UK Horror: 5 UK & Northern Ireland Movies You Need To See & 5 To Avoid.

Welcome to Knockout Horror and to our first list article. Today we are taking a look at UK Horror: 5 UK & Northern Ireland Movies You Need To See & 5 To Avoid.

5 Underrated British & Northern Irish Horror Movies

The UK has a pretty decent history with horror. From old classics like The Wicker Man to modern masterpieces like 28 Days Later. The shared language between the UK and America has allowed the horror here to translate well overseas. Much like Australia, it could be said that UK horror punches above its weight. Naturally, it’s not all good. Today we are taking a look at 5 Underrated UK & Norther Irish Horror Movies and 5 that suck.

So what qualifies a movie as underrated? Well, it could be that it has flown under the radar. It could be that the subject matter is divisive. Or it could simply be a case of people not realising how good a movie really is. The movies we are covering today are a mix of these things. Hell, I have potentially underrated a few of them. Still, they all have one thing in common. An audience of people that love them and think they need more attention. Let’s take a look.

🇬🇧 Ranked: Underrated UK Horror Gems

5. Mandrake (2022) – Mud, Magic, and Murder

Why It’s Underrated: It is a gritty, grounded take on folk horror that eschews flashy scares for a oppressive atmosphere. While the plot can be a bit tangled, the Northern Irish setting provides a unique and gloomy backdrop that really sets it apart from typical genre fare.

Mandrake is an interesting, slow burning folk horror from Northern Ireland (It’s part of the UK so this is a great opportunity to highlight one of the few horror movies from there). Focusing on the story of a probation officer tasked with helping a killer reintegrate into society. This is a movie that is, most definitely, not for everyone. Incredibly slow paced and with a sometimes convoluted and messy plot. Mandrake will likely frustrate as much as it pleases.

Still, this is an interesting movie that takes a slightly different approach to the folk horror genre. It builds tension gradually, attempting to deeply unsettle the viewer with its taboo breaking plot. Decent performances from the film’s leading ladies, Deirdre Mullins and Derbhle Crotty, help you invest in the events taking place. If you fancy something with a glacial pace and a proverbial Rubik’s cube of a plot, Mandrake may just be for you.

Check out our review of Mandrake right here. If it’s messy plot confuses you, come right back and check out our Mandrake Ending Explained article to clear things up.

4. Gwen (2018) – Bleak Beauty

Why It’s Underrated: It is visually stunning, capturing the harsh beauty of Snowdonia perfectly. It requires patience, trading jump scares for a sense of impending doom and tragedy. If you loved The Witch but wanted something even bleaker, this is it.

Gwen is a hauntingly beautiful Period Folk Horror movie set in the North Wales region of Snowdon. This, much like Mandrake, is a glacially slow paced movie designed to unsettle the viewer. One of the more stunningly shot movies reviewed on this site. It is also a horror movie sure to divide viewers. Its slow, considered, pace and lack of scares don’t lend itself well to casual viewers. Hell, even I felt very conflicted with it.

Following the story of a family being forced out of their home during the industrial revolution. Gwen features supernatural elements with hints of witchcraft and social drama. It is breathtakingly gorgeous and Eleanor Cox’s performance as Gwen is exceptional.

Its slow pace and almost horror adjacent stylings will likely put viewers off. Gwen can be predictable and really drags its feet in parts. Still, there is a well developed story and haunting presentation here that fans of The Witch will surely find plenty to enjoy. Check out our review of Gwen right here.

3. The Children (2008) – Holiday Homicides

Why It’s Underrated: It nails the “creepy kid” trope without feeling cheesy. The slow escalation from holiday tantrums to calculated murder is handled brilliantly. It taps into the frustration of dealing with misbehaving children and dials it up to a bloody eleven.

The Children is a pretty great horror movie focusing on a group of marauding children terrorising adults over the holidays. Set in a grand English estate; it manages that enviable task of capturing the Christmas holiday vibes while still being legitimately scary.

The Children features some seriously creepy kids and some ridiculously dumb adults. It also has an easy going, horror lite feeling to it that makes it perfect for popcorn horror viewing. The plot is simple and there are some interesting kills. Well worth a watch if you just want to switch off your brain and have fun. Check out our review of The Children right here.

