Movies that deserve less hate/more recognition.
I'll specify which in the description - movies that either everyone seems to hate but me, or that aren't well known enough.
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- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsDennis WeaverJacqueline ScottEddie FirestoneA business commuter is pursued and terrorized by the malevolent driver of a massive tractor-trailer.MORE RECOGNITION - because this was an early TV movie it largely goes unremembered when compared to the rest of Spielberg's filmography (the Indiana Jones films, "E.T." [1982], "Jaws" [1975], "Jurassic Park" [1993], "Schindler's List" [1993]). In my eyes it's a perfect movie - it's not bloated, self-gratifying or grandiose, and it wastes no time on Spielberg's usual blockbuster saccharine.
- DirectorGeorge A. RomeroStarsJan WhiteRaymond LaineAnn MufflyA neglected, unhappy suburban housewife gets mixed up in witchcraft with unexpected consequences.MORE RECOGNITION - mostly forgotten, just like Romero's "Martin" [1977]. While that film is better, this one's not bad either, with some fantastic editing and very surreal sequences, although it is mostly a wordy drama and at times pretty slow.
- DirectorBob ClarkStarsOlivia HusseyKeir DulleaMargot KidderDuring their Christmas break, a group of sorority girls are stalked by a stranger.MORE RECOGNITION - a deeply atmospheric and unnerving slasher film that's overshadowed by the likes of "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" [1974] and "Halloween" [1978] (the latter of which owes a lot to this film).
- DirectorRobert WiseStarsAnthony HopkinsMarsha MasonJohn BeckA stranger attempts to convince a happily married couple that their daughter is actually his daughter reincarnated.MORE RECOGNITION - not as good as "The Exorcist" [1973], but very reminiscent thanks to its story and subject matter, its intense and genuine performances, and its almost documentarian directorial style.
- DirectorJohn BoormanRospo PallenbergStarsRichard BurtonLinda BlairLouise FletcherA teenage girl once possessed by a demon finds that it still lurks within her. Meanwhile, a priest investigates the death of the girl's exorcist.LESS HATE - it's not perfect, but it's a highly symbolic, often surreal, and pretty well-shot sequel that doesn't just cash in on "The Exorcist" [1973]. Instead it actually tries something different, and I'd say it works (though not all the time).
- DirectorGeorge A. RomeroStarsJohn AmplasLincoln MaazelChristine ForrestA young man, who believes himself to be a vampire, goes to live with his elderly and hostile cousin in a Pennsylvania small town where he tries to redeem his blood-craving urges.MORE RECOGNITION - not perfect and very slow, but a very solemn and grim movie about a delusional murder-rapist called Martin and his religious cousin/uncle/grandfather(??) who is convinced Martin is a legit vampire.
- DirectorTony MaylamStarsBrian MatthewsLeah AyresBrian BackerA former summer camp caretaker, horribly burned from a prank gone wrong, lurks around an upstate New York summer camp bent on killing the teenagers responsible for his disfigurement.MORE RECOGNITION - like "Black Christmas" [1974] before it, this one was lost under the shadow of other slashers like "Friday the 13th" [1980], to which this is superior. "Friday" has good parts but is mostly boring, while "The Burning" is consistently enjoyable - better characters and acting, and a better-utilised setting.
- DirectorHarry Bromley DavenportStarsPhilip SayerBernice StegersDanny BraininAn alien creature impregnates a woman who gives birth to a man who was abducted by aliens three years ago. The man reconnects with his wife and son for a sinister purpose.MORE RECOGNITION - usually remembered as a crappy 80s b-movie (even by the director himself), which is kind of an insult. It's a highly creative, visually compelling and deeply horrific film about a family splitting up. It's not a perfect film, obviously, but it's one of my personal favourites.
- DirectorRichard FranklinStarsAnthony PerkinsVera MilesMeg TillyAfter twenty-two years of psychiatric care, Norman Bates attempts to return to a life of solitude, but the specters of his crimes - and his mother - continue to haunt him.MORE RECOGNITION - badly received by critics, I guess because nobody's allowed to make a sequel to a Hitchcock film, especially one that's subversive or challenging. But it's very cleverly written, with a great performance from Anthony Perkins and some nice call-backs and twists.
- DirectorRobert HiltzikStarsFelissa RoseJonathan TierstenKaren FieldsBunks and showers are a mad stabber's beat at a summer camp strictly for teens.MORE RECOGNITION - it falls into the usual traps of its contemporary slashers (mostly vapid characters, poor acting, sometimes cheap effects), but it has a great story and themes and creative kills.
- DirectorMick JacksonStarsKaren MeagherReece DinsdaleDavid BrierlyThe effects of a nuclear holocaust on the working class city of Sheffield, England and the eventual long-term effects of nuclear war on civilization.MORE RECOGNITION - a British TV movie from the 80s about a nuclear explosion in Yorkshire. It's incredibly haunting and surprisingly well made.
- DirectorWilliam MaloneStarsStan IvarWendy SchaalLyman WardAfter a member of a geological research team who was sent to Saturn's largest moon: Titan crashes their spacecraft into a space station, another team is sent to Titan to investigate, not knowing the terror that awaits them.MORE RECOGNITION - a fun little "Alien" [1979] rip-off with cool gore (even a head explosion!).
