15 Underrated Sci-Fi Horror Movies, Ranked

Rarely have two genres been able to complement one another in such an effective and transformative way as science fiction and horror in the medium of film. The vast possibilities and fear that can come from futuristic technological advancements and alien species have made science fiction a perfect fit for numerous legendary horror films over the years. Films like Alien and The Thing show just how much mileage can be attained from the combination of these two genres, creating one of the best genre combinations in film history.

However, for every massive critical or financial success story that comes from science fiction horror, there are still a number of great underrepresented stories and films that deserve their own time in the spotlight. There are no limits to the creativity that science fiction has provided for the horror genre, which, combined with horror filmmaking’s lower budget requirements, results in a great deal of hidden gems being created. Whether they were critically panned at the time or simply couldn’t find their audience, many underrated sci-fi horror films deserve to be recognized for their strengths.

15 ‘Vivarium’ (2019)

Director: Lorcan Finnegan

A highly symbolic sci-fi horror film with seemingly infinite different interpretations, Vivarium follows the story of Gemma and Tom, a newly engaged couple in search of the perfect starter home. However, after following their off-putting real estate agent to a new housing development, the duo finds themselves trapped inside this starter home, trapped in an endless maze of the same neighborhood. As if to make things more complicated, the characters are now forced to raise a child in this home, although the child is far from normal, and features several alien and otherworldly qualities.

Vivarium takes a much more existential and psychological approach to the sci-fi horror genre, placing its simple and relatable characters in a hellish predicament to see their psyche and relationship crumble as a result. It works as well as it does thanks to the stellar pair of lead performances from Imogen Poots and Jesse Eisenberg, whose work is dynamic and multilayered enough to take home any number of conclusions about what the film is saying about love, isolation, and the nuclear family.

14 ‘Splice’ (2009)

Director: Vincenzo Natali

Splice follows the story of young scientists Elsa and Clive, who decide to rebel against all legal and ethical ramifications and go forward with a dangerous and unprecedented experiment. They splice together human and animal DNA together in an attempt to create a new, never-before-seen organism. The creature in question, known as “Dren,” starts life as a deformed infant before eventually growing into a beautiful yet dangerous winged human chimera who begins to form a bond with her creators. However, this bond soon proves itself to be much more dangerous than anticipated.

While the “experiment gone wrong” story is far from original in the sci-fi horror realm, what makes Splice work as well as it does is the effects work that still holds up greatly to this day. Drea is such an interesting and compelling creature design-wise, as the character grows to be more nuanced and dynamic as the film goes on, a far cry from the standard of creature features like this. While the controversial ending left audiences mixed upon its release, it’s difficult to deny the excellent filmmaking chops on display here.

13 ‘Pontypool’ (2008)

Director: Bruce McDonald

Pontypool follows the story of disc jockey Grant Mazzy, who, on coming in for what seems to be another day of work at his basement radio station, begins seeing reports of the spread of a zombie virus. Mazzy soon takes the initiative and barricades himself inside his radio booth, hoping to be able to find a way to warn his listeners about the virus and, in the process, find out how it works and spreads. Mazzy’s time is limited, however, as the virus is slowly making its way toward his booth and his coworkers.

While the film technically predates the massive explosion of the zombie film that would dominate the 2010s, Pontypool is still a highly experimental and one-of-a-kind take on a zombie film. The film focuses much less on the physical horror of the zombie threat, instead exploring the character dynamics and internal struggles of people in their immediate reactions to this apocalyptic event. Especially for fans of modern zombie shows and media, Pontypool acts as a great underrated gem that finds ways to consistently deliver and surprise.

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12 ‘Underwater’ (2020)

Director: William Eubank

While many sci-fi horror monster movies will use aliens as their form of unknown and mysterious life, Underwater takes the same premise and structure for the equally mysterious dangers of the deepest parts of the ocean. The film follows a squadron of researchers working at a secret station at the bottom of the ocean, where, after an earthquake destroys their equipment, the group of six is forced to dawn underwater suits and travel by foot to the nearest station for refuge. However, the creatures of the dark ocean floor are incredibly dangerous, making their journey anything but simple.

While relatively simple in its premise, Underwater exceeds greatly in its execution, with a great mixture of terrifying monster designs, compelling characters, and horrifying sequences that leave viewers on the edge of their seats. The film was sadly overshadowed by being not only a January release, but by being one of the last movies released before the pandemic shut down theaters in early 2020. It’s a genuine shame, because, under different circumstances, the film certainly had what it takes to become a genuine sci-fi horror blockbuster.

11 ‘Spring’ (2014)

Directors: Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson

Spring follows the story of Evan, a young man dealing with a personal downward spiral, and decides to attempt to find a solution via a sudden trip to Italy, fleeing from his obligations in the US. While in Italy, Evan miraculously finds what seems to be the girl of his dreams, fostering a genuine relationship with someone that he knows nothing about. However, as this spur-of-the-moment relationship continues, Evan begins to learn the terrifying supernatural truth behind his supposed perfect match, ending up in an even worse and more chaotic situation than before.

