25 Forgotten 1970s Cult Horror Films You Need to Watch
The 1970s produced more genuinely terrifying horror films than any other decade? From Cronenberg's disturbing body horror to Italian giallos that inspired modern masters. How many have you seen?
The 1970s birthed some of cinema's greatest horror classics - The Exorcist, Halloween, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. But lurking in the shadows of these titans are dozens of equally brilliant films that never quite found their audience.
These forgotten gems capture everything that made 70s horror special: raw experimentation, genuine scares, and that gritty aesthetic that modern films can't replicate. From psychological nightmares to bizarre B-movies, here are 25 cult horror films from the decade that deserve your attention.
What's Inside This List
A breakdown of 25 forgotten 1970s horror gems
Perfect for: Horror fans seeking genuine scares, cult movie enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the decade that revolutionised the genre. From Cronenberg's disturbing body horror to Argento's colourful nightmares, these films capture the raw experimentation that made 70s horror special.
1. The Brood (1979)
David Cronenberg's chilling exploration of rage and trauma follows a woman whose psychological turmoil literally spawns monstrous children. Set against a bleak Toronto winter, this early body horror masterpiece delivers visceral scares and deeply unsettling imagery.
Why It's Underrated: Its cerebral approach to horror was overshadowed by Halloween's slasher success that same year.
Why You Should Watch Now: Cronenberg's themes of repressed trauma feel incredibly relevant, and the practical effects still genuinely unsettle modern audiences.
2. Martin (1978)
George A. Romero's most underrated film asks a haunting question: is Martin a vampire or just a deeply troubled teenager? This low-budget psychological horror blends gritty Pittsburgh realism with ambiguous supernatural elements that keep you guessing until the end.
Why It's Underrated: Released the same year as Romero's Dawn of the Dead, this quieter horror was completely eclipsed by zombie mayhem.
Why You Should Watch Now: Its exploration of mental illness and identity crisis feels remarkably modern, plus the lo-fi aesthetic screams authentic 70s atmosphere.
3. Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)
Fresh from a mental breakdown, Jessica moves to a rural farmhouse where reality and hallucination blur dangerously. This atmospheric chiller builds dread through suggestion rather than gore, creating a genuinely eerie experience that stays with you.
Why It's Underrated: Its low-key release and slow-burn style were drowned out by Rosemary's Baby's continued cultural dominance.
Why You Should Watch Now: The haunting ambiguity and folk-horror vibes align perfectly with modern slow-burn hits like Midsommar.
4. The Sentinel (1977)
A model discovers her Brooklyn brownstone is actually a gateway to hell, guarded by increasingly bizarre neighbours. This supernatural horror features an early Jeff Goldblum performance and delivers genuinely shocking moments alongside campy excess.
Why It's Underrated: Its oddball tone and controversial casting choices kept it from mainstream acceptance.
Why You Should Watch Now: The star-studded cast and over-the-top 70s excess make it a wonderfully nostalgic ride for fans of theatrical horror.
Behind the Scenes
Most 1970s horror films were shot in just 18-25 days with budgets under $500,000. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was filmed for only $140,000, whilst Halloween cost a mere $325,000.
5. Alice, Sweet Alice (1976)
This proto-slasher follows a young girl suspected of murdering her sister during a Catholic communion ceremony. The film blends religious imagery with twisted family dynamics, featuring a young Brooke Shields in her film debut.
Why It's Underrated: Released two years before Halloween defined the slasher genre, it got lost in the pre-slasher shuffle.
Why You Should Watch Now: Its unsettling blend of faith and violence feels fresh again, and the 70s aesthetic is pure nostalgic gold.
6. The Witch Who Came from the Sea (1976)
A disturbed woman's obsession with sailors triggers a bloody killing spree in this psychological horror that explores trauma through surreal, dreamlike sequences. The film's raw approach to abuse and mental health was groundbreaking for its time.
Why It's Underrated: Its low-budget production and heavy psychological themes alienated mainstream horror audiences seeking simpler scares.
Why You Should Watch Now: The bold exploration of abuse feels ahead of its time, whilst the dreamy visuals appeal to fans of arthouse horror.
7. The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
Wes Craven's brutal tale of a suburban family stranded in the Nevada desert, hunted by a clan of cannibals. This savage survival horror showcases Craven's early genius for social commentary wrapped in visceral terror.
Why It's Underrated: Always lived in the shadow of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, despite being equally effective and disturbing.
