Horror: Underestimated Scares!
There are so many horror titles that turn up constantly when I search for one I haven't seen. This is a list of a few of my favorites, trying to leave out the current Hollywood titles, though there are few listed.
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- DirectorJosh ReedStarsZoë GameauKrew BoylanLindsay FarrisA group of friends travel into the Australian wilds to view ancient cave paintings but soon find a horrible sickness gripping one of their own, which leaves them with nothing in their mind but a primal blood lust.Australian films are growing on me. It takes a lot of skill to pull off a successful horror film on an indie budget. This one is pretty cool.
- DirectorPaul FoxStarsKate GreenhouseBruce McFeeJeff SeymourA beautiful but burnt out psychiatrist goes to the family's winter cottage for a weekend with her husband and sister, which is interrupted when a terrifying and unexpected guest arrives, a violent sex offender and patient of the doctor.Nice cabin, though.
- DirectorTaylor SheridanStarsEric Jay BeckApril MatsonAkeem SmithFour friends are kidnapped by a madman and locked in a house with six other people. Each of the captives has to endure life-threatening torture to fill a device attached to their heads or they will be trapped inside forever.Just when you think things can't get worse...
- DirectorSion SonoStarsRyo IshibashiMasatoshi NagaseMai HoshoA detective is trying to find the cause of a string of suicides.Complex film. It hinges on a particular idea and even creates its own complicated diversion from the storyline. But, since a film is visual, the director chooses disturbing content and images to make his point.
- DirectorRoar UthaugStarsIngrid Bolsø BerdalRolf Kristian LarsenTomas Alf Larsen5 young Norwegians head up to the mountains to snowboard. One breaks his leg and it's getting dark soon, so they spend the night in a big, abandoned hotel, closed 30 years ago. They are not alone.English dubbed Norwegian horror.
- DirectorMats StenbergStarsIngrid Bolsø BerdalMarthe Snorresdotter RovikKim Arne HagenJannicke wakes up in the hospital. All of her friends are dead. As she walks through the dark corridors, she thinks she is left alone. But the nightmare isn't over yet.Norwegian film begins where first the Cold Prey ends. Different setting and storyline. No snowboards, but plenty of suspense and horror.
- DirectorRobert HeathStarsTom KaneLiam BoyleJack GordonYoung British boys and girls travel to an isolated cabin after being promised a night of heavy partying. Instead of the fun they hoped for, they meet a killer out to reap vengeance on them for the death of his brother.Spin the Bottle will never look the same again. Let the Brits keep you on the edge of your seat.
- DirectorShin'ya TsukamotoStarsTomorô TaguchiKei FujiwaraNobu KanaokaA businessman accidentally kills The Metal Fetishist, who gets his revenge by slowly turning the man into a grotesque hybrid of flesh and rusty metal.The meaning behind the images, action and emotion are complex and skillfully portrayed.
- DirectorLucky McKeeStarsPollyanna McIntoshBrandon Gerald FullerLauren Ashley CarterWhen a successful country lawyer captures and attempts to "civilize" the last remaining member of a violent clan that has roamed the Northeast coast for decades, he puts the lives of his family in jeopardy.I've seen nothing like it. Awesome.
- DirectorRichard Bates Jr.StarsAnnaLynne McCordRoger BartAriel WinterA disturbed, delusional high-school student with aspirations of a career in medicine goes to extremes to earn the approval of her controlling mother.I learned who this actress was after watching Excision. AnnaLynne McCord is amazing.
- DirectorTom ShanklandStarsEva BirthistleStephen Campbell MooreJeremy SheffieldA relaxing Christmas vacation turns into a terrifying fight for survival as the children begin to turn on their parents.Creepy kids are scary.
- DirectorDanielle HarrisStarsChris MeyerJennifer Blanc-BiehnKamala JonesA group of friends get together for a murder mystery party, but things take a dark turn when one hijacks the evening and is out for blood.Don't bring your own party favors.
- DirectorMakinovStarsEbon Moss-BachrachVinessa ShawDaniel Giménez CachoA couple take a vacation to a remote island - their last holiday together before they become parents. Soon after their arrival, they notice that no adults seem to be present - an observation that quickly presents a nightmarish reality.Again, creepy kids are scary.
- DirectorRichard BrandesStarsRachel MinerMimi RogersLucy Rogers-CiaffaYoung Penny goes on a retreat with her psychologist; the intention is to help her overcome her phobia, an intense fear of cars. Unexpected events find her in a nightmarish situation where her worst fears come true.Car trouble at night... this film grabs you from the start and never lets go.
- DirectorBruce McDonaldStarsStephen McHattieLisa HouleGeorgina ReillyA radio host interprets the possible outbreak of a deadly virus which infects the small Ontario town he is stationed in.Speak no evil...