Spring combined sci-fi horror with romance to create an engaging and unpredictable story of love and betrayal across the countryside that easily brings audiences to the edge of their seats. The film acts as a great subversion and bait and switch to everything that would be expected from its creature feature angle, able to tell a compelling and genuine story of unconditional and blinding love. Especially for fans of Moorhead and Benson’s other works, Spring is a must-watch that fully delivers on its ingenious premise.

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10 ‘Circle’ (2015)

Directors: Aaron Hann, Mario Miscione

A simple yet highly disturbing single-room horror film, Circle sees 50 strangers awakened and unable to move in a mysterious room in a circular formation. Without any memory of how they got there, they attempt to learn more about themselves and how to escape. Soon enough, the dreadful game begins, as they learn that every two minutes, one of the 50 people will die, with the group forced to vote on who will be executed by the strange device at the center of the room.

Circle makes excellent use of its small budget and single location by focusing directly on the inherent dread and interpersonal human connections and deception that come from its painful premise. It’s far from perfect in its execution, but it does enough with its premise to insight into further discussion and allow for a great number of shocking moments and surprises throughout. Especially with how very few characters actually have names, it makes it incredibly easy for an audience to place themselves into the situation and consider how they would deal with the deadly killing game of social deduction.

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9 ‘Psycho Goreman’ (2020)

Director: Steven Kostanski

Psycho Goreman is a strange yet perfect mixture of a hyper-violent sci-fi horror film and a quirky family comedy, creating a highly charming yet destructive experience. The film follows innocuously young siblings Mimi and Luke, who accidentally find themselves resurrecting Psycho Goreman, an ancient alien overload hellbent on taking over the universe. However, thanks to a magical amulet at their disposal, the alien is forced to obey their every word, leading to many hijinks and chaos as they attract intergalactic attention from across the universe.

Psycho Goreman is the type of film that immediately sells itself thanks to its wild and hilarious premise, yet the film is able to further deliver when it comes to spectacle. The film is held to a multitude of amazing practical effects, from the highly creative designs of Psycho Goreman and the other aliens to the high number of gruesome and iconic kills. Still, it’s this wholesome and comedic juxtaposition of buckets of blood and gore compared to the plight and struggles of young children that has made the film one of the most underrated horror comedies of recent memory.

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8 ‘Slither’ (2006)

Director: James Gunn

Before he would go on to direct Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad, James Gunn‘s directorial debut was Slither, a wild and chaotic body horror-filled sci-fi horror comedy. The film saw a small town having to deal with the unexpected consequences of an alien invasion, with the hivemind plague slowly taking over the entire town and turning them into mindless zombies. However, more than just world domination, the alien also has an unexpected goal after harboring a loving crush on one of the town’s residents and the wife of the first man infected.

Slither is filled with the same beautiful style and vision as Gunn’s more popular works, just with a nice heaping of brilliantly disgusting effects and a multitude of bloody and gory carnage. However, this excess of gore and death doesn’t stop the film from having genuine heartfelt moments and effective comedy with its cast of hilarious characters. The film also features terrific performances from the likes of Michael Rooker, Elizabeth Banks, and Nathan Fillion.

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7 ‘Oxygen’ (2021)

Director: Alexandre Aja

Oxygen follows the story of a woman who has woken up inside a cryogenic chamber with no memories of her former life or how she ended up in the chamber. However, with the chamber running out of air, she must figure out not only who she is and how she got here, but also how to preserve her own life in an increasingly distressing claustrophobic space. As she uncovers the smallest of details about herself and her situation, she begins to paint the biggest picture and scope of everything around her, further increasing the stakes of her survival.

Oxygen makes great usage out of its minuscule singular location, acting like a futuristic sci-fi equivalent of a film like Buried, where the core of what makes the film work so well is the lead performance. In this case, Mélanie Laurent makes terrific usage of the premise, going through nearly every cycle of grief, desperation, and anger while acting as an easily rootable central protagonist. The film also features a surprising amount of twists and turns to keep it highly unpredictable and engaging despite its singular cold and isolating location.

6 ‘Possessor’ (2020)

Director: Brandon Cronenberg

A literal mind-melting sci-fi horror experience, Possessor follows the story of Tasya Vos (Andrea Riseborough), an elite corporate assassin who uses futuristic brain-implant technology to take control of other people’s bodies to terminate high-profile targets. However, this latest assignment proves to be the most dangerous and difficult, as the extended time spent inside this mind threatens to destroy her mind and leave her stranded in a mental void of nothingness.

