15 Great Horror Movies That Were Never Released In Theaters

While it can be a special experience to witness a truly terrifying horror movie in theaters, there were several fantastic scary movies that never made it to the big screen. While the advent of the internet means many horror movies come straight to streaming, there were also plenty of excellent straight-to-DVD or even straight-to-VHS horror movies from years gone by. These often low-budget releases didn’t have to pander to box office expectations and, in some cases, were able to be more ambitious and unique as a result.

Some of the best non-theatrically released movies were in the horror genre, as incredible horror movies were often produced with very little funding or support from major studios. In some cases, direct-to-video sequels even outdid their theatrical predecessors and gained cult followings among horror fans in the years since their release. These incredible non-theatrical horror movies proved that filmmakers don’t need to get their movies to theaters to achieve major artistic success.

15

Last Shift (2014)

Directed by Anthony DiBlasi

Last Shift was an excellent psychological horror that boasts an impressive 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. As a well-paced, tension-filled, and infinitely watchable, Last Shift starred Juliana Harkavy as Jessica Loren, a police officer taking the final shift at a closing police station who soon learns that the place may be haunted. Last Shift was released on video-on-demand in 2015, in 2023, director Anthony DiBlasi released a theatrical remake titled Malum to critical acclaim.

14

Creep (2014)

Directed by Patrick Brice

Creep was a clever twist on the found-footage genre as videography was hired to film a video for a supposedly terminally ill man’s unborn daughter. While this premise started reasonably enough, the man who called himself Josef started acting increasingly bizarre to the point that Aaron, the cameraman, began to fear for his life. This idiosyncratic horror blended elements of comedy to make it feel truly unique in the genre. It was released on VOD before it came to Netflix.

13

His House (2020)

Directed by Remi Weekes

His House is about a refugee couple who have escaped wartorn South Sudan and are struggling to adjust to their new life in England. With evil brewing underneath the surface, His House explored the things that desperate people must do to survive and stood as a fascinating and chilling glimpse into the harrowing experience of migrants fleeing conflict zones. This thrilling, socially conscious horror was released on Netflix in 2020.

12

Gerald’s Game (2017)

Directed by Mike Flanagan

Mike Flanagan added to his impressive array of Netflix horror projects with the excellent Stephen King adaptation of Gerald’s Game. Long thought to be unfilmable, Gerald’s Game told the story of a woman left handcuffed to her bed after her husband unexpectedly dies who must find a way to survive while battling inner demons. With incredible suspense and a career-defining performance from Carla Gugino, this was a hypnotic horror that captured the essence of King’s novel.

11

Cult Of Chucky (2017)

Directed by Don Mancini

Although the Child’s Play franchise started in theaters, many of its best installments were direct-to-video releases, the best example being Cult of Chucky. As the seventh entry in the long-running series, Cult of Chucky featured plenty of callbacks to earlier releases and fully embraced this franchise’s over-the-top, campy energy. With Alex Vincent reprising his role as Andy Barclay and Brad Dourif’s iconic voice as the killer doll, Cult of Chucky ticks all the right boxes for lovers of this franchise but is unlikely to convert many new viewers.

10

Trick ‘R Treat (2007)

Michael Dougherty

The anthology horror Trick ‘r Treat featured four stories all connected by Sam, a trick-or-treating demon wearing a burlap sack over his head who appears whenever the characters break Halloween conventions. With a unique premise that paid tribute to Halloween mythologies, this cult favorite was packed with old-fashioned suspense and has become annual viewing for many every October. As a movie originally released direct-to-DVD following festival screenings, Trick ‘r Treat was never in theaters during its original release but, in 2022, received special Halloween theatrical screenings (via Paste Magazine.)

9

Circle (2015)

Directed by Aaron Hann and Mario Miscione

Circle was a sci-fi psychological horror inspired by 12 Angry Men (via Audiences Everywhere) that saw 50 people awake in a room only to discover one of them gets killed every two minutes. When the victim realizes they can control who dies, a thought-provoking narrative emerges that highlights how personal values influence those deemed worthy of survival. Released as a video-on-demand movie, Circle was a tense and fascinating film that’s well worth seeking out by lovers of clever and insightful horror.

