Or at least, you used to be able to, because now all the channels are showing the same horror films over and over again and while some have re-watchability (The Shining is one I can’t get enough of), others you only need to see once. So you really should check out these underrated horror films, they’ll take your breath away… because you’ll be screaming…

The ABC’s of Death 2 (2014) This film, and it’s predecessor ‘The ABC’s of Death’ is a series of 26 short films that have a manner of death that corresponds to a letter of the alphabet. The first one as a proof of concept was pretty good, but they really figured out how make bizarre, chilling and suspenseful films by the second one. There’s a wide variety of short films that’ll keep you entertained and spooked.

The Orphanage (2007) This one wasn’t directed by Guillermo Del Toro, but his DNA is all over it. This ranks in my personal top ten list of horror films, because it’s so simple of a premise with a terrifying outcome. The woman who buys the orphanage in which she was raised, doesn’t know what horrors it’s going to bring to her, especially when her son goes missing. Then there’s the eerie masked kid. If he doesn’t make you shit yourself, I don’t know what will.

1408 (2007) Based off of a pretty good Stephen King short story, this one has John Cusack playing Mike Enslin; a paranormal researcher/debunker. What you witness on screen is a descent in to madness, that’ll terrify and make you question what’s real or not and make you feel kinda insane. This one got under my skin and the mindfuck of an ending will keep you awake long after the film ends. Especially if you watch it in a hotel room.

Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) This is the entry where the Nightmare series really starts hitting it’s stride. It’s creative, original and Freddy really gets his one liners in nicely. It also brings back Nancy from the first film, which is a nice touch and establishes the universe of the Nightmare series. Oh, and the special effects are pretty good too, which is a must in a horror film. Bad effects don’t give goosebumps.

Black Christmas (1974) Is it a horror film? A Christmas film? Which is it? This Canadian entry is a psychological horror/slasher film was one of the first of the genre, influencing John Carpenter’s Halloween. Playing on our fears of various urban legends, and influenced by actual events in Montreal, this holiday classic is a must watch.

Day of the Dead (1985) Coming after the seminal ‘Night of the Living Dead,’ and ‘Dawn of the Dead’, this one is woefully underrated. Keeping the focus on a small band of soldiers, and humanizing the zombie named Bub, demonstrates that the worst parts of the apocalypse are inside the walls, not out. With claustrophobic sequences and a little dark humour, this one shouldn’t be missed.

The Devil’s Backbone (2001) This Spanish-Mexican horror film from Guillermo Del Toro is a masterclass in suspense, the supernatural and the human components of fear. Even though it’s a ghost story, the ghost is secondary to the kids and administrators in the orphanage during the Spanish Civil war. This one is chilling, but beautifully poetic.

City of the Living Dead (1980) Even though it sounds like ti should belong to the Romero canon, this is an Italian horror film chock full of gore, practical effects and terror. The ending is a little puzzling, but other than that, there’s just something about this film that makes you want to watch it at 3am.

Odd Thomas (2013) Never really been a fan of Dean Koontz, but this adaptation of one of his books is one of the best ones. Anton Yelchin plays a psychic who can see the spirits of the recently departed and he tries to help them. With the film a mixture of suspense, mystery, horror and a little oddballness to it, it’s pretty enjoyable.

The Changeling (1980) Another strong entry from Canada, ‘The Changeling’ is a creepy and deeply psychological film of the haunting nature of loss. When a composer moves to an old mansion after the loss of his wife and child, he is haunted by both figurative and literal ghosts. This is another seminal horror classic, but never receives much love outside of Canada.

Frailty (2001) This one came out under the radar, and I’m not sure why. This is southern gothic horror at it’s best, and it’s got a third act twist you won’t see coming, that will chill you to the core. With Bill Paxton and Matthew McConaughey, it’s got some acting chops to go with the chills you’ll be feeling. 13

Friday the 13th: Part V: A New Beginning (1985) This one is underrated simply because it’s insane. Between the filmmakers trying to go in a new direction and create a new villain that’s not Jason, it’s also got tons of drugs and more nudity than you an shake your soon to be dismembered parts at. What’s not to like? Apparently, behind the scenes there was a little bit of salacious action and it bled into the film. That’s why you’ve got to watch the most violent and sexiest entry in the series.