Possessor makes excellent use of its high-concept material to create a satisfying, thought-provoking experience that isn’t afraid to shy away from the absolute worst possibilities of technology. It certainly isn’t afraid to tap into the horror aspect of its horror-sci-fi genre, with a great number of disturbing hyper-violence sequences that will quickly sear their way into the minds of viewers. It proved to show that Brandon Cronenberg was just as capable as a director as his legendary horror director father, David Cronenberg, as he would continue to prove with his next film, Infinity Pool.

5 ‘The Cell’ (2000)

Director: Tarsem Singh

The Cell follows the story of Catherine Deane (Jennifer Lopez), a psychotherapist who uses a special technology in order to enter and analyze the dreams of her patients. She is soon recruited for her expertise in able to find the hidden location of a serial killer’s latest victim by traveling into his comatose mind to find the answer. However, the mind of a deranged killer proves to be incredibly dangerous to navigate, as Catherine is at risk of losing her own mind in the process.

The Cell works wonders thanks to its simple yet ingenious premise, allowing for a wide number of striking imagery and nightmare visuals to help amplify the themes and story being told. The film also plays against the perceived notions of a number of its main stars, as horror as a genre is something rarely seen from Lopez. Its distinct horror elements help it stick out from other high-concept sci-fi movies of the early 2000s, as The Cell finds its style aligning much more with the trends and tone of a modern-day psychological horror film.

4 ‘Beyond the Black Rainbow’ (2010)

Director: Panos Cosmatos

Beyond the Black Rainbow is a psychedelic sci-fi horror experience that sees a young girl named Elena who is at the center of a massive research facility dedicated to testing and experiments surrounding her powers. Elena can only communicate with people through telepathy, which combined with her other innate psychic abilities, has numerous scientists attempting to use her to find the link between science and spirituality. However, Elena is attempting to break out of the facility for good, hoping to lead a normal life and escape the wrath of her experimenters.

The style of psychedelic horror filmmaking lends itself greatly to a science fiction lens, creating additional layers of depth from Elena’s struggles with her powers that ironically confine her instead of freeing her. It’s the type of heavily symbolic horror film that demands to be rewatched time and time again in order to pick up on more nuanced details that were missed on previous watches, making each watch its own experience.

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3 ‘Cube’ (1997)

Director: Vincenzo Natali

Cube takes a more nuanced sci-fi approach to the classic mysterious death game formula, seeing a group of strangers trapped inside a maze-like prison, filled to the brim with deadly traps and no signs of life. However, each member of the core group provides the requirements for them to escape the seemingly inescapable cube, forcing them to team up, despite their differences. However, the high stakes and danger of the cube prove to be too much for the group, as they slowly find themselves falling apart and gunning for each other before the cube inevitably kills them.

Tone and atmosphere are everything when it comes to this type of enclosed-location horror film, which is a feat that Cube excels greatly in, making it a defining film within the genre as a whole. While the film still certainly has its amazing character moments and philosophical themes with each character in the film, Cube still has a tremendously creative world and setting, filled with equal parts intrigue and dread. While the film would get a couple of bland and uninteresting sequels, the original film is still a masterclass in sci-fi horror.

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2 ‘Mad God’ (2021)

Director: Phil Tippett

A beautiful stop-motion display of nightmares and horrors from masterful visual effects artist Phil Tippett, Mad God is a depraved and chaotic look into a masterfully crafted and perfectly concocted world of nightmares. The film is light on story, following a singular man known as ‘The Assassin’, as he journeys deeper and deeper into a sci-fi horror world of unspeakable horrors. As he sees the array of tortured souls, monstrous creatures, and heartless machinery, his guaranteed safety grows further and further out of reach.

Nearly every frame of Mad God is a meticulously crafted piece of art that deserves to be examined and flourished in its own right, with the entire film bringing all of these masterful designs and sets together to create a once-in-a-lifetime masterpiece. It’s the result of nearly 30 years of on-again-off-again working, and collaborations with several talented artists, all coming together to create the sci-fi magnum opus of Tippett’s already ludicrous career.

1 ‘The Faculty’ (1998)

Director: Robert Rodriguez

The Faculty combines the screenwriting of Scream writer Kevin Williamson with the wild directing of Robert Rodriguez to create a perfect match of coming-of-age sci-fi horror. The film sees an alien parasite slowly infecting a local high school, starting with all the teachers and faculty before slowly spreading to the rest of the students. It soon becomes up to a group of unexpected outcast students to team up to put a stop to this parasite takeover and save not just their school but the entire world.

There’s a level of self-awareness and respect for the audience that The Faculty has towards its proceedings and plot that makes it work exceptionally well. While it certainly does feature some great horror sequences and interesting alien concepts, the back and forth and interaction between the core main group of teens transforms the film into a true hidden gem. It almost feels like the apex end goal of teen horror movies of the 90s, combining all the classic archetypes and styles into one amazing, comedically charged time that still holds up wonders in the modern era of horror sci-fi films.

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