Out of all the streaming platforms,Tubiholds a special place for fans of horror, with its catalog loaded with countless indies, b-movies, classics,and hidden gems. As long as you are okay with commercial interruptions, you won’t find a better streaming platform with abundant content for horror fans. At the same time, there are a lot of duds there, and it can be hard to navigate when straying slightly off the path of known titles. Will you get a smart indie film with a great atmosphere or a movie made over the weekend using the laziest of effects?
To help you navigate the massive selection, we have highlighted ten underrated horror movies you can find on the platform. We have tried to pick something here for everyone, trying to represent how wonderfully diverse the horror genre is. From killer crabs to zombie poodles, these are ten underrated horror movies you can stream for free on Tubi.
10Crabs! (2021)
Following a nuclear accident, a group of horseshoe crabs descend upon a small coastal town, leading to a night of chaos taking place around the town’s prom night. The story follows Phillip and his best friend, Maddy, as they navigate adolescent hormones, awkward family dynamics, and a deadly invasion of crab creatures that love to eat faces.
Totally ’90s!
Pierce Berolzheimer’sCrabs!is saturated with ’90s gross-out and over-the-top culture that you must approach with a love for the era, both its positives and faults. Yes, it can be a bit cheesy and a bit insensitive; you will either love or hate the awkward European exchange student Radu. However, there is so much charm and inventiveness in the simple premise of killer crabs.
Perhaps its creature-driven horror led some to think this to be another quick cash grab ofcountless killer animal filmsthat are over-saturated on Tubi, but that is underestimating what the movie brings. The effects are phenomenal, the humor is aptly campy, and the scale of the invasion goes to gigantic proportions that call for a Kaiju brawl to finish off the film with a bang.
9Vampire Clay (2017)
Facing the pressures of getting into the exclusive art world, several students are looking to hone their craft of clay work in a small studio run by a once-famous artist. However, when a shortage of clay leads them to harvest their own from a peculiar source just outside the school, they accidentally awaken an evil curse. Now the clay thirsts for blood and uses its malleable form to take over others to feed and integrate itself among people.
Thriving on Its Practical Effects
The Japanese horror movieVampire Clayis nothing to write home about when it comes to the plot, presenting an absurd premise that is difficult to take seriously. However, Sôichi Umezawa’s experience in the film industry as a special effects artist before directingVampire Clayis where the appeal of the indie-horror film rests. The effects are bizarre and unique, with clay used in ghastly and nightmarish ways.Fans of body horror are in for a treat, as the transformations are unlike anything else you will come across. As a visual spectacle, the horrifying creations of Umezawa make this a must-watch.
8The Innkeepers (2011)
The Innkeepers
Claire and Luke are tasked with being the final two employees at the infamously haunted Yankee Pedlar Inn, which is set to close permanently after one last weekend in operation. Luke, an amateur paranormal investigator, gets Claire excited to explore the hotel’s potential ghostly apparitions before its closing. When they are joined by spiritualists staying at the Inn, the three come closer than they expected to reach out to the dead.
Slow-Burn Horror at Its Best
Out of all the works of Ti West, perhaps his most forgotten and overlooked work isThe Innkeepers. Yet the haunted house film has the director’s signature slow-burn approach that would garner him an early cult following off of his breakout filmThe House of the Devil. Thick on atmosphere, a great visual direction, and solid performances, those who have come to appreciate West with his resurgence with theXfranchise, should be intrigued by the director’s evolution. Alternatively, those who actively seek out slow-burn horror with an emphasis on creating unease as opposed to shock will also appreciate how delicately crafted this haunted house horror is.
713 Cameras (2015)
A newlywed couple, Ryan and Claire, move into their first rental home, looking to start a new life with a child on the way. However, the two find early conflict when they meet their creepy landlord, who begins to show an odd fascination with the family. As things escalate, the two realize they are being watched, and the creepy landlord begins to escalate his plans to include kidnapping and murder.
The Killer Is Inside the House
Some horror franchises fly under the radar, and many, upon hearing about13 Camerasfor the first time, might be surprised to learn there are two sequels,14 Camerasand15 Cameras(which you can also find on Tubi). The films certainly have enough of a dedicated fanbase to keep them being made. Still, it is the type of horror it creates that keeps the series slightly out of the spotlight.13 Camerascreates great unease about what happens when we are away from our homes. Cameras in our most private places, someone wiping their filth on our things; it is so ghastly the type of terror might hit too close to home for some.
The real horror here ishaving our privacy and homes invaded, with the series largely forgoing gore and jump scares for the continued discomfort and unease of having a creepy killer making himself at home. These movies are ones that the viewer, particularly those renting, can place themselves in; for some, this is a draw; for others, it is a deterrent. Still, if you have any inkling to experience uncomfortable horror,13 Camerasand its sequels are worth a watch.
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6Meander (2020)
Reeling from the loss of her daughter, Lisa heads out on a trip to try to find herself, but this is cut abruptly short when a possible serial killer picks her up. However, this is just the start of her problems. After being subdued by the suspected murderer, she wakes up in a bizarre maze with a timer on her wrist and other desperate and frightening figures navigating the same labyrinth.
Claustrophobic Sci-fi Horror
Fans who love a good sci-fi horror movie in the vein ofCubemay have totally overlooked this French horror film by Mathieu Turi, which is a shame.Meanderoffers a great mix of horror, mystery, and sci-fi with a creative premise that will certainly have those with claustrophobia squirming. As most time is spent with a singular character, Gaia Weiss’s convincing and emotionally charged performance allows viewers to immerse themselves in the severity of her situation. Those who love abstract and open-for-interpretation cinema will also enjoy picking this one apart after the credits roll.