8

Tremors 2: Aftershocks (1996)

Directed by S. S. Wilson

While the absence of Kevin Bacon was sorely felt for the direct-to-video sequel Tremors 2: Aftershocks, this comedy horror was a rare example of a non-theatrical follow-up that may even exceed the original. Although the budget was far lower than its predecessor, this creature feature kept the quality high as it kept the gore coming and wore its Jurassic Park influences on its sleeve. With enjoyable special effects and some really great performances, Tremors 2 ended up being way better than it had any right to be.

7

Splatter Farm (1987)

Directed by the Polonia Brothers

The twin brothers and filmmakers Mark Polonia and John Polonia made over 40 feature films, mainly in the sci-fi and horror genres, with practically no funds. Of this, one of the very best was Splatter Farm, a direct-to-video horror extravaganza about two brothers going to stay with their aunt who encounters a psychopathic killer who dismembers his victims and stores their body parts in his barn. 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 pure joy of doing it.

6

Return To Sleepaway Camp (2008)

Directed by Robert Hiltzik

Return To Sleepaway Camp was the fourth movie in the Sleepaway Camp franchise and the first to be released direct-to-video. As a direct sequel to the original that ignores the events of the previous two movies, Return to Sleepaway Camp was a chance to go back to the series’ roots as Frank Kostic reopened the ill-fated Camp Arawak and a new crop of kids fell victim to the serial killer Angela Baker. With a healthy mix of humor and horror, this long-awaited sequel will please fans of this underrated series.

5

The Ritual (2017)

Directed by David Bruckner

The Ritual was a genuinely creepy story about a group of friends hiking in Sweden who encounter an ancient evil presence. An effective British supernatural folk horror film, The Ritual was released by eOne Films in the United Kingdom. However, its United States distribution rights were sold to Netflix for $4.75 million (via Hollywood Reporter.) With a beautifully shot natural environment, a dread-inducing atmosphere, and excellent camaraderie between its characters, The Ritual was a stylish production that utilized its Scandinavian setting to deliver a truly frightening film.

4

Huesera: The Bone Woman (2022)

Directed by Michelle Garza Cervera

The Mexican-Purivian body horror Huesera: The Bone Woman starred Natalia Solián as Valeria Hernandez, a pregnant woman threatened by sinister occult forces. As a truly disturbing fable on motherhood, Huesera continued the tradition of other deeply anxiety-inducing horror allegorical classics like Rosemary’s Baby and The Babadook. Making its debut at the 2022 world premiere at the Tribeca Festival, Huesera was later released on the VOD platform Shudder.

3

The Fear Street Trilogy (2021)

Directed by Leigh Janiak

Fear Street is a film franchise based on R. L. Stine’s book series that combines slasher and supernatural elements as teenagers try to break a curse that has plagued their town for years. Director Leigh Janiak released three installments on Netflix in July 2021, with a new Fear Street Part One: 1994, Fear Street Part Two: 1978, and Fear Street Part Three: 1666 coming out weekly. Each entry of the series was well-received by critics and viewers, and a fourth upcoming installment titled Fear Street: Prom Queen is currently in the works.

2

Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007)

Directed by Joe Lynch

Wrong Turn 2: Dead End was a rare example of ahorror movie that exceeds the quality of the original as it effectively paid homage to and parodied the slasher genre. As a direct-to-DVD release, Wrong Turn 2 featured punk rock legend Henry Rollins in a main role and acted as an unapologetic love letter to 1980s horror movies like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. While it’s easy to criticize this movie as derivative, that was also part of the point, as it effectively delivered entertaining horror fun that knew exactly what it wanted to be.

1

Hush (2016)

Directed by Mike Flanagan

Mike Flanagan’s slasher movie Hush was an excellent Netflix horror categorized by strong performances and a truly creepy atmosphere. As the story of a deaf and mute writer being pursued in silence by a masked killer, Hush became extra frightening as the lack of senses made the narrative all the more suspenseful. Never has the old phrase ‘less is more’ been more appropriate, as the protagonist’s sensory deprivation raised the stakes and made the villain feel all the more chilling.

Sources: Paste Magazine, Audiences Everywhere, Hollywood Reporter