2. Exhibit A (2007) – A Real Tragedy

Why It’s Underrated: It is terrifyingly realistic. The horror here isn’t ghosts or goblins; it’s financial ruin and the collapse of a family unit. The performances are so natural that it feels like you are watching an home video kept as police evidence. It’s horrifying.

Exhibit A is a British indie found footage, crime-based, horror movie. It follows the story of the mental decline of King family patriarch Andy. Overlooked for a promotion at work, Andy finds himself in spiralling debt. Unable to confide in his family and unwilling to let them down, he begins mentally unravelling with devastating consequences. This is a fantastically dark horror movie that, at times, feels almost too real.

Haunting for its authentic portrayal of domestic violence and familicide. Exhibit A stays with you long after you turn it off. I still class the ending sequences as some of the more disturbing I have seen in horror history. Bradley Cole and Brittany Ashworth are fantastically believable. The found footage styling affords a feeling of realism that few horror movies can match.

The found footage genre is also hit or miss for many and the lack of scares will put plenty of people off. Still, in my opinion, this is one of the more effective horror movies to come out of the UK in the 2000’s. Check out our review of Exhibit A right here.

1. Saint Maud (2019) – Divine Madness

Why It’s Underrated: It is a future classic that is often misunderstood as “boring” by casual viewers. It is a visually arresting, deeply disturbing dive into the mind of a lonely, mentally ill woman. The final shot is one of the most shocking and memorable in recent horror history.

Saint Maud is another slow burning British Psychological Horror movie. Focusing on the story of a devoutly religious former nurse, Saint Maud is an exploration into life, terminal illness, and the complexities of mental health disorders. Featuring a tour-de-force performance by Welsh actor Morfydd Clark, Rose Glass’ haunting feature length horror debut will stay with you long after it has finished.

This is a somewhat depressing tale that cuts no corners in its depiction of schizophrenia induced religious delusion. Absolutely worth a watch and one of the best horror movies to come out of the UK in recent years. This is, despite the praise, not for everyone.

The reason it features in this list is due to the lower audience rating. It is slow paced and the horror element is placed somewhere in the background which leaves certain audiences wanring. Still, if you enjoy a complex horror movie that really makes you think, you absolutely need to check Saint Maud out. We have also put together a Saint Maud Ending Explained article. So if you watch and it leaves you with questions, why not come and take a look? Check out our review of Saint Maud right here.

And 5 Not So Good British Horror Movies

Okay, one of these is more average than bad. Still, that is a matter of opinion. The UK has knocked out some terrible horror movies in the past few years. Boring, derivative, gloomy, depressing, hilarious, poorly acted. Take your pick, these movies feature most of those elements. Let’s take a look.

5. The Isle (2018) – Maritime Boredom

Why It’s Not So Good: It is beautifully shot but incredibly dull. It promises a spooky, atmospheric mystery but delivers a convoluted plot populated by wooden characters. It feels like a period drama that accidentally stumbled into a horror movie and immediately regretted it.

Fake IMDB reviews from people involved in production? Check. Terrible acting from key characters? Check. A recycled plot and an awkward sex scene? Check… We must be talking about Matthew Butler-Hart’s maritime horror drama The Isle.

I will never forget my joy reading user reviews of this movie. People invested enough to complain about “the attention spans of Millennials” and protest that “it was never described as a horror anyway” made for better entertainment than the movie itself. Naturally the majority of those reviews were fake but still a lot of fun.

Three sailors land on an island. The island is all but deserted. The remaining residents hide a secret. Women stare menacingly. The end. Horror fans will likely find little to enjoy here. It’s a gorgeous movie and some of the acting is fine. The plot is messy, though, and direction leaves lots to be desired. Non-horror fans will probably enjoy this a lot more than horror fans. We covered this in an Ending Explained article so check it out if the movie confused you. Read our review of The Isle right here.

4. Await Further Instructions (2018) – TV Terror

Why It’s Not So Good: It has a fantastic concept but squanders it with unlikable characters and escalating silliness. Instead of a tense psychological thriller, it descends into a bickering match between caricatures, culminating in a finale that strains credibility.

Again, more average than bad. Await Further Instructions is set at Christmas and follows a family trapped inside their house by an apparent external crisis. The family are instructedm by words on the television, to follow increasingly bizarre demands as their personalities clash and tensions mount.

