14 Lesser-Known Horrors Handpicked by Mike Flanagan for Your Must-Watch List

Mike Flanagan has long become the world's acknowledged master of the supernatural thriller. Almost every Halloween season, we get a new blood-curdling story from him, and somehow each new project feels deeper and more terrifying than the last.

This year, with a bit of luck, we might be in for the premiere of The Life of Chuck, starring Tom Hiddleston and Mark Hamill and based on Stephen King's novella. This blend of the fantasies of two horror geniuses is a guaranteed smasher, as Gerald's Game and Doctor Sleep have already proven.

But as it turns out, Mike Flanagan is not just a filmmaker. He is a passionate fan of the horror genre and an obsessive viewer who has watched hundreds of titles and has a special love for auteur indie flicks created by independent filmmakers.

And he is ready to share with you the crème de la crème, the best films in this sub-genre, the stories that inspired him and are definitely worth your attention. So get your pencils ready and let's write down this ultimate must-watch list.

The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015)

Tomatometer: 75%

Creator: Osgood Perkins

Set at a remote Catholic boarding school in the middle of a desolate winter landscape, this slow-burning tale follows two students (Emma Roberts and Kiernan Shipka) as they navigate eerie occurrences on the school grounds.

Cargo (2017)

Tomatometer: 87%

Creators: Yolanda Ramke and Ben Howling

This is probably one of the most recognizable films on the list, thanks to the source short film that became a social media sensation and Martin Freeman starring as a father racing against time to find safety for his infant daughter in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. Flanagan was so impressed with the film that he invited the filmmakers to direct two episodes of The Haunting of Bly Manor.

Freaks (2018)

Tomatometer: 88%

Creators: Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein

Despite a small budget, this is a real hidden gem with a story that rivals Marvel's. The sci-fi flick follows a seven-year-old girl, Chloe, who is locked in the house by her father to protect her from the outside world, which he says is populated by dangerous creatures. When Chloe finally breaks free from this loving captivity, she learns a dark truth.

Possum (2018)

Tomatometer: 90%

Creator: Matthew Holness

Flanagan says Holness' directorial debut, based on his own short story, is pure nightmare fuel with its unsettling atmosphere and deeply disturbing imagery. A disgraced puppeteer returns to his childhood home to confront his traumatic past and inner demons.

The Invitation (2015)

Tomatometer: 90%

Director: Karyn Kusama

A man who has lost everything is suddenly invited to dinner by his ex-wife and her new husband. What starts out as a normal dinner party becomes more and more suspicious and creepy as time goes on. Like Flanagan's, this film's scares don't rely on jump scares, but they'll still knock your socks off.

A Dark Song (2016)

Tomatometer: 91%

Creator: Liam Gavin

The two-actor story wraps the theme of loss and extreme grief in the guise of an occult ritual. A grief-stricken woman begs an occultist to perform a months-long ritual that will summon her guardian angel and allow her to communicate with her deceased son. But as the days pass, the tension between the two becomes unbearable.

Creep (2014)

Tomatometer: 91%

Creators: Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass

This clever found-footage horror was created by Brice and Duplass and stars them as the only actors, making the film as independent as possible. A videographer is invited to follow a client for a day, but as the assignment progresses, creepy revelations and manipulative behavior are revealed.

The Endless (2017)

Tomatometer: 92%

Creators: Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson

The creators star as two brothers who revisit a UFO cult they escaped as children, only to find themselves embroiled in unexplained events that challenge their (and viewers') understanding of reality. Flanagan recommends checking out all of Moorhead and Benson's films after The Endless.

They Look Like People (2015)

Tomatometer: 92%

Creator: Perry Blackshear

Blackshear's directorial debut is an inspiration to any aspiring filmmaker. With a tiny budget and almost nothing but enthusiasm, the writer-director crafted a brilliant, award-winning story about a troubled man who believes humanity is turning into monsters and rushes to protect his only friend from evil.

The Abduction of Deborah Logan (2014)

Tomatometer: 92%

Creator: Adam Robitel

Jill Larson shines as the title character, who allows a documentary crew to film her own descent into dementia. As the found-footage masterpiece unfolds, the crew members realize there may be sinister forces at play. Beware, says Flanagan, there is one scene that will haunt you for months.

Lake Mungo (2008)

Tomatometer: 95%

Creator: Joel Anderson

Shot in mockumentary style, Lake Mungo follows a family struggling to cope after their daughter drowns. Through eerie photos and video footage, they uncover disturbing secrets about the girl's past and realize they are being haunted by supernatural phenomena.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)

Tomatometer: 96%

Creator: Ana Lily Amirpou

Set in an Iranian ghost town, this genre-bending vampire western tells the story of an antihero vigilante with a taste for the blood of bad men. With this movie, Flanagan guarantees a hypnotic and unforgettable journey in black and white.

Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017)

Tomatometer: 97%

Creator: Issa Lopez

A modern fairy tale that blends magical fantasy and gritty realism, the film follows a group of orphaned Mexican kids as they navigate a perilous urban jungle plagued by drug violence and supernatural forces.

Harpoon (2019)

Tomatometer: 97%

Creator: Rob Grant

This wicked horror comedy follows three friends who find themselves stranded on a yacht in the middle of the ocean. The pressure of the situation and the possibility of death lead to escalating tensions and dark revelations about their relationships and past betrayals.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes.