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The 2000s was a fascinating decade for the horror genre. The cheesiness of the '90s lived on, which led to the corny slasher Valentine (2000), Final Destination 2 (2003), and Freddy vs Jason (2003). But the 2000s also had some impressive films that fans still love today, including The Others (2001), The Ring (2002), and The Grudge (2004).

Part of the joy and fun of being a horror fan is checking out new movies while looking in the archives to find hidden gems. But it's likely that moviegoers missed out on a few 2000s releases that didn't get that much attention and which have gotten lost in the countless slashers, supernatural stories, and creature features.

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Jack O'Lantern (2004)

Split image of the monster in Jack O'Lantern and the movie's poster

Although horror films with Halloween settings sound fun and enjoyable in theory, since this is a spooky time of year, not every story told around this holiday is excellent. After a screening at the FrightFest Film Festival in London, Jack O'Lantern was put out on DVD. While there are many great horror movies about Halloween, Jack O'Lantern isn't one of the most memorable, and it's possible that some haven't heard of it.

An evil ghost has turned into a pumpkin and is killing people, which would be scarier if there weren't other films that happen on October 31st that incorporate pumpkins, the beloved Trick 'r Treat being one of them. The creature isn't particularly creepy or interesting, and horror fans will be left wanting a lot more from this mostly forgettable film.

Shallow Ground (2004)

Shallow Ground Poster

The 2004 film Shallow Ground has a few elements that usually make for a solid horror film: a small town (this one is called Shallow Valley), characters with secrets, and a mysterious main character. It's been one year since a girl went missing, and Rocky Marquette's character appears naked in town, which makes everyone wonder if he was the culprit. Sheldon Wilson wrote and directed the film, which has a 4.9 out of 10 rating on IMDb.

Shallow Valley is a great horror movie setting, but Shallow Ground isn't a very well-known 2000s horror film and fans of the genre likely aren't too familiar with it. The characters and plot don't stand out as it's a bit too obvious to assume that the stranger who suddenly appears in town is an evil killer.

Cry Wolf (2005)

The cast of Cry Wolf

Starring Jared Padalecki, Gary Cole, and Jon Bon Jovi, Cry Wolf tells the story of teenagers who tell everyone on campus that there is a serial killer called "The Wolf" going on a rampage. But when someone dies, it seems like the rumored monster might actually be real. While horror fans can appreciate the dark fairy tale that is alluded to here, as the story of Red Riding Hood and the Wolf is of course a classic, the film just that well-crafted or compelling.

The Wolf isn't a timeless horror movie villain and it's likely that this movie has gotten lost in the other scary films about high school and college students. Like other forgotten horror films from the 2000s, Cry Wolf doesn't stand out in terms of plot, storytelling devices, or main characters.

Dark Ride (2006)

The Killer in Dark Ride

While Dark Ride has a memorable horror movie setting, since the story takes place at the amusement park Ashbury Park in New Jersey, the movie itself isn't very memorable. The film stars Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Cathy, a student who is happy that it's spring break and who comes across the park with her friends while on a road trip.

There are many great modern slasher movies, but Dark Ride doesn't push the boundaries of the genre or end up being very creative. It's likely that horror fans will watch this film and feel like they've seen it many times before. The movie wasn't much of a success, with IMDb noting that its global box office was $321,875.

Case 39 (2009)

Renee Zellwegger in Case 39

Despite having Renée Zellweger as its star, playing a social worker named Emily Jenkins, Case 39 isn't very memorable. Emily begins working with Lillith Sullivan (Jodelle Ferland). Lillith's parents think that something is wrong with her, but Emily thinks that Lillith's parents are hurting her.

There are some confusing plot twists in Case 39, and ultimately, it's not that much fun watching Emily and Lillith play a strange game with each other. There are much more interesting and exciting horror movies about kids who have been taken over by evil spirits or demons. Ultimately, the movie is more confusing than anything else and audiences might have more questions than they get answers for, which is never a good thing. It takes a bit too long for the movie to really get going and for audiences to find out the truth about Lillith.

NEXT: 5 Memorable 2000s Horror Movie Quotes