8 Best Independent Horror (and dark thriller) Movies Released on Streaming During July 2025

These indie gems should be added to your watch list.

updated on 08/04/25

The Death of Snow White was one of the best surprises in July.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; Supporting indie horror is important. More than that though, by watching lots of low-to-no-budget horror movies, you’re sure to discover a gem that you’d never have known about if you just stuck to the movies everyone talks about about all the time. In this article I’ve collected eight indie-horror gems, all given a wide release on streaming during July 2025, that fans of the genre should consider checking out.

The Best Indie Horror in July 2025

Et Tu

Et Tu is a Shakespearean tale about art becoming life (and death). The story is centered on Brent, the director of a regional production of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. He’s having trouble with his cast and crew, especially with Marcus, the actor portraying Brutus. Fate offers Brent the chance to take care of his problem with Marcus while simultaneously “helping” his understudy Terrence whom Brent has taken a special interest in. What follows is a fantastic story of murder, betrayal, and pitch-black humor.

The Death of Snow White

The Death of Snow White could have been just another halfhearted attempt at combining a beloved public-domain story with horror. We’ve seen a lot of that over the past few years. Instead, this gory version of the Snow White fairy tale is surprisingly fun and entertaining. It’s endearingly cheesy and embraces its low-budget aesthetic with zero irony. This is the story of Snow White, slightly re-imagined, and presented with heart and humor. Plus lots of violence and blood.

Push

Though some of the review blurbs in its trailer tout Push as one of the scariest movies of the year, that kind of obvious hyperbole shouldn’t deter you from watching. Push is an effectively tense and suspenseful thriller that feels like it was inspired as much by haunted house stories as much as home invasion films. The story follows Natalie, a pregnant realtor who is stalked by a mysterious stranger while trapped on the grounds of a house she’s trying to sell.

Hot Spring Shark Attack

Hot Spring Shark Attack is intentionally dumb and fun. Those kinds of movies don’t always work for me, but this one does. The goofy story sets up a scenario in which ancient sharks are released from their slumber by the construction of a resort in a tourist town. The sharks have the ability to appear in hot springs (or any pool of water) scattered throughout the town, prompting a major panic. It’s up to a team of three unlikely heroes to save the city. The CGI effects are silly, the miniature effects are awesome, and the story is ridiculous. I love it.

Monster Island

Monster Island proves that simple horror pleasures still work. Monster Island is set during World War II, and it’s about a Japanese and Allied soldier forced to survive together after washing up on an island after the ship they were on was destroyed (they were both prisoners on a Japanese ship). There could have been more drama in the movie, but the survival aspects are good, and the monster is awesome. Sometimes that’s all you need.

Forgive Us All

Forgive Us All is an apocalyptic, neo-western, viral outbreak “zombie” action-drama. That might be a few too many aspects for a first-time filmmaker to try to juggle, but the movie ends up being pretty good. It focuses on a mother (Lily Sullivan) who lost her daughter to worldwide infection that turns people into zombie-like cannibals. One day an injured man arrives on her land with an opportunity for her to find a kind of redemption for her past. The drama of the story isn’t portrayed very well, but the visuals are nice, and the action is good.

ZombieCON Vol. 1

Christian Casillas, Erin Áine, Manny Luke, and Punkie Johnson in ombieCON Vol. 1 — *ZombieCON Vol. 1* was released digitally on July 15th, 2025. (pictured: Christian Casillas, Erin Áine, Manny Luke, and Punkie Johnson)

Low-budget zombie comedies can be hit or miss. ZombieCON Vol. 1 hits a lot more than it misses. We watch as a group of cosplaying friends accidentally start a zombie apocalypse and then have to fight their way across Los Angeles to save the mother of one of their members. The lead character’s arc is a bit difficult to get behind, but the blood is abundant, and the theme of friendship is wonderful.

The Legend of Gilbert Flay

The Legend of Gilbert Flay is a micro-budget production with a good story and tons of heart. It’s a supernatural slasher movie about a small indie film crew who mess with an urban legend and end up attracting the attention of a legendary killer. The script is a nice blend of humor and horror, and the cast members are all great in their roles.