Top 10 Independent Horror Films

We have all heard about horror films, how they are the new genre everyone is talking about. And independent horror films are the big talking point in the film industry.

What makes horror interesting to me, is that horror films are relatively cheap to produce. You need a couple of actors and some lights. Come up with a good scenario and presto!

Hugh Grant’s film is exactly that. Three characters in a creepy house. Have you seen the trailer? Big star, big budget, but my point is the same. He’s finally ditched the leading romantic male lead in favour of a terrifyingly ‘horrible’ character in Heretic. Watch the trailer and see if you agree:

The Blair Witch Project (1999) –
Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez,

This film claims to have pioneered the found-footage style. There was an early found-footage horror film called The Last Broadcast, which failed at the box office the year before The Blair Witch. Not to take anything away from Blair Witch.

I was working on the Raindance horror thread, Screamdance, way back then with my colleague, the sadly deceased Elisar Cabrera. Raindance held the European premiere of The Blair Witch Project. Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez both attended the star-studded screening. Blair Witch’s success was due to a brilliant marketing campaign. It remains a favourite of all the top independent horror films.

The filmmakers created a sense of realism that terrified audiences. The story follows three film students who vanish while exploring the myth of the Blair Witch in the woods of Maryland, leaving only their footage behind.

Critical & Box Office Success:
The film was a massive success, grossing over $248 million worldwide against a budget of around $60,000. It received critical acclaim for its innovative use of handheld cameras and its ability to create horror through its documentary-style format. Its European premiere was at Raindance to a star-studded audience.

Hereditary (2018)
Directed by Ari Aster

Ari Aster’s directorial debut explores the harrowing grief and dark secrets of the Graham family after their grandmother’s death. The film meticulously crafts a narrative around heritage and mental illness. It features standout performances, especially by Toni Collette.

Critical & Box Office Success:
“Hereditary” was both a commercial and critical success. It earned over $80 million globally. Hereditary received widespread acclaim for its direction, screenplay, and Collette’s performance, marking it as the decade’s most notable horror film.

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Get Out (2017)
Directed by Jordan Peele

Jordan Peele’s groundbreaking horror film uses the genre to explore racial tensions in America. A young African-American man discovers a disturbing secret upon visiting his white girlfriend’s family estate.

Critical & Box Office Success:
The film grossed $255 million worldwide and was praised for its original screenplay and timely social commentary. It earned Peele an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

Paranormal Activity (2007)
Directed by Oren Peli

This film revitalised the found-footage genre by depicting a couple haunted by a supernatural entity in their home, captured by their own camera setup.

Critical & Box Office Success:
Made on a budget of just $15,000, it grossed over $193 million worldwide. It became one of the most profitable films in cinema history. Peli received positive reviews for his effective use of suspense and tension.

Raindance note:
Director Oren Peli emailed to tell me that he kept my book: Lo-To-No Budget Filmmaking at his side for the entire shoot! Peli really wanted the film to play at Raindance, but the festival dates didn’t fit into the distributor’s release schedule.

It Follows (2014)
Directed by David Robert Mitchell

This film presents a supernatural entity passed through sexual encounters, haunting its victims until they pass it on or die. Its unique premise and the haunting score by Disasterpeace complement the unsettling tone.

Critical & Box Office Success:
“It Follows” earned over $23 million and was critically acclaimed for its original concept and atmospheric tension, reinforcing the artistic potential of indie horror films.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
Directed by Ana Lily Amirpour

Ana Lily Amirpour’s film, billed as the “first Iranian vampire Western”, blends genres and styles, presenting a skateboarding vampire in an Iranian ghost-town called Bad City.

Critical & Box Office Success:
It was not a major box office hit. The film was rightly critically acclaimed for its stylish direction, cinematography, and unique blend of genres. The film was sold by frequent Raindance partner, Kino Lorber, and produced by the incredible Canadian company, Vice.

Mandy (2018)
Directed by Panos Cosmatos

Featuring Nicolas Cage in a revenge narrative set in a surreal 1980s landscape, this film directed by Panos Cosmatos is known for its psychedelic horror and visually stunning, if brutal, vengeance tale.

Critical & Box Office Success:
While “Mandy” had a limited box office presence, it was highly praised in critical circles for its bold visuals and Cage’s powerhouse performance, gaining a cult status.

The Babadook (2014)
Directed by Jennifer Kent

Jennifer Kent’s film about a widow and her son tormented by a sinister presence from a mysterious book deals with themes of grief and maternal struggle. Kent is considered one of the top female directors of horror.

Critical & Box Office Success:
The film earned $10 million and received widespread critical acclaim, noted for its psychological depth and horror elements, and has been interpreted as a poignant exploration of mental illness.

Pi (1998)
Directed by Darren Aronofsky

Of all the independent horror films, this one, Darren Aronofsky’s debut feature, is a personal favourite. “Pi” explores obsession and paranoia through the eyes of a mathematician hunting for patterns that could unlock the universal patterns found in nature.

Critical & Box Office Success:
Made on a modest budget, “Pi” won the Directing Award at the Sundance Film Festival and was praised for its innovative approach to storytelling and visual style, setting the stage for Aronofsky’s distinguished career.

That’s a wrap

These films have each left a significant mark on the landscape of horror cinema. They are celebrated for their innovation and the unique voice they bring to the genre. They also follow the basic principals of horror. Which horror films do you love to hate?

Yours in horror,
Elliot Grove