Independent horror films are largely the reason the horror genre has been able to maintain its popularity. Not beholden to studio interference or creative constraints, auteurs have been able to explore new ideas and subvert expectations in the horror genre, giving audiences something truly unique. As the independent scene continues to grow, so too does the number of great horror films. Horror is also a low-budget genre, which makes it the perfect playground for up-and-coming filmmakers. With that in mind, Reveel has created a playlist of the best independent horror films on the streaming platform. However, there are more indie films on Reveel that are just as good if not better. Here are some of the best indie horror films on Reveel.
8 Best Indie Horror Films
8. Monster
Parents are generally dismissive of a child crying monster. The vast majority of the time, the monster will be a product of the kid’s imagination, but what if it’s true? This short horror film is about Andrea and her son Ethan, who move into a house where Ethan is haunted by a monster. Despite his terrors being attributed to his father’s death, she quickly learns that the monster is more real than she thought. Monster is intense, creepy, and will make you think twice before blowing off a kid’s imagination
Watch Monster on Reveel
7. Break of Dawn (Sensitive Content)
Slasher films have been a popular subgenre of horror for decades now. In a lot of ways, slashers are what allowed horror films to break through to the mainstream and become one of the most well-known genres today. Break of Dawn is a slasher short film that has everything that horror fans love about the genre. The film is about a tormented young woman who confronts a deranged killer with questions about her family and the sister that slipped from his grasp. Break of Dawn is a macabre and frightening experience that provides the obscene gore that fans love.
Watch Break of Dawn on Reveel
6. The Routine
Tara Price is the director, writer, and main actress in the short film The Routine, giving an amazing yet chilling performance throughout the film. The Routine is not your typical horror. There aren’t jump scares or evil entities, but the film is still able to send a chill down your spine. The synopsis for The Routine reads: The future is here and with everything just a click away we no longer need to even leave our homes. Perhaps it’s bliss for some, but for others, our reliance on modern technology may have dire consequences.
Watch The Routine on Reveel
5. Threshold
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that makes it difficult for people to leave their homes. It is usually defined by an irrational fear of the outside world or of open spaces. People with agoraphobia often feel like they are in danger when they are not in the safety of their homes. Threshold is a short film about an agoraphobic voice actress whose reality and fiction start to blur when she begins being tormented by the voice of a stranger in her home. The short does a great job of making you feel the main character’s paranoia and fear.
Watch Threshold on Reveel
4. Sleep Well
Sean Cruser and Tyler Beveridge created this short film in the middle of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. With little budget, cast, and crew, the short film manages to be one of the most well-done films on this list. Sleep Well follows a man who begins hearing knocking at his door that drives him slowly insane leading to dire consequences. Is it real or just in his head? The film has a simple story with an ending that packs a punch.
Watch Sleep Well on Reveel
3. Hang Up!
Hang Up! is a compelling short film that gives us a harrowing look inside a dysfunctional marriage. The short film could be compared to Gone Girl as it manages to prey on the fears that every married couple has about their partner. The story is about an accidental butt dial that provides a curious husband with an unexpected glimpse into the mind of his loving wife, Emelia. Horror comes in many forms and in this film, it comes in the form of a female psychopath.
Watch Hang Up! on Reveel
2. Pray
This film isn’t a typical horror film. The horror comes from the dark imagery and the fear of witchcraft. The short film is about a small group of exhausted Crusaders who are forced to stop in an abandoned village where an ancient evil is awakened and the last trial of their faith comes. Pray is an unsettling and atmospheric short that haunts the viewer from beginning to end.
Watch Pray on Reveel
1. Remote
Remote is a short film created by the same filmmaker who directed Hang Up!, Marc Roussel. This sci-fi horror film has a unique premise that is both creepy and intriguing. Remote is about a man who becomes temporarily connected in time with a woman through his TV and tries to prevent the murder of a young woman living in his house 30 years in the past. Marc Roussel delivers a film that is both mind-bending, disturbing, and downright terrifying.
Watch Remote on Reveel