Horror is a genre that seems to go one of two ways: the films are nominated for awards, praised by critics, and seen by everyone…or they fly under the radar until a few people stumble upon their greatness. The past five years have seen a large number of horror movies being released, as everyone seems hungry for these types of spooky stories. People are realizing that the genre deserves a lot of respect.

Now that we’re nearing the end of the decade, it’s the perfect time to look back on recent scary movies that should be seen by absolutely everyone. Here are 10 underrated horror films from the past five years.

Ma (2019)

Would you expect Octavia Spencer to be in a campy horror movie? Probably not…which is part of what makes the 2019 horror film Ma so spectacular. Directed and co-written by Tate Taylor, who also worked with Spencer in The Help, the movie tells the story of Sue Ann Ellington, a lonely woman in a tiny town whose life didn’t work out the way that she thought that it would.

Sue Ann tells some teenagers to call her “Ma” and offers up her basement as a party location. The movie becomes something entirely different and saying more would just spoil it. It’s definitely one of the most underrated horror movies of recent vintage and hopefully in the next few years, it will get more recognition. It’s fresh, unique, and well-crafted.

Hush (2016)

Directed by Mike Flanagan, whose career has exploded thanks to his work on the Netflix series The Haunting Of Hill House, Hush follows Maddie Young (Kate Siegel), a deaf writer who is terrorized in her house by a killer. That would be terrifying enough, but she’s living in the woods so she’s completely separated from anyone and anything.

Movie watchers will feel the tension and be on the edge of their seats as they watch Maddie. It really feels like she’s on a journey and you root for her every step of the way.

Gerald’s Game (2017)

Gerald’s Game was released in 2017 and also directed by Mike Flanagan. Taking inspiration from the 1992 book by Stephen King, the story is about a husband and wife who go away for the weekend to spend some time together. The wife is handcuffed to the bed when the husband passes away, so she’s trapped.

Although this film is streaming on Netflix, it’s not talked about as much as other Stephen King adaptations (perhaps because IT and its sequel have been praised so much in recent years). But Gerald’s Game is worth playing.

Mom And Dad (2017)

Mom And Dad is the rare occasion where Nicolas Cage’s weird, frantic, crazy acting is an asset to the movie. It’s got a super campy tone that somehow works. This film sounds so strange that it shouldn’t be as good as it is. The premise: moms and dads are trying to kill their children.

While this film is much funnier than it is scary, it still deserves a place on this list of underrated horror movies of the last five years. It’s a compelling concept that feels original and new. Written and directed by Brian Taylor, the movie also stars Selma Blair as the mom.

Tragedy Girls (2017)

Most people might not have heard of the 2017 horror movie Tragedy Girls, as it really flew under the radar. Directed and co-written by Tyler MacIntyre, the movie is about Sadie Cunningham (Brianna Hildebrand) and McKayla Hooper (Alexandra Shipp), two best friends who kill someone and then share about it on social media.

This movie is considered a horror comedy and it’s one of the best (and most underrated) of that subgenre. Given the obsession and addiction that many teenagers have with their social media profiles, it feels strangely realistic, which is probably the most horrifying thing of all.

The Visit (2015)

The M. Night Shyamalan movie The Visit proved to fans and critics that he could still make a pretty decent horror movie. Released in 2015, it follows a high school girl and her brother as they spend time at their grandparents’ house and realize that something creepy is going on.

It’s part of the found footage horror genre, as the kids make a documentary. It’s definitely an underrated gem that more people should see.

Ouija: Origin Of Evil (2016)

Directed by Mike Flanagan, Ouija: Origin Of Evil is the prequel to Ouija, which came out in 2014.

Elizabeth Reaser plays Alice Zander, a mother who runs a supernatural business out of her home. She starts incorporating the Ouija board, resulting in one of her children becoming possessed ⁠— so it wasn’t the best decision that she could have made. This movie has all the hallmarks of an awesome horror flick: it’s mysterious, paced well, and keeps viewers guessing. It also has a pretty dark ending that feels just right.

The Final Girls (2015)

2015’s The Final Girls is that perfect blend of original concept and flawless execution. It’s got both comedy and horror elements and sees Max Cartwright (Taissa Farmiga) literally step into the 1980s horror film that her mom, Amanda, starred in, called Camp Bloodbath.

Max and her friends try to survive and the result is campy (no pun intended) and compelling. You really don’t know what’s going to happen. The ending is also great, which isn’t always the case with horror movies since the conclusion can either be too dark or too cheesy and happy.

Ready Or Not (2019)

2019 finished off the year with one last solid horror flick: Ready Or Not. This movie takes the idea of playing hide and seek and makes it absolutely terrifying.

Grace (Samara Weaving) is aware that her new husband’s family is extremely rich and also kind of mean, but she could never know that on the night of their wedding, she would have to play a game that could end her life. When Alex (Mark O’Brien) tells her that it’s tradition to play a game, she thinks it’s silly, but it turns out that the family has to try to kill her or they will fall prey to a curse. The movie is equal parts hilarious and genuinely creepy, and it takes place in a Gothic mansion that is its own character. Both the action and the dialogue are top-notch.

Head Count (2018)

The most underrated horror movie of the past five years has got to be Head Count. Released in 2018, this movie is about friends who think that they’re going to have a fun weekend in the California desert. It’s shot with a poetic style that could also be described as sparse and the story goes nowhere where you thought that it would.

The characters soon discover that they’re being haunted by something and as they do more research, learn that a ritual might be the only way out…or is there a way out at all? The film is written and directed by Elle Callahan, who is someone to watch in the horror movie genre.