10 spine-chilling regional horror movies on JioHotstar, YouTube & more

While Bollywood has given us haunted havelis and jump scares, India’s regional horror films often deliver deeper chills.

Rooted in folklore, rituals, and local legends, these stories linger long after the credits roll. Here are seven must-watch gems.

Arundhati (YouTube): This Telugu classic blends mythology and horror. Arundhati (Anushka Shetty) must confront Pasupathi, a sadistic spirit defeated by her warrior ancestor, in a tale of curses, black magic, and vengeance.

Pizza (JioHotstar): A pizza delivery boy (Vijay Sethupathi) is trapped in a haunted house. What starts as supernatural terror becomes a psychological thriller with shocking twists.

Chaarulatha (YouTube): Conjoined twins Charu and Latha share a deep bond until they fall for the same man. A surgery to separate them goes wrong, leaving one dead. But the surviving sister soon realises the haunting truth may be far more twisted.

Yavarum Nalam (JioHotstar): Manohar moves into his dream home with his family, only to face eerie events that mirror a TV serial they all watch. As reality and fiction blur, the supernatural tightens its grip.

Ezra (JioHotstar): When Priya discovers an antique box, she unknowingly unleashes the spirit of Ezra. What begins as a fresh start in a new city turns into a terrifying fight against a vengeful ghost.

Pisasu (JioHotstar): A violinist haunted after a girl’s death discovers the ghost isn’t vengeful but protective, leading to an emotional twist.

Lapachhapi (ZEE5): A pregnant woman finds shelter in a sugarcane-surrounded house, only to uncover sinister rituals and dark secrets.

Bhoot Chaturdashi (Hoichoi): Four filmmakers enter an abandoned palace linked to occult rituals. Their curiosity turns into horror in this Bengali tale tied to local folklore.

Shob Bhooturey (YouTube): A skeptic (Abir Chatterjee) investigates ghostly events with a woman who claims to see spirits, blurring lines between reality and the supernatural.

Demonte Colony (YouTube): Four friends explore Chennai’s real haunted mansion, only to be trapped in an eerie cycle of doom. A chilling mix of urban legend and raw fear.