When it comes to horror, no platform offers a larger selection of titles than Tubi. While quantity seldom equals quality—there is an insane number of “shark” and “Amityville” films on the platform—these numbers can hide some true gems. Unless you know what you are looking for, or are willing to take a chance, it is easy to skim over a title without giving it much thought. This is why we have compiled a list of 10 of the best horror movies on Tubi that you have not seen.
From a killer family to an interdimensional battle with a giant-mouthed alien, these titles span the many sub-genres of horror and eras to ensure there is something here for even the pickiest of fans.
‘Lowlifes’ (2024)
An awkwardly optimistic road-tripping family has their most recent trip take a turn when they run into hostile locals. Despite an intense confrontation, the family agrees to help them after their car breaks down, taking one back to their home, where things turn chaotic. The night becomes a fight for survival, full of bloodshed and mayhem.
A Deadly Game of Survival in a Remote Home
While the twist of Lowlifes can be seen from a mile away, it is still best to avoid any potential spoilers. However, the movie plays with horror tropes, creating a unique experience reminiscent of iconic titles like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre or The Hills Have Eyes. Notably, Al Kaplan’s Lowlifes delivers the same brutality and intensity as its inspirations. 2024 was a phenomenal year for horror, and, sadly, Lowlifes was somewhat overlooked in discussions of best films; it deserves a free watch on Tubi.
‘Skinner’ (1993)
If Ted Raimi running through the streets of New York donning a skin suit and carrying a bag of knives is not enough to tease a horror fan into checking out Skinner, I don’t know what else would. A gritty and grim slasher (of sorts), the ’90s horror film follows Dennis Skinner (Raimi), an awkward but charming man who moves from location to location, always bringing with him a bag of knives he uses to attack his victims. The movie starts with him moving into a new tenant building, where a new relationship with a woman, and him being hunted by a past victim, complicates his desire to murder undetected.
Ted Raimi Collecting Skin
The ’90s tend to get a bad wrap when it comes to horror, but the era had plenty of hidden gems. Skinner is certainly more bleak than other slashers, but it melds a gritty ’70s aesthetic with a particular brutality that is seldom balanced so well in movies outside the era. Ted Raimi is phenomenal here as the killer, and his killing spree, which sees him donning the previously mentioned skin suit, is such a wonderful, chaotic moment in horror cinema that it is surprising the film has not seen more lavish praise. It also stars Ricki Lake and Traci Lords, an odd pairing of talent that manages to work.
‘Frogman’ (2024)
Dallas (Nathan Tymoshuk) has lived in the shadow of Loveland, Ohio’s famous cryptid, the Frogman, having captured footage of him as a child but never getting closure for the acknowledgment of his discovery. Now an adult and an aspiring filmmaker, he decides to return to his hometown to unravel the mystery of Frogman and prove his existence. However, as he begins to dig, a deeper conspiracy from the townsfolk puts Dallas and his friends, Amy and Scotty, in danger.
Do You Fear the Frogman?
The found footage genre has always been a treasure trove of gems, with anyone able to jump into the genre resulting in countless titles that tend to bury the outstanding ones. Written and directed by Anthony Cousins, Frogman delivers the vibes and beats of the best found footage horror movies but brings a unique angle by leaning in on childhood obsessions and one very bizarre monster. At the same time, Frogman brings in elements of comedy without becoming too silly. After you watch this found footage gem, you too will fear the Frogman.
‘The Vagrant’ (1992)
Financial clerk Graham Krakowski (Bill Paxton) has finally saved up enough to buy his dream home in an expensive suburban neighborhood. Yet, shortly after moving in, he has a run-in with a ‘vagrant’ who urinates in front of his house. After a police call is made and his concerns are dismissed, he begins to have visions of the man and becomes increasingly paranoid. Dedicating all his time to seeking the unhomed menace, Graham slowly begins to go mad. When two murders happen tied to people he knows, he becomes the police’s primary suspect and flees.
Gentrification and Paranoia
Not exactly “PC” by today’s standards, even during its release, the movie was critically panned for its grim humor and flopped in theaters. Since then, The Vagrant has developed a cult following for good reason. Bill Paxton’s journey from neurotic yuppie to a man broken down and living in a remote trailer park is a pretty uproarious journey under the premise that it is all his own doing through his own delusions. Moreover, while the film does not fit cleanly into the horror comedy genre, tonally and stylistically, it feels refreshing due to its unique premise; perhaps part of the byproduct of having Mel Brooks as executive producer.
‘Double Blind’ (2024)
Seven people are brought together to participate in an experimental drug trial, with the promise of improving their current lives and offering compensation for their time. At the center of the group is Claire (Millie Brady), who found her way to the experiment after becoming unhomed. Claire becomes one of the prevailing level heads after it is revealed that anyone who falls asleep while on the experimental drug dies. Fighting sleep and slowly succumbing to the madness of insomnia, the seven begin to battle against each other while they desperately seek a way out.
