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!
READ PART 1 OF THIS LIST HERE
WARNING – DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH BELOW!
5. I, MADMAN
Before Ashley Judd and JLo took over the Women In Jeopardy genre, horror still had its hooks in it pretty good. Something about an innocent young thing facing sinister forces and no one willing to believe her engages our protective instinct and gets us all wrapped up in what happens to the nubile young thing. When said beauty is a fan of the pulp novels of a face mutilating psycho who may or may not still be alive, well you can just imagine the fun that awaits.
4. UZUMAKI
Are ya scared of snails and spirals? You will be after this manga inspired flick. Based on the first part of a three part comic, making sense isn’t altogether a strength here, but what you do get is one of the most original and oddly unsettling horror films I can recall. It also provides a welcome breather from the “typical” Asian horror we’ve come to expect. You might not love this film, but you’ll never forget it.
3. CASTLE FREAK
Take Stuart Gordon, master of showing us things we can’t believe we’re seeing, and have him tackle another loose adaptation of a Lovecraft story, the master of leaving indescribable horrors to our imagination. Does it work? Yeah, it really does. This is not a return to RE-ANIMATOR form, but the tale of dark family secrets and even darker Gordon humor, mixed with a truly disgusting creature and gore F/X that will push even the most hardened genre fans buttons on occasion, achieves a highly satisfying watch given it’s surprisingly low profile.
2. MUTE WITNESS
For some reason the idea of snuff films never seems to get handled very well in horror films. Seems like a natural pair, but something about it just doesn’t fit many times. But there’s always an exception that proves the rule. This tale of a mute woman who discovers an apparent snuff film being made could easily be re-titled TENSION 101. The third act inexplicably loses interest in the firm terror established early on, but even with that happening this is one of the best examples of how to kick an audience in the gut you’ll find.
1. THE OTHER SIDE
I’ll be honest, I went back and forth as to whether this should go at #1. After all the film is distractingly low budget at times, and while the acting is mostly spot on, there are certainly moments that make you cringe a bit. That said, this was a random discovery for me while surfing around Netflix one day and I’m not sure I’ve ever been so pleasantly surprised by an indie that I’d heard absolutely nothing about. A guy trying to find his lost love escapes from Hell and finds himself tracked by three Reapers, literally bounty hunters from Hell. It’s as much damn fun as it sounds like, and director Gregg Bishop is one that you’d be well advised to keep an eye on.
READ PART 1 OF THIS LIST HERE
Got a Top 10 idea? Hit me up at mattwithers@joblo.com