It's Halloween season, so horror classics like "The Shining," "The Exorcist" and "Night of the Living Dead" are likely getting heavy views on streaming channels.
As well they should.
The folks at JustWatch.com say the Top 10 streaming film titles this week include both old and new horror favorites, including "Obsession," "Backrooms," "It Follows," the original "Halloween" (1978) and the first "Friday the 13th" (1980).
Let's look past the obvious hits, if only for a moment. What about the horror films that didn't become classics? Some films came and went without much hullabaloo, but they're still well worth your time — especially as the calendar creeps up on Oct. 31.
Here are four horror films you likely missed the first time (but don't let it happen again).
"Backcountry" (2014)
A guy, a girl and a bear. That's all this forgotten gem needed to keep us glued to the screen. Everything else is superfluous if the story is tight, the characters ring true and the scares are steady and raw. "Backcountry" delivers on all three counts.
The film also explores a couple on the edge, giving the story more dimension in its critical first act. On a deeper level, it's about how miscommunication can lead to a breakdown in both trust and intimacy.
And, of course, never go hiking in bear country.
"The Blob" (1988)
This one vaulted to classic status in just a few short scenes. A handsome male character is all set to be the film's protagonist until the titular creature swallows him whole. That leads the town rebel, memorably played by Kevin Dillon ("Entourage") to step in as the unlikely hero.
The 1958 original is noteworthy for giving a young Steve McQueen (the poster listed him as "Steven McQueen") his first major role ... and little else beyond campy fun and dated effects. This remake rocks, with its black humor, noteworthy kills and endless entertainment.
"Bone Tomahawk" (2015)
This horror/western hybrid stars Kurt Russell and perhaps the best mustache of the past 20+ years. Russell plays a sheriff who forms a posse to rescue women kidnapped by a nasty tribe. The strong cast includes Patrick Wilson, Richard Jenkins and David Arquette, and the film's first half suggests an oater far more than a Halloween treat.
Just wait.
S. Craig Zahler's directorial debut is a stunner, transforming an old-school western into something far more ghastly. It's not for the squeamish. Nor is his 2017 film "Brawl in Cell Block 99," arguably Vince Vaughn's best film performance.
"Housebound" (2014)
Don't sleep on horror comedies. This New Zealand film follows a rebellious young woman (Morgana O'Reilly) forced to move back in with her parents after getting nicked for robbing an ATM. She's miserable, of course, but her bleak mood sours when she realizes the house in question may be haunted.
Director Gerard Johnstone later proved his worth stateside with the surprise smash "M3GAN." Here, he flexes his knack for wringing scares and laughter out of an unlikely scenario.