- DirectorLucky McKeeStarsAngela BettisJeremy SistoAnna FarisA socially awkward veterinary assistant with a lazy eye and obsession with perfection descends into depravity after developing a crush on a boy with perfect hands."I love weird."
- DirectorToby WilkinsStarsShea WhighamJill WagnerPaulo CostanzoTrapped in an isolated gas station by a voracious Splinter parasite that transforms its still-living victims into deadly hosts, a young couple and an escaped convict must find a way to work together to survive this primal terror.Edge-of-your-seat action
- DirectorFruit ChanPark Chan-wookTakashi MiikeStarsBai LingLee Byung-hunKyoko HasegawaAn Asian cross-cultural trilogy of horror films from accomplished indie directors.Clever, but hardcore horror.
- DirectorDavid Guy LevyStarsBrittany SnowJune SquibbJeffrey CombsDesperate to help her ailing brother, a young woman unknowingly agrees to compete in a deadly game of "Would You Rather," hosted by a sadistic aristocrat.Wow. It messes with your head. I guess I'm sick to think that makes a good horror film.
- DirectorDennis IliadisStarsGarret DillahuntMonica PotterTony GoldwynAfter kidnapping and brutally assaulting two young women, a gang unknowingly finds refuge at a vacation home belonging to the parents of one of the victims: a mother and father who devise an increasingly gruesome series of revenge tactics.So much happens in this film. There's not a dull moment. It's also a heavy horror - the kind I can't watch over and over.
- DirectorBreck EisnerStarsRadha MitchellTimothy OlyphantDanielle PanabakerAfter a strange and insecure plane crash, an unusual toxic virus enters a quaint farming town. A young couple are quarantined, but they fight for survival along with help from a couple of people.With today's zombie obsession, it's refreshing to see that something a little different can mess with everyone's head.
- DirectorOlly BlackburnStarsHaley BennettAshley GreeneLucas TillWhen a college girl who is alone on campus over the Thanksgiving break is targeted by a group of outcasts, she must conquer her deepest fears to outwit them and fight back.Awesome horror film. The subplot makes the movie creepier. Stick with the credits, there's more.
- DirectorAlexandre AjaStarsCécile de FranceMaïwennPhilippe NahonBest friends Marie and Alexia decide to spend a quiet weekend at Alexia's parents' secluded farmhouse. But on the night of their arrival, the girls' idyllic getaway turns into an endless night of horror.French horror that's an awesome ride. (Subtitles aren't a turn-off for me, but I always choose the English dubbing for this movie. It's very well done.)
- DirectorMatt EskandariMichael A. PierceStarsStephen WeigandBob BancroftBrendan KellyA young man finds himself held captive by a mysterious doctor and his brutish henchman.Disturbing. Though twisted, quite a fresh serving of horror.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsRod TaylorTippi HedrenJessica TandyA wealthy San Francisco socialite pursues a potential boyfriend to a small Northern California town that slowly takes a turn for the bizarre when birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people.Alfred Hitchcock is a master of suspense. Suspense = creepy = awesome horror. I love this film. Plus, it proves you don't need a lot of blood to prove someone's dead or injured.
- DirectorMeir ZarchiStarsCamille KeatonEron TaborRichard PaceAn aspiring writer is repeatedly assaulted, humiliated, and left for dead by four men she systematically hunts down to seek revenge.The original is a powerful display of disturbing fare. Production value, direction, acting and camera work are excellent. Definitely NOT for kids or even teens. You can't unsee what you've witnessed. Even though you know it's acting, sometimes that doesn't matter.
- DirectorSteven R. MonroeStarsSarah ButlerJeff BransonAndrew HowardA writer who is brutalized during her cabin retreat seeks revenge on her attackers, who left her for dead.I prefer the remake over the original, but it doesn't attempt to become a carbon copy of the first movie. The plot remains the same, but you can get away with depicting more gruesome acts in 2010 than in 1978. Production, direction, acting, and cinematography are on point.
- DirectorSteven R. MonroeStarsJemma DallenderJoe AbsolomYavor BaharovWhen Katie innocently accepts an offer to have new photos taken for her portfolio, the experience quickly turns into a nightmare of rape, torture and kidnapping. Now, she will have to find the strength to exact her brutal revenge.Very different setting, characters and situation from the first movie, but stays within the original film's plot execution. Not a predictable sequel. Gritty and disturbing.
- DirectorMatt ReevesStarsMike VogelJessica LucasLizzy CaplanA group of friends venture deep into the streets of New York on a rescue mission during a rampaging monster attack.I was drawn to the film because I'm a Lizzy Caplan fan. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the entire film has a fast-paced progression. Character development is well-established on-the-go. Great movie.
- DirectorJames DeMonacoStarsEthan HawkeLena HeadeyMax BurkholderA wealthy family is held hostage for harboring the target of a murderous syndicate during the Purge, a 12-hour period in which any and all crime is legal.A unique idea executed well. Emotion, tension and action merge.
