6 Horror Movies that Make You Go WTF

The horror genre has delivered some cracking releases in recent times, but with so many entries and big-name franchises hogging the limelight, some of the more obscure and brilliant horror movies have slipped under the radar. Well, with Halloween around the corner, what better time than now to jump into some of the following overlooked horrors that make you go ‘WTF’:

Cobweb

The less you know about Cobweb‘s plot, the better. This 2023 horror starring Antony Starr (Homelander in The Boys) is an unnerving experience that makes you think it’s going one way but then flips everything on its head for the latter half of the film. It is a brilliant and interesting tale about a young boy who begins hearing voices through his bedroom wall, all to the disbelief of his strange and stern parents.

Significant Other

Significant Other is an interesting mystery/horror that follows a couple on a hike in a secluded forest, although there is something else present on their romantic getaway. It’s hard to talk too much about it without going into spoiler territory, but this atmospheric horror is well worth a watch, with some interesting twists and turns that’ll keep you guessing until the end.

Barbarian

One of the more underappreciated gems in the horror space is that of Barbarian, the debut film from Zach Cregger. Starring Bill Skarsgård, Justin Long, and Georgina Campbell, Barbarian follows a young woman who is in town for a job interview, and checks into an Airbnb late at night only to find that her rental has been mistakenly double-booked with a strange man who is already staying there. Against her better judgement, she decides to stay the night anyway, but soon discovers that there is much more to be afraid of in the house than the other house guest. Barbarian is a great entry into the genre for anyone who appreciates subtle horror techniques. It’s extremely well-paced, quite quirky, admittedly terrifying, and has a weird dark sense of humour to it, making it one of the more interesting and unique releases of 2023.

Dark Harvest

After being delayed a few years, Dark Harvest got its time to shine in 2023. The film is a chilling tale set in a cursed town, where every Halloween becomes a brutal battle for survival, because a supernatural creature, Sawtooth Jack, rises from the cornfields and makes its way toward town. The town’s ritual requires 18-year-old boys to try and kill the murderous scarecrow before midnight. The film has that slicked-back, 1950s horror aesthetic going for it, along with some social commentary around who the real monsters in this story are. It also has some great practical effects and tons of gore to boot, so if that’s your cup of tea, be sure to check out Dark Harvest.

The Boogeyman

We’ve seen a few Stephen King projects being adapted into films over the years, but one of his most terrifying properties, The Boogeyman, made a great transition to the big screen in 2023 with little hype. Directed by Rob Savage, the film is adapted from the famed horror writer’s short story from 1973, and stars Sophie Thatcher and Chris Messina. There are some truly terrifying sequences in this modern horror classic, with some clever lighting tricks and subverting of expectations. The third act does throw caution to the wind, but it’s a great take on a horror story that’s been long overdue for a revisit.

Antlers

Anything Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pacific Rim, The Shape of Water) touches is going to feature frightening or monstrous creatures and a compelling story, and that is the case with the shamefully overlooked Antlers, which Del Toro produced. The film follows a small-town Oregon teacher (Keri Russell) and her brother (Jesse Plemons), the local sheriff, who discover that a young student (Jeremy T. Thomas) is harbouring a dangerous secret that places the entire town in danger.

Which horror movies do you think fright-fans should watch? Let us know by tweeting @MenStuffZA, posting on our Facebook page, or commenting below.