Why You Should Watch Now: Its visceral survival horror and authentic 70s grit resonate powerfully with fans of extreme cinema and influenced countless later films.
8. Deathdream (1974)
Bob Clark's eerie Vietnam allegory follows a soldier who returns home from war—possibly undead. This haunting mix of zombie horror and anti-war commentary explores grief and alienation with genuinely emotional impact.
Why It's Underrated: Its quiet, emotional approach to horror was outshined by flashier, more visceral 70s frights.
Why You Should Watch Now: The Vietnam-era themes and creepy atmosphere feel painfully relevant, perfect for horror fans who like their scares with substance.
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9. The House with Laughing Windows (1976)
This Italian giallo follows an art restorer uncovering dark secrets in a rural village. Director Pupi Avati creates creeping dread through painterly visuals and shocking revelations that build to a genuinely disturbing climax.
Why It's Underrated: Limited US release meant it couldn't compete with Dario Argento's flashier, more widely distributed giallos.
Why You Should Watch Now: Its gorgeous visuals and slow-burn mystery perfectly complement the modern folk-horror renaissance.
10. Phase IV (1974)
Graphic designer Saul Bass's only directorial effort pits desert scientists against hyper-intelligent ants in this trippy sci-fi horror. The stunning macro photography of real ants creates an alien world that's both beautiful and terrifying.
Why It's Underrated: Its cerebral pace and ecological themes couldn't compete with Jaws' visceral thrills that same year.
Why You Should Watch Now: Environmental concerns feel more urgent than ever, and the psychedelic visuals are a treat for fans of weird 70s cinema.
11. Shivers (1975)
Cronenberg's feature debut unleashes sexually transmitted parasites in a luxury high-rise, turning residents into violent, lustful monsters. This body horror landmark combines visceral effects with sharp social satire about urban isolation.
Why It's Underrated: Its extremely low budget and graphic content limited distribution and shocked critics.
Why You Should Watch Now: The claustrophobic setting and themes of societal decay feel eerily prescient for our current times.
Box Office Shockers
Many of these "forgotten" films were actually massive hits. The Exorcist became the highest-grossing horror film of all time, whilst low-budget gems like Halloween earned over 200 times their production costs.
What The Exorcist earned worldwide in 1973 - equivalent to over $1 billion today!
12. The Psychic (1977)
Lucio Fulci's supernatural giallo follows a woman plagued by visions of murder who uncovers a chilling conspiracy. This atmospheric thriller showcases Fulci's skills before he became known for extreme gore.
Why It's Underrated: Completely eclipsed by Fulci's gorier later works like Zombie and The Beyond.
Why You Should Watch Now: Its psychological depth and stylish Italian cinematography make it essential viewing for giallo enthusiasts seeking subtler scares.
13. Tourist Trap (1979)
Teenagers stumble into a roadside attraction filled with unnaturally lifelike mannequins controlled by a deranged owner. This bizarre horror creates genuine unease through its surreal imagery and unpredictable tone.
Why It's Underrated: Its low-budget oddity was completely overshadowed by Halloween's polished success.
Why You Should Watch Now: The uncanny valley effects of the mannequins create a uniquely disturbing experience that's perfect for cult movie fans.
14. The Blood on Satan's Claw (1971)
British folk-horror follows a 17th-century village plagued by demonic possession and occult rituals. The pastoral English countryside becomes a backdrop for ancient evil in this atmospheric period piece.
Why It's Underrated: Always overshadowed by The Wicker Man's greater fame in the folk-horror niche.
Why You Should Watch Now: Its eerie rural atmosphere and occult themes perfectly complement the modern folk-horror revival.
15. Sisters (1973)
Brian De Palma's early thriller follows a journalist uncovering a twisted mystery involving Siamese twins. This Hitchcockian psychological horror showcases De Palma's stylistic flair before his mainstream breakthrough.
Why It's Underrated: Lost in the shadow of De Palma's later classics like Carrie and Dressed to Kill.
Why You Should Watch Now: The stylish camerawork and 70s aesthetic are catnip for thriller fans and De Palma completists.
16. The Stepford Wives (1975)
A woman uncovers a sinister conspiracy in her perfect suburban community in this feminist horror-satire. The film's chilling commentary on gender roles and conformity was groundbreaking social horror.
Why It's Underrated: Its subtle, satirical approach to horror was eclipsed by more visceral 70s frighteners.
