After seven years, a grieving woman is prepared to declare her missing husband as legally ‘dead in absentia’, but is shocked to find him reappear from a nearby tunnel.

Horror it-boy Mike Flanagan is a household name whether you realize it or not. For the past several years he’s dominated our Netflix banners with horror series after horror series like Haunting of Hill House, along with feature films like Dr. Sleep and Gerald’s Game. Flanagan’s independent feature debut ABSENTIA (2011) made it clear early on that he had the chops for terrifying storytelling. It’s one of my favorite under the radar endorsements I’ve been forcing onto unwilling peers for years and I’m here to do it again!

Tricia grapples with finally declaring her missing husband Daniel legally dead in absentia after he disappeared mysteriously seven years prior. Despite expecting a child with her new partner, her feelings of guilt and loss stir up frightening nightmares involving Daniel. Her sister Callie, a recovering drug addict flirting with relapse, arrives to lend emotional support through the process but suddenly, Daniel reappears, traumatized from “the underneath”. 

Before anyone can acclimate to Daniel’s return, Callie witnesses Daniel get captured and phased into the wall of a nearby street tunnel, seemingly taken by someone or something. But will anyone believe her?

I can’t recommend this one enough – subtle psychological horror with a cosmic twist all pieced together finely with an earnest indie spirit.