Like any horror anthology, Unearthed is a mixed bag. Out of its four segments, some are simply stronger than others. That said, the anthology deserves credit for a few of the segments that push experimentation, which leads to clever twists on familiar subgenres, such as possession. For an indie horror anthology, this contains a few standout segments.

The first segment, “The Ties That Bind,” is simply one of the weakest of the bunch. It follows the story of a woman who disappears after a hike in the woods. Her case links back to a previous one. In part, it plays out like a standard police procedure with a few surprises along the way. Out of every segment, it drags the most. That said, if viewers can make it through this tedious first segment, each one following is much stronger.

The second segment, “Look Towards the Sky,” is an alien abduction story. Frank (Will Devokees) goes missing. His parents contact the police, but suddenly, he returns one day. However, it’s obvious to his parents that he’s not himself. Frank then tells them about a top-secret alien plan to eradicate the human race. While that plot point may be a bit cheesy, Devokees’ performance as an alien abductee is one of the most chilling in the anthology. Additionally, the aliens, though of B movie quality, look quite spooky. “Look Towards the Sky” is certainly a major improvement and a much tighter script than the first segment.

“Clean House” is the most experimental of the four segments. About half of the work plays out like a silent film. This makes it different than the oversaturation of possession films that we’ve seen before. The silent film aspect elevates it. However, the second half, when a young woman enlists the help of a priest to rid her residence of the demon, falls too much into standard territory. Still, at least the filmmaker did something different with at least the first half of the segment.

The final segment, “Highway Rivalry,” is the most gruesome and gory of the bunch. Terri (Debbie D) flees her residence after her husband dies. However, it turns out that the ride she embarks upon just may involve a killer. This segment certainly isn’t for the squeamish. Several shots feature mutilated woman, including one propped against the wall, with major wounds caused by an axe. It makes for one grisly segment. That said, the end of it veers into angel and demon territory, which feels out of place, since the rest of the film plays out like a bloody serial killer narrative.

Unearthed is an indie horror anthology with more hits than misses. At the very least, some of the directors are willing to experiment and subvert expectations. This indie anthology features some creative choices and segments that are wildly different.