When most people think of Easter, their minds drift to pastel-colored eggs, fuzzy bunnies, and wholesome family brunches. But for the horror fans among us, this spring holiday can be something far more sinister with Easter horror movies. Resurrection, fertility, transformation—Easter is ripe with eerie, twisted themes just waiting to be reimagined in blood-soaked horror. And while Halloween reigns supreme as the horror holiday, don’t sleep on the terrifying potential of Easter.
Sure, Critters 2 and Peter Rottentail may occasionally crawl out of the crypt as essential Easter horror movies this time of year, but there’s a whole basket of lesser-known horror movies that use Easter as a backdrop—or, at the very least, play off its uncanny symbols—to scare the chocolate right out of you.
So if you’re looking to add something a little darker to your spring watchlist, we’ve dug up 7 underrated Easter horror movies that deserve a spot on your radar. Some are campy, some are gory, and some are surprisingly deep. Let’s hop to it.
1. Beaster Day: Here Comes Peter Cottonhell (2014)
Director: Zack and Spencer Snygg
Where to Watch: Tubi, Amazon Prime (sometimes available)
Let’s start with a movie that puts the “what the hell?” in Peter Cottonhell.
Beaster Day is an absurd, low-budget creature feature that’s gained a bit of a cult following in recent years. The plot? A giant, bloodthirsty mutant Easter Bunny begins slaughtering a small town’s residents in the days leading up to their annual Easter parade. It’s exactly as ridiculous as it sounds.
The special effects are gloriously bad. The acting is questionable at best. But Beaster Day leans so hard into its campy concept that it becomes a bizarrely fun watch—especially with a few drinks and horror-loving friends.
Why it’s worth watching:
It’s the Troll 2 of Easter horror. If you love your slashers with a side of surreal, low-budget nonsense, this one’s for you.
2. The Night Before Easter (2014)
Director: Joseph Henson, Nathan Johnson
Where to Watch: Physical media or rare digital rental
Set in a self-storage facility (a surprisingly creepy setting), this indie slasher follows a group of friends who decide to party on Easter weekend—only to be stalked and picked off by a masked killer dressed like an Easter Bunny. Classic slasher setup, right?
The production value might not blow you away, but the film pays respectful homage to ’80s slashers while bringing some fresh kills and dark humor. It’s not reinventing the wheel, but it’s a satisfying holiday-themed horror entry with a love for genre tropes.
Why it’s worth watching:
Perfect for fans of My Bloody Valentine or The Prowler. Slasher completists will appreciate the obscure festive setting.
3. Easter Bunny, Kill! Kill! (2006)
Director: Chad Ferrin
Where to Watch: Tubi, DVD/Blu-ray
This one doesn’t shy away from disturbing content—so viewer discretion is advised.
Easter Bunny, Kill! Kill! tells the story of a young boy with a mental disability who’s abused by his mother’s new boyfriend. On Easter Eve, someone in a bunny mask begins a gruesome killing spree, targeting those who’ve wronged the boy. It’s mean, it’s grimy, and it’s packed with exploitation-style gore.
Underneath the grime, though, is a surprisingly effective tale of revenge and justice, with a final act that lands harder than you’d expect.
Why it’s worth watching:
If you like your horror gritty and unflinching—with a sprinkle of Easter vengeance—this is a dark indie worth seeking out.
4. Rottentail (2019)
Director: Brian Skiba
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime, Apple TV
Based on the graphic novel of the same name, Rottentail is a horror-comedy that’s big on ambition, if not always on execution.
Dr. Peter Cotton (yes, seriously) is a meek fertility researcher who gets bitten by a genetically modified rabbit and transforms into a grotesque half-man, half-rabbit hybrid. He returns to his hometown seeking revenge on childhood bullies—and it gets weirder from there.
This movie is loud, absurd, and loaded with creature-feature energy. Think The Toxic Avenger meets Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—with a few Easter eggs (pun absolutely intended) thrown in for good measure.
Why it’s worth watching:
A must-watch if you enjoy horror that leans heavily into comic book absurdity and practical effects. Plus, the creature design is pure nightmare fuel.
5. Bunnyman (2011)
Director: Carl Lindbergh
Where to Watch: Tubi, VOD
Somewhere between The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Donnie Darko lies Bunnyman—a rural slasher about a man in a bunny suit who stalks and kills a group of travelers.
It’s part of a low-budget trilogy that leans heavily on grindhouse-style gore and backwoods horror vibes. While the acting and pacing can drag at times, the eerie bunny-suited killer makes for a memorable villain. The kills? Brutal. The atmosphere? Unsettling. The plot? Thin—but effective if you’re into backroad horror.
Why it’s worth watching:
It’s not perfect, but it delivers on the creepy bunny slasher premise. Worth a watch for fans of gritty, no-frills horror.
6. Holidays (2016) – “Easter” Segment
Director: Nicholas McCarthy (Easter segment)
Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV
Technically this isn’t a full-length Easter horror film, but the “Easter” segment of the horror anthology Holidays is so deeply unsettling that it demands a spot on this list.
It follows a young girl who’s confused about how the resurrection of Jesus and the Easter Bunny tie together. When she’s visited by a horrifying creature—half crucified Christ, half rabbit—it becomes a surreal, body-horror nightmare of religious and folkloric fusion.
It’s weird, it’s grotesque, and it’ll stick with you long after the credits roll.
Why it’s worth watching:
A haunting exploration of faith and folklore. Just 10 minutes long, but unforgettable.
7. Kottentail (2007)
Director: Tony Urban
Where to Watch: DVD (rare), YouTube (sometimes unofficial uploads)
Let’s round things out with one of the most bizarrely charming entries on this list.
Kottentail tells the tale of mutant killer rabbits attacking a small town after a chemical experiment goes wrong. There’s a lot of fur, a lot of blood, and one scene that might ruin chocolate bunnies for you forever.
Shot with tongue firmly in cheek, this one blends campy monster movie energy with a surprising amount of heart. If you enjoy old-school creature features and bad puns, you’ll have a blast.
Why it’s worth watching:
A pure midnight-movie experience. Think Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, but fluffier.
Honorable Mentions
If you’ve already devoured the list above and want more Easter-adjacent horror to chew on, here are a few extra titles worth checking out:
- Critters 2: The Main Course (1988) – Not explicitly Easter-themed, but it does feature killer aliens hatching from Easter eggs.
- Donnie Darko (2001) – Not a horror film in the traditional sense, but that Frank the Bunny imagery is haunting enough to qualify.
- Lepus (2013) – A short film with a cult following that blends folklore and atmospheric horror around Easter themes.
Easter might seem like an unlikely holiday for horror, but think about it: death and resurrection, eggs as symbols of fertility and rebirth, cute animals with soulless eyes… There’s something inherently uncanny about the season.
That tension between light and dark, between life and death, between innocence and corruption—it’s all right there, ready to be exploited by bold horror filmmakers.
So this spring, when everyone else is reaching for Peeps and painting eggs, grab some jellybeans, dim the lights, and let the Easter Bunny bring you nightmares instead of candy.
You’ll never look at a chocolate bunny the same way again.
