The 10 Best Indie Horror Gems On The Platform

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I am a huge champion of indie film and underrated cinematic fare. For as long as I can remember, I have been inclined to advocate for the little guy, and that tendency has often informed my output as a film critic and journalist. I write a weekly column called The Overlooked Motel that spotlights off-the-beaten-path recommendations in the genre space. As such, I am always on the hunt for the next diamond in the rough. Hell, I’ve even been known to speak to the collective merits of a semi-precious gemstone in the rough. So, I naturally jumped at the chance to call attention to ten of the best indie horror gems currently streaming on Peacock!

Last Shift

I am a die-hard Anthony DiBlasi stan. The director’s work is consistently chilling and steeped in atmosphere. In Last Shift, DiBlasi defies expectations by making well-lit areas even scarier than the dark hallways usually favored by horror filmmakers. This tale of a rookie police officer working her first rotation at an abandoned station chilled me to my very core and continues to keep me on edge with each return visit. If you’ve somehow missed this nerve-shredding affair, make your way to Peacock and give it a look. You won’t regret it.

Tourist Trap

Director David Schmoeller taps into magic realism (a close cousin of surrealism) in Tourist Trap, and that distinction gives the picture an unpredictable, unhinged quality that keeps me coming back to it time and again. The setup is similar to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre as a group of young friends experience car trouble and seek help from a sinister local. Like in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, things take a dark turn when a masked maniac arrives on the scene. But Tourist Trap also implements a supernatural component (and mannequins, lots of them), which keeps the flick from feeling derivative. This feature has long lived in the shadows of other celebrated offerings from its era. So, if you haven’t seen it, give Tourist Trap a shot. There’s plenty to love about this dreamlike effort.

Curtains

OK, Curtains isn’t a masterpiece. But it is a gorgeous-looking film that features some truly inspired cinematography. The characters are colorful; the narrative is twisty and giallo-esque; and the picture also serves up commentary on the treatment of women in the entertainment industry that was years ahead of its time. Sure, the proceedings are a bit chaotic. But if you can look past this picture’s flaws, you will likely find plenty to love about Curtains. Seeing as this horror thriller is currently streaming on Peacock, you have nothing to lose.

The House at the End of Time

This chilling tale of a family torn apart moved me to my very core. The dynamic between the lead character Dulce (Ruddy Rodríguez) and her two boys reads as poignant and authentic. I’ve seen the film several times and I am always moved by Dulce’s devotion. But there’s far more to the flick than the beautifully rendered depiction of a mother’s love. This cinematic effort is filled with twists, turns, time travel, and so much more. The picture is subtitled, but please don’t let that put you off. Even the most staunch in their disdain for reading captions will surely find endless merit in this underrated indie horror effort, which you can currently find on Peacock.

The Dark Red

The Dark Red starts out at a deliberate pace, but builds to an absolutely epic conclusion. So, if you’re checking it out for the first time, please trust me when I say you will be rewarded for your patience. The opening act takes its time developing the lead character Sybil (April Billingsley) and establishing the stakes. We’re given cause to wonder if her outlandish claims of a group of maniacs coming after her baby are true. But the proceedings work as well as they do because of the groundwork laid early on. Patient viewers will be pleased to see they get ample bang for their buck out of the third act. And what a third act it is! Seek this one out on Peacock now.

Starry Eyes

This cautionary tale on the perils of Hollywood is another indie gem that was years ahead of its time. The picture features a brilliant lead character in Sarah (Alex Essoe). The film painstakingly chronicles the toll the industry takes on Sarah and the abhorrent treatment of women in Hollywood. The subtext is set to the backdrop of a malevolent cult and there are scenes of terrifying body horror that give off Cronenbergian vibes. Starry Eyes is a modern masterpiece in the genre space and a brilliant showcase from directors Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer.

Triangle

I love time loop horror. There’s something so unsettling about watching a protagonist stuck in a pattern from which they cannot escape. Leading lady Jess (Melissa George) is easy to invest in. Featuring such a dynamic lead makes the horrors she endures as she tries to get off the ocean liner upon which she is trapped all the more harrowing. The proceedings are steeped in atmosphere and wildly unpredictable. Additionally, the film provides compelling commentary on the nature of regret and the inability to change our past. Drop what you’re doing and stream this underrated horror gem on Peacock now.

Cheap Thrills

I cannot adequately express how much I love this indie horror comedy. Cheap Thrills follows Craig (Pat Healy), a man down on his luck and desperate to stay afloat. When he and his friend Vince (Ethan Embry) meet eccentric couple Colin (David Koechner) and Violet (Sara Paxton), Craig thinks his problems may be solved. But Violet and Colin grow more unhinged as the evening unfolds, making for a humiliating and violent spectacle with shocking results. The film provides whip-smart commentary on the lack of perspective that often comes with being exceptionally wealthy, and features standout performances from all four leads.

Late Phases

Ethan Embry is a real treasure. I have been a fan of the actor since I was a youngster. I almost feel like we grew up together because he featured in so many films that were pivotal to me at different times in my youth. A few years back, Embry starred alongside Nick Damici in Late Phases, the tale of a malevolent werewolf preying upon a retirement community. Damici and Embry believably convey the struggles between a father and son who love one another but don’t always know how to express themselves. If that’s not enough to win you over, rest assured that there’s plenty of werewolf carnage on display to boot. Definitely check out this outstanding indie horror flick on Peacock if you haven’t already.

Honeymoon

I am a Leigh Janiak devotee. She is a visionary and a modern master of horror for sure. I will avoid saying too much about Honeymoon because it’s best enjoyed cold. But I can reveal that the film follows newlyweds on a getaway that yields unpredictable results. Janiak came out swinging with her feature film debut. Honeymoon was so exceptionally effective that it paved the way for the director to helm the Fear Street trilogy for Netflix. So, if you enjoyed her work adapting R.L. Stine for the screen, you’re sure to appreciate Honeymoon. Check this under-seen indie horror film out on Peacock now.