Dying To Get Some Sleep
The standout Irish feature by Ian-Hunt Duffy does, admittedly, offer little in the way of originality, dealing with the somewhat saturated medical-themed horror. However, Double Blind is an example of how successful a production can be by doing something that has been done already, exceptionally well. The cast and the way they interact with each other while slowly losing their grip on reality bring an engaging dramatic flair to Double Blind. The movie is also a visual treat, using surreal moments to stand out from other indie films. Overall, the presentation is solid, the pacing is quick and exciting, the performances are memorable, and the script feels well-thought-out.
‘All Eyes’ (2022)
After a disastrous episode of his radio show that sees one of his fans commit a crime, Allen (Jasper Hammer) finds himself out of work and struggling with depression. Yet, when a letter comes in the mail promising a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with money, he hesitantly decides to head to a remote farm to save his career. Here he meets the recently widowed Don (Ben Hall), who believes his home is at the forefront of an impending invasion.
A Clever Horror Comedy That Will Catch Viewers Off Guard
Todd Greenlee’s independent feature is quite the roller-coaster ride of genres, cleverly switching gears a few times to create a bloody and hilarious viewing experience. Still, the movie has a controlled chaos, using an endearing story of an outsider dealing with loss and a potential threat from beyond to flow into its brilliant midway shift. It is best to go into All Eyes blind (no pun intended), commit to finishing it once started, and enjoy it for the cleverly crafted horror comedy it is.
‘I See You’ (2019)
After a ten-year-old boy is abducted by a mysterious force while on a bike ride, seasoned detective Greg Harper (Jon Tenney) is assigned as lead investigator and has trouble finding a balance between working the crucial case amidst mounting issues with his wife Jackie (Helen Hunt) in his private life. Things begin to take an ominous turn when strange occurrences begin plaguing the couple’s household and a malevolent presence reveals itself, leading to a terrifying series of events.
A Genuinely Unexpected Plot Twist
Directed by Adam Randall (the Apple TV+ hit Slow Horses), I See You is full of genuine twists and turns that will keep you on your toes and leave you wondering who (or what) is the evil force wreaking havoc on the Harper family. The horror flick fully delivers on creating an eerie atmosphere while offering up a heaping dose of suspense that more than pays off by the pulse-pounding final act, with shocking revelations coming to light in its final stretch. The plot twist at the end of I See You was impressively executed and helped the movie pack quite the punch with viewers.
‘Terror Firma’ (2023)
Struggling artist Lola (Faye Tamasa) has to stay with her cousin Louis and his weird roommate Cage for an extended period after a government lockdown overtakes L.A. When an odd package containing seeds from China arrives, Lola decides to plant them. Quickly growing, the bizarre plant starts to produce a highly addictive sap that has hallucinatory effects. As the three start recreationally taking part, Cage becomes overly obsessed and uses the plants’ otherworldly effects to send the others to another world.
Drink the Terror-Inducing Cosmic Sap
While rough around the edges, Terror Firma is a convincing tale of obsession and madness brought on by an otherworldly source; ingenuity on a budget. Writer and director Jake Macpherson also does a phenomenal job of interjecting some cosmic horror into the mix that will make fans of Lovecraft swoon. The movie has flown under the radar, with 52 votes on IMDB, but it highlights why checking out lesser-known titles on Tubi can yield some pleasant surprises. Moreover, the movie does a clever job of exploring much of the paranoia around the pandemic.
‘Hell House LLC’ (2016)
The first installment in the underrated found footage horror series, Hell House LLC focuses on a group of workers and guests at a haunted house attraction who are killed when an unknown “malfunction” causes their gruesome deaths during the event’s opening night. Five years later, a documentary crew shows up to investigate the devastating tragedy and find out what truly happened during that fateful haunted house tour, which many of the locals say was caused by a sinister supernatural force.
‘Hell House LLC’ Kicks Off a Terrifying Trilogy
The spine-tingling flick was written and directed by Stephen Cognetti and spawned two equally spooky sequels, with the filmmaker saying that the trilogy was actually “one movie just divided into three acts and each movie is its own act.” In spite of its budget limitations, Hell House LLC still manages to inject dread and anxiety in viewers and keeps you hooked throughout its entire 93 minute-run, with the film’s ominous pacing and creepy haunted hotel serving as a must-see chiller for the Halloween season.
‘Mom and Dad’ (2018)
Hollywood veterans Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair teamed up to headline the horror comedy Mom and Dad, in which the duo appear as suburban parents Brent and Kendall Ryan, who wreak havoc on their two children after an unexplainable static transmission causes mass hysteria in their peaceful town and compels the adults to try and murder their own kids. Teenage Carly and Josh Ryan must go on the run and fight for their lives as they try to escape their disturbed parents, making for a truly frightening 24 hours.
Cage Is Right at Home as a Maniacal Dad
The delightfully demented film features a wicked performance by Cage, who embraces all his wacky and campy quirks that audiences have come to know and love and dominates the screen as the maniacal dad determined to hunt down his kids. Mom and Dad does not shy away from intense violence, mayhem, and gore but it does so with some seriously dark humor and entertaining antics, and audiences will find themselves on quite the rollercoaster ride as both Cage and Blair become more and more unhinged.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