5Slay (2024)
After a mix-up with booking, four drag queens on tour find themselves in a backwater town that does not take too kindly to their particular brand of entertainment. As the four slowly win over the audience, with the help of a few vocal and secret supporters, their performance is cut short when vampires evade the small bar. An unlikely alliance is formed, and the queens and locals need to fight off the invasion until the sun comes up.
Faster Queen, Slay, Slay!
Tubi’s original horror moviesdon’t always get the credit they deserve, with the platform having some stand-out titles that fall under the radar.Slaycame and went with little coverage or fanfare, but the movie is more than just a treat forDrag Racefans.Slayis a hilarious horror comedy backed by some strong performances and just the right amount of camp one would expect from the combination of drag and horror. There are plenty of great one-liners, gender-bending comedy, and vampire kills here to appease fans of LGBTQ+ horror movies. If you want a more serious outing from Tubi, consider checking out the twisted psychological horrorBlack Mold.
4Broadcast Signal Intrusion (2021)
A video archivist, James, discovers a series of unsettling pirate broadcasts featuring a bizarre masked figure while logging old tapes for a Chicago television station. As James digs into the origin of these broadcasts, he begins to draw ties to their showings of missing women cases, including his wife, Hannah. This realization pushes the archivist to dig deep, unearthing various conspiracies and sending him across the state on a chase to discover the truth.
A Horror Story for Those Obsessed with Lost Media
Broadcast Signal Intrusionis ideal for those with an obsession with lost media and good old-fashioned sleuthing tales. It is inspired by the infamous Max Headroom incident and the YouTube old-school scare video “I Feel Fantastic,” which places it at a certain time and place (and interest) that almost guaranteed the movie would fly under the radar on release. The emphasis here is not as much on horror as it is on unraveling a mystery, which may further limit its appeal.
However, Harry Shum Jr is phenomenal as the lead, and his long journey takes him to some interesting places and characters that keep the movie engaging. Moreover, the movie acts as a love letter to obscure media and warps it up in aconspiracy-fueled thriller/mysterythat should appease fans of the genre.
3Descent Into Darkness (2013)
A journalist, Rafaël Cherkaski, arrives in Paris with a makeshift setup to create a documentary about the “European dream.” At first, finding camaraderie and support despite his eccentric mannerisms, Rafaël slowly begins to make a series of bad decisions, and his troubles mount. Eventually left broke, the wannabe documentation begins to commit crimes to stay afloat, but the intensity of them only pushes his hunger for more violence.
Worst Vacation Ever
This one is more forfans of extreme horror, as this found-footage movie gets downright nasty. Chronicling the travels of ‘journalist’ Sorgoi Prakov, the events start harmless enough: sightseeing and candid interviews for his show. Yet, with each passing day, things get worse for the traveler, and he begins to make horrible decisions and indulge in substances that begin to warp his mind. The climax ofDescent Into Darknessmay come slowly, but it is an unforgettable spectacle of perversion, violence, and terror that is impossible to shake once you have seen it. The gritty, low-budget found footage aesthetic here also gives the whole production an uncomfortable realism; proceed with caution.
2Bloody New Year (1987)
After fleeing from a group of ruffians, a group of teenagers grabs a boat and heads to an island that houses a hotel that has a dark history. Unaware that they have stumbled upon the Grand Island Hotel, which mysteriously disappeared in 1959 during a New Year’s celebration, the group begins to have a series of bizarre paranormal events occur around them. When they learn they are stuck in a time loop, it appears it may already be too late for them to escape.
Welcome, We Hope You Enjoy Your Stay
It’s a bit of a head-scratcher why this British ’80s horror movie has not become a staple of fans of the genre; it has that campy charm and innovative, practical effects that should have horror hounds singing its praises. There is a lot to love aboutBloody New Year, including some creative kills and wonderfully absurd moments that make it a highly memorable experience among the abundance ofphenomenal ’80s horror movies. The movie also incorporates elements of sci-fi and slashers to allow memorable death, from a boat rotor beheading to the walls eating a woman alive; fun times.
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1The Boneyard (1991)
Psychic Alley Oates has withdrawn from society after a particularly ghastly case has left her unable to function. However, when a case of child murders with a potential supernatural element brings detectives to ask for her help, a series of horrific visions convinces her she has to return. When Alley heads to the morgue to investigate, she comes face to face with evil, and the night turns into a fight for survival.
It’s All Gone to the Zombie Dogs
The Boneyardhas all the makings of a classic. Unfortunately, it gets a bit drowned out in a prolonged opening. The opening half is painful, with even the expressive Phyliss Diller not able to give the horror comedy a proper kickstart. However, when things escalate, the practical effects and creatures' designs are phenomenal. You have a giant zombie Phyllis Diller, an even larger ‘werepoodle,’ and undead kids whose designs are so gruesome we can’t show them here without breaking Google standards; you need to see the ugly little demons for yourself.
The Boneyardis far from a perfect movie, but if the beginning were tightened up, it would be held in as high regard as other classics like Peter Jackson’sDead Aliveor Stuart Gordon’sRe-animator;the second half is that well executed. Anyone who loves horror movies of the ’80s and early ’90s,particularly zombie movies with great creature designs, will find this one to be a gem.