A messy plot, average acting and ridiculous character reactions really drag this movie down. A general feeling of silliness and ridiculous levels of escalation don’t help. Still, it’s okay if you are looking for a horror movie set at Christmas. Check out our review of Await Further Instructions right here.

3. Choose or Die (2022) – Game Over

Why It’s Not So Good: It is a cynical attempt to cash in on 80s nostalgia without understanding it. The plot is nonsensical, the accents are atrocious, and it wastes a Robert Englund cameo on a pointless voice-over. It feels like a film made by an algorithm for an algorithm.

Gah! What more can you say about a movie like this? British actors don fake American accents and South London Masquerades as New York in this terrible Netflix horror. Kayla finds an old 80’s video game that is offering a prize of $125,000. Thinking it will solve her financial issues, she plays, little realising that the game will force her to make increasingly dark choices on real life events.

Aside from how ridiculous this plot is, this movie gives Robert Englund top billing for a 30 second, off screen, voice over appearance. That should tell you all you need to know. The video game style effects and hilariously bad presentation make Choose or Die a laugh a minute romp. Sub-par acting and terribly unconvincing accents are just the cherry on the shit-sundae here. Avoid unless you desperately need a laugh. Check out our review of Choose or Die right here.

2. Hosts (2020) – Unwelcome Guests

Why It’s Not So Good: It is a mess of half-baked ideas and poor execution. While it has one notably shocking scene, the rest of the movie is dragged down by terrible dialogue, plot holes you could drive a truck through, and a confusing mythology that goes nowhere.

Not to be confused with the, actually decent, movie Host from the same year. Hosts is a British horror movie following a family spending Christmas together. Only to realise their invited guests seem a little different in the most murderous and violent way possible.

This is a movie that is as confused as it is painfully average. Poor writing, tons of plot holes, and horrible technical issues mar what could have been an okay movie. Samantha Loxley’s performance deserves praise and one shocking scene of note might provide amusement for horror fans. Regardless of how in poor taste it is. If you are looking for a solid horror movie, maybe look elsewhere. Check out our review of Hosts right here.

1. The Sitter (2017) – House Sitting Hell

Why It’s Not So Good: It is a textbook example of how not to make a horror movie. It relies entirely on clichéd jump scares and gratuitous nudity to fill the runtime. Despite a committed performance from the lead, the direction is lazy, the plot is practically non-existent, and it isn’t scary in the slightest.

Ah man is this movie ever terrible? The funny thing is, it starts out quite promising. A broke student offers to house sit for an eccentric couple. While spending time in the enormous, remote, home, Charlotte begins experiencing strange dreams and bizarre goings on. An incredibly committed and effective performance by Aisling Knight cannot save this movie.

The plot is ridiculous, acting terrible, and the movie completely lacks in scares. A tendency to default to “main character gets her boobs out” to offset the terrible direction and general awfulness feels almost like exploitation. This is a movie that deserves no praise outside of Aisling Knight’s excellent performance. Check out our review of The Sitter (also known as Darkness Wakes) right here.

And That’s Your Lot

So that’s five underrated British horror movies and 5 that are simply a bit bad. Sure, some of you will likely disagree. Some of you probably enjoy some of these bad films, others will likely hate some that I recommend. I know Saint Maud is a very divisive one. Still, that’s the beauty of horror – it moves people in different ways.

Thanks for reading. There are more lists coming in the future. In the meantime, why not check out our Horror Movie Reviews or take a look at some Ending Explained articles? I am adding to the site practically every day of the week so check back often.

☕ Quick Picks: Best British Horror by Vibe

The Critics’ Choice: Saint Maud (2019)
For when you want cinema, not just a movie. It is a stunning, psychological deep dive into religious obsession and mental illness. Morfydd Clark’s performance is nothing short of incredible.

The Popcorn Horror: The Children (2008)
For when you just want to be entertained. It is a simple, bloody, and effective slasher that pits adults against their own offspring. Perfect for a group watch with friends.

The “Too Real” Pick: Exhibit A (2007)
For when you want to be genuinely disturbed. It uses the found footage format to tell a heartbreaking story of domestic tragedy. It feels voyeuristic, gritty, and the ending will haunt you.

The Atmospheric Burn: Gwen (2018)
For the patient viewer who loves a gloomy landscape. It trades jump scares for a sense of overwhelming dread and features some of the most beautiful cinematography in the genre.

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