It's spooky season! You know what that means: time to curl up on the couch, make some popcorn, and watch some horror movies. But what if you're not much of a horror aficionado and you're just getting started out? Are there any classics you might want to check out? What about anything new that's received good reviews? Where to begin?
Well, you've probably seen the classics by now, so what about the ones that might not get as much airtime?
Thankfully, horror fans are more than happy to weigh in. You can thank Redditor LiamCruz24, who asked the online community,
"What horror movies are underrated?"
"The entire movie..."
"Ghostwatch is a slow burn but amazing. The entire movie is done as a British television programme about a haunted house."
One of my favorites. It is remarkably unnerving, particularly the very last scene.
"It's the kind of film..."
"Lake Mungo got into my head and won't move out. It's the kind of film that requires a second viewing."
I wanted to love this one, but did not. It was fine. There is another film, Megan Is Missing, which provides a much worse shock in the final third of the film.
"The captain notes..."
"Event Horizon (1997), with Sam Neill, Lawrence Fishburne, and Jason Isaacs, for capturing the feel of the being alone in space due to the distance involved.
A ship, the Event Horizon, had tested an experimental jump / faster than light drive and had disappeared for several months or years (I forget) only to reappear later around Jupiter, so a rescue crew is sent to investigate and save the crew of the ship. The captain (Fishburne) notes on their way out there that there had never been a successful rescue operation that far from Earth, with the last similar effort resulting in the loss of both ships. It sets the tone for a space movie to show that humanity is still basically blundering through space closer to our present technology and not on a Star Trek or Wars level of "magic" technology, so it gives it a great creepy vibe."
This one slightly stumbles in the third act when it becomes a total action movie for 2.5 seconds, but it's still a really excellent film. The first two-thirds are creepy as can be, like The Shining in space!
"They're campy..."
"Grave Encounters 1 and 2 are some of my all-time favorite horror movies. They're campy and cheesy but just so much fun to watch."
They are indeed! Not perfect–at least by my estimation–but a fun way to pass the time.
"Very, very few movies..."
"Dagon.
It's a 20-year-old B movie, so don't expect great effects or acting, but it's a pretty faithful adaptation of The Shadow Over Innsmouth and absolutely nails the Lovecraft feel. Very, very few movies have ever managed to do Lovecraft any justice, Dagon is one of them."
Now here is a film that fascinated me when I was a kid. I loved it to pieces. Definitely worth revisiting.
"Kid buys a new VR game..."
"Brainscan - Kid buys a new VR game console in which he kills a woman. Turns out, he killed her for real. Now, the game tells him that there was a witness, and they need to die too."
These Gestures Are Offensive In Other Countries | George Takei’s Oh Myyy
People explain the friendly gestures in one country that are offensive in another. It's imperative to do a little research about the destinations and culture...I saw this one as a kid, only because I might or might not have had a momentary crush on Eddie Furlong. #Choices
"It's very weird..."
"Office Killer is a really great indie film directed by Cindy Sherman, starring Carol Kane and Molly Ringwald. It's very weird and unsettling and Carol Kane is AMAZING as a mousey-looking office worker who is actually an unhinged murderer. 10/10 recommend."
This one is kooky, but then again, Carol Kane has always been a kooky performer, so she fits right in.
"Then the third time..."
"Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 is Dennis Hopper's finest work. He starts that movie with his intensity at about a 6: "Hey Sherrif Dennis Hopper, there are chainsaw massacres going on here in Texas." "Oh, I don't like that!" Then the third time we see him he escalates to a 10 and keeps that energy up for the rest of the movie. He is more Dennis Hoppery in that movie than in anything else he ever did including True Romance and Blue Velvet."
It is nothing like the original, but it doesn't have to be. It's a wild, fun ride.
"The plot isn't complicated..."
"Angst - I don't know if I can call this is a "horror movie" in the traditional sense. It's absolutely horrific, sure. But it's a pure art film. A f**** up one. The plot isn't complicated, and it's not long. I won't "ruin it" but suffice to say it's probably the most accurate depiction of a sexual sadist you're ever going to watch."
This one is truly a sight for the ages. Not for the faint of heart, at all. I don't say that mildly.
"I wouldn't..."
"The Call (2013). I wouldn't necessarily say it's underrated but I never see anyone talking about it anymore. It scared the hell out of me the first time I watched it."
The concept is of course unsettling! Imagine having to go through that! It would be traumatizing, wouldn't it?
Well, what are you waiting for?
Get out there and watch some horror movies! Spooky season is still here.
Have some suggestions of your own? Feel free to tell us more in the comments below!
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