Hey everyone, it’s me again with another rant turned blog post. You know how it is, stuck in traffic, brain firing on all cylinders and you can’t turn it off and all you can think about is random stuff like horror movies.
This time, I’m tentatively titling this “Six Movies Pre-COVID That Nobody Talks About Anymore.” (Okay, full disclosure: one of these sneaks in from 2021, which is technically post-COVID, but it feels like it got buried in the pandemic haze, so we’re rolling with it.)
These are awesome horror films from before the world went sideways, ones that came out five, ten, even fifteen years ago… and for some reason, they’ve vanished from conversations. But trust me, they’re worth digging up and rewatching. Effects might be a tad dated in spots, but the vibes? Still killer.
Let’s dive in.
1. The Ruins (2008)
First up is The Ruins, a creepy gem from 2008 (though I always mix it up with 2006 or 2007—close enough).
Picture this: a group of tourists heads down to South America and stumbles upon an ancient pyramid (or ziggurat, whatever you want to call it) that the Aztecs apparently abandoned for good reason. Once they step foot on it, these flesh hungry vines, wait, actually, they’re more like bugs or parasitic plants? I’m not sure, but they come alive and trap them.
The survivors are picked off one by one, with double crosses and betrayals ramping up the intensity. It’s pure survival horror, and yeah, the effects are a bit dated now, but it’s still a fun, intense watch that keeps you on edge. If you’re into trapped in a bad place vibes, this one’s for you.
2. Laid to Rest (2009)
I know I bring this one up a lot, it’s one of my all time favorites, but Laid to Rest from 2009, directed by Robert Hall (who also did Lightning Bug, which might be semi-autobiographical), deserves way more love.
This flick hit right before the influencer era exploded, maybe five years or so ahead of the curve, and it’s got that same energy as Scream 4 (which was around the same time) where kids are obsessed with recording everything.
The killer? Total badass: black suit, long coat, chrome skull mask, wielding a serrated knife. He films his murders and uploads them to a website for creeps to watch.
The plot’s a little thin in the first movie (there’s a sequel too), but this was when low budget horrors started blending CGI with practical prosthetics like Jurassic Park did back in the day. The gore is amazing and well done. It’s very, very good stuff. If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out on some iconic slasher action.
3. Splinter (2008)
Next, Splinter from 2008, man, I remember watching this around the same time as Laid to Rest, and it still holds up.
It’s basically this husband and wife on a road trip who end up trapped in a convenience store/gas station with an ex-convict (played by a solid character actor; Shea Whigham, who’s been in tons of stuff).
A creepy parasite latches on, turning people into spiky, monstrous horrors. They have to figure out how to escape without getting infected, and the suspense is insane.
Shot on a minimal budget in like 14 days, it mixes CGI and practical effects brilliantly. Even today, with some dated visuals, the tension is thick, and it feels real. Low key one of the best contained horror thrillers out there, think The Thing meets a roadside nightmare.
4. The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
Oh man, The Cabin in the Woods from 2012 made such a huge splash when it dropped, but I can’t remember the last time anyone mentioned it.
Part of that might be the allegations against Joss Whedon (he co-wrote it), but there’s so much talent involved beyond him, like director Drew Goddard, that it still deserves a spot.
Chris Hemsworth (preThor) stars in this meta horror masterpiece where a group of college kids heads to a remote cabin, only for things to go full trope fest: zombies, werewolves, and even a giant snake with a doll head.
But the twist? It’s all orchestrated by a shadowy government facility sacrificing youths to appease ancient gods. The elevator scene at the end? Chaos. Sigourney Weaver pops in for a mic drop cameo, and Amy Acker’s bit turns it into a hilarious puppet show.
It’s funny, bloody, and smart, with an undercurrent critiquing audience expectations: we want the scares, the deaths, the broken rules. Plus, it tapped into the paranoid zeitgeist of the time: government control, weed as rebellion (it’s literally what saves the day… sort of), right as legalization was bubbling up.
Don’t let the drama bury this one, it’s genius.
5. Malignant (2021)
Alright, stretching the “pre-COVID” label here since it’s from 2021, but Malignant feels like it got lost in the post pandemic shuffle and made waves that fizzled too fast.
Directed by James Wan, the modern maestro of horror (Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring), it starts as your standard ghost story but goes full bonkers.
The killer, Gabriel, bursts out like a rejected Batman villain, since as it turns out, it’s a siamese twin twist with assassin vibes. The hospital fight scene? Insane. Like Batman meets Saw with cartoon gore.
You think it’s one thing, then bam, skull popping revelation. The effects slap, the chaos is pure fun, and it’s underrated as hell. If Wan going wild sounds like your jam, check it out… nobody talks about it anymore, but they should.
6. Housebound (2014)
And because five wasn’t enough, let’s make it six with Housebound, a New Zealand film from 2014 (I thought 2012, but close).
This one’s a total sleeper that nobody name checks anymore. A girl on house arrest (ankle monitor and all) moves back in with her quirky mom, and weird stuff starts happening, bangs, blood drips, classic haunted house setup.
She digs in and learns the place used to be a sanitarium/asylum before her parents bought it. It gets crazier from there, with a massive twist I won’t spoil because it’ll ruin everything, but trust me, it’s a rug pull that nukes your expectations in the best way.
Dry humor throughout, like investigating ghosts after watching Judge Judy, mixed with genuine scares. Feels like What We Do in the Shadows if it leaned harder into horror, with small town incompetence and asylum ghosts.
Too smart for its own good, which might be why it faded, but it’s funny, off kilter, and deserves a revival.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, six horror flicks that got buried under the avalanche of new releases and world events, but they’re raw, bold, and way better than a lot of the recycled horror junk out today.
Dig ’em up, stream ’em, get scared, and spread the word. If you’ve seen any of these, hit me up in the comments… what’s your take? Or if there’s another forgotten flick I missed, let’s rant about it next time.