Here’s 10 Low Budget Horror Flicks To Watch This October
Horror movies have been known to be low budget, high profit. But are they always? In the grand scheme of things, yes, especially in contrast to other genres. Horror movie budgets average between $16 million to $35 million, while the average budget for Hollywood motion pictures in general lays around $65 million (not including marketing). But $16 million to $35 million still seemed high to me. I consider low budget to be under $5 million. For horror films, how much do you really need? Low budget = less effects and more suspense, which could be a recipe for an amazing horror film. To put my love of horror to the test, I put together a list of my favorite horror movies that had a budget of under $5 million. Surprisingly, it wasn’t hard to find iconic and innovate horror films that fit these standards. If you’ve been searching for exemplary horror films to get you in the mood for spooky season, take a peek at the list below… if you dare!
Paranormal Activity
I think anyone born in the late 90’s (like me!) was introduced to the horror genre by this movie. That being said, Paranormal Activity obviously had to get an honorable spot on this list, even more so with the budget being a whopping $15,000. The found footage film technique is a *chef’s kiss* for horror films. The grounded and gritty footage makes it feel as though you are watching a real home video gone wrong.
Watch on Pluto, The Roku Channel, Paramount+, or Prime Video.
Halloween
Witness the ultimate scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis in her breakout role and the film that coined her that iconic title Halloween. This movie made me truly appreciate horror as a genre. The exceptional score, composed by director John Carpenter, was not only revolutionary but horrifyingly memorable to this day. I think everyone can agree that when you hear "Halloween Theme – Main Title," a chill goes down your spine. Curtis’ performance is outstanding, giving it her all with every blood curdling scream, it’s no wonder Carpenter didn’t need much of a budget to begin with. The budget for Halloween comes in at $325,000, which could be $1.5 million today.
Watch on Crackle, PLEX, or Prime Video.
Blair Witch Project
Another found footage film? Yes, please.
I’d argue that this movie revitalized the found footage genre, paving the way for horror favorites such as Paranormal Activity, Creep, Cloverfield, and Wreck. If you want a movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat, add this to your watchlist. It really taps into the viewer’s fears of the unknown. We’re more scared of what we can’t see and the vagueness of the witch’s identity makes it all the more scary. This film cost a mere $500,000 in 1999, which is equivalent to roughly $921,446 today.
Watch on Paramount+.
Insidious
If Paranormal Activity wasn’t your first horror movie (I’m talking to the late 90’s kids again!), then Insidious is the next likely culprit. Before The Conjuring, there was Insidious. Look at this movie as a pregame for horror movies if you’re a newbie, because this movie has it all — ghosts, demons, and jumpscares, oh my!. Fair warning: If you like the song “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” by Tiny Tim, you may never want to listen to it again after this movie. It had a budget of $1.5 million and, let me tell you, they used every last dollar and did not disappoint.
Watch on Max or Prime Video.
The Witch
Much like the Blair Witch Project, The Witch focuses on an unknown, mysterious entity plaguing a 1630 New England farm (as if the 1600s weren’t scary enough!). Witch-themed movies have dominated the horror genre for decades, but leave it to Robert Eggers to make a witch movie like no other you’ve seen before. Eggers’ meticulous detail for history, along with Anya Taylor-Joy’s chilling and intense performance, makes this a must watch. The budget for this movie was only $4 million, but you wouldn’t even know it while you’re hiding behind your hands watching this flick.
Watch on Max, Hulu, or Prime Video.
Get Out
While Get Out is shocking and has the classic horror basis, it has a deeper meaning throughout and forces the audience to confront uncomfortable truths about our society as it is today. Director Jordan Peele does so by subtly utilized imagery to convey deep meanings. And when I say subtle, I mean subtle, from the white girlfriend Rose, played by Allison Williams, eating her fruit loops separate from the white milk to Chris, played by Daniel Kaluuya, sitting helplessly in Rose’s big family estate as the camera pans out revealing generations of white family portraits. This movie has amazing cinematography, acting performances, and more — yet the budget was only $4.5 million!
Watch on Peacock or Prime Video.
It Follows
Buckle up folks because this movie is horror as much as it is uncomfortable, compelling, and inventive. It Follows finds people being affected by a death curse that is passed via sexual intercourse. It’s brilliant, if you ask me, and something I had never seen before. If you want an indie horror film that has a very unique plot, this has to be on your watchlist. The budget for this film was $1.3 million.
Watch on Hulu.
Creep
The title says it all, this movie will truly Creep you out. I feel like there is a common theme in my list of the unknown being more terrifying than actually seeing, well, the known. I love true crime stories like any other 20-something woman, but seeing a psychopath unravel on screen is unnerving. When watching certain horror movies that have a demon, ghost, or monster, you know it’s fake, so you can tell yourself that when watching. While watching Creep, a chill goes down your spine with the thought that there are people just like Mark Duplass’ character Josef, which makes this movie all the more terrifying. It also wins for lowest budget on this list… because there wasn’t one. That’s right, no budget for the film Creep. According to a Duplass, "Creep cost no money" to film since they "used a found-footage premise and three-person crew."
Watch on Netflix.
Hush
Everyone has had the nightmare where you’re trying to scream and no one can hear you. What about the one where you can’t hear?
Hush is about a deaf woman named Maddie, played by Kate Siegel, living alone in the woods. I know, I know, horror cliche. Someone is watching her and eventually gets into her house. It’s all around entertaining for anyone who loves action and thrill. Maddie fights for her life against this masked killer, all while she is unable to hear his next move. Directed by the brilliant Mike Flanagan, the budget for this film comes in at $1 million.
Watch on Peacock.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The original slasher film that was controversial for its time and has become a classic amongst horror movie aficionados? Sign me up.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre came out in 1974, one year before the Vietnam War ended. Americans were seemingly indifferent to violence at this point and the horrors man can inflict on one another. With the death count on the nightly news, everyone had to be. When Texas Chainsaw Massacre came out, it brought those horrors to the big screen. Director Tobe Hooper used the inhumanity of violence by man as the scariest monster in his film. The budget came in at a whopping $140,000 in 1974, which would amount to around $870,000 today.
Watch on Peacock, Pluto, and Tubi.
