While it might be fun to watch college students in scary situations, and there are plenty of haunted house films that terrify audiences, it’s hard not to love a good teenage horror movie. But whileScream(1996) is a favorite, and there are many teen horror films ranging from corny (I Know What You Did Last Summer) to intelligent (It Follows), there are some great films that are part of this genre that are underrated.
Horror movies about high school students can be a little cheesy, especially if they were made in the ’90s, but for the most part, these films tell exciting and smart stories about an interesting time in life.
Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999)
Teaching Mrs. Tinglestands out amongunderrated ’90s horror moviesand tells a dark story about teenager Leigh Ann (Katie Holmes) who has trouble with Helen Mirren’s character, an incredibly harsh teacher. Leigh Ann, her best friend Jo Lynn (Marisa Coughlan), and their love interest Luke (Barry Watson) kidnap Eve Tingle when she wants to expel Leigh Ann. The teens hold Mrs. Tingle hostage in her house. Kevin Williamson wrote and directed the film, and he definitely gets more attention forScream,I Know What You Did Last Summer,andThe Faculty.
While this might be seen as a corny movie that critics hated (with a 19% rating on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer), it’s an entertaining ride about a teenage girl who tries way too hard to be perfect. Leigh Ann realizes that there’s more to life than studying and getting good grades and begins to explore a relationship with Luke. The movie also has a juicy love triangle as Leigh Ann and Luke sleep together, which upsets Jo Lynn.
Cherry Falls (2000)
Cherry Fallsis a'90s movie that people forgot about, but the late Brittany Murphy starred as the main character Jody, a girl caught up in the murders taking place in her hometown.
The movie is an underrated teen horror movie as it does two things perfectly: tells a fun slasher story and also examines the life of a compelling adolescent character. The premise of killing virgins works as a character losing their virginity or a teen couple having sex is often part of teen horror films. And Jody struggles in her relationship with her boyfriend Kenny (Gabriel Mann), wondering when is the right time to sleep together. The movie feels smart and interesting without being full of typical teen movie cliches.
I’ve Been Waiting For You (1998)
Manyhorror movie adaptations are better than the booksandI’ve Been Waiting For Youis based on the novelGallows Hillby Lois Duncan, which was published in 1997. This teen horror movie is an intelligent look at a girl who is an outcast and whose new classmates believe that she’s a witch.
Sarah (Sarah Chalke) moves to the small town of Pine Crest, a horror movie trope that works well because she’s so different from her popular and perfect peers. While the cool kids think that Sarah is weird and a killer begins targeting the town’s residents, Sarah struggles to fit in and figure out who she can trust. The movie does a great job of discussing how history has never been kind to people who seem to be outsiders.I’ve Been Waiting For Youis rarely discussed within the context of high school horror movies but it definitely deserves to be mentioned.
Polaroid (2019)
In the 2019 horror moviePolaroid, Bird (Kathryn Prescott) is given a polaroid camera, the catalyst for some truly strange events. When someone’s photo is taken with this camera, a shadowy figure follows that then murders them.
While there are many horror movies about teenagers, including thisteen sci-fi horror movieThe Faculty, there’s something special aboutPolaroid. The supernatural story is enjoyable and Bird is an endearing, quiet, and intelligent character. Adding to the history of horror films about evil objects,Polaroidexplains its evil camera well, as Bird finds out that a girl named Rebecca was once tormented and that started the problems. Bird is also a strong main character who emerges victorious in the end when she has a smart plan for ruining the camera.
Prom Night (2008)
WhileHalloweenis of course her most famous franchise,Jamie Lee Curtis starred in many popular movies, including the 1980 horror movieProm Night. While the 2008 remake isn’t considered to be an amazing, well-done film, it’s endearing to watch Donna (Brittany Snow) try to survive her senior prom.
The horror movie can be considered underrated thanks to Donna’s presence as ahorror movie final girl. Donna is traumatized by her teacher Richard Fenton (Johnathon Schaech) murdering her entire family and trying to have a nice senior prom. When Fenton arrives at the hotel where the prom is, Donna fights to beat him while her friends and boyfriend’s lives are on the line as well. It’s a cheesy, fun movie in the tradition of many slashers that might not be reinventing the wheel, but it’s an enjoyable film to watch.
