This list and, part one (which you can find here), serve as a showcase for films that one might not have heard of, as well as films that you might have heard of, but skipped for some reason.
Enough introduction…on to THE LIST!
Triangle
Triangle is not the kind of horror movie that people are used to watching. It is the very definition of psychological horror once you figure out what is going on. Starring genre vet, and personal favorite of mine, Melissa George, we get one of the most visceral and real performances from a horror movie in years. This isn’t just good horror movie acting, which we all can spot, this is good acting in general. The movie is brilliantly written and directed by Christopher Smith, whose most recent flick Black Death almost found it’s way onto this list. All of the intricate details and the pretty complex plot that unfolds create an intense atmosphere and truly unnerving story that feels like a Twilight Zone episode turned up to eleven.
Dead and Breakfast
From the opening credits, you know you’re in for a different kind of experience. The comic book style that it opens up with is an immediate indicator that this movie will be a few things: Cartoony, fun, crazy, and over-the-top. The movie also has some great music to accompany it. Now it’s not a memorable Exorcist or Halloween type of music, it’s just catchy, corny music. It also features a pretty great ensemble of character actors as well as David Carradine for about five lovely minutes. The gore is also a pretty high selling point because it’s goofy. My favorite part though is the the amount of genre and regional tropes that are exploited in a ridiculous fashion. This movie isn’t for everyone, but if you like dumb goofy horror comedies, you might like it.
Below
Below is in a similar vein to one of the movies from part one of this list, Session 9. It will lure you in with simplicity – in this case, a World War II submarine film, but it only takes 10 or 15 minutes for things to get weird. The movie features a lot of very startling images and scares that don’t depend on shrill tones blasting through the speakers to make us jump. This movie’s scares are quite genuinely frightening, they’d be scary even if you had the volume turned down. One thing about this movie that really stands out to me is the amount of weight carried in it by the actors. None of them really partake in the leading role since most of them are character actors. In that regard it features some absolutely great performances by some of my favorites like Holt McCallany, Olivia Williams, Jason Flemying, Dexter Fletcher and Zach Galifianakis.
My Little Eye
I think this movie is more relevant to today’s audiences than when it was made. Sure, the lingo and clothes date it a little bit, but just consider those things a part of your suspension of disbelief as you watch it. Since reality television and internet sensations are even more popular now than they were 10 years ago, this movie should be a classic. A very interesting point to note is how it takes the tropes of reality shows and uses them but can be watched ten years later and all the tropes are still spot on.
This flick builds up the tension fast. It uses the combination of tons of different camera angles (remember they’re in a house covered in cameras so it makes since in context) as well with a great deal of time put into sound editing to create a very dreadful and vivid atmosphere. The actors in this flick are spot on, too. I’m not sure if it’s that we’re so used to reality television now and watching the real people in it, or if these actors are that great at their craft, but the flick feels real. At times you forget you’re watching a movie and start to think of it as a show.
Inside
I remember when Inside came out on DVD and the quote on the front said One of the scariest movies I’ve ever seen in my life.” Now, of course, this kind of quote is always attribute to some of the worst movies out there, but here it’s kind of accurate. Things happen in this movie that I have never seen in other movies. The tension is on a different level from other movies of the time and like a good movie should, it builds on that tension continuously throughout the movie making the final 10 minutes some of the most demented and twisted things I’ve seen. Plus, the simplicity of the entire story and the way it’s shot is something to be admired by movies fans.
The Hills Run Red
This is easily the most salacious movie that I’ve recommended, but the interesting story, creative scares, and crazy gore make it worth your while. This is one of the most meta-movie I’ve ever seen and I’m always a big fan of meta fiction. I’ll also be the first to admit that it’s pretty silly and over the top in places, but if the film’s subject is the pursuit of a salacious and over the top movie then what makes the movie itself being salacious and over the top a bad thing? Plus, the masked villain, Babyface, is one of the coolest modern slasher villains. While he feels of course like a knock off of Jason, I think there’s enough going on in his characteristics and mannerisms that sets him apart and makes him a whole brand new type of evil, a very entertaining and awesome evil.
Toolbox Murders
This flick is a slow burn. Things aren’t exactly exciting until the last 30 or so minutes, but the build up is an eerie and interesting series of twists and turns. Plus, with the lovable Angela Bettis investigating her surroundings and encountering the cast of peculiar tenants at their new apartment it’s remarkable how well the tension and plot is built up through the development of these relationships. This movie has a pretty impeccable structure as far as horror films go. It’s set up is delivered nicely, the plot points and story bits are paced very well and just when you start to think Well I might get bored in a minute one of the most insane kills you’ve seen pops up with some truly hair raising music. The flick fits into the slasher movie tropes a little too well, but it does enough with the tropes to stand out that it’s not a cliché movie.
The Ruins
I like The Ruins a lot. It has the right amount of patience leading up to the truly horrific scenes that the entire experience is so unnerving that you can’t help but be engrossed. The cast is also made up of some great young actors that really set the stage for the entire film. I think the thing that worked best about the flick when I saw it in theaters was I didn’t recognized any of the actors, so it made their performances and characters feel more real to me. I got scared for them, clinched my teeth at their actions, and even a few times I’ll admit thought to myself DON’T DO THAT.” Then, when the movie was over I realized I knew who every single one of these actors were, and that just made it even more enjoyable. Like I said above, it’s not exactly the type of horror movie that people are either used to or think of when they think horror,” but that doesn’t make it any less of an effective film. The Ruins is great because of how different it is, and it’s also one of the few movies that I think the alternate ending on the DVD is leagues better than the theatrical ending.
There you have it. I won’t toot my own horn to the extent to call this a definitive list of the overlooked gems, but this is definitely a good amount of titles here for people to sit back and watch as we wait for our local theaters to get more horror flicks. What list of overlooked gems would you like to see next? Sub-genre specific? Another time frame like this list? Overlooked gems from the best genre directors?
You can follow Spencer on Twitter at @ScarySpencer.
