The horror genre comes in many shapes and sizes. Some horror films rely heavily on jump scares and loud noises, others on disgusting sights that both shock and revolt the viewer. And then there are psychological horror films, which primarily aim to unsettle through mind tricks and subtlety.
It's an exceptionally difficult subgenre to pull off -- especially when viewed by mainstream audiences who may be expecting something more straightforward and traditionally "scary." As such, these types of films don't always do well at the box office and typically fall by the cultural wayside. These psychological horror films from the 2000s may be forgotten and underrated, but they are well worth a watch.
Session 9 (2001) - Available To Rent On Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play & More
Directed by Brad Anderson, Session 9 was a little independent film released in the summer of 2001. The story concerns an asbestos cleaning crew who are hired to work in an abandoned psychiatric facility. While there, they encounter numerous unsettling occurrences, including audiotapes of an old patient that directly correlate to the events surrounding them.
It's a brilliant film, both intensely personal and wickedly scary, expertly blending elements of character drama and horror. And while the film was not initially successful, it is now rightfully regarded as a cult classic.
Open Water (2003) - Available On Hulu, DIRECTV & EPIX
One of the best shark movies ever made, Open Water tells the horrifying true story of Tom and Eileen Lonergan (fictionalized in the film as Daniel Kintner and Susan Watkins), a scuba diving couple who is accidentally abandoned in shark-infested waters.
Much of the horror is psychological, forcing viewers to question what they would do in such a petrifying, hopeless, and life-threatening scenario. Unfortunately, the real story is not a happy one, as both Tom and Eileen Lonergan were never rescued and presumed dead.
Orphan (2009) - Available To Rent On Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Google Play & More
A modest success in the summer of 2009, Orphan contains a great cast of numerous notable names, including Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, and C. C. H. Pounder. However, the real star of the movie is young Isabelle Fuhrman, who turns in a terrifying performance as the titular orphan, Esther.
While the movie tends to fall into formulaic tropes on more than a few occasions, the scares are nevertheless quite effective, and the movie contains many instances of hilarious dark humor. It's a fun little horror movie that has since been forgotten.
What Lies Beneath (2000) - Available On Starz, DIRECTV & Spectrum On Demand
This is a forgotten haunted house movie, and it remains well worth watching to this day. It is directed by the legendary Robert Zemeckis and stars both Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer as a couple who are terrorized by supernatural occurrences inside their house.
The movie was a huge box office success at the time but has quickly been forgotten, rarely being mentioned among Zemeckis or Ford's best movies. And while the film definitely has some flaws, What Lies Beneath contains some strong performances (especially from Pfeiffer) and the typically assured direction of Zemeckis.
Willard (2003) - Available To Rent On Apple TV
One of the best horror remakes of the 2000s, Willard stars Crispin Glover as Willard Stiles, an eccentric and lonely man who befriends a gang of violent and bloodthirsty rats.
The film is based on both Stephen Gilbert's Ratman's Notebooks and the original Daniel Mann film from 1971 and it works thanks in large part to Glover, who turns in an eerie and somewhat sympathetic performance as the titular character. It's not only a great character piece but a grisly horror film about one of the Earth's most dangerous creatures.
Secret Window (2004) - Available On Amazon Prime
This is one of those films that people may not know is based on a Stephen King story. Starring Johnny Depp as reclusive author Mort Rainey, Secret Window is based on King's short novella Secret Window, Secret Garden, which was originally found in his Four Past Midnight collection.
Depp carries the movie thanks to his exceptionally sympathetic and erratic performance, but it also contains a genuinely tense storyline, some stylistic filmmaking flourishes, and a notable twist ending that may divide audiences.
The Cell (2000) - Available To Rent On Amazon Prime, Google Play, YouTube & More
A box office success upon release (grossing $104 million), The Cell stars Jennifer Lopez, Vince Vaughn, and Vincent D'Onofrio. The plot is largely inspired by The Silence of the Lambs, as it concerns a team of scientists literally going into the mind of a comatose serial killer in order to ascertain where he has placed a kidnapped victim.
While the story pales in comparison to The Silence of the Lambs, it has an incredible sense of style and must be commended for its imaginative and creative filmmaking. Few psychological horror films from the 2000s look as good as this.
Bug (2006) - Available On EPIX, The Roku Channel & Fandor
One of director William Friedkin's best movies, Bug is a psychological horror film based on a play by Tracy Letts. Michael Shannon stars as Peter Evans, a supposedly discharged soldier who believes that his small Oklahoma motel room has been bugged by the United States government.
Of course, things aren't as straightforward as they seem. The film perfectly showcases the directorial prowess of Friedkin, as he utilizes the small, enclosed setting to wonderful effect, crafting a tense and psychological tale about paranoia.
The Hole (2001) - Available On Paramount+
A small British film, The Hole is led by Thora Birch. She plays a teenager who is trapped inside an underground bunker with a handful of partying friends. While the movie performed moderately well in its native Britain, it never received a theatrical release in the United States, being sent directly to video instead.
As such, it never really attained the audience it so rightly deserves. Birch proves a capable lead actress, and the story shares many tantalizing (and horrifying) similarities to William Golding's iconic novel, Lord of the Flies.
A Tale Of Two Sisters (2003) - Available On AMC+, Canopy & Shudder
One of the greatest foreign horror films ever made, A Tale of Two Sisters is a brilliant bit of psychological horror from Korea. The story weaves many disparate elements together, including a relationship between sisters, a stepmother, mental illness, family history, and the ghosts haunting their house.
While the story can prove a little confusing, at times, the movie nevertheless is effectively disturbing in its themes and visuals, proving the undeniable talents of writer-director Kim Jee-Woon. It's a tragedy masked in a horror film, and it is breathtaking.