- DirectorJames DeMonacoStarsFrank GrilloCarmen EjogoZach GilfordThree groups of people intertwine and are left stranded in the streets on Purge Night, trying to survive the chaos and violence that occurs.A sequel unlike the previous film. I was pleased that the storyline took me somewhere else. Watching the first film is very helpful but not necessary.
- DirectorJonathan LevineStarsAmber HeardAnson MountWhitney AbleA group of high-schoolers invite Mandy Lane, an innocent, desirable girl, to a weekend party on a secluded ranch. While the festivities rage on, the number of revelers begins to drop mysteriously.Clever, strange film. There's a disconnect that, if bridged, would have boosted the film's rating, but it's still interesting in its unusual premise and execution. Plus, the actors are great and the production style and direction and camera work are impressive. I like the movie and have watched it a few times over.
- DirectorEli RothStarsJordan LaddRider StrongJames DeBelloFive college graduates rent a cabin in the woods and begin to fall victim to a horrifying flesh-eating virus, which attracts the unwanted attention of the homicidal locals.A very different "kids in the woods" horror film. Disgusting and exactly the kind of disturbing situation you're looking for in a true horror flick. Well-acted, interesting storyline, and great direction and camera work. Eli Roth tried to outdo himself with a remake. Mistake.
- DirectorCarter SmithStarsShawn AshmoreJena MaloneJonathan TuckerA leisurely Mexican holiday takes a turn for the worse when a group of friends and a fellow tourist embark on a remote archaeological dig in the jungle, where something evil lives among the ruins.Unique take on "off-the-beaten-path" horror. Super character development and acting. I've never seen a situation similar to this one. I have watched it numerous times.
- DirectorNathan HopeStarsAnna KendrickJon GriesTania RaymondeA teen girl disappears after trying to meet men online in order to escape her small town. Apparently, only her best friend worries enough to investigate the mystery.I really like this film. I never saw a preview for the movie. Its producers dropped the ball. Acting, directing and writing were very good. The scares were impressive.
- DirectorDrew RosasNick SommerStarsMarshall CaswellErin HammondNick Sommer4 friends who played Little League have reunited to pay tribute to their teammates who were murdered 15 years earlier, only to have a vengeful masked killer with a weaponized baseball bat targeting them.Never underestimate a B-movie. Billy Club's acting, directing and cinematography are on point. Independent films, though often lacking big budgets, can still stand up to a Hollywood movie.
- DirectorSteven R. MonroeStarsKelly BrookDennis HopperHippolyte GirardotNine strangers, with no apparent connection between them are abducted: drugged, kidnapped and sealed in a house together.Make no mistake, even though this house full of strangers begins as all other movies of this type, it is not formulaic.
- DirectorPaul HyettStarsElliot CowanRosie DayCalvin DeanWhen passengers on a train are attacked by a creature, they must band together in order to survive until morning.Hop on this train from Waterloo Station and you won't regret the exciting yet creepy cinematic thrill ride through the English countryside.
- DirectorJohn FawcettStarsEmily PerkinsKatharine IsabelleKris LemcheTwo death-obsessed sisters, outcasts in their suburban neighborhood, must deal with the tragic consequences when one of them is bitten by a deadly werewolf.The Curse is definitely a curse. Super film in every way. I've heard the film referred to as a cult classic. I think it's simply a classic. It was one of the first to change the look of this genre and it did so with quirks, class, drama, horror, humor, superb acting, an excellent storyline with great direction and so many meaningful undertones that it sits on a higher level than the genre films to follow.
- DirectorJames WatkinsStarsKelly ReillyMichael FassbenderTara EllisRefusing to let anything spoil their romantic weekend break, a young couple confront a gang of loutish youths with terrifyingly brutal consequences.Non-stop horror and suspense. I was out of breath and impressed with every tense moment.
- DirectorJohn StockwellStarsJosh DuhamelMelissa GeorgeOlivia WildeA group of young backpackers' vacation turns sour when a bus accident leaves them marooned in a remote Brazilian rural area that holds an ominous secret.I love horror and films with a group dynamic. Turistas fills the bill in both areas. Acting is good, action is constant, suspense and tension are neverending, and there is definitely horror. Fun film.
- DirectorTate TaylorStarsOctavia SpencerDiana SilversJuliette LewisA lonely woman befriends a group of teenagers and decides to let them party at her house. Just when the kids think their luck couldn't get any better, things start happening that make them question the intention of their host.Don't go into 'Ma' with expectations. Let the creep fest fall over you. The film is a bit more complex than a typical slasher. Creepy can often be more unnerving than the supernatural or a crazed guy with a machete because creepy is very often a reality. Of course, more happens in 'Ma' than creepy, but remember: real can be pretty unsettling.