8 forgotten horror movies from the ’70s that still pack a punch
Discover 8 terrifying '70s horror movies that time forgot. How many of these scary gems have you seen?
The Everett Collection
The 1970s was a fantastic era for horror movies, giving us some of the most iconic— and most overlooked— cinematic scares of all time. While classics like Halloween and Alien still haunt our collective mindset, there are a ton of forgotten horror movies from the 1970s that deserve to be revisited. These underrated '70s horror films may not have topped the box office, but they still deliver with eerie atmospheres, unsettling performances, and spine-tingling suspense!
This list has something for every fan, whether you're a die-hard horror buff or just searching for obscure horror movies from the '70s. Hopefully, you'll find a few forgotten gems you may have missed. So, without further ado, here are eight classic horror movies you've never seen that are perfect for your next retro fright night!
1. Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (1971)
Something is after Jessica. Something very cold, very wet... and very dead.
In one of the most unsettling movies of the decade, you'll be left wondering what's real and what's in Jessica's head. This creepy psychological thriller plays with our worst fears— who can we trust? And can we even trust our own eyes?
Director John D. Hancock would deliver another underrated classic two years later with the 1973 sports drama Bang the Drum Slowly.
2. Messiah of Evil (1973)
Terror you won't want to remember— In a film you won't be able to forget.
A small seaside town in California is home to a murderous, undead cult in this little-remembered favorite from 1973. After a young woman receives strange letters from her father, she tracks him down, only to find hordes of cultists who weep tears and hunger for human flesh. Good stuff!
This one is written by the husband-and-wife team who also wrote American Grafitti and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom!
3. Tourist Trap (1979)
Every year, young people disappear....
Chuck Connors as a deranged wax museum owner? Yes, it's real— and it's just as creepy as it sounds. The Rifleman is at his crazed, killer best in this rare paranormal slasher, where telekenisis is used to animate mannequins like puppets.
The sound design and off-kilter performances make Tourist Trap a nightmare you can't wake up from, and it's still terrifying today.
4. See No Evil (1971)
Keep your eyes on what she cannot see— the boots, the bracelet, the bodies...
Just three years after Rosemary's Baby, Mia Farrow starred in a '70s horror classic, titled See No Evil. She stars as Sarah, a recently blind woman who is stalked by a psycho at her family's country estate.
Director Richard Fleischer is the son of animation pioneer Max Fleischer, and said he made See No Evil "to scare the hell out of audiences." He succeeded, and the movie still works all these years later.
5. Beyond the Darkness (1979)
Beyond the Darknes... A fate worse than death!
This Italian low-budget gem has everything: voodoo, taxidermy, murder, and an incredible soundtrack by the legendary horror band Goblin. The director, Joe D'amato, was infamously accused of using real bodies when making the movie.
One Reddit user said: "This is the kind of film you take a shower after watching."
6. Don't Go in the House (1979)
In a steel room built for revenge they die burning... in chains.
This is one of the most underrated slashers in cinematic history. It's basically Norman Bates with a flamethrower, so you can imagine why it earned its cult classic status.
The main character is played by Dan Grimaldi in his feature film debut. You may remeber Grimaldi as Philly and Patsy Parisi on The Sopranos.
7. Alice, Sweet Alice (1976)
She'll scare you... fascinate you... bewitch you - in the most bizarre, thrilling and dramatic film of the year!
Catholic guilt, childhood trauma and Italian giallo combine in this slasher masterpiece. When a young girl is murdered at her First Holy Communion, the suspect is none other than her very own sister.
Before Brooke Shields was The Brooke Shields, she was Karen Spages in Alice, Sweet Alice. The film's use of religious themes and psychological dread make it an effective mystery still today. The mask is unforgettable!
8. Shock Waves (1977)
Genre icons Peter Cushing and John Carradine star in this low-budget creeper dripping with atmosphere. A group of shipwrecked tourists happen upon a decaying island where undead SS super soldiers come after them one by one.
Shock Waves may not be very gore, but it is super suspenseful. For fans of aquatic horror and WWII paranoia, this movie makes good on its promise!
Fun fact: The film was shot on location in Florid. The cast's dehydration and exhaustion lends itself perfectly to the movie's dreamlike quality.
Still sleeping with the lights on?
The 1970s gave us some of the most thrilling, experimental, and downright terrifying horror films ever made. Sometimes, those flicks just didn't become household names! These forgotten films might not be on Netflix's Top 10 today, but their creepy atmospheres, inventive storytelling, and cult appeal continue to haunt genre fans everywhere.
Have you seen any of these obscure '70s horror movies?
Which ones still give you nightmares?
Tell us in the comments— and be sure to share this list with your fellow horror junkies!
Want more deep cuts and underseen scares?
Check out this list of made-for-TV terrors!
