with an impressive 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. As a well-paced, suspenseful and endlessly rewatchable film, Last Turn Juliana Harkavy played Jessica Loren, a police officer who is on her last shift at a closing police station and soon learns that the place may be haunted. Last Turn In 2015, video on demand was releasedIn 2023, director Anthony DiBlasi presented a theatrical remake. Known critical acclaim.

14 Reptile (2014)

Directed by Patrick Brice

Crawl videography was a clever twist on the found footage genre, as a supposedly terminally ill man was hired to make a video for his unborn daughter. While this premise started out reasonable enough, the man calling himself Josef began to act more and more strangely, so much so that cameraman Aaron began to fear for his life. This idiosyncratic horror combined comedy elements to make it feel truly unique in the genre. it happened It was released on VOD before coming to Netflix.

13 Her House (2020)

Directed by Remy Weekes

His House It follows a refugee couple who fled South Sudan and struggle to adjust to their new life in England. Bad brew beneath the surface, His House explored what desperate people had to do to survive and stood as a fascinating and chilling look at the harrowing experience of migrants fleeing conflict zones. This thrilling, socially conscious horror premiered on Netflix in 2020.

12 Gerald's Game (2017)

Directed by Mike Flanagan

Mike Flanagan has added to his impressive line-up of Netflix horror projects with an excellent adaptation of Stephen King. Gerald's game. For a long time I thought that it could not be drawn, Gerald's game told the story of a woman who is bedridden after her husband dies unexpectedly, and must find a way to survive while battling her inner demons. With incredible tension and A career-defining performance from Carla Guginoit was a hypnotic horror that captured the essence of King's novel.

11 Cult Of Chucky (2017)

Directed by Don Mancini

Although Child's play franchise began in theaters, many of its best installments were direct-to-video releases, a prime example Cult of Chucky. As the seventh entry in the long-running series, Cult of Chucky featured many callbacks to previous releases and fully embraced the over-the-top, frenetic energy of this franchise. Alex Vincent reprises his role as Andy Barclay and the iconic voice of Brad Dourif as the killer doll. Cult of Chucky it ticks all the right boxes for fans of the franchise, but it's not hard to convert many new viewers.

10 Trick 'R Treat (2007)

Michael Dougherty

Horror anthology Trick 'r Treat features four stories linked by Sam, a burlap-headed, trick-or-treating demon who appears when characters break Halloween conventions. With a unique premise that pays homage to Halloween mythologies, this cult favorite is packed with old fashioned excitement and has become an annual viewing for many every October. The film was released straight to DVD after festival screenings. Trick 'r Treat was never in theaters during its original release however, in 2022, it received special Halloween theatrical screenings (via Paste the magazine.)

9 The Circle (2015)

Directed by Aaron Hann and Mario Miscione

Circle was an inspired sci-fi psychological horror 12 Angry Men (via Audiences Everywhere) observed that 50 people were awake in a room and found that only one of them was killed every two minutes. When the victim realizes that he can control who dies, a thought-provoking story emerges that highlights how personal values ​​affect those who deserve to survive. The requested video was released as a movie, Circle It was a tense and interesting film It's well worth seeking out for fans of intelligent and deep horror.

8 Tremors 2: Aftershocks (1996)

Directed by SS Wilson

Kevin Bacon's absence was sorely felt for the direct-to-video sequel Earthquake 2: Aftershocksthis comedy horror was a rare example of a non-theatrical sequel that could even surpass the original. Although the budget is much lower than its predecessor, this creature feature has kept its quality high as it keeps the blood flowing. dressed Jurassic park affecting his arm. With tasteful special effects and some truly spectacular performances, Blows 2 It was better than it had any right to be.

7 Splatter Farm (1987)

Director: Polonia Brothers

The twin brothers and directors Mark Polonia and John Polonia have made more than 40 feature filmsmostly in science fiction and horror genres, with practically no resources. It was one of the best Splatter Farma direct-to-video horror extravaganza about two brothers who go to stay with their aunt when they encounter a psychopathic killer who dismembers his victims and keeps their body parts in storage. Part of the direct-to-video movement of the 1980s, Splatter Farm was a fantastic example of filmmakers making fun of movies just for the fun of doing it.

6 Back to Sleepaway Camp (2008)

Directed by Robert Hiltzik

Return to Sleepaway Camp was his fourth film Sleepaway Camp franchise and the first to be released directly to video. As a direct sequel to the original, ignoring the events of the previous two films, Return to Sleepaway Camp As Frank Kostic reopens the ill-fated Camp Arawak and a new child falls victim to serial killer Angela Baker, the series gets a chance to return to its roots. With a healthy mix of humor and horror, this highly anticipated sequel will delight fans of this underrated series.

5 Ritual (2017)

Directed by David Bruckner

Ritual It was a truly creepy story about a group of friends who go hiking in Sweden and encounter an ancient evil entity. An effective British supernatural folk horror film, Ritual Released in the UK by eOne Films. However, its US distribution rights were sold to Netflix for $4.75 million The Hollywood Reporter.) With beautifully drawn natural environments, eerie atmosphere and great camaraderie between characters, Ritual was a stylish production that used a Scandinavian setting to deliver a truly scary film.

4 Huesera: Bone Woman (2022)

Directed by Michel Garza Cervera

Mexican-Purivian body horror Huesera: Bone Woman Natalia Solián played the role of Valeria Hernandez, a pregnant woman threatened by evil occult forces. As a truly disturbing tale of motherhood, Hueser continued the tradition of other deeply disturbing horror allegorical classics such as Rosemary's baby and Babadook. Debuting in its 2022 world premiere at the Tribeca Festival, Hueser it was later released on the VOD platform Shudder.

3 Fear Street Trilogy (2021)

Directed by Leigh Janiak

Fear Street is a film franchise based on the book series by RL Stine and combines slasher and supernatural elements as teenagers try to break a curse that has plagued their town for years. Director Leigh Janiak released three episodes with a new one on Netflix in July 2021 Fear Street Part One: 1994, Fear Street Part Two: 1978and Fear Street Part Three: 1666 comes out weekly. Each entry in the series was well received by critics and audiences and the fourth upcoming part called Fear Street: Prom Queen currently working.

2 Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007)

Directed by Joe Lynch

Wrong turn 2: Dead end was a rare example of a horror film that surpassed the quality of the original as it effectively respected and parodied the slasher genre. As a direct-to-DVD release, Wrong Turn 2 starred punk rock legend Henry Rollins as an unapologetic love letter to 1980s horror films The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. While it's easy to criticize this film as derivative, that was also part of the point, as it delivered a fun horror flick that knew exactly what it wanted to be.

1 Hush (2016)

Directed by Mike Flanagan

Mike Flanagan's slasher film Shut up was a great Netflix horror that qualifies for its strong performances and truly creepy atmosphere. As the story of a deaf and mute writer who is silently stalked by a masked killer, Shut up It became extra scary because the lack of feeling made the narrative even more suspenseful. As the hero's emotional deprivation heightens the stakes and makes the villain feel even more terrifying, the old adage “less is more” has never been more appropriate.

Sources: Paste Magazine, Audiences Everywhere, Hollywood Reporter