- DirectorGeoff MurphyStarsBruno LawrenceAlison RoutledgePete SmithA scientist awakens to find himself alone in the world. In a desperate attempt to search for others, he finds only two who have their own agenda.MORE RECOGNITION - a great, clever sci-fi movie, tho it has a bit too much philosophising. Still really good.
- DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsDonald PleasenceLisa BlountJameson ParkerA group of graduate students and scientists uncover an ancient canister in an abandoned church, but when they open the container, they inadvertently unleash a strange liquid and an evil force on all humanity.MORE RECOGNITION - not a sequel to "The Thing" [1982] but a spiritual successor, and worthy of being so thanks to lots of creative and visually interesting horror and neat sci-fi concepts.
- DirectorSandor SternStarsDavid HewlettCynthia PrestonTerry O'QuinnIsolated by his strange parents, Leon finds solace in an imaginary friend, which happens to be an anatomy doll from his father's doctor office. Unfortunately, the doll begins to take over Leon's life, and his sister's life as well.MORE RECOGNITION - a very simple but clever psych-horror.
- DirectorJörg ButtgereitStarsHermann KoppHeinrich EbberMichael KrauseSeven episodes, each taking place on a different day of the week, on the theme of suicide and violent death.MORE RECOGNITION - it's painfully slow and far from gripping, but intriguing for fans of experimental cinema, cinematography and effects, and anthology horror.
- DirectorWilliam Peter BlattyStarsGeorge C. ScottEd FlandersBrad DourifA police lieutenant uncovers more than he bargained for as his investigation of a series of murders, which have all the hallmarks of the deceased Gemini serial killer, leads him to question the patients of a psychiatric ward.MORE RECOGNITION - a great sequel to "The Exorcist" [1973] with the same clever writing, courtesy of William Peter Blatty, and a similarly eerie but distinctly more morbid tone that really works. George C. Scott is excellent in it!
- DirectorPhilip RidleyStarsViggo MortensenLindsay DuncanJeremy CooperIn the 1950s, a young boy living with his troublesome family in rural USA fantasizes that a neighboring widow is actually a vampire, responsible for a number of disappearances in the area.MORE RECOGNITION - very subtle and full of great imagery and symbolism. My only issue was the super-melodramatic acting throughout.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsSigourney WeaverCharles S. DuttonCharles DanceReturning from LV-426, Ellen Ripley crash-lands on the maximum-security prison Fiorina 161, where she discovers that she has unwittingly brought along an unwelcome visitor.LESS HATE - has a grim and nihilistic atmosphere, great production design and an interesting setting.
- DirectorRobert LiebermanStarsD.B. SweeneyRobert PatrickCraig ShefferAn Arizona logger mysteriously disappears for five days in an alleged encounter with a flying saucer in 1975. His co-workers endure ridicule and contempt as they are wrongly accused of murder.MORE RECOGNITION - starts off like a quirky Spielberg film, but quickly becomes a very involving biopic, containing one of the most horrific scenes I've ever seen in a movie towards the end.
- DirectorStephen NorringtonStarsWesley SnipesStephen DorffKris KristoffersonA half-vampire, half-mortal man becomes a protector of the mortal race, while slaying evil vampires.MORE RECOGNITION - a successful Marvel superhero movie before the Marvel Cinematic Universe or the "X-Men" series. Featured a black male AND black female lead 20 years before "Black Panther" [2018]. And a successful R-rated superhero movie before "Deadpool" [2016]. On top of all that, it's a super-solid movie.
- DirectorGeorge LucasStarsEwan McGregorLiam NeesonNatalie PortmanTwo Jedi escape a hostile blockade to find allies and come across a young boy who may bring balance to the Force, but the long dormant Sith resurface to claim their original glory.LESS HATE - I think mine is the popular opinion on the other two prequels, that "Revenge of the Sith" [2005] is the best of the three with some great moments, and "Attack of the Clones" [2002] is almost completely terrible. I have a soft spot for this one though - I like a lot of the characters, there are lots more locations, miniatures and prosthetics than in the succeeding two films, some of the CG looks fine, the score is wonderful, and I actually don't mind Jar Jar. I truly don't believe this one deserves its poor reputation.
- DirectorPaul VerhoevenStarsKevin BaconElisabeth ShueJosh BrolinA brilliant scientist's discovery renders him invisible, but transforms him into an omnipotent, dangerous megalomaniac.LESS HATE - I got bored towards the end, but I never hated it or thought it was terrible. I actually quite enjoyed it at first, and I really don't understand why it's been completely dismissed by many people.
- DirectorJohn DahlStarsSteve ZahnPaul WalkerLeelee SobieskiThree young people on a road trip from Colorado to New Jersey talk to a trucker on their CB radio, then must escape when he turns out to be a psychopathic killer.MORE RECOGNITION - a spiritual successor to "Duel" [1971] that was co-written by J. J. Abrams. It's less minimalistic than "Duel", with more locations, characters and dialogue, but it's very clever, very funny, and very intense.
- DirectorSimon WestStarsAngelina JolieJon VoightIain GlenVideo game adventurer Lara Croft comes to life in a movie where she races against time and villains to recover powerful ancient artifacts.LESS HATE - maybe I'm biased as a huge "Tomb Raider" fan, but this here is a really fun action
movie based on a video game. It nails the tone, the locations and the characters, and there are some genuinely creative fights and set pieces.