Goodnight Mommy (2015) This Austrian film is genuinely creepy, but it didn’t get much love over here. I caught it at TIFF, and it gave me goosebumps, especially the two kids. After their mom is in an accident, she comes home bandaged and her twin sons are convinced that she’s been replaced by someone else. They do everything in their power to learn the truth, when at the end, what they do learn, changes things. Between the two eerie kids, the isolated setting and the uncertainty of whether or not that is their mom or not, this was a surprise of a film.

Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006) Horror is never better than when it’s examining itself as a genre piece, poking fun at cliches and being self referential. While ‘Shawn of the Dead’ and ‘Cabin in the Woods’ seem to take the piss out of the genre, this one is a meta-textual piece of filmmaking looking at the slasher concept as a documentary/mockumentary. Simply watching how the main character kills his way through the film, makes you complicit in the violence, and the movie doesn’t let you forget that.

Stake Land (2010) When it comes to talking about zombies or vampires, most horror films will situate that in a post-apocalyptic type of situation. Stake Land pits a young survivor of a vampire massacre with a seasoned vampire slayer, while they try to escape the hoards of the blood sucking undead and make it into Canada (too cold for vampires, maybe?) What makes this one so compelling is that it shows off the horror of the human threats, more so than the undead ones, and leads the viewer through one hell of a ride.

Trick ‘r Treat (2007) Not sure why this film flew so low under the radar, because it’s brilliant. An anthology film of 4 intersecting stories, all brought together by the masked Sam, this serves as a cautionary tale of what Halloween should and shouldn’t be about. A sequel’s been rumoured forever, and I, for one, can’t wait.

Outpost (2007) Usually Nazi-Zombie horror films go into the straight-to-DVD pile, but this one’s not half bad. It’s pretty original and it’s got Ray Stephenson playing a Royal Marine who’s trying to investigate an old military bunker that the germans used for reality-bending experiments. While it devolves into a zombie slasher film, the fact that they resorted to practical effects and lighting vs CGI, gives the film a dirty weight to it.

Cabin Fever (2003) If you like horror comedies that are dark and bloody, then this is one you need to see. There’s just the right amount of gore and with homages to Evil Dead, Texas Chainsaw and little bit of other obscure horror films, it’s a good watch.

Session 9 (2001) Finally, a film about an abandoned mental hospital makes the list! This indie psychological film has to do with a crew sent to remove asbestos from an asylum, and the bad energy that haunts them and causes them to go crazy. This isn’t a film made of hacking and slashing, but of deep psychological trauma that will keep you uneasy well after the movies over. This is on my top 10 list.

Splinter (2008) Body horror should never really take itself too seriously, and this one’s a fast paced thriller with some darkly comedic moments. When a parasite that looks like a black mess covered in spines traps a couple and their hijacker in a gas station, they’ve got no choice but to fight back against this thing that is reanimating body parts and shooting spines to infect others. By combining monsters with diseases, you’re getting horrified on two fronts.

Spring (2014) This is an odd one, as it’s a romantic body horror film. The directors of this film cut their teeth in the V/H/S anthology series and in this, their first full length, they’ve got a great story that has it’s genesis in Lovecraft and early gothic romantic horror. The premise is too out there to summarize here, but if you have a chance to see this one, you won’t regret it.

The Collection (2012) Another sequel, this continuation of the ‘The Collector, this sequel’s pretty imaginative with it’s bloodshed and the cinematography is just amazing. You don’t always find horror films that look beautiful, but The Collection will do it for you. And the first 10 minutes of this film will get your blood pumping… literally.

The Mist (2007) This one makes the list simply because of the ending; it’s heartbreaking. Another film based off of a Stephen King story, it’s less about the monsters and more about the people trapped inside the mist, and Frank Darabont does a wonderful job keeping the tension up incredibly high until the stunning conclusion.

The Shrine (2010) Leave it to a Canadian director to make a very solid horror film. It might not be the best of them, but it’s got an ending that makes the slow build up worth it. As one of those films that deals with the concept of the old world vs. the new, when some journalists go to a remote village in Europe, bad shit starts happening.