Why You Should Watch Now: The social critique feels remarkably timely, and the creepy suburban setting is perfect for fans of psychological thrillers.
17. Black Christmas (1974)
This proto-slasher follows sorority sisters stalked by an obscene phone caller during Christmas break. The film's chilling POV shots and eerie phone calls directly influenced Halloween. Check out our other list of unusual Christmas films.
Why It's Underrated: Released four years before the slasher boom, it didn't receive proper recognition for pioneering the genre.
Why You Should Watch Now: The tense atmosphere and holiday setting make it essential viewing for slasher fans and perfect winter horror.
Technical Breakthroughs
The 1970s revolutionised horror filmmaking with groundbreaking practical effects and innovative camera techniques that are still studied today.
18. Don't Look Now (1973)
Nicolas Roeg's haunting film follows a grieving couple in Venice who encounter a mysterious figure in a red coat. This nonlinear psychological horror explores grief through surreal imagery and emotional devastation.
Why It's Underrated: Its arthouse approach and complex narrative structure lost mainstream horror audiences seeking simpler scares.
Why You Should Watch Now: The poignant exploration of grief and stunning visuals appeal perfectly to fans of elevated horror like Hereditary.
19. The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
Vincent Price stars as a disfigured doctor seeking elaborate revenge through biblical plagues. This campy horror combines art-deco style with Price's theatrical charisma for a uniquely entertaining experience.
Why It's Underrated: Its theatrical camp couldn't compete with the grittier, more realistic horror dominating the decade.
Why You Should Watch Now: Price's magnetic performance and the film's quirky charm are perfect for fans of classic horror camp.
20. The Tenant (1976)
Roman Polanski's psychological horror follows a man slowly unraveling in a creepy Parisian apartment building. This paranoid thriller creates claustrophobic dread through mounting psychological pressure.
Why It's Underrated: Overshadowed by Polanski's more famous Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown.
Why You Should Watch Now: The claustrophobic anxiety and urban paranoia resonate strongly with fans of psychological horror like Repulsion.
21. The Vampire Lovers (1970)
This Hammer horror features a seductive female vampire preying on young women in 19th-century Austria. The film pushes boundaries with its gothic atmosphere and bold sensuality.
Why It's Underrated: Hammer's bigger Dracula films starring Christopher Lee dominated attention and box office.
Why You Should Watch Now: The lush gothic visuals and progressive themes appeal to fans of atmospheric vampire cinema.
22. The Car (1977)
A demonic black car terrorises a small Utah town in this absurd horror-thriller. The film's ridiculous premise is played completely straight, creating an oddly effective B-movie experience.
Why It's Underrated: Dismissed as a cheap Jaws knockoff, critics missed its campy entertainment value.
Why You Should Watch Now: The unintentional comedy and genuine 70s cheese make it perfect viewing for B-movie enthusiasts.
23. Who Can Kill a Child? (1976)
Spanish horror follows tourists on a remote island where all the children have turned murderous. This disturbing thriller explores moral dilemmas through genuinely unsettling scenarios.
Why It's Underrated: Limited international distribution kept it from reaching wider audiences outside Spain.
Why You Should Watch Now: The creepy children and moral complexity resonate with fans of disturbing horror like The Omen.
24. The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue (1974)
This Spanish-Italian zombie film follows an ecological disaster that turns corpses into flesh-eating killers. The environmental themes and gritty atmosphere create a unique entry in zombie cinema.
Why It's Underrated: Completely eclipsed by George Romero's more famous zombie trilogy.
Why You Should Watch Now: The atmospheric dread and authentic 70s grittiness appeal to zombie fans seeking alternatives to Romero's classics.
25. Suspiria (1977)
Dario Argento's masterpiece follows an American dancer uncovering a coven of witches at a German ballet academy. The film's vivid colours, surreal horror, and iconic Goblin score create a nightmare dreamscape.
Why It's Underrated: While critically revered now, it was initially dismissed by mainstream audiences as too weird and European.
Why You Should Watch Now: The dreamlike visuals and haunting atmosphere are essential viewing for anyone who loves modern elevated horror.
Cultural Shockwaves
1970s horror films didn't just scare audiences - they sparked moral panic, congressional hearings, and launched the modern film rating system.
These 25 forgotten gems prove that the 1970s were horror's most experimental decade. Each film captures something unique about the era's willingness to push boundaries and explore dark themes. Whether you're seeking genuine scares or cult movie oddities, these underrated classics deserve rediscovery.
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