Well the last list certainly led to a spirited discussion regarding among other things, if there is ever a good horror film to remake. So I started thinking what could we look at this week that would kind of counter it. And for me, the one thing that I love in equal measure to the amount I hate it when a beloved movie gets remade, is finding an obscure genre prize that is both fun to watch, and hardly anyone has heard of.
So, I asked the AITH braintrust to dig deep and shoot me some noms on movies that they consider the best of the best when it comes to unknown horror. This is the stuff that the fans of INSIDE and MARTYRS haven’t necessarily heard of. This is for when you want to go deeper than MAY and GINGER SNAPS.
Of course we’ve got the most knowledgeable fans in the world round these parts, so it’s still possible you’ll have seen a couple of these, but maybe, just maybe we can shine a light for you on a few flicks that you’ve yet to discover. Enjoy my friends, and spit bullets on what you think after checking some of these out, or throw your own unknown finds into the mix!
WARNING – DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH BELOW!
10. WHITE OF THE EYE
Style over substance is what you get with this pic, but man what style. The set ups and kills in this are amazing, including an unbelievable scene where a woman is forced to watch herself drown in a mirror. The story of a seemingly gentle husband who may be a serial killer hardly matters, and gives itself away fairly early. That’s not the reason to check this out. If you’re a fan of outstanding direction and cinematography, how they can sometimes strike a chord that just takes you out of yourself, here’s a flick for you.
9. THE UGLY
Even though a few trusted sources had told me THE UGLY was a really strong film to get down with, the tale of a prison psycho requesting to meet with a famous psychiatrist pushed me away for a long time because it felt too similar to SILENCE OF THE LAMBS for my taste. But when I finally checked it out, I was pleasantly surprised to discover it’s a very different film, and one that creates a stylish co-mingling between psychiatry and the supernatural – a mixture that many would argue makes a great deal of sense. This is definitely a film that is less about the what, and largely about the how. Outstanding direction and two strong anchors in leads Paolo Rotondo and Rebecca Hobbs make this well worth adding to your collection.
8. NEW YORK RIPPER
Unlike many, I found Fulci’s ZOMBIE fairly blah. Even the much hyped zombie vs. shark fight isn’t what you’d hope. That said, this flick is one that fans don’t point to much, perhaps out of embarrassment because of the unrelenting misogyny in it. And it is unrelenting in presenting a bleak, non-hyped up look while delivering violence that just goes on and on and on. Does the term “genital mutilation” make you want to throw up? Well then, so will this film. But it is a tour de force when it comes to re-energizing a cold genre heart’s ability to really feel what’s on screen.
7. JUST BEFORE DAWN
Do I need to say more than this is a well thought of early 80’s backwoods slasher? OK, how ’bout if I tell you the cast includes George Kennedy and Gregg Henry? Plus there’s the whistling. Oh damn the whistling. Sure the kids going to party in the woods set up is typical, but it’s got such talent and creativity behind the madness that this rises well above the pack.
6. SPELLBINDER
Buy the SPELLBINDER (REG. 4) DVD here
Two things ya gotta know right off. First, this is a big time Arrow fav. Second, it’s almost impossible to find. That said, this satanistic throwdown featuring a very young, and very hot, Kelly Preston is well worth a dance. The direction is too ham handed to make it a true classic, but it’s a damn fun time despite some notable issues with pacing and performances. The fact that it’s so hard to find also gives it some juice because you really gotta work to get your eyes on this one.
STAY TUNED FOR PART 2!